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.