The Concordia Marketing Aid Clinic (CMAC), the first student-run non-profit marketing consulting association in Montreal, is making waves by offering free marketing support to small businesses and non-profits across Quebec. Co-President George Shephard shares how the organization started, its mission to bridge knowledge and resource gaps, and how students are shaping a stronger, more connected business community.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
We are the Concordia Marketing Aid Clinic, which is the first student-run non-profit marketing consulting association. We provide free marketing consultation to small businesses and non-profits in the Montreal/Quebec community; one client in the fall semester and one in the winter. After analyzing their business and meeting with the client, we build them a new marketing strategy specific to their needs.
What problem does it aim to solve?
It aims to provide marketing aid to those businesses and non-profits that don’t have the budget or knowledge to market themselves. During the pandemic, we saw how vital marketing is to a successful business, and our goal is to fill that gap for those who need it.
When did you start/join it?
I joined CMAC three years ago in 2023 as the Vice President of Events.
What made you want to get involved?
Honestly, it was a mix of wanting to contribute to my community and drive my personal career goals. I have always been involved in my community and I wanted a way to connect with other students while learning from those before me.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I first joined CMAC, I had no experience and the presidents at the time took a chance on me for the VP of Events position. My director and I worked together to create two great events, while under budget complications and constraints. We received great feedback from both our Cozy Sunday Case Study and our CMAC Study Date, as they helped us reach our mission of educating, connecting, and collaborating.
How has it changed since?
Since my first year, I have become Co-President with Julia Quynh-Noordin, and we have changed quite a bit. One of our main changes is a complete revolution in how we approach marketing consulting, which we can credit to a previous VP of Strategy of ours, Daniella Lopez. We have also changed the team structure and focused our leadership on fostering a constructive environment that encourages growth and connection. We want our members to leave this association with skills, experiences, and strong professional relationships.
What more needs to be done?
There are always more small businesses and non-profits to help. Marketing is such a huge part of business success these days, and our goal is to help the small guy get a little bigger. Since the pandemic, we have seen small businesses struggle to survive, and a lot of this is due to lack of knowledge and resources. That is where we come in.
How can our readers help?
Readers can help by supporting small, local businesses. We live in one of the most beautiful and walkable cities in North America. I truly believe people need to just get out there, speak with vendors and shop owners. Oftentimes, there is more value to small businesses than just the products they are selling. I would also say, make yourself aware of the issues in your community. Non-profits typically exist to provide a resource or service that is missing in their community. Being informed and involved is very important.
Do you have any events coming up?
We do! We have the CMAC x Reggies Karaoke Night! We are looking forward to collaborating with the campus bar to bring a fun event during midterm season. We want to give everyone a space to let loose and relax. It’s a free event and everyone is welcome, student or not. We will also have a winter event, yet to be revealed…
Where can we follow you?
You can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and through our website. Our social media team puts a lot of time into creating fun and unique content we know you’ll enjoy.
Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | TikTok
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We would like to highlight one of our previous clients, L’Equipe Entreprise. They help to provide employment and educational opportunities to individuals with mental health issues while supporting a program for accessible, healthy meals to the West Island community. We loved the opportunity to work with them, and we really believe in their mission—definitely go support them.
