[imagebrowser id=5]Students, faculty and alumni know Michael Kaltenmark as the owner of the Butler mascot, Blue II,  but a recent promotion means that Kaltenmark will soon become even more involved in the university.

Kaltenmark, who has worked in University Advancement and the Office of Development for more than eight years, wanted to further his involvement in Butler’s advancement.

After an application process in which there were eight final candidates, Kaltenmark was selected as the new director of Web Marketing and Communications for Butler.

This new position means that Kaltenmark will be part of a creative and innovative team which collaborates on new ideas for the university’s website and social media accounts.

Kaltenmark, along with Nancy Lyzun and Ashley Plumber, who is in charge of Butler’s social media accounts on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, will be using the Internet to market Butler in a way which is current. This is critical in today’s technologically-based world.

The office of Web Marketing and Communications has a partnership with the Web Services team in Information Technology.

Kaltenmark and his team will be the creative side of this partnership, thinking of new ways to further Butler’s name in the public eye, while Web Services will work to make those visions a reality.

The overall task for Kaltenmark and his partners is to enhance the look, feel and branding of the university’s existent Web marketing tools.

In a time of significant growth and recognition for the university, the vision of this team will focus on ensuring that growth continues.

“Butler is known for a lot of things,” Kaltenmark said, “not only for men’s basketball, but in its own right.

“We want people to think of our website when they think about higher education.”

Mark Helmus, the vice president  of university advancement, said different departments within the university, such as the College of Communications or SGA, can turn to Kaltenmark and his partners to act as a type of ad agency, which will enhance the way that their department will be viewed by current students, potential students and viewers of the website in general.

This enhancement will be achieved through developing the content, message and creativity needed by each department, and the university as a whole.
Kaltenmark said his background as a journalism and public relations major at Butler makes him the perfect man for the job.

He worked in the office of University Development during his senior year at Butler, and then moved on to the Office of Annual Giving, where he worked to increase fundraising and nonprofit sales for the university.

His work at the university earned him many contacts and connections, but he says the best part of the job was just “hanging out with Butler people.”

Kaltenmark said he has a strong connection and true love for the university. He makes that clear in his daily work with Blue, the mascot that has become a voice for the university.

After volunteering to be the owner of Blue, Kaltenmark took on the responsibility of making sure that Blue is always available for public events.

Over the years Blue has developed into a Web marketing tool for the university through his Twitter account—which has over 2,000 followers—and through his Facebook page.

With so many people following the activities of the Butler mascot—including campus and academic events, getting involved with students and, of course, basketball games—Blue is an opportunity for enhancing the public view of the university as a whole.

Despite his new role as director of Web Marketing and Communications, Kaltenmark will continue his job with Blue.

In fact, Blue will become a part of the new position.

Kaltenmark said he knows Butler is the right place for him to be working, but with his new position, he will now be in the perfect role.

He said he is truly passionate about Butler and  knows that this is a critical time for the university, a time which could further enhance the way that the university is viewed in the world of higher education.

“Smallness doesn’t matter,” Kaltenmark said. “A precedent has been set.”