American Advertising Federation Announces 48th Annual Knoxville ADDY® Awards Honorees

Chuck Morris

KNOXVILLE, TN (February 17, 2012) – Last night, the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville (AAF-Knoxville) – a local chapter of the American Advertising Federation – presented the 2013 Knoxville ADDY^® Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The 48th annual event honored print, broadcast, and interactive media with 329 awards given to 32 Knoxville companies on the basis of creativity, originality, and strategy. Four Knoxville professionals also were honored with “lifetime achievement” and Hall of Fame inductions.

The Knoxville ADDY^® Awards is the first tier of a three-tiered national ADDY^®competition, which is the advertising industry’s largest recognition of creative excellence. The top 10 company winners included

Steve Bowman

The Tombras Group, Designsensory, RIVR Media & RIVR Media Interactive, The Bingham Group, E.W. Scripps / Knoxville News Sentinel, Orange Apple Branding Boutique, Flip Film+Design, VIEO Design, Slamdot and Finch Photo.

The Tombras Group received Best of Show Overall for the “Football Fan Experience Website” produced for the University of TN Athletic Department.

Other “best of” category winners included:  Best of Show Interactive—The Tombras Group for Football Fan Experience Website produced for the University of TN Athletic Department; Best of Show Print—The Tombras Group for Low Impact Vacation Print Advertising Campaign produced for the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority;  Best of Show

Cori Dickson

Collateral—The Tombras Group for Axis Brochure produced for Axis Wake Research; Best of Show TV—The Tombras Group for Hopscotch produced for East TN Children’s Hospital; and Best of Show Non-Traditional—City of Sevierville for its Live Dolly Statue.

In addition, Special Judges Awards were presented to Designsensory for its Holiday Greetings Direct Mail; Designsensory for Patricia Nash Designs’ Integrated Campaign; The Tombras Group for American Cancer Society’s Gala Collateral Campaign; and The Tombras Group for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Dark of Night Web Video.

Chris Hornsby

Chuck Morris, CEO of Morris Creative Group, was presented with the AAF Robert McCabe National Silver Medal Award. This “lifetime achievement award” was given to Morris for his for his professional success within the advertising industry; his consistent, high degree of creativity and original thinking; his work to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession; and his activities within the community.

AAF-Knoxville also inducted three individuals into its Advertising Hall of Fame: Steve Bowman with E.W. Scripps / Knoxville News Sentinel; Cory Dickson with Cumulus Broadcasting / WIVK; and Chris Hornsby with Hornsby Brand Design.

Finally, AAF-Knoxville President Susie Norris presented the President’s Award to AAF-Knoxville Board Member Amanda Lewis with The Tombras Group.

Amanda Lewis

Founded in 1959, the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville is a professional organization involved in promoting excellence and awareness in advertising in the greater Knoxville area. It is an official chapter of the American Advertising Federation, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 40,000 advertising professionals through a national network of 200 local chapters. Visit www.aafknoxville.com.

A Great Schedule of Upcoming Events

AAF-Knoxville has a great Spring and Summer lineup of luncheons and events on tap.

Our Luncheon on May 31 features Neil Gurney, former CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi in Africa, who now lives in Asheville and runs a shop called Integritive 2, which melds branding, interactive and sustainability all under one roof.

Then for our June Luncheon on the 28, advertising legend Jane Maas will join us to talk about her book, “Mad Women.”  Maas was one of the first female creatives on Madison Avenue, breaking in with Ogilvy & Mather in 1964.  She’ll share stories, anecdotes, and ideas from an amazing career.  Maas was lead creative on the “I Love NY” campaign that still resonates worldwide, and she coined the tag “Does she, or doesn’t she?” for Clairol, among other gems.

And on July 12, it’s that time again–Ad Fed In The Gutter–our annual bowling tournament.  This brings out more than 100 of the most recognized people in our business for a night of fun, trash talk, custom shirts, and Big Lebowski references.  If you ever go once, you’ll never stop going to this event.

Watch our website, Twitter, and Facebook for more info our AAF-Knoxville happenings.

Get Your ADDY Gala Tickets Now!

Make your reservations for East Tennessee’s biggest communications industry event, to be held Saturday, February 25. Hurry! The gala often sells out. Click below to start.

Want The Inside Info On ADDY Entries? Be At Latitude 35 Tonight.

AAF-Knoxville is hosting a special flash mob event at Latitude 35 on Market Square tonight to give everyone entering the ADDY awards this year some additional info that can make their entries more competitive.

The event promises to be useful to people entering for the first time–and for seasoned pros who might want to know details on how today’s awards events are managed.  Bring your questions–inquiries are welcome.

Plus, you’ll get to network with some of the ad community’s most interest people, in a hip venue that just might inspire a little more creativity.

Tonight, from 5-7 pm.  Since it’s technically a flash mob, you can dress in black and dance if you want to.

NEWS

We’re an active group, at least two club events in any typical month and lots of networking and online activities in between. Bookmark this page and you’ll have a central location for everything that’s AAF-Knoxville new

Big Wig Winners Announced

The second Annual Big Wig Awards were a huge success! Thanks to everyone who participated in nominating, voting, and celebrating with our Big Wig Winners.

AAF Knoxville’s Big Wig Awards were created to celebrate the people who maybe don’t get ADDY or creative awards, but who are instrumental in others getting them. Here’s a list of our honorees for 2011:

Josh Loebner of DesignSensory was given the first annual Unsung Hero Award in appreciation for outstanding dedication and devotion to the principles and ideals of the advertising community.

Josh has started a blog called advertisinganddisability.com that addresses how the communications industry portrays people with disabilities.

Best Online Rep:
Marina Prutskova, South Central Media

Best Receptionist:
Joanne Hurd, Ackermann Public Relations

Educator of the Year:
Dr. Barbara Kaye, University of Tennessee

Best Large Format:
Hart Graphics

Best Sign Company:
Signs-N-Such

Best Direct Mail/ Fulfillment:
Tennessee Valley Direct

Best Talent:
Talent Trek

Best Web Programmer:
Paul Gibson, VIEO Design

Best Sound:
Paul Jones, Zippy Tunes

Best Film/Video Production:
RIVR Media

Best Intern:
Haley McCallie, Designsensory

Best Printer Rep:
Brent Golden, Hart Graphics

Most likely to be my Boss is 10 years:
Catherine Rapp, Knoxville News Sentinel

Best Magazine Rep:
Brig Samson, Metro Pulse

Best Newspaper Rep:
Marti Townsend, Knoxville News Sentinel

Best Media Planner/Buyer:
Cynthia Wells

Best TV Rep:
Mitzi Rouse, WBIR

Best Out of Home Rep:
Emily Jenkins, Lamar Outdoor

Best Radio Rep:
Jennifer East, Journal Broadcasting

Best Exhibitor:
Martha Kopp Shear, Skyline

Graphic Design Student of the Year:
Haley McCallie, University of Tennessee

Best Printer:
Hart Graphics

Second Annual Big Wig Awards Set

On October 28 AAF-Knoxville’s Big Wig Awards Will Recognize the “Unsung Heroes” of Advertising

You know who they are–the people who save your bacon on a regular basis. If you’re in the communications business, you have plenty of them.

AAF-Knoxville Takes You Behind the Brands

Summer Conference:
July 28-31

Agenda, Details, Registration:AAFBehindtheBrands.com

Don’t let the title deceive you: this event is open to all communications professionals – and you’ll want to put this conference on your “must attend” list. The 2011 AAF Summer Conference and District 7 Leadership Event will be held at Knoxville’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, with more than 200 marketers in attendance from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Professional Development & Networking
“Behind the Brands” will give you inside information on how several national companies have built their identities, what makes a brand successful and how they’re facing branding challenges through advertising, PR, sustainability, ROI, social media, identity, packaging, special events, consumer engagement and strategy. To-date, the participating brands include:

• AC Entertainment (Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival)
• Bush’s Baked Beans
• Pilot Flying J Travel Centers
• Ruby Tuesday
• Scripps Networks (HGTV, Food Network, DIY, GAC, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel
• TeamHealth (Provides clinical outsourcing services to more than 600 hospitals throughout the U.S.)
• University of Tennessee Athletics

 Beyond this professional development, you’ll get to network with a few hundred peers from our five-state AAF region.

Visit AAFBehindtheBrands.com to view the agenda, conference details and to register.

Club Workshops
Learn from the best of the best in District 7 about how to grow and manage your local chapters. Additionally, there will be workshops and roundtable discussions for chapter Presidents, Regional Directors and with Governor Elizabeth Perry. Speakers and topics are still being confirmed, but the following areas are usually addressed:

• Programs
• Membership Recruitment & Retention
• Education
• Government Relations
• ADDY® Awards
• Fundraising
• Finances
• Club Achievement

Questions, Ideas, Concerns?

Conference Chair Michael Torano: michaelt@n8promo.com or 361-438-3550

AAF-Knoxville President Susie Norris: susie@orangeapplebranding.com or 865.406.7558

Recap: “People Are Weird” Seminar

If you missed last week’s “People Are Weird” seminar, here’s a brief recap.

While no one fits into just one type or group, there are four types of people we have/get to work with, pitch to and try to sell to:

1. Communicators: They’re emotional decision makers.
2. Commanders: They see the value in making what seem like risky decisions.
3. Calculators: The decisions they make must be logical.
4. Completers: They are sometimes held back from making decisions due to fear.

How do you peg someone?

1. Communicators: Extroverted, people-oriented, friendly, stylish, open, emotional/animated, socializes regardless of time, empathizes with others, popular and gung-ho.
2. Commanders: Commanding, bottom-line oriented, dominating, formal, impatient, emotional/direct, always pushed for time, about achievement, restless, quick/impulsive and fast.
3. Calculators: Non-nonsense, facts-oriented, assessing, conservative, closed, unemotional/reserved, values and manages time, about organization, selective, cool/distant, objective and controlled.
4. Completers: Laid-back, systems oriented, accepting, conforming, cautious, unemotional/low-key, respects time but not pushed, accepts others, about functions, willing, steady/reserved, slow/studied and steady.

Their hot-buttons, the things to avoid when communicating with them?

1. Communicators: Alienation.
2. Commanders: The feeling that they’re being taken advantage of.
3. Calculators: The fear of making a mistake.
4. Completers: Anything that seems like radical change.

So what do they want to hear?

1. Communicators: How they’re going to get the credit and look good. Ask them how to include others in the decision. Socialize with them and entertain them.
2. Commanders: Show them the benefits and throw in a high-profile reference. Ask them how they would do it and about their opinions.
3. Calculators: Stay focused on the facts, the details and the long-term benefits. Ask them how they would organize it and solve the problems.
4. Completers: Remove the risk, and don’t talk about change or new ideas. Ask them how they do their jobs and make it a no-pressure decision with a lot of time.

Okay, so that’s not a full synopsis of the hour-long session at Barley’s (we tried a downtown venue for a change of pace), but at least it’s some tip-of-the-iceberg insight into the different types of personalities we encounter each day in our communications professions.

Does Your Strategy Suffer Because Of Your Tactics?

David Rollo like to think before he jumps. Or posts.

Rollo, SVP and Director of Digital and Social Media for Atlanta’s 22squared, see lots of benefits from strategic planning in social and other digital media, and on April 28, he’ll share his thoughts with AAF-Knoxville at our monthly luncheon.

Mad Men Mob Magnificently

This month’s AAF Flash Mob on Thursday, April 14, changes things up with a new venue–The Crown and Goose in the Old City–and keeps what everyone loves about these informal events: The chances to meet up with some of the finest advertising minds in the area and enjoy networking, idea exchange, and fun in a relaxed environment.

It all starts around 4:30. You can be true to the nature of a flash mob, if you like. Breeze in, dance or pillow fight, and leave. Or feel free to stay as long as you like.

You’ll meet good people, and you’ll have a good time. See you there.

March 24 Luncheon: John Moore on Social and WOM

ADDY Recap: Winners And, Well, More Winners

The 46th Annual ADDY Awards Celebration was among the best ever, with more than 280 awards given out to area companies and individuals. The party was great. The people were great. The winning work was great.

If You’re Going to the ADDYs, Why Not Stay?

The Crowne Plaza, which has been a great partner for the ADDYs for many years, has a special rate for ADDY attendees for Saturday night. Stay at a fabulous hotel for just $80.

12 Days and Counting

Have you made your ADDY® reservations yet?

Tickets are $65 or $600 for a table of 10. We’ll honor hundreds of pieces of creative made right here in our own backyard that will then advance up to the five-state District 7 portion of the ADDY®competition. We’ll also recognize one individual with the AAF National Silver Medal and three with inductions into the Knoxville Advertising Hall of Fame. Needless to say, it’ll be the biggest marketing party of the year.

And if you’re wondering how award-winning creative makes a difference, click here to check out this article we ran across last year but saved it for posting during ADDY® season.

News Flash! New Flash Mob

If you’re into networking with witty, influential people, don’t miss the AAF-Knoxville/AIGA Flash Mob tomorrow afternoon at Aubrey’s Northshore.

Great advertising people. Great designers. Great conversation.

ADDY Awards Shaping Up To Be Among Best Ever

The wheels are turning big time on preparation for the 2011 AAF-Knoxville ADDY awards.

To be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Saturday, February 26, at 6 pm, this year’s event will celebrate the work of advertising professionals throughout East Tennessee, and recognize several distiguished members of the advertising community with special awards.

Judging of this years competition is complete, and word has been leaked that 30 companies will receive 287 awards at this year’s festivities.

To make reservations for this year’s awards ceremony, contact AAF-Knoxville Executive Director Karen Taylor at edirector@aafknoxville.com or 865.742.4838. Tickets cost $65 each or $600 for a table of ten.

And watch this blog for more updates as we learn more about people, music, special events, afterparties, and other elements of the gala.

ADDY Awards Top 10

Top 10 Reasons to Enter AAF-Knoxville’s 2011 ADDY Awards

Number 10: Ricky Gervais will not be hosting the awards show.

Number 9: When you win, your boss will have no more excuses for not remembering your first name.

Number 8: You look killer in eveningwear.

Number 7: 27 rewrites before you got it perfect. Somebody needs to know.

Number 6: 27 graphic variations before the copywriter gave you something you could actually work with. Somebody needs to know.

Number 5: Hugs from the people for whom you did the work.

Number 4: You can replace the “Hello Kitty” poster above your desk with your framed winner’s certificates.

Number 3: Professional accolades, promotions, beefier resumes.

Number 2: (If #3 isn’t enough.) Professional jealousy and braggin’ rights.

And the number one reason to enter the 2011 AAF-Knoxville ADDYs:

Number 1: You’ll be so close to Brian Potter that you could almost TOUCH him.

Addy entries are due Friday, January 21. Enter online here. Details on sample drop off for judging here.

Knoxify Wigs Out On Big Wig Awards

Check out this great post from Knoxify on our Big Wig Awards, which includes neat photos and our winners’ list.

Big Wig Award Winners

The behind-the-scenes people of the advertising and communications industry—printers, photographers, media reps, assistants and others—were honored Thursday night as AAF-Knoxville, the local advertising club, hosted its first annual Big Wig Awards.

AAF-Knoxville asked people within the East Tennessee communications community to submit nominations for the “unsung heroes” of advertising and marketing—professionals who may not be recognized at other awards programs like the ADDY Awards, but whose contributions to the field are invaluable. People tapped more than 100 individuals in 22 categories.

From there, more than 1700 votes were cast to select the honorees. Below are the finalists and winners for each category:

Best Online Rep:

· Gerald Adler- KNS

· Sarah Burton- WATE (Winner)

· Marina Prutskova – South Central Media

 Best Printer Rep:

· Wendell Burkhart- Union Printer

· Brent Golden- Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Jerry Price – Union Printer

· Peter Ullrich- Ullrich Printing

Best Outdoor Rep:

· Bob Crossland, Lamar

· Jonathan Graviss, Lamar

· Carolyn Morton- Lamar (Winner)

 Best Newspaper Rep:

· Barry Jarrell, Tennessee Press Service

· Marti Townsend- Knoxville News Sentinel (Winner)

· Diane Shannon, Farragut Press

Best Radio Rep:

· Michael Brody- South Central Media

· Cory Dickson- Citadel Broadcasting (Winner)

· Traci McKee- Journal Broadcasting

Best TV Rep:

· Maureen Bosch- WVLT

· Kristy Henderson- WBIR (Winner)

· Michael Hodges – WBIR

· Steve Parket – WATE

· Lynn Perella – WBIR

· Betsy Wood- WVLT

Best Exhibit Production:

· Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Skylines

· Print Edge

Best Large Format Printer:

· Hart Graphics

· PostNet

· Print Edge (Winner)

Best Printer:

· Hart Graphics (Winner)

· High Resolution

· Russell Printing Options

· Ullrich Printing

· Union Printers

Best Sign Company:

· Fast Signs (Winner)

· High Resolutions

· Signs-N-Such

Best Fulfillment /Direct Mail Category:

· Direct Mail Services (Winner)

· National Mailroom

Best Talent Agency:

· 18Karat

· Talent Trek (Winner)

· Gage Model and Talent

Best Photographer:

· Charlie Brooks (Winner)

· Dudenbostel Photography

· Andrew Gresham- Asen Advertising

· David Luttrell- Astral Atelier Photography

· Jack Parker

Best Video Film Post Production:

· Elastic Pictures

· HP Video

· KARMA (Winner)

· Radiant Media

· Red Arrow Industries

· Sam Moore. WBIR

Best Sound Person:

· AMG Media

· Sam Moore- WBIR (Winner)

· Chris Robbins- Ursa Major

Best Media Buyer:

· Cindy Mincer – Mincer Media Management

· Amanda Osborn- Media Directions Advertising

· Nina Brown Reineri – Ascertainment Marketing, Inc.

· Cynthia Wells- Tombras (Winner)

· Nancy Turner Wilson - Wilson Group Advertising

Best Traffic/Production:

· Barry Bostedor, Scripps

· Jessica Brown, Rivr Media

· Valerie Lamb- Tombras (Winner)

Best Retouch Artist:

· Brian McWilliams

· Mark Perriguey, Asen Advertising

· Kiera Tippitt, 5 Monkeys Design (Winner)

Best Illustrator:

· Cindy Day

· Andrea Truan (Winner-tie)

· Danny Wilson (Winner-tie)

Best Web Programmer:

· Pablo Alejo, Tombras

· Darryl Ballard, Intensity

· Paul Gibson-VIEO (Winner)

· Michael Pryfogle, Designsensory

· Lee Tankersly, Active Dimension

Best Assistant:

· Hollie Bivens- Hart Graphics (Winner)

· Ellen Brewer- Tombras

· Sheri Dobson- WBIR

Best Up & Comer:

· Drew Dill- Shelton Group (Winner)

· Rachel Kennedy- Tombras

· Sarah Malak – Ackerman PR

Most Like to be My Boss in 10 Years:

· Josh Loebner- Design Sensory

· Meredith Priest- Shelton Group

· Dooley Tombras- Tombras (Winner)

 AAF-Knoxville congratulates all the finalists and winners. To learn more, visit www.aafknoxville.com.

Big Wig Awards Thursday!

Program Celebrates the “Unsung Heroes” of Communications Thursday, October 28, at Latitude 35; All Communications Professionals Welcome To Attend

KNOXVILLE (October 25, 2010)—They’re the behind-the-scenes people—printers, photographers, media reps, assistants—that make great advertising happen. And they don’t get the recognition they deserve.

But on Thursday, October 28, they’ll get their turn in the limelight, thanks to the “Big Wig” Awards Program hosted by AAF-Knoxville, the local advertising professionals’ club.

AAF-Knoxville asked people within the East Tennessee communications community to submit nominations for the “unsung heroes” of advertising and marketing. People tapped more than 100 individuals in 22 categories and finalists were chosen. From there, more than 1700 votes were cast to select the honorees. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Latitude 35 on Thursday, October 28, from 6 to 8 pm.

A list of the finalists can be viewed www.aafknox.com/bigwig.

“These are immensely talented, creative, dedicated people. They don’t have the celebrity of some folks in our business, but their roles are vital,” said Brian Potter, President of AAF Knoxville. “And I think it’s very exciting that their peers have selected them to be honored for their great work.”

The awards ceremony is open to all people involved in advertising and communications—including students at local colleges and universities. Cost is $35 per person for professionals; $20 per student. Reservations can be made at www.aafknox.com/bigwig or by visiting AAF-Knoxville on Facebook.

Big Wig Voting Begins

For the last few weeks, we’ve been soliciting nominations for AAF-Knoxville’s first annual Big Wig Awards. The nominations are in–more than 100–total, and the finalists have been selected.

Now it’s time to make your voice hear.

Cast your vote for your favorite Big Wig Award nominees by visitinghttp://aafknoxville.wufoo.com/forms/big-wig-online-nominations/

We’ll tally the results, and on October 28 at Latitude 35, we’ll celebrate with an awards ceremony and a great pre-halloween party.

Get more details at www.aafknox.com/bigwig.

September 23 Luncheon: Building and Selling a Brand Image

“Unfortunately, the concept of ‘branding’ has been diluted into meaningless business jargon,” says Chris Houchens, our September speaker. But that doesn’t mean that sound branding fundamentals are any less important.

Wiggin’ Out

AAF-Knoxville’s Big Wig Awards Recognize the “Unsung Heroes” of Advertising

You know who they are–the people who save your bacon on a regular basis. If you’re in the communications business, you have plenty of them.

Assistants. Printers. Media reps. Even teachers.

And finally, there’s a chance to give these people the credit they deserve. AAF Knoxville’s Big Wig Awards were created to celebrate the people who maybe don’t get ADDY or creative awards, but who are instrumental in others getting them.

Check out our new microsite, www.aafknox.com/bigwig to see more, and to nominate some of those people you know should be honored. Then, on October 28, we’ll host an amazing party and bring the “unsung heroes” of our business to the forefront, giving them long-overdue props for hard work.

Putting Fun Back Into TV Premiers

Way back in the day, when there were just three major networks, Fall TV premier party season was a big, big deal. Stations went all out, wineing and dining agencies and advertisers with private riverboat trips, casino nights, and celebrity appearances. At one NBC affiliate party, you could go shake hands with Golden Girls Estelle Getty (when she was still alive) and Betty White (when she was merely old).

That same event (when NBC was at the top of the ratings) featured a magic performance by Harry Anderson that blew everybody away, causing one guy in the audience to even say “I want to have his baby!”

The world has changed, and the big galas are a thing of the past. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some TV premier fun–and get the scoop on all the new shows.

AAF Knoxville has conspired with all the major networks and cable stations to produce the 2010 Fall TV Premier Event on Wednesday, August 26, at Johnny Carino’s in West Knoxville (Lovell and Parkside). From 4-6, we’ll network and see presentation from the networks on their Fall fare, then be done in time for people to head home or out with colleagues and clients for elaborate MadMen-style dinners (relax, though–what happens at AdFed, stays at AdFed).

It’s always fun, and we’ve shaped this year’s event based on input from the Knoxville ad community. Come join us–get the knowledge you need about Fall TV all in one place (the ONLY event where all networks are represented), and converse with some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet in your life.

Click here to make your online reservation. (NOTE: The link is for single RSVPs. If you have a group that needs to register with a single payment, please contact Sarah Mills at 865-684-0287.