GCG MARKETING WELCOMES KATIE GRAYSON AS ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Dec. 8, 2010 -- Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing announces the addition of Katie Grayson as account coordinator. In this role, she will primarily work with clients in the agency’s healthcare division. Grayson will be responsible for maintaining relationships, developing strategy, managing production workflow between the client and agency, and serving as a liaison between the account executive, creative director and production teams.

“Katie brings with her an infectious positive outlook, an unmatched work ethic, and a true passion for marketing,” said Neil Foster, GCG president. “Katie knows how to think like a marketer, an attribute that will serve her well in the future.”

Grayson joins GCG following her graduation from Texas Christian University last May, where she studied advertising/public relations and minored in sociology. Grayson graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the honors program.

2011 FORT WORTH ADDY® ENTRY DEADLINE ANNOUNCED

The Fort Worth chapter of the American Advertising Federation will begin accepting early entries on Friday, December 10, at Branch-Smith Printing for the local level of the 2011 ADDY Awards.

“Mark your calendars and begin preparing your entries,” said Keith Powell, president of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth chapter. “If last year was any indication, this will surely be a competition to remember.”

The Fort Worth ADDY Awards are the local component of a three-pronged competition, which seeks to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising. Advertising students and professionals are being encouraged to enter their work in various categories, including sales promotion, collateral material, direct marketing, non-traditional advertising, newspaper, radio and television.

Fort Worth ADDY entrants have a chance to win Gold, Silver or Bronze awards in each category. Awards are also given for Best of Show and Special Judges Awards. Entries receiving a Gold ADDY award are automatically entered into the District ADDY Awards competition, where entries are judged alongside Gold winners from District 10 clubs in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas . Entries winning Gold at the district level are automatically entered into the National ADDY Awards competition, the world’s largest advertising competition.

The 2011 Fort Worth ADDY early submission deadline is Friday, December 10, and its final submission deadline is Friday, January 7, 2011. The American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth accepts ADDY entries online at www.addysmackdown.com. Submission costs vary and can be found online.

Fort Worth ADDY winners will be announced at the annual ADDY gala to be held at the Ashton Depot on Saturday, February 26, 2011.

About the American Advertising Federation-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 adclubfw.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.

Logos created by Balcom Agency selected for LogoLounge book, "Shapes and Symbols"

Several logo designs created by Balcom Agency will be included in a remarkable new LogoLounge project, "Shapes and Symbols", the third book in the new Master Library series.
 
Logos designed for Texas Health Resources, Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County, Pennybacker Capital, Tony Lama Stars Collection, Virtuent, and Joshua Independent School District will all be published in the prestigious book and released in July 2011.
 
"I'm proud of the work our creative team does every day for our clients, and it's especially exciting to be recognized by one of the leading publishers in the industry," said the agency's president, Stuart Balcom. "More important is making sure our clients stand out in the marketplace. Logo development is a fundamental first step for making that happen."
 
The Master Library books presents exemplary logo design work from creatives around the world. The first and second books in the series, "Initials and Crests" and "Animals and Mythology," are already best sellers from Rockport Publishers.

In Honor of Pat Sloan

We have some sad news to share. Pat Sloan, a dear friend, colleague, mentor and teacher in TCU's Graphic Design program passed away on Friday, October15th. She was much loved and will be missed by many current and former students as well as many in the advertising and design world.

Please check TCU Graphic Design's Facebook page for updates on memorial service information and to share and photos or stories of Pat. She will truly be missed.

Countdown to Super Bowl XLV

Panel Discussion featuring Tony Fay from North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee, Chris Gavras from Touchdown Fort Worth and Cowboy great Drew Pearson

All eyes will be on Arlington, Texas this February as North Texas hosts Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium. Join us for a special panel discussion about how North Texas attracted the Super Bowl, why ESPN chose Sundance Square as their Super Bowl home base and what to expect this February. Our guest panel will include Tony Fay, VP of Communications for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, Chris Gavras from Touchdown Fort Worth, and Drew Pearson, former Dallas Cowboy great and Super Bowl champion.

REGISTER NOW

When
October 20, 2010 11:45 AM -1:00 PM

Where
Joe T. Garcia's
"La Puertita", 2201 N Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76106

FEE
Executive Member
Included with Dues

Non Member
$35.00

Professional or member of another AAF Club
$20.00

Student
$15.00

RSVP
October 19, 2010

AAF-Fort Worth to Host Benefit Featuring Hard Nights Day

AAF-Fort Worth is hosting a concert event benefiting the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Charity (PMR Charity). The Benefit Bash includes a silent auctions and is set to take place on Saturday, October 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 8.0 Restaurant & Bar in Fort Worth.

This year’s event will again feature Beatles cover band A Hard Night’s Day, and will celebrate John Lennon’s seventieth birthday. A Hard Night's Day is one of the most popular and acclaimed Beatles tribute bands in the nation, with a live show that has to be seen and heard to be believed.

The event is sponsored by Baker Orthotics and Prosthetics. All proceeds for the concert event will benefit the PMR Charity, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local families with mounting medical needs and expenses.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Event Information:
October 9, 2010 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
8.0 Restaurant & Bar
111 East 3rd Street
Fort Worth,TX 76102
For tickets and information go to:
http://www.aafbenefitbash.com

USPS Demands Rate Increase Ten Times that of Inflation

Dear Friends:

It’s crunch time. Right now, the Postal Regulatory Commission is making its final decision about whether it will do the right thing and reject the Postal Service’s demands to increase postal rates by ten times the rate of inflation.

So we need you to take action. Please, today – right now:

1) Start with the template fax below from you to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

2) Make sure you personalize it; feel free to change it in ways that make it personal to your situation and how rate hikes will affect you.

3) Then please fax it to the Postal Regulatory Commission at 202-789-6891.

4) Faxing is the best way to get to the PRC and make sure they pay attention. But you can also call them at (202) 789-6800. If they don’t pick up, be sure to leave a message!

After months of battle, this is the single best way you can help. Please help today!

You can also find all this information on our website at www.affordablemailalliance.org. Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do.

The Affordable Mail Alliance



NAME,
ADDRESS,
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER


The Honorable Ruth Goldway
Chairman
Postal Regulatory Commission
901 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20268-0001
Delivered by Fax: 202-789-6891

DATE

Dear Members of the Postal Regulatory Commission,

Over the next few weeks, you have a critical decision to make: whether or not to do the right thing and reject the Postal Service’s demand for a rate increase of around ten times the rate of inflation.

As you know, there is so much at stake here. Approving this decision would negatively impact thousands of American businesses, including mine – many of which are already feeling the strain of the deepest recession since the great depression. Make no mistake: tens of thousands of jobs will be jeopardized as a result of a Postal Service rate hike.

And, as you know, the Postal Service’s exigency argument simply does not hold water. No short-term financial crisis exists, as admitted by the Service during your hearings. We are ready to work with the Postal Service to help them develop products that customers want and need; we believe it should explore the many other avenues open to cut costs and achieve efficiencies before raising prices on customers like us, which will accelerate its death spiral.

So we are urgently asking you to carefully consider the devastating effects a rate hike would have on business, jobs and the Postal Service itself. The stakes are too high to accept this Postal Service demand.

We ask you please to do the right thing and reject this demand.

Sincerely,

NAME
TITLE
BUSINESS

CC:
The Honorable Tony Hammond
The Honorable Dan Blair
The Honorable Mark Acton
The Honorable Nanci Langley

GLINT ADVERTISING APPOINTS NEW INTERACTIVE DIRECTOR

Glint Advertising, an advertising and marketing agency located minutes outside of Downtown Fort Worth, announced today that Ryan Cormier has been appointed Interactive Director for the agency, according to President Craig Lloyd.

The former Account Executive and Social Media Specialist will oversee all of Glint’s interactive projects, ranging from website design and development to search engine optimization, paid search campaigns and social media strategy and implementation.

“I could not be more thrilled to take on this new position,” said Cormier. “I am committed to formulating online strategies that complement and strengthen our traditional work, while also adding additional measurability for each client and their brand.”

This is the second major move that Glint has made this year in the online realm, which is estimated to account for $23.6 billion in marketing spending in 2010, according to Advertising Age (www.adage.com). In January, Glint announced its acquisition of a boutique web design firm out of Grapevine.

“You have to be nimble in the advertising industry,” said Patty Marshall, Vice President. “Having Ryan over our interactive department is a major value add to our clients and further strengthens our services as an agency.”

For more information, visit www.glintadv.com, or call 817‐616‐0320.

JCPenney Sponsors 2011 National Advertising Student Competition

Nearly 150,000 advertising professionals across the nation have jump-started their careers through the American Advertising Federation (AAF) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). This year JCPenney will be the 38th sponsor of NSAC. For almost forty years, this competition has provided college students the hands-on, practical experience necessary to be competitive in this industry.

“After competing in the NSAC competition for four consecutive years, I can honestly say that it was the single-most beneficial activity I have ever taken part in during my entire educational career. NSAC is more than merely an advertising competition. It offers us a way to practically and organically learn methods of collaboration, management, problem solving, and critical thinking. It streamlines our creative process. It develops us into leaders. Learning in the classroom is, obviously, a necessity, but it is the conjunction of an extracurricular medium that allows us to gain an experiential knowledge of what we are learning and to begin to understand exactly how powerful implementing these tools can be.” – Andreas Robichaux, Chapman University NSAC team member, 2010 National Champion.

The competition requires college chapter members to develop a 32-page marketing campaign and 20 minute presentation in response to a case study co-authored by JCPenney and AAF Academic Committee. Each student team will first participate at the district level and then winning teams will advance to the national level. Student teams will pitch their campaign to a judging panel selected by the sponsor during the National Conference held in San Diego, June 2-4, 2011. Year over year, the quality of work and level of creativity surpasses the previous year and sponsors have been known to implement the ideas generated by these impressive, high-caliber student teams.

“JCPenney is thrilled to be the 2011 National Advertising Student Competition sponsor. We are eager to see what ‘Big IdeaS’ will emerge from some of the most talented student advertising minds today.” – Mike Boylson, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, JCPenney Company.

AAF currently has 15 districts and over 200 college chapters. Last year 147 college chapters competed at the district level and it is anticipated that the number will increase in 2011.

“We are proud to have JCPenney as our sponsor this year and look forward to another successful partnership. Corporate support such as this enables AAF college chapter members to participate in a stimulating learning opportunity. NSAC provides the real-world perspective that students need as they embark on a career in the advertising industry.” – James Edmund Datri, AAF President and CEO.

JCPenney will not only sponsor NSAC this year but will also host the 2010 AAF Student Conference in Dallas, Texas on October 21-22. This event connects students with a variety of professional development opportunities and encourages them to meet and network with industry leaders and AAF alumni.

To learn more about how to start an AAF college chapter and participate in the NSAC, please visit www.aaf.org/college .

About JCPenney Company, Inc.
JCPenney is one of America’s leading retailers, operating throughout the US and Puerto Rico. It carries the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, jcp.com, and the nation’s largest general merchandise catalog business. Across their integrated enterprise, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company’s commitment to providing customers with style and quality at compelling prices. For more information, visit the JCPenney, Inc. website at www.JCPenney.net .

About the American Advertising Federation
The American Advertising Federation (AAF), headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as the "Unifying Voice for Advertising." The AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 40,000 professionals in the advertising industry. The AAF has a national network of 200 ad clubs located in ad communities across the country. Through its 214 college chapters, the AAF provides 7,500 advertising students with real-world case studies and recruitment connections to corporate America. The AAF also has nearly 100 blue-chip corporate members that are advertisers, agencies and media companies, comprising the nation's leading brands and corporations. For more information, visit the AAF's Web site at www.aaf.org .

Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics Joins Inc. 5000 as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies

Dallas/Fort Worth Exhibit Company Earns Ranking with 57% Percent Growth Rate in Spite of 20% Industry Decline

Inc. Magazine today named Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics to its annual ranking of the 5000 fastest-growing companies in the country based on revenue growth. The annual ranking shines the spotlight on these companies that make up an important segment of the economy.

Skyline DFW has defied the odds since opening its doors shortly after 9/11/2001 and has experienced double digit top-line revenue growth every year since, including the 57% increase between 2006 and 2009 that enabled the company to qualify for the 2010 Inc. Magazine 5000. The International Association of Exhibitions and Events reports a 20% decline in the Net Square Feet of exhibit space at trade shows since 2006. Yet, even in the midst of the recession and cutbacks in corporate trade show and convention budgets, Skyline DFW continues to experience substantial growth, expanding its operations in 2008 from 12,000 to 37,000 square feet and hiring many new employees.

Skyline DFW’s leadership team attributes this growth to a forward thinking mentality and a real commitment to providing unmatched customer service. Management’s foresight led the company to expand beyond sales of display exhibits and graphics, to complete turn-key trade show and event solutions, including trade show logistics, exhibit rentals, project management, installation and dismantle, exhibit storage and exhibitor training. And Skyline DFW’s service mantra has paid off with phenomenal customer loyalty and referrals.

“We are honored to join the ranks of the Inc. 5000,” stated Jeff Meisner, President of Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics. “Even as the recession threatened budgets, we have experienced record revenues and are extremely thankful to our loyal customers and employees who have made this possible.”

Skyline DFW customer American Airlines backs up the company’s formula for success. “As great as the Skyline product is, the people at Skyline DFW make all the difference. From coming up with ideas about how the exhibit should look, to working out all the logistics of getting it where it needs to be, the Skyline DFW team has been great to work with every step of the way,” said Susie Williams of American Airlines.

Skyline DFW is on track for a repeat performance in 2011 to nab a spot on the Inc. 5000 list again. “This year is shaping up to be another record year for us. And through it all, we’ll maintain the hallmark of our brand, exceptional customer service,” noted Jeff Meade, company Vice President.

Inc. 5000 Methodology

The 2010 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 20006 through 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2006. Additionally, they have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit and independent (not a subsidiary of another company). Revenue must have been at least $100,000 in 2006 and $2,000,000 in 2009.


About Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics

Located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics enhances customer’s branding, product, messaging, marketing, ROI and overall company performance through the design, creation and delivery of innovative exhibit display products and turnkey services. Customers include: American Airlines, American Eurocopter, Eurocopter, Interstate Batteries, Metro Aviation, and Wilsonart International.

Join Us For a FREE Four Day Weekend Show

It will be a night of laughs at Four Day Weekend in Sundance Square on Friday, August 6. We'll enjoy an entertaining show and a cash bar. Tickets are FREE for AAF-Fort Worth members and friends (limit of two guests per member). Attendees must be at least 18 years of age.

RSVP by August 5, 2010. There is limited availability so RSVP now to reserve your seat!

JODesign Growing, Adding New Staff and Clients

JODesign, a Fort Worth-based full-service marketing agency, announced today that the company has doubled in size, and continues to grow as a well-rounded company. JODesign offers innovative marketing, advertising and public relations services.

JODesign’s new staff members include public relations assistants Leslie Wimmer and Audrey Taubert. Wimmer brings experience to JODesign from her background as a newspaper reporter in Fort Worth. Wimmer has reported on a broad variety of topics, but has most recently spent more than two years focusing on banking and finance issues in Tarrant County. Taubert, a recent graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, brings a fresh and innovative perspective to JODesign. While earning her degree, Taubert took on various leadership roles at her university, and worked with the City of College Station’s Public Communications Department polishing her public relations and media skills.

JODesign has experienced a tremendous amount of growth and success since its launch in 1998. And despite difficult economic conditions, the company has gained eight new clients so far in 2010. Each new client provides JODesign with more opportunities to develop unique products and provide personalized services to help businesses grow.

“It’s amazing to see how much we’ve been able to accomplish in just the last year, and we couldn’t have done it without our client partnerships,” said Jennifer Henderson, JODesign president. “When I opened the business several years ago, it was as a two-man shop. I never dreamed that without a true sales force we’d make it this long and grow so fast. It is exciting to bring on some extra talent to help manage our growing client base.”

With a current staff of eight employees, three interns, and a client base growing every year, JODesign continues to exceed its goals despite a tough economic environment. JODesign has been a consistent example of a thriving business, capable of delivering outstanding results to every client.

About JODesign
JODesign is an award-winning advertising, design, marketing and public relations agency with fresh ideas, solid concepts and proven results. Founded in 1998 by Jennifer Henderson, JODesign has grown to eight staff members, three paid internships, two business partners and an impressive client base. JODesign’s mission is two-fold, to deliver great work and build long-lasting relationships with each client. JODesign transforms its creative thinking and innovative ideas into a product that meets the objectives, deadlines and budgets of each project, specializing in strategic planning, marketing, public relations, branding and web design. For more information please call 817-335-0100 or visit www.jodesign.com.

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations Earns National Honor from the Transportation Marketing & Communications Association

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, a full service strategic marketing agency, has earned a 2010 Compass Award of Merit from the Transportation Marketing & Communications Association (TMCA). The awards recognize the best in marketing and communications within the transportation, logistics and passenger transit industries.
 
A winner in the “Direct Marketing Campaign” category, the agency secured the honor with a comprehensive lead generation campaign developed on behalf of ATC Logistics & Electronics (ATCLE).  The campaign was a multi-channel marketing effort reinforced by educational content including white papers, case studies and webinar presentations.
 
“It is an honor to be recognized for work in one our agency’s core verticals,” said Ken Schaefer, president of Blanchard Schaefer.  “More importantly, however, the award stems from delivering high quality work for our client.  Lead generation is among the top priorities for any organization, and our innovative strategy leveraging quality content delivered through various mediums helped us achieve stellar results.  We believe that hybrid campaigns such as these are extremely effective and a core strength of our agency.”
 
Blanchard Schaefer’s submission integrated the disciplines of public relations and advertising, consisting of a five-part campaign executed over the course of one-year. Each component was specifically geared towards leadership executives featuring tailored content.  A variety of digital vehicles supported the campaigns, including email blasts, eNewsletters and direct outreach to industry prospects.  The combined campaign yielded a 347 percent growth in leads.
 
The Compass Awards were open to both members and non-members of the TMCA.  Entries were evaluated and judged by industry professionals in 10 categories including integrated communications, single advertisement, advertising campaign, direct marketing campaign, communications collateral, publications, web-based marketing, multi-media marketing, special events and media relations.  For more information on the Compass Awards or TMCA, please visit www.TMCAToday.org.

GCG MARKETING WELCOMES SCOTT BROWN AS ACCOUNT SERVICES DIRECTOR

Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing today announces the addition of Scott Brown as account services director. In this role, Brown will manage the one of the agency’s account services teams and provide support to all of the agency’s clients, including the development of marketing strategies, presenting proposals and monitoring account processes.

“Scott brings with him a level of agency experience and leadership that will be of great benefit to the account services team,” said Neil Foster, GCG president. “He’s a forward-thinking individual whose knowledge of the digital media realm aligns with our growth strategy; we’re all looking forward to what he can bring to the agency.”

Brown joins GCG following an account supervisor position with the Dallas office of Tribal DDB Worldwide, where he worked primarily with client ExxonMobil as well as other well-known brands such as Dyson, AT&T and Pepsi. He has also worked in an account management capacity for Temerlin McClain, Verizon Communications, Inc., Publicis USA and The Loomis Agency. Brown graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in advertising.

Susan Cook Elected to AAF Central Region Chair

Fort Worth ad woman Susan Cook has been elected Central Region Chair of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). This position also holds a seat on the AAF’s national board of directors and executive committee. President and owner of COOK | A Creative Consultancy, Cook has been active in AAF on the local level for most of her professional career, on the district level for ten years and on the national level since 2005.

As Central Region Chair, Cook will preside over a coalition of five AAF districts as well as representing their interests on the national board and executive committee:

District 5 - Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky
District 6 - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan
District 8 - North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin
District 9 - Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri
District 10 - Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Northwest Louisiana

Cook served as president of AAF-Fort Worth (then known as the Advertising Club of Fort Worth) in 1997-98. In 2003, she received the Silver Medal Award from the club – the highest national award given at the local level to recognize outstanding leadership within the community, leadership within the winner’s company, creative ability, and contributions to the general advancement of advertising.

In 2004, Cook was elected Second Lt. Governor of the AAF’s Tenth District. She served on the district’s executive committee as Second Lt. Governor in 2004-05 and as First Lt. Governor in 2005-06. In 2006-07, she became Governor, where she established groundbreaking programs within the district, including the Innovation and Leadership in Advertising Awards program, given to companies within District 10 that exemplify excellence in four key areas of advertising: media use, employment in District 10, diversity and leadership. In her role as governor, Cook also served on the AAF’s national board of directors and Council of Governors.

In 2009, Cook received the coveted Member of the Year Award from the Tenth District. The award was given to honor her work with clubs throughout the district to strengthen the individual clubs and district as a whole.

Also in 2009, Cook was asked to fill an opening on the district’s executive committee created when the current governor resigned. She served as interim Second Lt. Governor for 10 months during 2009-10.

The American Advertising Federation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as the "Unifying Voice for Advertising." The AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 40,000 professionals in the advertising industry. The AAF has a national network of 200 ad clubs located in ad communities across the country. Through its 226 college chapters, the AAF provides 8,000 advertising students with real-world case studies and recruitment connections to corporate America. The AAF also has nearly 100 blue-chip corporate members that are advertisers, agencies and media companies, comprising the nation's leading brands and corporations. Its mission is to protect and promote the well-being of advertising through a unique, nationally coordinated grassroots network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters.

AAF-FORT WORTH SELECTS SILVER MEDAL AWARD WINNER

Ruth Ann Kearley, founder and current special advisor to the Board for local ad agency Kearley & Company, Inc, has been selected as the recipient of the American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth’s (AAF-Fort Worth) 2010 Silver Medal Award, according to Keith Powell, President of AAF–Fort Worth.

Powell said AAF-Fort Worth will present the Silver Medal award to Kearley at the club’s monthly luncheon at 11:45 am on July 21, 2010, at Joe T. Garcia’s. The event is open to the public and guests can register here.

The American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize outstanding leadership within the community, leadership within the winner’s company, creative ability, and contributions to the general advancement of advertising. Kearley was nominated based on her contributions to her company, to the credit union industry, to the local advertising community, and, most importantly, to the community.

Kearley is an area native, a former Miss Teen Fort Worth, and Paschal High School and TCU alum. Ruth Ann is also nationally known and recognized as a leader in the Credit Union industry. She is credited with starting one of the first marketing departments for a credit union in the state of Texas in the early 1970s while working for EECU in Fort Worth, Texas.

She left the Credit Union as Vice President of Marketing in 1981 to start Kearley & Company, Inc. – a full service advertising and public relations agency.

Throughout it’s 29-year history, the Company has developed into a full-service Advertising, Public Relations, Branding, and Retail Merchandising firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. Today, the agency specializes in credit union industry marketing, but also serves a diverse list of clients in a variety of markets across the United States.

In addition to her commitment to Kearley & Company, she is very involved in numerous civic organizations. Through the years, she has served as President of the Northside Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board for the Lighthouse for the Blind, Board member for Jubilee Theatre, and has been an active member of the Fort Worth Advertising Club and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves on the Executive Board for the Lighthouse for the Blind. In 2007, the Business Press honored Kearley as on of Fort Worth’s Great Woman of Texas honoree.

The American Advertising Federation of Fort Worth, formerly known as the Advertising Club of Fort Worth, exists to elevate the ethical standards and practices of advertising and foster the development of more effective advertising methods. It is Fort Worth’s oldest continuously operating community service organization, founded by the legendary Amon G. Carter in 1909. Visit the AAF-FW website at www.adclubfw.org.

REGISTER NOW FOR WEDNESDAY'S LUNCHEON

Join us on Wednesday, June 16, at Joe T. Garcia’s “La Puertita” to hear from guest speaker Harold Magnum, President of the Memory Training Institute (MTI). The luncheon begins at 11:45 am.

In his speech “Train Your Brain,” Magnum will discuss techniques to help you recall important client information and gain the competitive edge needed in today’s market.

As a psychologist educated at the University of Texas, Magnum brings 27 years of training and development experience to the industry. He has spent 19 years on memory training specifically.

Magnum has conducted workshops for the general public throughout the U.S. and in house programs at Fortune 500 corporations and associations including the following: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Xerox, Microsoft, and many more.

Tickets for the luncheon are $20 for members, $35 for non-members and $15 for students. Joe T Garcia’s is located in Fort Worth at 2201 N. Commerce St., 76164.

REGISTER NOW

Can You Remember This?

Ever have trouble remembering things? For instance, have you ever been introduced to a client, see them a week later and can’t remember his/her name? This is awkward. It makes you cringe. It leaves you searching for clues as to what the name could be—even what the first letter might be. Help!

Well, on Wednesday, June 16, you just might find your answer. AAF-FW is hosting a luncheon at Joe T. Garcia’s “La Puertita” from 11:45am to 1pm. There, Harold Magnum, President of The Memory Technologies Institute will be speaking about techniques that will enable you to recall important client information and names, and gain the competitive edge needed in today’s market.

AAF District 10 Presents Southwest Airlines with Innovation and Leadership in Advertising Award

James Edmund Datri, president and CEO of The American Advertising Federation (AAF) presented AAF Tenth District’s highest honor of leadership and innovation in advertising to Southwest Airlines and its portfolio of agencies on May 12 in Austin. Dave Ridley, senior vice president, Marketing and Revenue Management for Southwest Airlines, accepted the award at a special dinner at GSD&M Idea City.

The Innovation and Leadership in Advertising Award (ILA) recognizes Southwest Airlines and its agencies for many years of inventive advertising programs. This is the fourth year AAF has hosted the ILA Award that highlights companies that exemplify excellence in Media Use, Employment in AAF District Ten, Diversity and Creative Leadership.

In accepting the award, Ridley said, “Wow, to follow behind AT&T, JC Penney and Walmart! What an honor! On behalf of Southwest Airlines, we’re honored to be recognized tonight from the American Advertising Federation 10^th District for this very prestigious award. We could not have made this journey here without all of agencies and partners who have helped made this possible. “

Southwest Airlines’ partner advertising agencies that shared in the award included: GSD&M Idea City – Austin; Camelot Communications, Inc. – Dallas; Y&R Brands/Wunderman Southern California – Irvine, Dieste, Inc. – Dallas; and Dae Advertising – San Francisco.

Kevin Cassis, president of the Austin Ad Federation, kicked off award ceremonies. In welcoming more than 225 guests and congratulating Southwest Airlines, Cassis said, “We’re so pleased that the ILA event was held in Austin, a world class creative center. Competing against cities like New York and Chicago, the Austin Ad Fed will be recognized as the Division One AAF Club of the Year at the national AAF convention in June.”

Southwest Airlines’ Dana Williams, director of Marketing and Communications, also presented a fall internship for an ILA Scholarship recipient. The internship winner, Erin Landy, a University of Texas Advertising major graduating in 2011, will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the AAF Tenth District.

Said Datri, “It was an honor to be a part of this year’s ILA ceremonies – by all accounts the very best yet! A great brand (Southwest), a great spot (GSD&M Idea City), great food, great energy, a great and distinguished crowd, and a host of top-notch sponsors made the event a huge success. Bravo and congratulations to Ann Iverson – ILA Committee Chair; John Aguillard – ILA Committee Co-Chair; Governor Goldston; Executive Director Kevin Dobbs; and the AAF Tenth District Leadership for a wonderful and successful event. The Tenth District Shines Bright!”

Event sponsors included: VISA, BET Networks, Coca-Cola, 4 Guys Interactive, Gannett Digital Media Network, Microsoft Advertising, VML and The Wyndham Hotel Group. In-kind sponsors included: Clampitt Paper, GSD&M Idea City and The Whitley Printing Company, all of Austin.

ABOUT THE AAF

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 40,000 professionals in the advertising industry. The AAF has a national network of 200 ad clubs located in ad communities across the country. Through its 225 college chapters, the AAF provides nearly 7,500 advertising students with real-world case studies and recruitment connections to corporate America. The AAF also has 130 blue-chip corporate members that are advertisers, agencies and media companies, comprising the nation’s leading brands and corporations. For more information, visit the AAF’s Web site at www.aaf.org.

RED PRODUCTIONS SHOOTS FEATURE FILM EXCLUSIVELY IN FORT WORTH

Setting for comedy “Searching for Sonny” honors local film production company’s roots

Fort Worth gets a taste of Hollywood starting this week as local film production company Red Productions begins shooting “Searching for Sonny,” a comedy written and directed by Cowtown native Andrew Disney.

“It’s been a long time since a full-length feature film was shot here,” said Red Sanders, ‘Sonny’ producer and owner of Red Productions. “We’re excited to use our lens to bring notoriety to the community that has supported us from the beginning and that has such a strong devotion to the arts.”

According to Sanders, scenes for “Searching for Sonny” will be shot at the following well-known local sites:

· Trinity Valley School

· Historic Electric Building

· Ol’ South Pancake House

· Caravan Inn

· Spinks Airport

“After combing the country for the right script, we ended up finding the perfect one in our own backyard,” continued Sanders. “Andrew Disney is extremely talented and shares in our vision to bring great filmmaking to Fort Worth; we’re excited to be teaming up with him for ‘Sonny’ and beyond.”

Cast members joining ‘Sonny’ include Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Masi Oka (“Heroes,” “Get Smart”), Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights,” “500 Days of Summer”) and Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”). They appear alongside Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney, who form the New York City comedy duo BriTANick, best known for their recent Internet sketch video “Movie Title.”

Members of the community who are interested in participating as extras in the film are welcome to send an e-mail to extras@redproductions.com and are asked to provide their contact information, age and gender.

About “Searching for Sonny”

“Searching for Sonny” is a film that tells the story of Calvin, Elliot and Gary who return to their high school reunion to discover that their old buddy, Sonny, is missing under mysterious circumstances. After run-ins with the law, an ex-girlfriend and the corpse of the high school quarterback, the mystery turns meta when they realize that everything happening seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school – a play Sonny wrote. To learn more, visit www.searchingforsonny.com or visit its Facebook page.

About Red Productions

Red Productions is an Emmy award-winning film and video production company based in Fort Worth, Tex., specializing in feature, documentary, commercial and industrial films to be distributed through theaters, TV, DVD and the Web. To learn more, visit www.redproductions.com or visit its Facebook page.

National Expert in PR Measurement Speaks May 19 in Fort Worth

The Greater Fort Worth Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America announces that on May 19, Katie Paine, a national expert on public relations measurement, will lead a half-day professional development workshop and luncheon presentation on public relations and social media metrics.

Both the workshop and the luncheon will be held at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth and PRSA members and non-members alike are invited to attend. For additional information, including workshop pricing, or to register for the events, visit www.fortworthprsa.org.

Paine’s morning workshop will begin at 8:00 a.m. and cover the key elements of engagement, including quantitative, qualitative and new relationship metrics. She will also discuss cost- effective measurement solutions for budget-conscious companies. Over lunch, Paine will lead a session reviewing the principles of measurement and how they apply to the new, wild world of social media. The luncheon and the workshop are sponsored by the Balcom Agency.

Paine is the CEO and founder of KDPaine & Partners LLC and author of Measuring Public Relationships: The Data Driven Communicator's Guide to Success. She also writes the first blog and the first newsletters dedicated entirely to measurement and accountability. For the past two decades, Paine has been providing marketers and communications professionals the tools, data and information to help them make better business decisions.

2010 National ADDY Awards

Saturday June 12

Orlando, Florida

With over 60,000 entries annually, the ADDY® Awards are the world’s largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. The ADDY® Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

Entrance to the ADDY® Awards is included in 2010 AAF National Conference Registration. To purchase a separate ticket, please complete this form and return to Lucille Hill via fax: (202) 898-0159, or e-mail: lhill@aaf.org.


Tickets will be available for pick up on site at the AAF national conference registration desk, beginning Wednesday, June 9. Please be sure to claim them prior to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12.

Meet the Future of Advertising

NSAC Recruiters Expo
This June, the best advertising students in the country will all be in the same room. Be there to meet them.

NSAC Recruiters Expo
June 11, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek & Waldorf Astoria, Orlando, Fla.

Hosted during AAF's National Conference 2010, the NSAC Recruiters Expo offers companies the opportunity to meet and explore career opportunities with the national finalists for the National Student Advertising Competition. These students have been judged to be the best by the country's top advertising executives in their district competitions.

Students will have the opportunity to learn about internships and career opportunities from recruiters representing some of the nation's top advertising, marketing and communications companies.

To learn more about the AAF National Conference, please visit www.aaf.org/conference. For questions or more information about recruiter packages, contact Candace Elliott at celliott@aaf.org.

Fort Worth Professional Earns Accreditation in Public Relations

Margaret Ritsch, director of public relations with Balcom Agency in Fort Worth, Texas has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.

The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The Examination is designed for public relations professionals with five to seven years of job experience and/or a bachelor’s degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting his/her portfolio to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based Examination, are granted the APR.

“Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession,” said Felicia Blow, APR, 2009 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. “Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients.”

The computer-based portion of the Examination is administered throughout the year at more than 300 Prometric Testing Centers. The Readiness Review is conducted prior to the computer-based portion of the Examination by a panel of three Accredited members of one or more of the nine organizations participating in the UAB. Professionals earning the APR must maintain their credential through continuing professional development, providing leadership to the profession and serving their local communities.

About the Universal Accreditation Board
The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations that today includes the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America, Religion Communicators Council, Southern Public Relations Federation and Texas Public Relations Association. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession.

For more information about the UAB and the APR designation, visit www.praccreditation.org.

April Luncheon Features The Man Behind the Brand

Learn the secrets behind some of the best known brands from The Man Behind the Brand, Erin Patton. Patton is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost experts on branding, sports marketing and urban consumer behavior. As Founder & Principal of award-winning brand management consulting firm, The Mastermind Group (TMG), he has counseled Fortune 500 brands including Jordan, Double-Mint Gum, Motorola, AT&T, Exxon-Mobil, Adidas, Converse, Mercedes-Benz, Ford Motor Company, Coors Light, Absolut and Macy’s in addition to global sports icons LeBron James and Venus and Serena Williams.

Patton also currently serves on the faculty of the SMU Cox School of Business Department of Marketing as an Adjunct Lecturer. His book, “Under The Influence: Tracing the Hip-Hop Generation’s Impact on Brands, Sports & Pop Culture” serves as a practical guide for marketers and media practitioners looking to define this transcultural audience and translate its $300 billion market opportunity in a new consumer paradigm and digital age. Books will be available for sale (and autographs) at the luncheon for $25.

When:

April 21, 2010

11:45 am to 1 pm

Where:

Joe T. Garcia's

"La Puertita," 2201 N Commerce St

Fort Worth, TX 76106

Fee:

Executive Member Included with Dues

Non Member $35

Professional or member of another AAF Club $20

Student $15

RSVP:

Click here to RSVP by April 20, 2010

{algo+rhythm} welcomes Woodward Oge

{algo+rhythm} welcomes Woodward Oge as their Digital Strategist and will be the agency’s lead for Strategic Initiatives in Social Media.

Woodward brings over 9 years of deep and diverse sales, marketing and analytical experience to {algo+rhythm}. Most recently, he worked as a consultant to the Boy Scouts of America, helping develop a digital and social media strategy for their re-branding initiative. He has been involved in international transactions with some of the world's biggest airlines at Source One Spares, including Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Prior to getting his MBA, Woodward was self-employed as an equity options trader. He has worked as an analyst in institutional equity sales at Lehman Brothers and as a financial advisor in the Private Client Group at Merrill Lynch.

He holds an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and a BBA in Finance, both from Texas Christian University.

Twitter: twitter.com/WoodwardOge
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/woodwardoge

AAF-Fort Worth to Honor TCU Football with Dateline Award

The American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth (AAF-Fort Worth) will recognize the Texas Christian University football program with the 2009 Dateline Award for the team’s success in bringing the national spotlight to Fort Worth.

Sponsored by TCU ISP Sports Network, the Dateline award presentation and luncheon will be on Thursday, March 25, at Joe T. Garcias from 11:45 am to 1 pm. To register for the event, click HERE by Wednesday, March 24.

“The impressive performance by the TCU Horned Frog football team this season has given Fort Worth national exposure and showed the nation the pride that Fort Worth has for our city,” said Jason Parker, president of AAF-Fort Worth.

As the Frogs began their regular season, which ended in an undefeated 12-0 season, the nation began to take notice of the underdogs in purple. Following TCU’s climb to number four in the BCS rankings, ESPN College Gameday headed to Fort Worth for the first time on November 14, to cover the Horned Frogs battle against the Utah Utes. The city of Fort Worth received national exposure and Lee Corso donned the famous SuperFrog head in support of a Frog victory, for the second time that season.

The Utah victory sealed the Frog’s number four BCS ranking and following Air Force and New Mexico losses, the Mountain West Conference Championship. All the while the city of Fort Worth and the nation rallied behind the Frog’s quest for a BCS bowl game, which culminated in an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ to compete in their first BCS bowl game.

“There is a real ‘town and gown' relationship that you feel here,” said Chris Del Conte, TCU’s athletic director. “We try to paint the town purple. The mayor of Fort Worth declared Fridays to be ‘Purple Day,' and every city employee wears purple. Those are the sort of things that happen when you're the only team in town.”

Previous Dateline Award recipients include celebrity the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Chef Tim Love, the North Texas Speedway, the Van Cliburn Competition and Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.

ADDY Gala Photos: A Picture Perfect Cause

Commemorate your ADDY experience and donate to a good cause. You can purchase Fort Worth ADDY photos for $5.00 and Photographer Ed Blinn will donate the proceeds to Advertising Education Sponsorships (AES), which financially assists local students in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) and provides student scholarships.

Don't forget to check out the gallery posted on the AAF-Fort Worth Facebook Fan page.

AAF-FORT WORTH REACHES OUT TO HELP THE HUNGRY

More than two dozen members and friends of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth volunteered Saturday morning at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, where they packed non-perishable foods for distribution.

According to the food bank, one in eight Tarrant-area residents received emergency food assistance from the service organization in the past three months.

“More people than ever need a little help these days, and the Tarrant Area Food Bank is an incredible organization serving our community as well as 12 neighboring counties,” said Jason Parker, president of AAF-Fort Worth. “The level of service it provides given its day-to-day challenges is amazing, and our members find it gratifying to volunteer their time to assist the organization in its fight against hunger.”

AAF, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009, has a long history of civic contribution, supplying creative and advertising talent to a host of local organizations over the years, including an annual benefit concert to support Limbs for Life.

If you are interested in requesting volunteers from AAF-Fort Worth or joining one of our volunteer projects, please fill out our volunteer form.

To learn more about the Tarrant Area Food Bank, visit www.tafb.org.

Click Here to view the volunteer photo gallery.

FORT WORTH ADVERTISING INDUSTRY ANSWERED THE QUESTION: WHO’S YOUR ADDY? WITH IMPRESSIVE ENTRIES FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY

Fort Worth’s advertising elite gathered at The Ashton Depot February 27, 2010, for a gala to celebrate the 2009 ADDY® Awards and show.

The Best of Show honor for the 2009 ADDY® Awards went to Warren Douglas for their Briannas’ campaign, developed for Del Sol Food, Co.

As Best of Show, Warren Douglas may assume the role of campaign creator for the 2010 ADDY® Awards. Balcom Agency handled this years’ creative – which included the lyrical theme, “Who’s your ADDY?”

Robeegraffix Advertising Design, llc received the Best of Show – Print award for the Board of Director’s Gift book, created for Fort Worth-based XTO Energy Inc.

Red Productions won Best of Show - Electronic Award for their Dallas Cowboys Season 2009 campaign – season opener created for the Dallas Cowboys.

Three special judges awards were also given at Saturday night’s event.

The Balcom Agency won a special judges award for “Fossil Fuels. They’re a Gas” billboard created for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Concussion won a special judges award for “Armed Forces Bowl – More than a Bowl Game” Campaign. And the third special judges award went to Red Productions for their Christmas Card video 2009.

In addition to professional awards, several students were recognized at Saturday’s gala with outstanding creative on display from Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas and Westwood College.

Student Best of Show was awarded to Mitchell Ditto of the University of North Texas for his Seventh Generation Campaign. And special judges awards went to Megan Mead of The University of North Texas, Martha Cornejo of TCU, and Katelyn English of TCU.

The contest drew 640 total entries. Gold ADDY winners will now compete in the Tenth District ADDYs in April in Amarillo, Texas. Winners at the district level will move on to the National ADDYs on June 10 in Orlando, FL.

GCG MARKETING RECEIVES 33 AWARDS IN LOCAL ADVERTISING COMPETITION

Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing was honored for excellence in advertising with 33 ADDY^® awards at the Feb. 27 American Advertising Federation - Fort Worth 2009 ADDY^® Gala, representing another successful year of award-winning work for the agency.

The GCG team received two gold ADDYs for its illustration work for Cash America International’s 2009 annual report, one for a poster campaign designed for Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, one for the creative execution of a special event invitation for DPT Laboratories, and one for a self-promotional poster for the agency. The agency was also awarded 15 silver and 13 bronze ADDYs.

GCG Marketing has received more than 200 ADDY^® awards over the past decade, including more than 80 gold awards and numerous Best of Show and Special Judges awards. Since 1999, the agency has won more gold awards and more ADDY^® awards overall than any other Fort Worth agency, establishing a strong tradition of success within the Fort Worth community.

Balcom Agency Shines at Fort Worth ADDY Awards with 35 Awards and Special Judges Award

Balcom Agency earned 35 ADDY^® awards at the AAF-Fort Worth awards gala held Saturday, February 27. In addition to winning seven gold, 12 silver, and 16 bronze awards, Balcom Agency won the Special Judges’ Award for a humorous and eye-catching billboard designed for the newly-renovated Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. The billboard, which features a gaseous dinosaur, elicits a giggle with a double entendre that touts the intrigue of fossil fuels. It states simply, “Fossil Fuels. They’re a Gas.”

Balcom Agency won seven total awards for its work with the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, including a Gold ADDY^® for its comprehensive outdoor advertising campaign for the museum’s grand opening, consisting of colorful billboards featuring humorous one-liners and playful characters.

Additional Gold ADDYs included an award for the rough-and-tumble packaging design for a new line of Justin Boots: Justin Bent Rail, whose target consumers are “rebel-without-a-cause” alt-country music lovers. A silver ADDY went to a comprehensive mixed-media campaign for Justin Bent Rail, supported vigorously through social media and involving the creation of a Web site (www.justinbentrail.com) where Justin endorsees and country music stars upload exclusive videos. The agency also won a Gold ADDY^® for its outdoor advertising campaign for Dallas’ luxury Metropolitan condominiums.

JOSIAH IVEY HIRED AS INTERACTIVE DEVELOPER AT BALCOM AGENCY

Josiah Ivey has joined the Balcom Agency as interactive developer, bringing five years of professional experience to the agency’s creative services division.

Prior to joining Balcom Agency, Ivey worked as web application tester and developer for Sprint Nextel Corporation. In his role, Ivey designed and coded websites and managed company servers. As Interactive Creative Director Brian Blankenship noted, “Josiah’s broad range of experience in ASP, PHP, and Ruby on Rails elevates the Agency’s capabilities to another level. We’re thrilled he’s joined the B-team.” Brian’s colleague, Interactive Account Director Chip Hanna, echoes these sentiments, saying “Josiah’s experience in web development greatly expands the services Balcom can offer to our clients. His experience in enterprise-level development is an incredible asset to Balcom.”

GCG MARKETING PROMOTES STAFF, WELCOMES INTERNS

Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing today announces the recent promotion of Pat Gabriel to creative director and Kris Copeland to senior art director along with the addition of Alex Atkinson and Aaron Mullens as account services interns.

Gabriel has been promoted to creative director from associate creative director and plays a key role in shaping GCG’s creative process, from concept to completion. He oversees the creative department, ensuring quality and delivery of all design solutions. In addition to his management duties, Gabriel leads on design projects for multiple accounts, including Exxon Mobil Corporation and Tandy Brands. A self- taught graphic designer, Gabriel has been a member of the GCG team for more than 19 years.

Copeland advances to senior art director from art director. In the two years Copeland has been with GCG, his work has earned the agency significant recognition. His creative execution of the agency’s work for the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation received national awards in 2009 from Med Ad News and Medical Marketing & Media. His 2009 work for Lone Star Ag Credit also received a local gold ADDY award.

Atkinson is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona. Prior to joining GCG as an account services intern, she held a communications assistant position for the Clinical Trials Office of the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson, AZ.

Also joining the agency as an account services intern, Mullens is currently a senior at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business. He is an active member of Beta Upsilon Chi (Brothers Under Christ) fraternity and a member of the American Marketing Association.

STEPHANIE SCOTT HIRED AS SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AT BALCOM AGENCY

Stephanie Scott has joined the Balcom Agency as social media manager, bringing four years of professional experience to the agency’s public relations division.

Prior to joining Balcom Agency, Scott lived in New York City and served as senior program manager for four years at Duke Corporate Education, the world’s leading customized executive education firm. In her role as program manager, Scott oversaw the design and implementation of creative learning experiences for Fortune 500 clients, among them Booz Allen Hamilton, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Bloomberg. She is also a multi-published freelance writer.

Scott graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with bachelors degrees in psychology and Spanish studies.

Concussion Rides Away with DART

Concussion, a full-service marketing, advertising and design firm, has been chosen as agency of record for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) announced Dennis Mochon, DART Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Advertising.

Concussion is also agency of record for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA). When combined, Concussion’s transit clients make up one of the largest regional transit systems in the country.

Per the terms of the initial three-year contract, Concussion will provide a full range of marketing services including strategic planning, research, creative, media planning and placement, promotions development and interactive, among others.

According to Mochon, Concussion was selected during a rigorous agency review process based on the firm’s depth of transit industry experience and its unique approach to DART’s business. “Looking at their record with other transit properties and their plans for DART it’s clear Concussion understands us,” Mochon said. “They know how to talk to transit customers and how to engage potential riders.”

“This is not just another account win for us, it’s more of a mission” said Allen Wallach, CEO and partner of Concussion. “We believe in the power of mass transit to transform cities and make a positive impact on citizens’ lives. As the agency of record for all three of North Texas’ transit systems we plan to lead a cultural shift in how mass transit is viewed and used, and to be a part of a model regional transit marketing program for the entire nation.”

Priority projects for Concussion include promoting DART’s recently opened light rail Green Line and its subsequent phases, the Blue Line extension, the Orange Line that will run parallel with the Green Line through Downtown Dallas to Bachman Station in Northwest Dallas, and increasing system-wide bus ridership.

With the first section of the Green Line now open, plans of connecting communities far and wide are transforming into reality. This 28-mile, $1.8 billion project will bring public transportation to more people in more places. It is a clean air solution for the citizens of Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton that is expected to reduce pollutant emissions by more than 320 tons per year.

DART’s Green Line is also providing a boost to the local economy. Looking at the big picture, the DART Rail System is responsible for $7 billion in current, planned and projected transit-oriented development. The Green Line expansion plays a part in this and includes large and visible projects such as Ambrose at Baylor University Medical Center Station and Cityville at Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station.