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Students deliver pitch-perfect marketing and advertising plans for small businesses

May 6, 2025

Originally held in a classroom with one little window, Treefort, Georgian’s student-driven, in-house media agency, represents the space that was used in the early days of the Advertising and Marketing Communications (ADMC) program. Inspired by wood structures built high among the treetops and filled with imagination, Treefort challenges ADMC and Business – Marketing students to use their creativity to develop marketing and advertising plans for local small businesses in Simcoe County.

A win-win for students and businesses

Alison Durtnall, 51��ƵBusiness and Marketing and Communications Professor, and Director, Treefort Services, says that Treefort is the ultimate experiential learning opportunity for students. It’s also a great way for small businesses and not-for-profits to receive marketing expertise to help grow their brand at a small fee.

“Local businesses get access to a multitude of student ideas, energy and creativity, with current marketing principles and learnings. They get the opportunity to support student learning while at the same time benefiting from keen, young minds with amazing ideas. The project also prepares students to work with current businesses on real-life marketing challenges.”

This year’s Treefort experience saw students work in teams to create business solutions and pitch their “big ideas” to clients from 51��ƵBay Food Network, Arts Orillia, Small Set Nursery, and Theatre by the Bay. They made recommendations for enhancing search engine optimization, social media content, email marketing, paid traditional and digital ads, and much more.

Students graduate career-ready

While students are graded on this final cumulative assignment, it also sparked a friendly competition. After the presentations, the clients picked the winning team and their favourite integrated marketing plan that they’ll take back to the organization and implement.

Alex Hamelin, Executive Director, 51��ƵBay Food Network, was thrilled with the process and the students’ ideas.

“From start to finish, working with 51��Ƶwas fantastic! The instructors made the Treefort project quite simple and enjoyable for both the students and our organization. We found the class to be incredibly eager and willing to assist us in our mission to improve food security within our community. We were quite pleased with all the marketing plans presented. Each group had their own unique ideas and strategies to help improve our fundraising techniques.”

Current Advertising and Marketing Communications student Ryan Dumais was part of team LiveWire, the winners selected by 51��ƵBay Food Network for their elegant gala event idea. He says everything about his 51��Ƶexperience, including the Treefort project has exceeded his expectations.

“With Treefort, there’s a purpose behind the work we’re doing. The fact that our ideas will be used in a real organization is exciting and it’s incredible to see it come to life. I also gained a lot more confidence with my presentation skills and learned to truly believe in what I’m saying, which gives the client confidence too. I came into this program not knowing what to expect, to now being agency ready – I even have a job lined up that I’ll start after graduating. I’ve learned so many new skills from incredible professors, made lifelong friends and gained professional connections through these experiential learning opportunities.”

Another current student from team LiveWire, Larissa DeSimone, added that this experience gave her so much creative freedom and a chance to work on her personal branding.

“Throughout the entire program, we spent a lot of time discovering our skillsets and where that could take us in our careers. Whether that was through networking with the Treefort clients or building our LinkedIn pages, I know that I’ll be able to bring value to any workplace I end up at.

It was challenging at first to dial in on one idea, especially working in a team, but it was really rewarding seeing how happy the client was with the finished product. It was so easy working with my classmates and professors especially being in a small class environment – that was one of the main reasons why I chose college over university and I’m so grateful for this experience.”

Want to grow your brand? Be part of the Treefort experience!

To be considered for the fall 2025 semester, businesses and not-for-profits should contact Alison Durtnall (alison.durtnall@georgiancollege.ca) before the end of June 2025.