Thoughts on 2007-08
As the last quarter of 2007 approaches, we’re assessing progress on goals for the year to make sure we’re on track. A primary goal has been making the Austin Ad Fed more relevant and valuable to the regional advertising community. So since early summer, we’ve been doing what we do with our clients before setting a strategy and developing a new campaign – we’ve been conducting research by meeting with agency principals, creative directors, and account executives to find out what you like and don’t like as well as how we can improve what we do. We’ve gone on a “listening tour.”

Thanks for your great feedback on the ADDY awards, compelling topics for our monthly luncheon programs, professional training workshops we should offer, and fresh ideas for after hours networking. Based on that feedback, the new Ad Fed board has created a plan for the new fiscal year.

Since you want more focus on new media, I hope you attended our September luncheon featuring the very plugged-in Joel Greenberg discussing advertising in the virtual world. An interactive guru and a former senior planner at GSD&M, Joel now is vice president-marketing innovations at Electric Sheep, the largest company in the world dedicated to designing experiences and delivering add-on software for 3D virtual worlds.

For our October happy hour, M.P. Mueller and the Door Number 3 team will co-host a party in their East 11th Street neighborhood where they office and where redevelopment is being done right – you must experience it if you haven’t been over there lately.

Always Listening,
Pat Niekamp, President
Austin Advertising Federation

Hunter, a transplant from Dallas, was looking for an opportunity to make a career change. He had been a manager in the car business for some time but was looking for a way to get back into moving pictures. Before cars, Hunter, who had a graduate degree in film, worked in the film industry in the ‘90s. Pippin had been living in Houston doing production and post-production jobs since 1989. “For me, Shiny represented the chance to take all of these related experiences and build more projects from the ground up,” said Pippin... Read Article

New Accounts:
Latinworks scored big in August by winning Hyundai Motor America’s national Hispanic advertising account, now the agency’s largest client.

Enviromedia Social Marketing stays true to its name with account wins from Ocean Conservancy, Acequia, a provider of advanced water-conservation solutions to commercial properties, and CleanFUEL USA, a leader in Liquid Propane Injection engine technology and alternative fuel-dispensing equipment.

Nfusion Group was selected to develop the global business Web site for Brinker International, the Dallas-based restaurant operator. Brinker brands include Chili’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

Door Number 3 welcomes new business from the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars team and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.

People News:
As part of its restructuring and rebranding to GSD&M’s Idea City, Duff Stewart was promoted to president. He will also retain his previous title and the responsibilities of COO. Roy Spence will transition from president to the position of chairman and CEO.

Sentient Services announced new senior hires – Kate Jenkins as senior designer and Dr. Stephanie Vance as senior statistical analyst.

Door Number 3 promoted Prentice Howe to senior vice president, creative director and Suzanne Kyba to vice president of client services.

Keep us up-to-date with big news from your organization! Email information to news@austinadfed.com.