Businesses and non-profits sought fresh marketing ideas. Students craved real-world experience. One program rose to meet both needs.
In 2024, Dr. Annie Cui, chair of the Chambers College marketing department, recognized the growing need for a student organization that could operate beyond traditional semester timelines.
“Businesses in the local community and beyond had a constant need for us to help them out,” Cui said. “For a while we’d been wanting to give students the opportunity to work with real-world clients so they could gain hands-on experience. It was a win-win situation.”
From this, the 304 Marketing Agency was born.
Borrowing inspiration from Data Driven WV, Cui enlisted the help of Service Assistant Professor and Data Driven WV Director Joshua Meadows to help her establish the structure of what would become 304 Marketing.
“304 is structured so that an appointed group of student leaders will oversee teams of three to four students that meet weekly to discuss marketing strategy and how to implement different marketing techniques to best serve their clients,” Cui said.
Each of these groups is also supported by faculty members from the marketing department within the Chambers College, including Associate Professor Julian Givi and Teaching Assistant Professor Kylie Vo.
Currently, 304 Marketing is serving 18 companies, all of which are located within 100 miles of West Virginia University. These businesses' proximity allows students to see the impact their work is having on business right in their backyard.
"304 is really interesting in the sense that almost all our initiatives are from local businesses, which is awesome” said senior marketing major and 304 Marketing Fellow Lydia Reilly. “It takes a special kind of client to put trust in and a take a student-led initiative seriously.”
That trust has paid off. Many companies have continued to work with 304 Marketing, building lasting partnerships that benefit both students and local businesses.
For example, take C-Side Sports Academy.
“The greatest benefit I’ve received from working with 304 Marketing has been access to top tier students in Lydia Reilly and Elizabeth Loomis,” said Chris Sidick, owner of CSide Sports Academy. “The communication line with Annie and her talented team is direct, clear, and efficient. Their organizational skills and knowledge have kept our projects on track and on time.”
CSide began working with 304 Marketing in the spring of 2025, and within four weeks, 304 Marketing was able to create and promote a social media campaign that increased C-Side’s revenue by $14,000.
This incredible return prompted founder Chris Sidick to give a significant monetary gift to 304 Marketing, ensuring the organization can continue their work they are doing for so many organizations while paying student fellows.
“I decided to invest back into 304 Marketing on the 2025 Day of Giving because it was money well spent,” Sidick said. “I believe 304 Marketing’s consulting is directly responsible for our increased traffic flow and recent revenue and 304’s creativity and modern approach to marketing and web design has taught and inspired me to achieve a higher standard.”
3 Guys Before the Game, a weekly podcast covering WVU athletics and giving fans a front-row seat to everything happening on and off the field, has been a consistent partner of 304 Marketing.
“We began working with 304 Marketing in March 2025 and have truly enjoyed collaborating with the student led team and Dr. Cui over the past year," said Dave Gruver of 3 Guys Before the Game.
Students on the account assist with editing clips for the popular sports podcast, which covers WVU athletics. These clips have boosted the podcast's social presence and engagement.
“304 Marketing represents the best of West Virginia University — smart, driven, and collaborative. It’s been a win-win partnership, and we’re excited to keep building on that success in the years ahead,” Gruver said.
Former client Picasso Pizza & Pasta worked with 304 Marketing in the spring of 2025. The 304 team helped launch the restaurant’s website and social media channels and organized a promotional event where they handed out free pizza and coupons to encourage WVU students to give Picasso a try.
Working as the lead on this project, senior marketing major and 304 Marketing fellow James Birdsong saw firsthand how working with local businesses could be mutually beneficial.
“It’s cool to see the whole process,” Birdsong said. “For Picasso specifically, I got to see what it’s like to open a business, which is something I want to do in the future.”
Beyond their work with local businesses, 304 Marketing members apply their marketing expertise to support non-profit organizations such as Accelerated Vision, Flip Flop Friends, and Wish Them Well. Notably, the Wish Them Well student team—led by Samantha Binder, Mallory Marks, and Alexis Wentela—raised $48,000 during the 2025 holiday season to build six wells in Togo.
Supported by senior marketing fellow Bryce Clark, and 304 Marketing learners Samantha Binder, Mallory Marks and Alexis Wentela, these student teams have helped strengthen organizational messaging, broaden audience reach, and foster deeper connections within the communities they serve.
Through projects like these, companies gain fresh ideas and creative marketing support, while student fellows Birdsong, Reilly, Loomis and Clark gain valuable real-world experience.
“It’s more than a resume booster,” Reilly said. “Within this program, you get to learn from others, learn from different perspectives, as well as make sure that you're in the right industry.”
Birdsong and Reilly both cite the Chambers College marketing curriculum as giving them the strong foundation needed to accomplish everything they have so far.
“My course work has definitely helped me so much,” Reilly said. “It’ gives me a good baseline. For example, in my classes, I’m always thinking, ‘How can I apply this in real life?’ That’s where 304 Marketing comes in. I take what I’m learning in class and put it into practice with 304 Marketing. That’s when it all comes to life.”
The skills 304 Marketing students have learned are highly transferable and have provided its members with real-world examples to share with potential employers.
“Many of our members have been interviewing with companies and already have offers in hand before graduation dates,” Cui said.
Faculty like Cui and student fellows Reilly and Birdsong share the same goal: to grow 304 Marketing and continue developing the next generation of marketers.
“304 Marketing has an environment that is conductive to growth,” Birdsong said. “It's also a fun time, with great people, that gives you real world experience and the skills you need in the future.”
With community support from local businesses like Chico's Bakery, 304 continues to grow. In fact, thanks to new funding, 304 Marketing recently added two new fellows to the team— junior marketing majors Grace Willets and Jordyn Carter.
Interested in working with a talented team of young marketers, you know who to call: 304 Marketing!
-WVU-
Emma Higgins 02/26/26
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tanner Yuhase
Director of Strategic Communications
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
tyuhase@mail.wvu.edu
