Upcoming Press Club: Ben McConnell and Connie Schultz

Two excellent programs coming up.

Marketing Guru and Church of the Customer blogger Ben McConnell will speak Thursday, April 5.

Since 2001, McConnell and co-author Jackie Huba have been researching and writing about the effects of word of mouth on customer loyalty and how that can build into what they call customer evangelism.

Their work in researching passionate customer loyalty has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fortune, U.S. News & World Report, the Financial Times, Fast Company and several thousand blogs.

Among other things, he'll be discussing his newly released book, "Citizen Marketers: When People are the Message," sponsored by Kent State University and WKSU 89.7.

Pulitzer Prize-winning Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz will appear Wednesday, May 16, to speak about "her experiences on the campaign trail during her husband, Sherrod Brown's, race for the U.S. Senate." No doubt she will also be discussing her forthcoming book about the campaign ". . .And His Lovely Wife."

The programs will be at the University of Akron Martin Center. Both programs start with a buffet luncheon served at 11:45 a.m. with the program to follow. $10 for Press Club members, $15 for non-members. More details and contact info at the Press Club website.