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.