Don't Miss The Deadline

This Friday, December 11, is the early deadline for the 2010 Fort Worth ADDYs. If you think your work is ADDY worthy, visit www.whosyouraddy.com to submit your entry details. Once you've submitted the entry details online, you can turn in your physical entries at Branch-Smith Printing, located at 120 Saint Louis Avenue in Fort Worth, from 1 pm to 5 pm this Friday.

If you just can't make the early deadline, you'll have another chance to drop off your physical entries on January 8, 2010.

FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY HIRES BALCOM AGENCY FOR GRAND OPENING CAMPAIGN

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History chose the Balcom Agency for an array of creative services for the grand opening of its new facility. The agency created TV and radio spots as well as billboard and internet ads for the museum.

“We’re proud to be a partner with such an important cultural institution in Fort Worth at this historic time,” said Stuart Balcom, president of the Balcom Agency. “Engaging this remarkable museum for its grand reopening is quite an honor.”

The museum recently reopened with a new facility designed by internationally acclaimed architectural firm Legorreta + Legorreta. The new building will help meet the need to accommodate crowds of more than 800,000 guests a year and showcase the latest in technology and science.

UNITED WAY SELECTS BALCOM AGENCY AS AGENCY OF RECORD

The United Way of Tarrant County has selected the Balcom Agency as its agency of record for creative and public relations services. The non-profit organization has a new strategic plan for 2009-2012, which includes restructuring the way it communicates with investors and financial partners. The plan aims to provide safe and healthy communities for all Tarrant County children, individuals and families. The United Way emphasizes forming effective partnerships with other organizations and strategically raising and investing resources. By focusing on needs in education, income and health, the United Way is working to make a measurable impact on all lives in our diverse communities.

MAD MEN CREATOR COMES TO FORT WORTH

AAF-Fort Worth Celebrates 100 Years with Matthew Weiner

To honor 100 years of civic duty, the American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth (AAF-Fort Worth) is hosting An Evening With A Mad Man, featuring Matthew Weiner, the creator and executive producer of AMC’s award-winning drama series Mad Men, on January 14, 2010, at the Casa Mañana in Fort Worth. Tickets range in price from $35 to $85 and can be purchased now at www.madmenfortworth.com.

Prior to Mad Men, which is set in the ruthlessly-competitive world of Madison Avenue advertising executives of the 1960s, Weiner was executive producer and writer on The Sopranos, HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series. The show garnered him an Emmy nomination with co-writer Terence Winter. Weiner’s credits also include a 2007 Writers Guild Award (TV) and a 2005 PGA Golden Laurel Award, as well as stints working on various television series such as The Naked Truth, Becker, and Andy Richter Controls the Universe.

AAF-Fort Worth’s centennial celebration will begin at 6:30 pm with a cocktail reception complete with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The program will start at 7:30 with a brief historical perspective of AAF-Fort Worth, and then Matthew Weiner will take the stage to detail the development of Mad Men and its characters.

“It’s not often you turn 100 so we wanted to do something truly special,” said Jason Parker, AAF-Fort Worth president. “Considering our organization focuses on advertising, we thought Matthew Weiner would be the perfect person to help us celebrate.”

About AAF-Fort Worth

AAF-Fort Worth is a 100-year-strong organization and is the city’s oldest civic group. The purpose of the organization is to provide a forum for advertising professionals — elevating standards and practices in advertising through peer review programs and through continuing training and education initiatives. The group is also dedicated to serving the Fort Worth community, and participates in numerous civic activities. Additional information at aaf-fortworth.org

The club hosts lunch meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at Joe T. Garcia’s and is part of the American Advertising Federation – a national network of ad clubs and advertisers representing more than 40,000 advertising professionals located in communities across the country.

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations Earns Five NEDA 2009 National Channel Marketing Awards

Agency recognized in consecutive years for campaign and ad development

Blanchard Schaefer, a strategic advertising & public relations firm, has earned five national 2009 Channel Marketing Awards from the National Electronic Distribution Association (NEDA), including one platinum and four gold honors. The awards stemmed from the agency’s work with TTI, Inc., a specialty distributor of passive, interconnect and discrete components for consumer electronic manufacturing. This marks the second consecutive year that the 15-year-old agency has won multiple national awards for their work.

“Doing great work and delivering results for clients are not mutually exclusive,” said Ken Schaefer, president of Blanchard Schaefer. “When we are recognized for our efforts while making our clients successful, it is twice as satisfying. Our team has been dedicated to conceptualizing, designing and executing engaging campaigns that have allowed TTI to capture market share in a highly competitive industry. We very much appreciate the opportunity they’ve given us to flex our strategic and creative muscle to define their brand.”

Blanchard Schaefer was responsible for strategic development and creative execution, as well as media planning and placement for each of the award-winning initiatives. Categories and campaigns included:

Platinum-Level Award:
Integrated Marketing – “Stan” Campaign

Gold-Level Awards:
Image Advertising-Complete Campaign – “Stan”
Image Advertising – “Stan On-Time”
Image Advertising – “Transportation”
Industry Advocacy – “Supplier Excellence Award” ad

About NEDA
NEDA is a not-for-profit trade association representing distributors of electronic components and their manufacturer-suppliers. Dedicated to the enhancement of the distributor-manufacturer relationship. NEDA represents companies involved in the distribution of electronic components and parts, computer and computer peripheral components and test, measurement and control equipment and their manufacturer-suppliers.

About TTI
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, TTI, Inc. is a specialty distributor of passive, interconnect and discrete components. TTI is the distributor of choice for industrial and consumer electronic manufacturers worldwide. TTI’s extensive product line includes: resistors, capacitors, connectors, potentiometers, trimmers, magnetics, circuit protection, filters, electromechanical and discrete semiconductor devices. TTI is recognized as the industry’s leader in service and quality and provides a broad array of supply chain services to its customer base. TTI employs 2,000 with more than 50 locations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about TTI, visit www.ttiinc.com.

About Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations
Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, an award-winning strategic marketing services firm, offers a full array of advertising and public relations expertise and services with a focus in the healthcare, supply chain and logistics, health and beauty, multi-location/franchise, and technology verticals. Its client-tailored strategic marketing services include proficiency and innovation in research, identity/collateral development, branding, creative, media placement, news generation/dissemination, media relations and trade show and speaking engagement coordination. Based in Arlington, Texas, Blanchard Schaefer serves clients across the United States. For more information, visit www.bsapr.com.

TWO LOCAL ADVERTISING AGENCIES SEE THE GLASS AS HALF FULL

Merger To Unite Talent And Capabilities, Make A Splash In Local Advertising Industry

What happens when two optimistic entrepreneurs seize the opportunity to combine forces at a time when others see their glass as half empty?

The result is a glass spilling over with advertising talent and savoir-faire, the runoff of which will quench the needs of organizations both locally and abroad.

Today, two such glasses coalesced as Craig Lloyd, President of Glint Advertising & Design, and Trent Starnes, CEO of Caffeinated Studio, announced that the two creative shops are merging under the Glint name effective January 1.

“Combining the talent of both agencies will provide a greater range of services and allow us to provide strategies that offer greater value and ROI for our clients,” Lloyd said.

The expansion will allow Glint to employ more local talent, and to provide an enhanced arsenal of advertising capabilities to promote growth in businesses located in and around Fort Worth. As of January 1, the number of employees working at Glint will have doubled.

Both Lloyd and Starnes hope to add to Fort Worth’s growing reputation as a major creative center. In the past Fort Worth has been overshadowed by Dallas, which is home to some of the nation’s most recognized names in advertising.

“Fort Worth is rapidly establishing itself as a major hub for creative advertising and marketing,” Lloyd said. “I think a lot of that has to do with the innovation that smaller agencies bring to the table. When you’re not working with $100 million marketing budgets you have to be able to break the mold and be innovative, while still being conscious of expenses.”

The pair also explained that the resilience of the local economy has been a major contributing factor in their decision to bring the two agencies together. Glint’s goal is to continue to help businesses grow, and to support the Fort Worth economy.

“Craig and I recognized the unique opportunity to combine Glint’s award winning advertising with Caffeinated Studio’s edgy interactive approach during a time when many agencies and creative markets are perceived to be in decline,” Starnes said. “I know there are great things on the horizon for the businesses we serve.”

The bottom line for area businesses: Glint is growing its capabilities in order to top off the glass of every company feeling half empty. The agency is looking to serve a wide variety of clients of all sizes, across all industries.

For more information about Glint Advertising & Design, or the merger, contact Ryan Cormier at 817.616.0320, or visit www.glintadv.com.

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising and Public Relations is looking for two high-performance AEs

Have you heard more than once that you’re a stellar Account Executive? Have you mastered the art of project management so well that you’re looking for that next level of challenge in your career? Do you have a passion for building client relationships AND their businesses? Do the words “challenge” “strategy” “opportunity” and “creative brief” make your heart race at the possibilities? Can you see both a big picture and its details? Do you play nicely with teams and excel on your own? Are you relentless about learning and growth? Can you prove that you’ve made a difference in your work? Do people matter to you?

At Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations we’re serious about excellence and passionate about our people. We’re growing and a few of our fantastic accounts need an experienced Account Executive to take ownership and lead them to even greater success. We’re seeking two AE’s, one with B2B experience, particularly in the technology, electronics and/or software sectors and another who can bring consumer based retail account experience, specializing in high frequency/high volume transactional environments, to the mix. Experience with Travel and Leisure category a big plus.

Character counts so if you answered “yes” to our questions honestly and have the right experience, we’d like to learn more about you.

Candidates for consideration will have a minimum of 4 years of experience, including solid agency background, outstanding comprehension of all facets of marketing communications, including account planning, media, creative, interactive, social marketing and account management. Please send us your resume and credentials (and be specific about which position fits you best) to jobs@bsapr.com (link http://www.bsapr.com/jobs.asp)

CONCUSSION BRINGS HOME THE GOLD

Concussion High Impact Communications has received acclaim from the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for the agency’s creative excellence in web design.

“I am honored that Concussion has been recognized by these prestigious organizations,” said Douglas Cox, interactive director at Concussion. “I am extremely proud to see our work consistently being considered among the best not only in Fort Worth, but also in the world.”

IAVA awarded Concussion three W₃ Gold Awards, two in the “Real Estate” category for their work on Twin Creeks Golf Community and Hillwood Residential, and one in the “Strange and Unusual” category, for ItsTimeToConfess.com, the 2008 Fort Worth ADDYÒ Awards’ microsite. Concussion also took home a W₃ Silver Award for KonamiPodium.com, a flash-driven microsite promoting Konami Gaming’s latest innovation.

The W₃ is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, interactive, advertising and marketing firms. IAVA members include executives from organizations such as Conde Nast, Coach, Disney, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Estee Lauder, Fry Hammond Barr, HBO, Monster.com, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Victoria’s Secret, Wired, Yahoo! and many others. For more information regarding the W₃ Awards, please visit www.w3award.com.

APTA awarded The T (The Fort Worth Transportation Authority) the first place AdWheel award in the “Electronic Category” for The-T.com, their new website designed by Concussion. The website was unveiled in June and features new functionalities to help visitors quickly find the information they need without devoting too much time to searching.

Each year, APTA honors members’ marketing and communications efforts with the AdWheel Awards. Awards are presented in four main media categories: print, electronic, campaigns, and special events. For more information on APTA and the AdWheel awards, visit www.apta.com.

To view the award-winning websites, visit www.TwinCreeks.com, www.HillwoodResidential.com, www.ItsTimeToConfess.com, www.KonamiPodium.com and www.The-T.com.

Join AAF-FW For a Holiday Honky Tonk at Billy Bob's

Join AAF-Fort Worth for a Holiday Honky Tonk party at Billy Bob’s Texas’ Guitar Bar featuring a live band, free line dance lessons, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar with happy hour specials.

This boot-scootin’ party also will include a raffle of great items to help raise money for advertising education sponsorships, a program that supports students through the National Student Advertising Competition and Scholarships. For more information, please visit www.adclubfw.org.

To donate items for the raffle, please contact Allyson Cross at cross@gcgadvertising.com or call 817-332-4600.

WHEN - Thursday, December 3rd, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

WHERE – Billy Bob’s Texas
2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164

FEES - $5.00 per person

REGISTER NOW

Sponsored by: The Store Decor Company, Clear Channel and BlueRock Marketing

GCG MARKETING RECEIVES SECOND NATIONAL HEALTHCARE AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Fort Worth-based agency recognized again for its work for the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation

GCG Marketing today announces its award of Best Corporate Advertisement/Campaign at the 2009 Medical Marketing & Media Awards honoring the agency’s development of an awareness campaign for the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation.

The campaign featured gripping headlines alongside haunting photographs of children living with neuroblastoma, taken by Fort Worth’s Geno Loro Jr. The award is the second national healthcare honor GCG has received for the campaign this year, following a Manny award for Best Philanthropic Campaign by Med Ad News, and the campaign also garnered local and district ADDY® awards from the American Advertising Federation. Earlier this year, GCG was named one of the top 75 healthcare marketing agencies by Medical Marketing & Media magazine.

“The continued recognition we’ve received for our work on the CNCF campaign is a true honor,” said Neil Foster, GCG Marketing president. “Neuroblastoma is an awful disease in need of greater awareness, and we’re hopeful that both the campaign and these awards help facilitate the discussion of funding for research options.”

In the photo, GCG Art Director Kris Copeland, accepts the MM&M award on the agency’s behalf in New York City on October 29, 2009.

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations Featured in Fort Worth Business Press Top 100 Private Companies List

Agency enjoys strongest year ever adding new clients and team members

The Fort Worth Business Press has named Blanchard Schaefer to the Fifth Annual “Top 100 Private Companies” list. The 15-year-old, award-winning strategic marketing services firm is featured among leading Tarrant County businesses based on annual sales and number of employees.

“As a small company, it is both rewarding and exciting to see that our team’s hard work has been acknowledged, particularly in a challenging economy,” said Ken Schaefer, president at BSAPR. “Our outstanding personnel are the real differentiator for BSAPR. We strongly believe in establishing a nurturing corporate culture and a stimulating work environment so we can deliver exceptional results to our clients. The agency’s success can be directly attributed to the effort of each individual for a common goal.”

The Top 100 recognition is the culmination of recent agency growth in terms of personnel and clients. BSAPR has added senior- and junior-level employees, in both the account service and creative departments, to support new and existing clients, as well as a variety of project-based initiatives.

New clients include the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Escalante Golf, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Non-profits were also added, such as Grace Flight of America, a medical flight charity organization, and the Lone Star Film Society, organizers of the annual Lone Star International Film Festival in Fort Worth.

“It has truly been a whirlwind year that has required an even stronger level of commitment from the entire BSAPR team,” added Schaefer. “Fortunately, there are always bright spots in challenging times. A down market provides the ability to recruit from an incredibly deep talent pool, which is a distinct advantage for our agency. This has allowed us to better serve our current clients, and provides the capacity to pursue new business opportunities so we can continue to grow. This in exciting time and we look forward to a bright future.”

CONCUSSION NAMED AMONG TOP 100 PLACES TO WORK IN DFW

The Dallas Morning News has named Concussion High Impact Communications as one of the “Top 100 Places To Work 2009.” Placing 74^th out of a total 100 companies, Concussion ranked among the top small companies to work for, with 60 employees.

“We are particularly proud of this award,” said Allen Wallach, CEO and partner of Concussion. “This recognition is because of our employees and without our cadre of like-minded zealots, we wouldn’t be known for producing communications that peg the Richter scale.”

Concussion, a full-service advertising agency based in Fort Worth, is owned and operated by partners Allen Wallach and Andrew Yanez. Wallach and Yanez started Concussion in 2001 and continue operating the agency on the principles of nimbleness, collaboration, creativity and client access to agency decision makers.

“These D-FW companies - large, medium and small - are as good as it gets when it comes to creating workplace environments that nurture and respect employees, and, in the process, make those employees proud to be there,” said columnist Cheryl Hall, lead writer for the Top 100 project.

Employees, not the Dallas Morning News, chose the top workplaces. More than 33,000 employees from all different office settings were given surveys to grade their company’s performance regarding 22 statements. Their responses were compiled, weighted and ranked by the Dallas Morning News’ research partner, Workplace Dynamics LLC.

The winning companies were honored at a luncheon hosted by the Dallas Morning News on Thursday, October 29. A complete list of winners will be published in the November 8^th edition of the publication as well as on www.dallasnews.com.

Click HERE for peek inside Concussion!