Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Darla Banfi, marketing coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Distance Learning Center, recently received the Excellence in Marketing Certificate through the Executive Education program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Banfi started taking marketing courses though the Executive Education program in 2004 after receiving funding from the Academic Staff Professional Development fund and the UWP Distance Learning Center. The Executive Education program brings together marketing and planning executives from industrial, consumer and service firms from around the country.

"I was impressed with the caliber of the instructors, ranging from CEOs and company founders, to marketing experts and authors, to award winning creative directors," said Banfi. "It was an invaluable opportunity for me to network with key corporate constituents and to increase awareness of the online degrees offered through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville."

Banfi has applied the techniques learned from the courses to her marketing position at the UWP Distance Learning Center, as well as the UWP Image Committee on which she sits. Banfi also serves on Distance Education's web committee and co-chairs the Distance Education Marketing and Recruitment committee. She is a member of the U.S. Distance Learning Association.

After completing four marketing courses through the Executive Education program, Banfi received the marketing certificate. The marketing certificate is specifically tailored for marketing executives who have responsibility for decision-making. "In my eight years in UWP distance education, we have witnessed growth and garnered awards and distinctions. We are planning for continued increases in our distance education enrollments, and I will use the skills learned in these courses to fuel that growth," Banfi said.

Dawn Drake, UWP executive director of alternative delivery systems, works closely with Banfi. "It was great for Darla to take the initiative to learn more about the marketing arena through this excellent program. As the competition continues to increase in the student recruitment area, it is imperative that she be able to use this knowledge base to assist in increasing the students in our distance programs," said Drake.

Banfi, who received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has worked for the state of Wisconsin for 31 years, both as a high school teacher and UWP employee in study abroad and distance education. "I am a life-long learner myself, and I have focused my career on helping students expand their knowledge of cultures and in reaching the goal of earning undergraduate and graduate degrees."

Banfi, who resides in Platteville, enjoys reading, sewing and traveling with her husband, Ray, also an UWP alum, and children, Jason and Katelyn. She is the daughter of Merlin and Darlene Mellor of Platteville.

For more information regarding the Excellence in Marketing Certificate, or UWP's online degrees, contact Banfi at (608) 342-1390 or banfi@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Darla Banfi, marketing coordinator, UWP Distance Learning Center, (608) 342-1390, banfi@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian., (608) 342-1194,killiana@uwplatt.edu