Marsha Loda
Associate Professor in the James M. Hull College of Business | Augusta University
Augusta , GA, UNITED STATES
A leading marketing expert helping businesses in the hospitality industry bounce back from crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spotlight
Biography
Marsha Loda co-owned an advertising and public relations agency in Memphis, TN for almost 20 years. She grew the public relations department from one staff member to a division with gross income exceeding one million dollars. At the agency, she worked with a variety of national media reporters including Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, ABC Evening News, The Today Show, BET, BBC and Paris Television. Before committing to her doctoral studies full time in 2001, Marsha was marketing director for the largest tourism business in the state of North Carolina. At Harrah's, she directed the advertising, sales, public relations, direct marketing, entertainment and affinity card departments with a combined staff of 42 people and a marketing budget of $28 million. She also served as media spokesperson for the property. Marsha has a masters degree in communications from the University of Memphis, from which she received the Department of Journalism's Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2003, she completed her Ph.D. at Clemson University. She was named Assistant Professor in the Hull College of Business in 2007.
Areas of Expertise (4)
Mass media public relations
Journalism
Parks, Recreation and Leisure
Message credibility
Accomplishments (3)
Outstanding Teacher of the Year (professional)
An award given at Augusta University
Professor of the Year (professional)
Given by the Beta Gamma Sigma
Outstanding Teacher Award (professional)
An award given at Augusta University
Education (4)
Clemson University: Doctoral degree, Parks, Recreation and Leisure
University of Memphis: Master's degree, Journalism
University of Memphis: Bachelor's degree, Journalism
Google: Certification, Google AdWords Certification
Links (1)
Media Appearances (5)
Universities fueling the workforce pipeline for tourism and hospitality jobs
Augusta Business Daily online
2024-02-22
Travel, tourism, and hospitality are rebounding following a slump during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Augusta University and UGA are helping bump the numbers by offering training programs for those industries. A recent report from the University of Georgia (UGA), listed hospitality and tourism as the second largest contributor to the state’s economy. In 2022, there were nearly 168 million visitors generating $39.8 billion in direct visitor spending. That translates to $4.7 billion in state and local tax revenues. In Athens, the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel partners with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to offer a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Food Industry Management. The collaboration began in 2019 and prepares students for jobs ranging from hotels and resorts, to meeting and event management, and agritourism. At Augusta University, The James M. Hull College of Business offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and the Master of Business Administration degree. Students may choose to major in accounting or choose a concentration in one of several areas. Students can also select from a group of six business electives to customize for a specific job or industry. The college also offers an undergraduate certificate in Hospitality Administration. “This is a college-level certificate. The big premise for them to learn is the hospitality mindset, which means that you are offering your guests an outstanding experience,” explained Marsha Loda, Associate Professor at Hull College. “Because hospitality is totally leisure and is discretionary.”
Don’t bet on it: A successful casino in Augusta would be a long shot
The Augusta Chronicle print
2016-11-26
"Because the state of Georgia and the Augusta Commission are considering casinos in our area, I think it is important to look at what has happened in other casino markets - not just from a moral perspective, but also from an economic perspective." - Dr. Marsha Loda
Guest columnist: Competition warping authenticity of local brewing scene
Citizen Times online
2016-07-08
"A sad thing happened on the way to a fun evening on the South Slope. We went to the new Green Man brewery. Were we in Charlotte? In Atlanta? Or upstairs at the Carolina Ale House chain in Greenville? There are a couple of truisms in hospitality and tourism marketing that foretell disaster, and this new brewery had them both. This is why I was sad." - Dr. Marsha Loda
Recovering Augusta-area restaurants still feel effects of COVID-19's bite
Augusta Chronicle print
2022-03-21
When asked whether TBonz Steakhouse is ready for the throngs of Masters Week visitors, co-owner Henry Scheer answered the question with another question. “Do you want to hear a grown man cry over the phone?” he joked. Masters Tournament crowds are nothing new to TBonz, which arrived in Augusta in 1986. But this year, for many reasons, restaurateurs may face customer frustration: longer waits, higher prices and fewer menu items due to supply chain woes. Restaurants are still grappling with the economic after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the outbreak drove people to shelter in place in 2020, consumers spent less and eateries sat empty. Now, many restaurants are facing new challenges, such as a nationwide labor shortage that is still plaguing virtually all commercial sectors.
SC legislators introduce bill to legalize sports betting
WFXG tv
2022-05-27
South Carolina legislators have introduced a bill that would allow online and retail sports betting to operate in the state. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Rep. William Herbkersman (R) and Rep. Todd Rutherford (D), outlines what kinds of sports can be bet on and which entities will be able to apply for betting licenses. FOX54 spoke with Associate Professor of Marketing and Hospitality at Augusta University, Marsha Loda about the potential boons and pitfalls with allowing sports betting in the Palmetto State. “Sports betting is growing like crazy," she says. "The bill that has been introduced for South Carolina calls for a 10% tax rate on adjusted gross revenue. So it would be a real income producer for the state."
