2013 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Sailing with Navy

The United States Naval Academy will be sailing into the Metroplex in 2013 as the Midshipmen have signed an agreement to compete in that year's edition of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), theBell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl has featured a military-theme since 2006 with the United States Air Force Academy competing in the past two post-season games at Amon G. Carter Stadium against Cal and Houston where the Falcons dropped a pair of six-point decision to the Bears (2007, 42-36) and the Cougars (2008, 34-28).

"Obviously we are as pleased as can be that Navy, with it's great heritage and tradition, has agreed to participate in our 2013 game," said Tom Starr, Executive Director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. "Having one of our nation's military academies participate in our game is a natural, and is extremely popular with our fans as the past two years have proven with sellouts featuring the Air Force Academy."

Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk extended his “thanks to ESPN and the bowl committee for extending an invitation to our Midshipmen. We have thousands of alumni, enlisted and prior enlisted sailors and marines who reside within the Dallas-Fort Worth community and this opportunity will allow us to bring our highly spirited supporters and football family together in one of the most hospitable communities in the country. We are generally excited and grateful for this invitation."

Navy has currently strung together six-consecutive winning seasons as the Midshipmen have compiled a 51-25 record since 2003 with six-straight bowl appearances. With wins over both Air Force and Army in 2008, Navy earned its sixth consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, tying the record for consecutive trophies won set by Air Force from 1998-02.

Navy, which owns an all-time record of 632-516-57 (.548), became just the second school in FBS history to reach the 1,200 games played milestone last season when the Midshipmen handed SMU a 34-7 setback in an October meeting in Annapolis. Rutgers has competed in the most games in FBS history with Michigan and Nebraska ranking behind the Middies.

In 128 years of football, Navy has played in 15 bowl games, including a current streak of six years in a row with six victories. The Naval Academy has won one National Championship (1926) while producing two Heisman Trophy winners (Joe Bellino in 1960 and Roger Staubach in 1963), 34 first-team All-Americans, five first-team Academic All-Americans, four Maxwell Trophy winners and 21 members of the College Football Hall of Fame.

For the third straight year, the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will “usher” in the New Year as the 2009 post-season college football game will be played on New Year’s Eve at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will be televised live on ESPN on Thursday, December 31 with the kickoff time still to be determined. The seventh edition of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will feature schools from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference.

With Patriotic overtones featuring all five branches of the military, the 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl included a fanfest area showcasing military hardware; a flyover; a demonstration by one of the top military skydiving teams; induction ceremonies on the field; a military band and honor guard; and the presentation of the “Great American Patriot Award.” The 2008 GAPA award winner was Army General David Petraeus.

A Textron Inc. Company, Bell Helicopter agreed August 23, 2006, to be the title sponsorship for the post-season college football game formerly known as the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl (2003, 2004) and the Fort Worth Bowl (2005), which is now the Armed Forces Bowl. With those changes, the official name is the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. On December 6, 2007, Bell Helicopter exercised its option for title sponsorship of the game for 2008 and 2009.

Ticket prices for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl are $50 for sideline seats, $40 for upper deck seats and $20 for end-zone tickets. Military veterans receive half off any $40 and $50 seat and active-duty personnel get in free via the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl corporate military ticket underwriting program. A portion of local ticket sales will go to designated military charities. Tickets for the 2009 game can be obtained by calling the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl office at817/810-0012.

Ringler Named Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Executive Director

Fort Worth, Texas, July 23, 2009 - ESPN Regional Television (ERT) has announced that Brant B. Ringler as been named the Executive Director for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl after serving the past five years as its chief marketing director.

The 39-year-old Ringler replaces Tom Starr, who resigned May 29 to enter private business. Starr was named in June 2003 as the first Executive Director for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, which is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television of Charlotte, N. C.

"We are excited for this opportunity for Brant as well as our Bowl," said Clint Overby, senior director of events, ESPN Regional Television. "The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl has established a strong presence in the Fort Worth sports landscape and we feel that Brant will continue building the event."

A veteran sports marketer, Ringler was named in November 2004 as the Manager of Sales and Marketing for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. While serving in his present capacity, Ringler has set records for soliciting the number of corporate partners involved with the bowl, and was a key element in securing the Bell Helicopter title sponsorship of the game.

“Through the benefit of already working with one of the best staffs in the bowl business, I look forward to continuing the growth of the event within our great community,” said Ringler. “I have enjoyed working the past five years with Tom Starr, so I feel the transition will be smooth.”

Featured in the Fort Worth Business Press’ “40 under 40,” which spotlights 40 of the area’s best and brightest under the age of 40, Ringler joined the Fort Worth-based bowl after four seasons as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Fort Worth Cats professional baseball team. That team was named the 2002 and 2003 Central Baseball League’s Organization of the Year.

He started his sports marketing career with the San Diego Padres minor league affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, as Sales Manager (1994-1998). Following that position, he worked as a corporate sales executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ringler is a 1993 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in Communications.

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will be televised live on ESPN from Amon G. Carter Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. (CT). The seventh edition of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will feature schools from Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference.

With Patriotic overtones featuring all five branches of the military, the 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl included a fanfest area showcasing military hardware; a flyover; a demonstration by two of the top military skydiving teams; induction ceremonies on the field; a military band and joint color guard; plus the presentation of the “Great American Patriot Award,” all presented by Armed Forces Insurance. The 2008 GAPA award winner was Army General David H. Petraeus.

A Textron Inc. Company, Bell Helicopter agreed August 23, 2006, to the title sponsorship for the postseason college football game formerly known as the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl (2003, 2004) and the Fort Worth Bowl (2005), which is now the Armed Forces Bowl. With those changes, the official name became the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. On December 6, 2007, Bell Helicopter exercised its option for title sponsorship of the game for 2008 and 2009.

Ticket prices for the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl are $50 for sideline seats, $40 for upper deck seats and $20 for end-zone tickets. Military veterans receive half off any $40 and $50 seat, and active-duty personnel get in free via the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl corporate military ticket-underwriting program. A portion of local ticket sales will go to designated military charities. Tickets for this year’s game can be obtained by calling the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl office at (817) 810-0012 or by visiting the bowl’s official Web site: http://armedforcesbowl.com.

THE BALCOM AGENCY CONSIDERED AMONG THE “BEST PLACES TO WORK” IN NORTH TEXAS

The Dallas Business Journal announced its Best Places to Work 2009 winners Friday, and the Balcom Agency earned the distinction among small businesses (10-99 North Texas employees).

An independent research firm, Quantum Workplace, administered employee surveys to determine the winning companies. Businesses that achieved best-practice scores were selected as Best Places to Work. An aggregate score of 90 or higher is considered a best-practice score for small businesses.

“It’s our people who make the Balcom Agency a great place to work,” said Stuart Balcom, the agency’s president. “My job is to simply provide the tools and support needed. Then, they make great things happen for us and our clients.”

The winning companies’ rankings will be announced Sept. 17 at a special awards luncheon hosted by the Dallas Business Journal.

AAF-FORT WORTH PRESENTS MAGAZINE DAY 2009

Our Annual Magazine Day is always a sell-out event. Come early and stay late. Visit with representatives of magazine publishers and see what's in store for the next year in this dynamic and effective medium.

WHEN:

Wednesday, August 29

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Joe T Garcia's

"The Hut"

2201 North Commerce Street

Fort Worth, TX 76106

FEE:

Executive Member: Complimentary

Non Member: $35

Professional Member: $20

Student: $15

RSVP:

by noon on Tuesday, August 18

SPONSORSHIP:

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Keith Powell at keymagfw@aol.com.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

AAF-FORT WORTH TO HOST SNEAK PREVIEW OF FALL TV LINE UP

Will your favorite show be returning to network TV this fall? Or will you discover a new favorite among the debuts?

Join us for a private sneak peak at the 2009 Fall TV line-up. Our local broadcast affiliates from ABC, CBS and NBC will share a preview of their fall schedules and just might introduce you to the next Emmy winning drama.

During this happy hour event, AAF-Fort Worth will provide appetizers and your first drink is free. A cash bar will be available.

Sponsored by: KTVT CBS-11, KXAS NBC-5 & WFAA ABC-8

WHEN - Wednesday, August 5th, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

WHERE - Joe T. Garcia's "La Puertita"
2201 N. Commerce St. Fort Worth, TX 76164

FEES - Member - $20.00; Non-Member - $35.00; Student - $15.00

RSVP - by 11 a.m. on August 5, 2009

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Innovative Developers Inc. hires Lisa Krucyznski As Managing Director of Corporate Connectivity

Lisa Kruczynski has been named Managing Director of Corporate Connectivity for Innovative Developers Inc. She is responsible for establishing a single point of control for internal and external connectivity among clients, employees and community activities.

Kruczynski most recently worked as the Associate Director of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth, one of the oldest and largest Rotary clubs in the world. With Rotary, she developed relationships with members, helping to facilitate connections, was instrumental in converting the membership database to an easily accessible, online version, and compiled and distributed the club’s weekly electronic newsletter. Before Rotary, she was employed by SafeHaven, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Tarrant County.

“IDI is pleased that Lisa has accepted this new position," said Glen Hahn, President and CEO of IDI. "It was established to enhance our customer service internally and externally. Lisa will, among other things, be concentrating on programs and processes that assure our relationships -- client, vendor and community -- will have a first-class experience working with Innovative Developers, Inc."

Kruczynski holds a Master of Science Degree in Information Technology from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Worcester State College in Massachusetts. She has been an active volunteer at L.D. Bell High School and is a volunteer with the Tarrant Literacy Coalition.

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Innovative Developers, Inc. (IDI) has provided development, construction, and real estate services – leasing and property management – to a wide variety of customers since 1969. A solutions-oriented, “can do” approach has established IDI as a leader in the industrial, office, medical office and special use sectors of the real estate and construction industries. For more information, contact Glen Hahn at IDI, (817) 335-4500, or go to www.idi-tx.com.

Blanchard Schaefer Tapped as Agency of Record for Lone Star Film Society

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, an award-winning strategic marketing services firm, has been named the agency of record for the Lone Star Film Society (LSFS). The agency will develop and execute strategic public relations initiatives to build awareness of various events throughout the year, culminating with the Lone Star International Film Festival, that will be held at Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 11-15, 2009.

“Partnering with the Lone Star Film Society to educate local audiences, as well as the international and national film community, about the organization’s valuable contributions to the art of filmmaking is an exciting opportunity,” said Ken Schaefer, president at Blanchard Schaefer. “In addition, the local arts and culture scene is a vital component of a vibrant community, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth.”

Based in Fort Worth, the LSFS is dedicated to celebrating film with year-round programming that includes partnerships with other institutions within Fort Worth’s world-class cultural community. It is also committed to developing educational programming to teach local students about the art and business of filmmaking, relying heavily on membership support and fundraising efforts. The organization’s foremost event, the Lone Star International Film Festival, has received worldwide recognition for both its programming and artistic vision.

About The Lone Star Film Society
The Lone Star Film Society exists to preserve and present the art of the moving image and examine its influence on world culture. LSFS, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, achieves these goals and engenders visual literacy by cultivating an appreciation of the visual arts, supporting film initiatives in the community and building the recognition and status of Fort Worth, and of Texas in filmmaking. The Lone Star Film Society is host of the Lone Star International Film Festival, Fort Worth in Sundance Square. The festival highlights the very best in independent filmmaking from around the world. The festival has honored such filmmakers as Martin Sheen, T-Bone Burnett, Bill Paxton, Sidney Lumet, Melonie Diaz and Fred Durst. This year’s festival will be held November 11 – 15, 2009. Visit us on line at www.lsiff.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.

STUDENTS APPLY CLASSROOM KNOWLEDGE AT THE HONDO GROUP

The Fort Worth and Darlington Offices Welcome Four Summer Interns

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is pleased to announce the addition of four summer interns to its team. The interns will serve as assistants contributing their specific skills in various departments throughout the company while expanding their knowledge of innovative and operational processes within the organization.

Students of diverse backgrounds and various colleges throughout the country were recruited to fill the four summer internship positions. The Hondo Group welcomes Hon Yon Mok, Jennifer Cudmore, and Yusi Cheng to the Fort Worth office, and Kari Ruf to the Darlington, Wis., office.

"Our talented group of student interns will gain professional experiences while building their portfolios," said Lynn Balinas, president of The Hondo Group. "They'll be prepared to walk through a smooth transition from the classroom to their future careers.”

Hon Yon Mok is a senior graphic design major at the University of Texas at Arlington. Hon immigrated with his family from Hong Kong to the United States in 2002 and worked for the United States Postal Service before discovering his passion in graphic design. Mok plans to use his experience at The Hondo Group to help establish his own graphic design firm in the future and create opportunities for students who share his passion for graphic design.

Jennifer Cudmore is a senior communication technology major and an English minor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She serves as the online editor of The Shorthorn, UTA’s student-run newspaper and is looking forward to gaining practical skills and a professional experience working among The Hondo Group’s Web design team.

Yusi Cheng graduated from Texas Christian University in May 2009 and earned a degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in communication studies. Prior to her internship at The Hondo Group, Cheng worked at CBS 11 and Voice of America as a news intern. Cheng plans to gain experience in public relations and marketing in order to land a career in the field of marketing communications.

Kari Ruf is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville majoring in agribusiness with a minor in communications and marketing. Influenced by her family’s agriculture machinery business, Ruf grew up with a passion for agriculture. She fulfilled a position with the Lafayette County Fairgrounds coordinating fair events and promotion as the assistant fair secretary. Ruf hopes to expand her experiences in marketing through The Hondo Group’s internship program this summer.

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is dedicated to providing clients with strategic branding processes and procedures, and new products and technologies. The agency represents clients in a variety of areas including: agriculture, professional services and life sciences. As a full service agency, The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied consumers. For more information, please visit www.hondogroup.com.

NEW BRIANNAS SALAD DRESSING WEB SITE HAS ALL THE NATURAL INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

Briannas Fine Salad Dressing, America’s best-selling specialty salad dressing, has proudly launched their newly-designed web site. This launch follows Briannas’ announcement that Fort Worth-based Warren Douglas Creative Brand Marketing has been awarded the honor of becoming their first advertising Agency of Record.

Warren Douglas designers worked closely with Briannas leadership to create a new look for their digital face that incorporated both the variety of their flavor offerings and their unique levels of quality and taste.

“After meeting with Warren Douglas, it was obvious they were the solution we’d been waiting for,” said Jerry Brown, President of Del Sol Foods, Briannas parent company.

“Warren Douglas is not only an excellent cultural fit for our organization – they also possess keen insight into premium categories, and have the talent and skills to execute all of our objectives. We’re very excited about our relationship, and the many positive benefits it holds for our Briannas brand. “

Doug Briley, principal for Warren Douglas and a Brenham native, said, “Growing up in Brenham, Briannas Dressings have always been a family favorite of ours. Our expertise with premium brands made this a natural ‘home style’ partnership for promoting their delicious flavors to discerning taste buds worldwide.”

As Agency of Record, Warren Douglas is tasked with advertising strategy, creative, interactive and media for the entire Briannas line of products. The new Briannas web site can be visited at briannassaladdressing.com.

The Hondo Group Welcomes New Green Marketing Manager

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, announced today Courtney (Yuskis) Kleefuss will be joining the Hondo Green Marketing Services as project manager.

Hondo Green will assist organizations in capitalizing on sustainable business practices that will improve their bottom line while measuring and ultimately reducing their carbon footprint. Services offered include the Green Tool, green consulting, event greening and green marketing. Beta testing for the Green Tool will begin July 6.

Kleefuss has a strong history of marketing communications, bringing valuable experience to her new position. For the past two years she was employed with Drake and Company as an executive director of two associations. Prior to working with Drake and Company, Kleefuss worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Caterpillar Inc., and the United States Department of Agriculture in Samoa as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and administration from Bradley University.

“As one of the first agencies to go green, we continue to expand our services by offering organizations the ability to measure, monitor and instantaneously report the effects of their decisions. With our Internet-based Green Tool, businesses will be able to maximize profits while reducing their environmental footprint,” said Lynn Balinas, president of The Hondo Group. “Courtney is an excellent addition to our team and with her experiences in marketing communications and sales development, The Hondo Group will be a leader in environmentally conscious business moves.”

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is dedicated to providing clients with new strategic branding processes in a variety of areas including agriculture, real estate, professional services, technology, green marketing and sustainable business strategies. The company’s research-driven sustainable business plan turns environmental consciousness into a formidable strategic move, providing clients a systematic approach to reduce their carbon footprint and publicize their environmental stewardship efforts. The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied customers.

JODESIGN GOES PINK

Firm Selected as Marketing & Public Relations Agency for

Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s^® Tarrant County Affiliate

JODesign, a Fort Worth-based, full-service marketing communications firm, announced today its selection as the marketing and public relations agency of record for Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s® Tarrant County Affiliate.

JODesign has handled the Tarrant County affiliate’s graphic design needs since 2007. In their expanded role, JODesign will produce marketing materials, as well as handle public relations and overall strategic planning efforts for the organization. The ultimate goal is to expand race participation, increase donations and heighten awareness of the prevention and treatment programs funded by the affiliate. Additionally, JODesign will serve as a silver sponsor of the 2010 Tarrant County Race for the Cure^®.

“We’ve worked with JODesign in the past, and their work has always been of the highest quality,” said Anne Greenhill, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tarrant County. “Working with JODesign in an expanded capacity will allow us to tell even more women about Komen’s mission of curing, treating and preventing breast cancer, and in turn help us to raise donations to fund these efforts.”

Komen Tarrant County is one of the foremost charitable organizations in North Texas. Operating with a limited full-time staff and hundreds of volunteers, Komen has raised millions of dollars for treatment of breast cancer and research toward its cure. In the last year alone, Komen Tarrant County has donated almost $1.6 million in grants to help women prevent and treat breast cancer.

“We are excited to play a larger role for Komen Tarrant County and Race for the Cure,” said Jennifer Henderson, founder and president of JODesign. “Komen’s mission is important to everyone, not just women, and it’s an honor for us to work with an organization that does so much for our community.”

About JODesign

JODesign, a Fort Worth-based, full-service marketing communications firm, was founded by Jennifer Oliver Henderson in 1998. An award winning ad design, marketing and public relations agency, JODesign delivers fresh ideas, solid concepts and proven results. The firm’s mission is two-fold – deliver great work and build a solid and lasting relationship with each client.. Clients have included Baylor All Saints, Kelly Hart & Hallman, Giant Screen Cinema Association, Texas Wesleyan University, Worthington National Bank, Orasi, Goodwill International of Fort Worth and more. For additional information on JODesign, please visit www.creativejo.com.

About Susan G. Komen For the Cure^® and the Tarrant County Affiliate

Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, has invested more than $1 billion since inception in 1982. The world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, they work together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and generous contributions from partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has become the largest source of non-profit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tarrant County is one of many national affiliates of the parent organization. Chartered in May of 1992 by Rozanne Rosenthal, in honor of her close friend and three-time breast-cancer-survivor Joan Katz, the Tarrant County affiliate uses 75 percent of all money raised to fund treatment and prevention projects for women in Tarrant County. The first Komen Tarrant County Race for the Cure was held in 1992 and had 1,800 participants. Today, the organization boasts more than 20,000 participants each year, and serves as the largest 5K race in the county. To date, Komen Tarrant County has raised more than $12 million for breast cancer treatment, prevention and research. For more information on Komen Tarrant County, please visit www.komentarrant.org.

Legislative Alert: Advertising Deductibility - Action Needed

Eliminating the federal tax deduction for prescription drug advertising continues to be on the table as a revenue option for healthcare reform in both the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. Local AAF members across the country, and other industry representatives, have done an excellent job of making their voices heard. However, victory on this important issue is not assured.

We must reach members of the Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees soon! They need to hear from as many advertising industry professionals as possible that any effort to eliminate the deductibility of advertising should be rejected. I urge you, your coworkers and members of your advertising federation to call or email lawmakers today. Please distribute this alert to other members of the advertising industry in your market.

Contact information for the appropriate staff for the House can be found here and the appropriate staff for the Senate can be found here.

Please do not hesitate to call if you have any comments or questions.

The proposal to deny deductibility of prescription drug advertising should be rejected because:

• Advertising is critical to the economic recovery of our nation. It provides $6 trillion in sales and 21 million jobs. In these challenging economic times we cannot afford to make any form of advertising more expensive by taxing it.

• The United States Supreme Court has said that even a tax can be unconstitutional if used the way it is being proposed – to tax speech about a product in order to make it more difficult and more costly to advertise. Because the tax makes this form of speech more expensive, it would violate the First Amendment because the suppression of this speech means consumers will receive less information.

• The United States Senate three times has rejected amendments that would have denied the deduction for the cost of tobacco advertising – they rejected the amendments because they were taxes on speech. Today, tobacco advertising remains fully deductible as a business expense. It would be ironic to now repeal the deduction for the cost of advertising prescription medications.

• Our message is not to oppose healthcare reform. We are explicitly opposed to taxing one form of commercial speech – advertising about one class of products (prescription drugs).

• The proposal would raise little revenue – because of the present decline in spending on pharmaceutical ads, it is estimated that a disallowance of the cost deduction would generate only $900 million a year. This is far short of the $37 billion that some have said would be generated. In order to generate the larger number, we believe the proposal would have to also deny the deduction for the cost of salaries to sales personnel for pharmaceutical companies.

GCG MARKETING RANKED IN NATION’S TOP 75 HEALTHCARE MARKETING AGENCIES

Fort Worth-based agency recognized nationally for its insight, ideas and implementation

GCG Marketing today announces its ranking among the country’s top 75 healthcare marketing agencies by Medical Marketing & Media magazine. This is GCG’s fifth appearance on the list since 2005.

“We’re honored to be a part of this year’s MM&M ranking, especially since it has been a challenging year for healthcare marketing agencies,” said Neil Foster, GCG president. “It’s a great feeling to get recognition for our unique approach to gaining new business in a flat year, as well as for the economic advantages we provide our clients.”

GCG’s pro bono work for Tarrant County’s AIDS Outreach Center, as well as for the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, which earned the agency a Med Ad News Manny award earlier this year, also received acknowledgement from the publication.

About GCG

Fort Worth, Texas-based GCG Marketing is a full-service marketing firm providing strategy and consultation, along with advertising and public relations services, to clients in the healthcare, corporate, consumer and business-to-business arenas since 1973. For more information, visit www.gcgmarketing.com or read the GCG blog at www.gcgideas.com.

About MM&M
Medical Marketing & Media is a monthly business publication that has been serving healthcare marketers since 1966. Each issue carries a mix of industry news and in-depth feature articles on marketing and promotion. MM&M publishes an annual advertising agency review listing the Top 75 in the nation. For more information, visit www.mmm-online.com.

Register Now for the July Luncheon and Learn How to Network Your Way to More New Business

Need more New Business for your agency or company?

Does you company lack awareness?

Are you living in isolation?

Do you rarely or never get an RFP?

Are you waiting for New Business to come to you?

Are you sending your sales materials to total strangers hoping they will call you?

More than 70% of all business engagements come from networking or relationships. Yet most people don't really know how to network. They treat it as a casual and passive activity and don't maximize its benefits. Hank will show us how to build a large and powerful network that will lead to numerous referrals.

Let Networking expert Hank Blank help you get more New Business at a lower cost.

Hank Blank is an advertising agency search consultant specializing in identifying advertising, public relations and interactive agencies for clients. He recently completed the Jenny Craig advertising agency selection process. Hank has 25 years of advertising and marketing experience forged on a broad range of packaged goods, consumer and franchised accounts throughout North America. This has provided him with strategic packaged good skills combined with retail responsiveness.

Hank has developed his expertise on a number of major brands, including McDonald's, Domino's Pizza, CENTURY 21, Kellogg's, Warner Lambert, S.C. Johnson, divisions of Revlon and Campbell Soup, Burger King, Subway, Scott Paper, Labatt's Breweries, St. Joseph Health System, to name a few. He has been featured on CBS Market Watch, The OC Register, and World Talk Radio.

WHEN:

July 15, 2009

11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:

Joe T. Garcia's

"La Puertita"

2201 N Commerce St

Fort Worth, TX 76106

COST:

Executive Member Included with dues

Non Member $35

Professional or member of another AAF Club $20

Student $15

RSVP

by July 14, 2009

REGISTER NOW

AAF-Fort Worth to Conduct InDesign Workshop

The American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth is conducting an InDesign Workshop. The day-long event is planned for Wednesday, July 22 from 9:00AM to 7:00PM at the International Plaza Building in Fort Worth.

Taught by Dusty Crocker, PhD, the workshop is comprehensive and will cover tips and techniques in how to use the most powerful and popular page design software on the market today. The workshop is geared towards creative and graphic design professionals with segments appealing to print production managers and photographers. The workshop is open to the general public. Anyone interested in learning how to increase their productivity is encouraged to attend.

The workshop will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions with a one-on one session planned at the end of the day. Sponsors include Cockrell Printing and Enovation Group, Olmsted-Kirk Paper Company, and Mohawk Fine Papers.

Tickets for the event are $145 for members and $195 for non-members. Student price is $70. Half day tickets are available for $65 for members and $85 for non-members.

Event Information:

InDesign Workshop

International Plaza Building

Ground Floor Training Room

4055 International Plaza

Fort Worth, TX 76109

For registration and information go to:

www.adclubfw.org