Bobby A. McConnell (’11 Marketing)

2025 Service to Smeal Award

Bobby McConnell is a seasoned advertising and marketing professional with over a decade of industry experience.

Currently a Senior Account Executive at Amazon, he has progressed through various roles during his nine-year tenure with the company. In his current position, Bobby has generated over nine figures in revenue for Amazon Ads while helping his clients achieve meaningful and measurable results from their marketing investments. His strategic approach ensures that CPG clients not only meet but exceed their marketing objectives, driving both Amazon's growth and his clients' success.

Passionate about education, Bobby has been a freelance guest lecturer since 2017, sharing his knowledge with undergraduate and MBA students at prestigious universities, including Columbia, Penn State, and Ohio State. As the former Program Manager of the Amazon Ads' Education Alliance, he developed the company's first college education and recruiting program, aimed at providing practical learning opportunities and increasing job accessibility for future marketing and advertising leaders. As part of the Education Alliance, Bobby co-developed MKTG498, a digital practicum course at Smeal designed to give students hands on experience managing real advertising campaigns. In addition to helping to develop these programs, he has actively engaged as a mentor, guest speaker, and pitch competition judge for the benefit of Smeal students and helping to generate experiential learning opportunities. Bobby has also been instrumental in connecting other Penn State alumni with the Marketing Department’s Digital Marketing class and incorporating their expertise to further the education of students.

Prior to Amazon, Bobby excelled at MeTV and ESPN, managing high-profile client accounts and developing innovative sales strategies across television, digital, and multimedia advertising platforms.

A Penn State University graduate, Bobby earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing with Magna Cum Laude honors. His blend of strategic thinking, client relationship management, and commitment to fostering new talent makes him a valuable asset in the dynamic world of advertising and marketing.