AAF-FW announces big wins at recent convention.

The American Advertising Federation's (AAF’s) 10th District hosted the Governor’s Ball - a gala and awards banquet on Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – which convened AAF chapters from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

AAF-Fort Worth competed and won club achievement awards at the district level for 6 of the 8 possible categories including wins for Education, Communications, Membership, Public Service, Government Relations and Programs.

It’ was also announced at the gala that AAF-FW won three awards for club achievement at the national level including a 3rd Place for Government Relations and 1st Place for Education and a 1st place for Membership.

The evening concluded with AAF-FW being awarded Small Club of the Year for the 10th District.

In addition, a special honor was awarded to long-time AAF-FW member and former club President and past District Governor, and current AAF-Central Region Chair Susan Cook. Cook was awarded the District 10 Sterling Service Award.

AAF-Fort Worth Announces winners from AAF District 10 ADDY competition

The American Advertising Federation's 10th District ADDY® awards show was held on Friday, April 15, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with D10 ADDY winners announced at that time.

During the awards gala, 23 awards were given to agencies, designers, and students from Fort Worth. Two professional golds were awarded to AAF-FW members - one to Concussion and one to Williamson-Dickies. Three student golds were awarded – two to David Heflin of the University of North Texas and one to Diana Tran of UTA.

Click here for the complete list of ADDY winners from Fort Worth and the entire AAF D-10.

More about the ADDY Awards:
The ADDY Awards are the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, recognizing creative excellence and the very best advertising worldwide. Sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the ADDY Awards represent the true creative spirit of advertising by recognizing all forms of advertising, from all types of media, created by all sizes and types of entrants, from anywhere in the world. This worldwide competition draws over 60,000 total entries annually.

Surviving & Thriving in the Fundraising Jungle: How to Build a Plan that Gets Results and Won’t Drive You Crazy

Tuesday, April 26, 9:00 – 11:30 AM - Registration begins at 8:30 AM

Held at La Mancha Business Center, Building 3, 3120 Merida St., Fort Worth 76109

It’s a jungle out there. And those who learn how to successfully fundraise in a tough and changing environment win the game.

You need a plan. A strategy that will allow you to reach your goals and keep your team organized. Fundraising is marketing with an “ask” – so what you need is a killer marketing plan.

This presentation will focus on how to build a marketing plan for your organization’s fundraising. You’ll learn how the principles of marketing are the same as those for fundraising and how to build an effective plan with concrete goals, strategies and tactics. You’ll learn how to bring cash to your door and increase donor engagement at every contact point, thereby creating a perpetual circle of donation and influence.

Additionally, in today’s diverse world, it’s more important than ever to learn how to do multicultural fundraising – how to raise funds from people and groups that may be very different from you and your organization. The 2010 Census reveals just how diverse our communities are, and in order to be effective at fundraising, you need to embrace this diversity and make it work for you.

PRESENTER: KELLY McDONALD

Kelly McDonald is a marketing and advertising expert with more than 25 years of experience working with companies and brands of every size. She has been featured on CNBC, in BusinessWeek, on CNNMoney.com and on Sirius/XM Radio.

She is also the author of “How to Market to People Not Like You: Know It or Blow It Rules for Reaching Diverse Customers”. The first 100 people to sign up for this event will receive a complimentary copy of this easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide to growing your business. Kelly will also personally sign each book!

For more information about Kelly, please visit her website http://www.mcdonaldmarketing.com/

Cost: FIC member $35 per person if your ED/CEO attends
FIC member $45 per person
Nonmember $55

The first 100 people who sign up will receive a copy of Kelly’s new book, to be released 3/22/11, “How to Market to People Not Like You.” (This is a $25 value.)


To register, please visit the FIC website www.fic-ftw.org.

GCG MARKETING WELCOMES LINDSAY HENDON TO ACCOUNT SERVICES TEAM

Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing announces the addition of Lindsay Hendon as account executive. As a primary liaison between clients and the agency, Hendon will be responsible for promoting and managing agency relations with clients. This includes monitoring timely delivery of projects, providing team members with necessary resources for project completion and ensuring
client needs are met.

“Lindsay has exemplary marketing skills and solid experience in project management,” said Allyson Cross, account services director at GCG Marketing. “Simply put, she is proactive and diligent. I am delighted to have her join our team.”

Prior to joining GCG Marketing, Hendon was marketing consultant at Skyline DFW Exhibits & Events, where she provided consultation and direction to clients and spearheaded the company’s first-ever internship program. She graduated from Texas State University in 2007 with a degree in mass communication and is a board member of the American Advertising Federation –Fort Worth.

About GCG
Fort Worth, Texas-based GCG, 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.

Texas Legislative Alert

BACKGROUND
HB1 (the House version of the state budget bill) was filled in mid-January, and includes a drastic proposed reduction to our industries’ crucial and successful incentive program. The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program provides incentives for film, TV, commercials and video game production to be filmed in Texas.

The current incentives may be cut from $60 million to just $10 million during this legislative session under the cloud of a $27 billion state budget deficit.

RATIONALE AGAINST ANY CUT
Yet in the face of that, we have a great story to tell - our incentive program has generated over $610 million dollars in new in-state spending and has accounted for over 56,000 jobs for Texans. We strongly believe that cutting our program won't save Texas money, it'll cost us - both in terms of business and jobs. In fact, the Comptroller's Office recently released a study that found for every $117 in incentives granted, $1,000 in Texas production spending has been generated, reporting "Texas has proven to be successful." Our incentives are working, and putting Texans to work in Texas.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN
So what can you do? Now more than ever, we need your support. We call on all industry professionals working in film, television, commercials and video games across the state to let their state representatives know your opposition to the proposed cut in support of the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. If possible visit with you state representatives or at least write them, You can find your proper state representative at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us. Who Represents Me is on the bottom right of the home page.

The Texas Motion Picture Alliance will have Lobby Day on for Wednesday, March 9 at the Texas Capitol in Austin to discuss this subject with state representative. Please mark your calendars and join them in representing our industries. They will announce more details soon, as TXMPA Board members are hard at work with their advocacy firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Lawrence Collins to navigate this especially challenging, high-stakes legislative session.

Contacts:
-Frank Kopec, AAF Dallas Legislative Chair and Executive Director, frank@aafdallas.org, 972-488-8227
-Don Stokes, Texas Motion Picture Alliance President, 214-362-0162, dstokes@postasylum.com

The 2011 ADDY Photos are In!

Photos from the 2011 ADDY Gala are now posted on the AAF-FW Facebook page. Find us at AAF-Fort Worth and tag yourself for a chance to win two free tickets to the 2012 ADDY Gala.

And, stay tuned for information on where to get your ADDY Golds and order additional awards.

Become an Advertising Education Sponsor (AES)

Nineteen area colleges will be vying for the District 10 title in the AAF National Student Advertising Competition, April 13 - 15 in Oklahoma City. Last year's winner, Texas State, went on to place second nationally. In previous years, TCU, SMU, Texas State, UT Austin, Texas Tech, Houston and San Antonio College have all taken home national championships. Teams from AAF District 10 (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma) have won more national championships than any other district.

Become an Advertising Education Sponsor to help students.
Getting an AES membership will support District 10 schools in their efforts to win future National Advertising Competitions. They also support annual scholarships and add bright talent to this area's advertising industry. There are several levels of memberships available, including the $75 Bronze, $150 Silver, $300 Gold up to the $2,500 Business Level.

You can send your donations to:
AAF-Fort Worth
c/o AES Membership
3000 S. Hulen St., Suite 124, #218
Fort Worth, TX 76109

For more information, please contact Lindsay Hendon at lhendon@skylinedfw.com.

Red Productions Brings Home Best of Show at 2011 AAF – Fort Worth ADDY® Awards

Local video production firm, Red Productions, took home top honors as recipient of the Best in Show award at the American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth (AAF-FW) annual ADDY® Gala Saturday night at The Ashton Depot. This is the company’s first time to receive the Best in Show award.

“We were delighted to see Red Productions win Best in Show,” said Lindsay Lee Hendon, chair of the ADDY competition for AAF-Fort Worth and marketing consultant for Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics. “Red Sanders and his crew have produced fabulously creative work since opening shop in Fort Worth and we look forward to the Red Productions team continuing to be a strong leader in the Fort Worth advertising community for years to come.”
The award-winning entry featured a series of trailers produced for the Lone Star International Film Festival. In addition to winning the competition’s most prestigious award, Red Productions took home seven ADDYs, including one gold, one silver and five bronzes.

Other big winners at the gala, which recognizes the year’s best in local advertising, included Concussion, which received Best in Show Print for a branding campaign for WDS Logistics and a Special Judges’ Award for a TV spot created for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. The agency took home the most local honors, including 18 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze ADDYs for a total of 63 awards.

Last year’s Best in Show winner, Warren-Douglas Creative Brand Marketing, received Best in Show Electronic for its website created for Wright Brand Bacon. The agency was additionally recognized with six gold, three silver and four bronze ADDYs. Ardent Creative received Best of Identity for its Untyed logo, in addition to one gold and one silver ADDY. JO Design and Blanchard Schaefer Advertising and Public Relations were each awarded Special Judges’ Awards for the Arts Council of Fort Worth Annual Report and the Fort Worth Zoo Holiday card respectively. JO Design received one gold, two silver and three bronze ADDYs, while Blanchard Schaefer took home six gold, three silver and four bronze ADDYs.

Other notable winners included Balcom Agency with a total of 17 ADDY awards and GCG Marketing with 13.

The Student Best of Show was awarded to David Heflin of the University of North Texas. Other big winners in the student category included the following:
• Diana Tran of the University of Texas at Arlington, Student Best Brand Campaign
• Aaron Kotara of the University of North Texas, Student Best Copywriting
• Andrew Bui of the University of North Texas, Student Best Art Direction
• Kirby Sandifer of the University of North Texas, Student Special Judges’ Award
• Jordan Henderson of the University of North Texas, Student Special Judges’ Award
• Madison McDaniel of the University of North Texas, Student Special Judges’ Award

The ADDY Awards Competition is a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. Entries awarded Gold ADDYs at the AAF-Fort Worth competition will automatically advance to the District competition to be judged alongside entries from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. Entries winning Gold at the district level will automatically advance to the National level. With more than 40,000 entries across the country, the National ADDY competition is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence. National ADDY winners will be announced at the National Awards Show and Gala on June 4, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.

About American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth (AAF-FW)
American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth (AAF-FW) is an organization of advertising professionals with a common goal to encourage and enhance the education and advancement of the advertising community in Fort Worth. Formerly the Advertising Club of Fort Worth, AAF-FW celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009. For more information, visit www.adclubfw.org.

RATIO DIGITAL MEDIA WELCOMES RYAN CORMIER AS DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Fort Worth-based interactive agency Ratio Digital Media announces the addition of Ryan Cormier as digital marketing specialist. In this role, Cormier will develop and deploy a range of marketing initiatives, including interactive strategic planning, search engine marketing, search engine optimization and social media marketing. He will also play a key role in managing new business initiatives and fostering client relationships.

“Ryan not only has a solid foundation in interactive development, he has a genuine passion for this industry,” said Bruce Natale, Ratio co-founder and president. “He’s always tuned-in to the latest digital trends – that’s invaluable in the fast-paced world of interactive marketing.”

Prior to joining the Ratio team, Cormier worked as interactive director at Glint Advertising & Design, where he managed all of the agency’s interactive marketing programs and spearheaded business development initiatives. He graduated from Texas Christian University in May 2009 with a degree in advertising and public relations and is an active member of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth.

About Ratio Digital Media
Fort Worth, Texas–based Ratio Digital Media offers digitally based strategic 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.

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.