 |
|
|
| |
| Austin Ad Fed Newsletter |
May 2007 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
Hot Spot Happy Hour Goes Intergalactic!
Thursday, May 24th
Mars Restaurant & Bar overlooking all the action on South Congress
5:00pm-7:00pm
Join the Austin Ad Fed at the new Mars Restaurant and Bar, located at
1400 South Congress (between the Hotel San Jose and Guero's). The new location for an Austin favorite has instantly become one of the
hippest rooms in town. Have a Martian or a Marstini. And once you've seen the menu, you'll probably want to stay for dinner, too!
Nameless Awards Get Major Upgrade
By Stephanie Mermis, Event Chair
The Event Formerly Known as Big Wigs, our annual awards show celebrating this industry's unsung heroes, will be an affair you won't want to miss, and will be nameless for a limited time only.
You've seen the emails asking for your nominations and may have even received a "Save the Date" card if you attended recent Ad Fed events. This year's show is all new: drinks, entertainment, a silent auction, an elegant new venue (The Mansion at Judges' Hill) and...it's in the evening. We felt our unsung heroes deserved more time for recognition - not to mention a cocktail or two and a fabulous dinner to celebrate... Read Article |
|
 |
|
Printer’s Ink for Blood. An Eye for the Future.
By Larry F. Hill, Ad Fed Board Member
Kevin Cassis, President & CEO, The Whitley Company
Kevin Cassis didn’t realize it was genetics luring him toward the clack-clack of a printing press in his junior high school headmaster’s basement. It wasn’t until Kevin was working in printing full-time as a high school senior that he discovered he represented his family’s fourth generation of printers. Tradition thusly ingrained, Kevin’s focus is now on the future of the industry and The Whitley Company’s leadership role in it.
Initially headed for points west until a chance visit here (his first Austin address—the Pecan Grove RV Park), Kevin was hired as a rep in 2000 by Whitley’s venerable Johnny Jones, then returned to Cleveland as a printing consultant shortly after Jones’ death. In 2005, he came back to Austin at the request of Johnny’s son, Ron. Kevin and his financial backers bought Whitley in 2006, and Kevin was named President and CEO in September... Read Article |
|
 |
|
|
 |
Austin Sweeps District ADDYs and More
It was a good night to be from Austin. The AAF District 10 ADDY Awards brought Austin ad agencies good news - 86 gold and silver winners have gone on to the national ADDY competition. Austin again dominated the district competition. After watching the reel of winners, I was again reminded: there’s no reason for regionally-based advertisers to go outside our market - to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or anywhere - for creative work. And increasingly, there’s a compelling reason for advertisers based in other parts of the country - and even the world - to bring their business here.
At next Wednesday’s (May 16) lunch meeting, you’ll think you’re watching real shops pitch for Coke’s business. Teams from UT and Texas State recently competed last month on the district level in the National Student Advertising Competition. Great campaigns. The UT team has a shot to compete in the national competition in June. Dr. John Murphy and team are waiting to see if they get the nod as the wild card entrant. If you’re an agency creative, this is a must-see event.
When was the last time you re-branded your business? You do it for your clients, but it's not as easy to do it for your own agency. Read Ted Burton's piece about how Enviromedia Social Marketing was re-branded.
Finally, the last weekend in April brought the Hill Country Ride for AIDS - all fundraising goals were met, although we're all a bit worse for the wear. Rubber side down!
Sincerely,
Pat Niekamp, President
Austin Advertising Federation
|
|
|
 |
 An Urban Media Symposium is Born
By Carl Settles, Ad Fed Board Member
Despite the Easter holiday weekend and an onslaught of freezing rain, Austin's first Urban Media Symposium on April 7 was a great success.
"There was such a hunger and a fire and gratitude that these topics were finally being addressed. I couldn't help but feel like we should have done this a lot earlier," said attendee Kyla Kanz, principal of interactive firm Olive Design and an AdFed Board Member. Her opinion appeared to reflect the consensus at this innovative event, coordinated by the Austin Ad Fed and the College of Communications at The University of Texas.
The panel topics - Broadcast/Interactive, Urban/Latino, Discrimination in a White Shoe Industry and Culture, and Music/Entertainment - sparked vibrant discussions on the role of urban culture in mainstream advertising and entertainment... Read Article |
Ad Fed Campaign Helps Hill Country Ride for AIDS Shatter Fundraising Goal
By Ted Burton, Ad Fed Board Member
Seven members of team Ad Fed Veloci-Peddlers joined more than 400 riders in the 8th annual Hill Country Ride for AIDS on April 28, peddling 50 miles or more to help the ride reach a record $525,000 to assist people in Central Texas living with HIV/AIDS. The Ad Fed Veloci-Peddlers contributed more than $8,800 to the total through their own individual fundraising campaigns.
The ride featured a marketing campaign developed by Ad Fed volunteers at the nFusion Group and was printed by CSI/Capital Spectrum on paper donated by Unisource. EnviroMedia Social Marketing donated media relations services to promote the event...
Read Article |
|
|
 |
 |
Art and Soul and Other Stuff
By Paula Simchak, Sicola Martin
What makes great art? Some might say talent. Others might say vision. And quite a few might suggest an unhealthy reliance on illegal substances.
But at SicolaMartin, we found out that great art often begins with nothing more than a smock, a smile, and a totally un-billable hour.
Recently, we were faced with the challenge of adding a little visual pizzazz to our hallowed hall and lobby. And rather than buy some expensive, hoity-toity artwork, we turned to our own abundance of creative types—and not just in the creative department. From finance to IT, HR to production, and everyone in between... Read Article |
|
|
 |
 |
Change Starts Here
By Ted Burton, Ad Fed Board Member
As Tuerff-Davis EnviroMedia Inc. prepared to celebrate its 10th anniversary February 10, agency principals Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis wanted more than just a great party. After all, any advertising firm can throw a party, but EnviroMedia is unlike any other agency in the country. So Kevin and Valerie began reflecting on both their history and their strategy for the future.
EnviroMedia began with the idea that most of the world’s environmental and public health problems could be addressed, if not solved, through better education and an emphasis on personal responsibility. EnviroMedia called it “Advertising and PR with a conscience.”... Read Article |
|
|
 |
The 2007 Coke NSAC District Competition Experience
April 18-19, 2007
By Dr. John Murphy, University of Texas Team and Professor of Advertising
 From the UT students’ perspective, one of the best parts of the district competition in Fort Worth was being on the road with the other members of their team. The 13 UT team members had come to know and bond with each other well over the past four months. The competitive environment fostered an even greater, “us versus them” team mentality.
The students liked the late afternoon presentation start time, although I was worried that the judges would be fried by that point. Fortunately, I was wrong. The judges were bright and attentive to our presentation, and the Q&A went well. The team felt optimistic and confident that their presentation was smooth, clear and forceful... Read Article |
Texas State Team Finishes Third in District 10 Yet Remains a Big Winner
By Jody Gibson, Advertising Senior Lecturer, Texas State University
 Although the Bobcats had the highest presentation score of all teams competing, and won two of three extra awards given at the conference, the Texas State NSAC team placed third in the American Advertising Federation’s District 10 contest a few weeks ago in Fort Worth. First place was awarded to Texas Christian University. Seventeen universities from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas competed with advertising/marketing plans for national client, Coke Classic.
“These students did a top-notch job and created an integrated marketing communications plan for the client, aimed at multicultural youth,“ said Mary Ann Stutts, marketing professor and team co-advisor...Read Article |
|
|
|
