www.brockport.edu The above billboard will spotlight three alumni as part of Brockport’s most recent advertisement. The $20,000 sign will be displayed for one month on I-390 and one month on I-490. The billboard outlines the importance of alumni on the area economy.

Alumni are ‘larger than life’ on new billboard

By Allison Kowalski
Staff Writer

You may be used to seeing banners featuring pictures of alumni as you browse Brockport’s homepage, but you may be surprised to find these alumni larger than life on I-390.  One of these banners is now a billboard on I-390 — its message: “27,000 alumni living and working in Rochester.”   

The billboard was revealed to the public on Jan. 25 and will move from I-390 to I-490 at the end of February.   

President John Halstead introduced the idea of putting a billboard in the Rochester area, said Chris Florence, director of marketing communication at the institutional advancement office.    

Florence said the billboard will increase awareness of the college and therefore will help recruit prospective undergraduate and graduate students.    

For the first month, the billboard will be on I-390 near Lyell Avenue.  After one month, the billboard will be moved to I-490.  

I-390 and I-490 were the two locations chosen because of their proximity to Rochester, Florence said.   

The billboard costs $20,000 for a two month contract, Florence said.  The price includes the production and the placement of the billboard.  

Funding for the billboard came from a budget specifically for image advertisement, Florence said, and was designed by Samuel Nicolosi, manager of graphic design services.   

There are many purposes and advantages to the billboard. “It creates awareness and instills pride,” Florence said. 

The billboard features three Brockport alumni: Glenn Johnson (’85), Julie Exley (’06) and Patrick Seche (’98).  All three alumni are professionals who work in the Rochester area.   

Florence said the three alumni were extremely willing to help with the billboard project. 

Julie Exley “walked” in May 2006 and officially graduated in December 2006.  She was a double major in psychology and health science.  Currently, Exley is a chemical dependency counselor at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. 

“I was honored when Mr. Metz asked me to be a part of the picture that went into the magazines — that was such an accomplishment for me and I felt famous!” Exley said.  “When I found out I was going to be on a billboard I knew it doesn’t get much better than this. My initial reaction was to call everyone I know, which I did, starting with my parents.”

“I think the billboard is a great way to display how much impact Brockport has on a large city,” Exley said.  “I believe there are many hidden meanings to just ‘27,000 Alumni living and working in Rochester.’ Ultimately, [it is] saying SUNY Brockport educates and prepares its students for success.”

The billboard is important because it creates connections between the Rochester area and the college, Florence said.  She said the process is called shotgun marketing.   

Colleges in the Rochester area, like Roberts Wesleyan College and St. John Fisher, do similar billboard advertising, Florence said.   

The college is doing a lot of marketing and recruitment in the Rochester and Brockport areas, Florence said.   

“We are excited to see the results of that,” Florence said.   

The billboard compliments a lot of other advertising for the college, Florence said.  Ads similar to the billboard can be found in well-known magazines such as Sports Illustrated, U.S. News & World Report, Times, People, Rochester Business Journal and Newsweek.   

There are also TV spots and commercials on WXXI promoting Brockport, Florence said.   

Brockport is a vital part of the Rochester community, Florence said.  The billboard helps to drive business because a lot of alumni stay in Rochester after graduating.   

“People we educate are the backbone of our society,” Florence said.  

“The best advice I could give would be to find your niche,” Exley said.  “… Utilize every aspect of SUNY Brockport, get to know your professors, get involved, it makes your experience much more powerful and fulfilling. Reach for the stars, do your best and always carry the pride of graduating with a SUNY Brockport degree.” 

For information regarding upcoming events on campus or Brockport news, log onto the Brockport homepage news bureau at www.brockport.edu/newsbureau/.