So says one of the six alumni of the Potchefstroom Campus who work at Uppe Marketing, an advertising agency in Kempton Park.

 

Karin Stander, currently the head of new business development and accounts director, says she has been involved with Uppe Marketing for 34 years. “I joined them shortly after the company was established. We are celebrating our 36th birthday this year.”

 

Leadership and expertise from which to pick and choose

 

Karin (née Crockart) graduated from the former PU for CHE with a BA degree in communication science in 1986. She joined the advertising company the following year.

 

Milanie studied at the PU for CHE from 1980 to 1983 and also received her BA degree in communication science. She was the primaria of the Wag-ʼn-Bietjie ladies’ residence (1982) and served on the Student Council in 1983. Thanks to her exceptional leadership, she was one of only two students to be awarded the Council Medal that year.

 

She recently handed her role as CEO over to another alumnus, Clara Olivier, and is currently the executive chair of Uppe Marketing.

 

A formidable team

 

According to Karin, Clara had developed so much by the time she turned 27 that she was more than ready for the position of CEO. Clara received her BA degree in communication in 2015 and her honours degree in 2016.

 

She was part of the Registration and Orientation Committee, a member of the Wag-ʼn-Bietjie ladies’ residence house committee in 2015, and a member of the residence debating team, netball team and the serenade group.

 

The other three alumni at Uppe Marketing are Jana Snyman (née Van der Westhuizen), Hanrie Marais (née Van der Merwe) and Daniëlle Laufs.

 

“What makes us so unique is that we have been in business for so long and know the agricultural community particularly well. Even our clients speak of Uppe Marketing as a family.”

 

– Karin Stander, currently the head of new business development and accounts director at Uppe Marketing