Marshall “Kobee” King Hired as Balcom Agency’s Newest Interactive Designer

Fort Worth, Texas – April 22, 2008 – The Balcom Agency has hired Kobee King as interactive designer for its fast-expanding interactive division.

Kobee brings expertise in interactive design and multimedia with a focus on the user experience. Previously, he was an art director and designer at Steven Michael Studios and Artistry Marketing in Dallas.

AAF-Fort Worth Well-Represented at District Convention

Seven delegates representing AAF-Fort Worth attended the district convention in Dallas last week. Among those: Kent Dean, president; Mike Roundtree, first vice president; Jason Parker, second vice president; Lynne Swihart, past president; Kelsey Flower, board member; Kevin Callahan, member; and Susan Adkins, past president and immediate past governor of the Tenth District. Shown above: Mike Roundtree, Susan Adkins, Lynne Swihart and Kelsey Flower.

AAF-Fort Worth Wins Club Achievement at National Level

Kent Dean, president of AAF-Fort Worth, was notified on Friday, April 18, that AAF-Fort Worth had received awards in Club Achievement from the national organization of the American Advertising Federation. The two awards were:

• First Place in Club Management

• Third Place in Programs

Kent and the entire board of directors have worked diligently over the last year to resolve some of the management issues facing the club and to provide meaningful programs of interest for its members. It's nice to have those efforts recognized.

TCU Student Team Comes in Second at District NSAC Competition

Texas Christian University’s student team was awarded First Runner-Up honors at the district-level competition for the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition during the District Ten convention in Dallas. Last year, TCU placed first at the district NSAC competition.

AAF's National Student Advertising Competition is the premier college advertising competition and provides more than 3,000 college students with real-world experience by requiring development of a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate sponsor. The 2008 NSAC sponsor is AOL, a global leader in Web-based businesses, which provided a case study, including goals and objectives, budgets and more for students to address.

Students from sixteen schools competed during the district level competition on April 17. Each school performed research to determine creative strategy and executions to meet or exceed AOL’s stated goals for the defined market segment. The schools then created a plans book, detailing the research, conclusions drawn, plans, media, budget allocations, creative executions and expected outcomes. Judges received the books two weeks prior to the competition to review and score. During the live portion of the competition, each school team had 20 minutes to present their plans to the judges, then a 10-minute Q/A period.

The winning team from District Ten was Texas State University’s student team, edging out TCU’s team by only two points. As the second-place team from a district with more than 12 competing teams, TCU still has the opportunity to compete at nationals as a wildcard team. This determination should be made and announced within the next month.

The NSAC Schools from each district will present their campaigns to a panel of industry executives at the AAF National Conference in Atlanta in June.

DFW AMA hosts Stephen Springfield, Frito-Lay

FORT WORTH, TX--(Marketwire - April 16, 2008) - The Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) announces that on Thursday, April 24 from 11:30AM to 1:30PM, it will host a luncheon program featuring Stephen Springfield, Customer Strategies and Insights, Frito-Lay at the Reata Restaurant, 310 Houston St., Fort Worth, TX.

According to Stephen, regardless of the industry, there are often two key marketing targets, the "end-user or customer" and the "shopper" or "gatekeeper." So, does the existence of these two targets necessitate distinct marketing disciplines? Does traditional brand theory support an integrated model, or is a new unified framework required? At this luncheon, we will attempt to separate truth from hype...

Want to read more about it? http://new.marketwire.com/2.0/rel.jsp?id=844844

AAF District Ten Announces District ADDY® Winners

Congratulations to these winners of District ADDY Awards. All winners are eligible to move on to national competition.

Professional Winners:

• Jason Catchings Hunting & Fishing • Balcom Agency • Jason Catchings Hunting & Fishing • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Edwards Ranch Journal Illustrations • Balcom Agency • Edwards Ranch • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Gypsy Cowgirl Boot Box • Balcom Agency • Justin Boot Company • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Second Chance Run Logo • Balcom Agency • Life Gift • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Metropolitan Campaign Illustrations • Balcom Agency • Garrison Partners • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Edwards Ranch Journal • Balcom Agency • Edwards Ranch • Gold ADDY® Award
• What are the Odds? • Balcom Agency • Boys & Girls Clubs • Silver ADDY® Award
• What are the Odds? Still • Balcom Agency • Boys & Girls Clubs • Silver ADDY® Award
• Arts Council Viral Campaign • Balcom Agency • Arts Council of Fort Worth • Silver ADDY® Award
• What are the Odds? Portrait • Balcom Agency • Boys & Girls Clubs • Silver ADDY® Award
• Come Out & Play • Blanchard Schaefer • Arlington Museum of Art • Silver ADDY® Award
• Adam Pierce Birth Announcement • Brian & Stacey Pierce • Brian & Stacey Pierce • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Beastro Logo • Concussion • Fort Worth Zoo • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Business Press Family Business • Concussion • Concussion • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Idlewild Magazine Ad • Concussion • Village Homes • Bronze ADDY® Award
• The 10 Laws of Wealth and • Concussion • Ron Willingham • Silver ADDY® Award
• It's About Time • Concussion • Ennovations Group • Silver ADDY® Award
• Idlewild Print Ad Campaign • Concussion • Village Homes • Silver ADDY® Award
• Clampitt Paper Christmas Card • Concussion • Clampitt Paper Company • Silver ADDY® Award
• Vidalias Valet Announcement • GCG • Renaissance Worthington Hotel • Bronze ADDY® Award
• 10th District Conference Campaign • GCG • AAF District 10 • Silver ADDY® Award
• Glint Polish • Glint Advertising & Design • Glint Advertising & Design, LLC • Bronze ADDY® Award
• Valentine Self Promotion • Pat Sloan Design • Pat Sloan Design • Silver ADDY® Award
• American Ironhorse '07 • Rassai Interactive • American Ironhorse • Silver ADDY® Award
• Robeegraffix Advertising Design E- • Robeegraffix Advertising • Robeegraffix Advertising Design • Bronze ADDY® Award
• AAF Fort Worth MAGAZINE DAY • Robeegraffix Advertising • AAF Fort Worth • Bronze ADDY® Award
• TCU Magazine Immigration Feature • TCU • The TCU Magazine • Silver ADDY® Award

Student Winners:

• Hpnotiq Advertisements • Beth Gillespie • University of North Texas • Student Bronze ADDY®
• Artist Ale Labels • William Johnson • Westood College-Fort Worth • Student Bronze ADDY®
• Tazo tea campaign • Martha Cornejo Uranga • Texas Christian University • Student Bronze ADDY®
• Coke Blak • Jessica Hillman • University of North Texas • Student Bronze ADDY®
• M & M outdoor promotion • Martha Cornejo Uranga • Texas Christian University • Student Gold ADDY®
• Olympus Digital Camera • Elizabeth Guerrero • Texas Christian University • Student Gold ADDY®

Kearley & Company Relocates to W. Magnolia

After 17 years in Fort Worth's Museum District, Kearley relocated their offices in early April 2008.

Kearley's offices are now located in the Magnolia Centre Builing at 1227 West Magnolia Avenue, Suite LL100 Fort Worth,Texas 76104.

Kearley Vice President Elisa Jackson reports that the team is very excited about the new office space and location - which is in the heart of the hospital district.

Silver Medal Follow-Up

Cody Curry received the AAF Silver Medal Award from AAF-Fort Worth March 19. A very worthy recipient, Cody embodies the qualities for which the award is given (see story below).

Photos:

Cody Curry accepts Silver Medal from Kent Dean








Curry Family - Brent Tucker, Jan Curry, Carrie Tucker, Cody Curry, Linda Curry

Past SM Winners (+1) - Gwen St. Clair, Roby McEuen, John Cockrell, Cody Curry, Joe Dulle, Susan Adkins, Scott Turner



Attending: Bob Howald and Joe Dulle





Attendees load up their plates

April Program: The Non-Negotiable, Irrefutable and Never Changing Laws of the Sales Universe

Sales gurus come and go with the wind.
Books line our shelves touting every conceivable permutation of approach.
When it is all said and done, there really are laws of the sales universe that are forever and unchanging. Sales people ignore them at their peril.

If your pitches aren't landing business you thought was in the bag...
If your company cut the training budget ( what budget?)
If you're wondering, how are those other guys doing it?

April's meeting will be a reminder of how much fun sales can be and how great it feels to win.

Barbara Beggs is President of Beggs Consulting, Inc. a training and consulting firm that helps clients develop their competitive edge by improving their sales and marketing skills. A sales executive for more than twenty years, she has worked for and with Fortune 100 companies, as well as entrepreneurs. She creates customized training and coaching programs for organizations and individuals that want to find, win and keep the best clients for life.

Barbara graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and got to Texas as soon as she could. She’s currently enrolled in the University of Texas at Dallas Executive and Professional Coaching program, pursuing accreditation by the International Coaching Federation. Barbara is a Qualified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Practitioner and is a Certified DiSC Sales Styles Assessment trainer. She lives in Arlington, where she enjoys spoiling friends with her skills in the kitchen and planning her next travel adventure.

Legislative News to You

From Acting Legislative Committee Chairman - Mike Roundtree
March 5, 2008

SPECIAL ALERT:
Consumer Products Safety Commission
The U.S. House and Senate are currently considering legislation to "modernize" the Consumer Products Safety Commission. The bills are wide-ranging, but the version being considered in the Senate includes provisions that are especially problematic for advertising. The Senate bill calls for any advertisement for a toy, game, balloon, small ball or marble that requires a cautionary statement to include the statement in or immediately adjacent to the ad.

The House passed bill would require the entire cautionary statement in any ad that provides a direct means to purchase the toy—such as Internet or catalog advertising. The Senate bill ( S. 2045) would especially place undue burdens on advertising by compelling inclusion of the warning language in all advertisements. In addition, the mandated speech would likely violate the First Amendment guarantees of commercial free speech. Warning language on packaging is appropriate and sufficient. Timing is uncertain, but the Senate could consider the bill as
soon as this week. Senators need to hear from the industry that this provision must be deleted. Contact information for your senators can be found at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm .

OTHER NEWS:

FTC Plans Green Guides Workshop
The Federal Trade Commission has announced it will hold a second public workshop on April 30 as the agency continues its review of the "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims," or Green Guides. The workshop will focus on new green packaging claims such as "sustainable" and "renewable" and the consumer perception of such claims. Additionally, the FTC said it will examine third-party certification programs that verify environmental impact. The guides were last revised in 1998.

Nielsen Study Finds Many Americans Unprepared for Digital TV Transition
A new study released by Nielsen found that 13 million households have television sets equipped only for analog broadcasts and are currently unprepared for the digital television transition. An additional six million households have at least one television that will not work once the analog-to-digital transition is completed on February 19, 2009. These numbers amount to 10 percent of households with only analog broadcast capabilities and 17 percent of households with at least one television currently incapable of receiving digital broadcasts. In order to continue to receive television signals, consumers must purchase a new digital TV, purchase a converter box or subscribe to a cable or satellite subscription service.

THE HONDO GROUP BUCKS TREND: While Some Talk Recession, The Hondo Group Enjoys Growth

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is pleased to announce two additions to their team – Traffic Manager Van Artiaga and Public Relations Director René Smith. “The Hondo Group is experiencing unprecedented growth and we’re preparing for continued success by expanding our team with seasoned veterans such as Van and René,” said Lynn Balinas, president of The Hondo Group.

In conjunction with expanding the team, the company is planning a celebration for its newest office located in Darlington, Wisconsin. The office helps to better serve The Hondo Group’s many clients in the agricultural industry. The opening celebration for the Darlington office is planned for May 1, 2008.

CONCUSSION SCORES SIX GRAPHIS GOLD INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS

Fort Worth agency, Concussion, was awarded six Graphis gold awards and placement in the Graphis Logo Design 7 book, and is up for inclusion in the Graphis Poster Annual ‘08/’09, honoring excellence in poster design.

Honored are logos created for Quicksilver Gas Services, Fort Worth Zoo’s Arachnitopia exhibit, Hello Labels, N3, FireLake Grand Casino and Treehouse Foods.

The Graphis Logo Design 7 book will be available soon. Graphis has long been hailed as the design industry’s premier showcase and publication for graphic communications worldwide. “It’s one of the most prestigious honors a designer can receive”, said Andrew Yanez, chief creative officer. “Our six awards and published work are further proof of our world-class capabilities.”