Ratio Digital Media Launches in Fort Worth, Texas

Today marks the official launch of Ratio Digital Media, a comprehensive digital and interactive agency with offices in Fort Worth, Texas. The new agency is spearheaded by Neil Foster, president of GCG Marketing, and Bruce Natale, owner and founder of SiteSmart Interactive.

“GCG Marketing and SiteSmart Interactive have been working on projects together for years,” Foster said. “As our relationship continues to expand and the digital needs of our customers grow, it makes sense to form a partnership to explore new opportunities in the digital realm.”

The new agency’s services will include creative, web and software development; search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM); social media marketing; development and management of online media marketing campaigns; strategic marketing; tactical planning; e-mail and direct marketing; research and promotions (among other services).

Ratio will also offer a proprietary measurement system, designed specifically for regular reporting of consumer interaction and return on investment metrics.

“In today’s ever-expanding digital world, our clients are challenged to provide interactive programs that are not just compelling, but that also drive relationships with their consumers,” Natale said. “By bridging the marketing expertise of GCG with the technical expertise of SiteSmart, we are able to deliver fully integrated programs that drive customer response.”

About Ratio Digital Media
Fort Worth, Texas–based Ratio Digital Media offers strategically based integrated digital and interactive programs to clients across a variety of industry segments. For more information about Ratio, visit www.ratiodigital.com. To schedule a meeting with the Ratio team, please call 817-529-5555 or e-mail hello@ratiodigital.com.

Silver Medal Award Nomination Due

The Fort Worth chapter of the American Advertising Federation invites you to submit a nomination for the 2011 Silver Medal Award Program.

The American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence and social responsibility.

Nominees are judged by community business and advertising leaders on the basis of several criteria:
• Contributions to his/her company
• Creative ability
• Contributions to the general advancement of advertising
• Contributions to the community

If you know someone who should be considered, please write a one-page explanation of why he or she meets these prescribed standards. Include the nominee’s professional marketing credentials, community service accomplishments and reasons why the candidate should be considered. Be sure to include your contact information.

Send nominations to aaf.fortworth@gmail.com by February 18, 2011.

GCG MARKETING PROMOTES ALLYSON CROSS TO ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing announces the promotion of Allyson Cross to account director from her previous position as senior account executive.

Cross will serve as the primary liaison to clients in the agency’s healthcare division. As the chief administrator of one of GCG’s account services teams, Cross is expected to guide the teams on a daily basis and spearhead the establishment of necessary processes and protocol standards. Her responsibilities include promoting and managing senior-level relationships and ensuring clients’ needs and requirements are met.

As senior account executive, Cross was instrumental in creating and executing account plans that fostered new relationships. She brings these relationships with her in her advancement, along with seven years of experience.

“Allyson has continually shown dedication exemplified in her abilities to manage and maintain relationships with clients over the years,” said Neil Foster, president of GCG Marketing. “She has grown with the company and I have great faith in her as director.”

Prior to joining the GCG team in 2004, Cross worked in the Media Relations department at RadioShack Corporation. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2002 with a degree in advertising and public relations. She currently serves as president-elect/vice president of membership for the Greater Fort Worth Public Relations Society of America and treasurer of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth.

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.

2011 FORT WORTH ADDY® FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 7

We will accept final entries on Friday, January 7, at Branch-Smith Printing for the local level of the 2011 ADDY Awards.

“Mark your calendars and prepare 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 was 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.

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.