Blog - Page 21 of 25 -

The Under-Utilization of Pinterest for Business

January 15, 2014October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

Weddings, babies, recipes, dream homes. You, like many others, may associate Pinterest with a tool used by women in the process of “planning something”. But what many people fail to realize, is that the concept of searching, saving, organizing and sharing information with others can easily and effectively be applied to your business.

Here’s how:

Promoting your business

Whether you are a B2B, B2C or a freelancer, there are several ways you can promote your products and services.

Think Like Your Customer. What are their needs? What are they searching for that would lead them to your product? How does your product fit into their everyday life?
Collect. Once you have the answers to number 1, begin collecting content such as articles, infographics and imagery that is relevant, useful and “buzz worthy”. Users are encouraged to see and save what their friends/followers are pinning, so be sure your content is worth talking about.
Organize. Begin creating categories or “boards” to house and organize the content. For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry, create a “Healthy Recipes” board, or “Explaining the Affordable Healthcare Act” board and pin articles and tips from experts both in and outside of your company. Use keywords and the “category” tool within Pinterest to ensure that users can find your content.
Promote. Add the Pinterest icon to content within your website (it’s usually embedded in a “Share this” tool) and to the bottom of your email marketing. Share pins and boards with your customers, or direct them to the boards using other marketing materials.

Sharing information within your department

Information sharing (especially within major organizations) can be challenging when it’s through a “Did you see this?” email with links that get lost in the shuffle.

Connect Your Team. Create accounts for each team member (you may have to check your company’s social media policy and ensure that you have access). You can then invite each team member to pin to the boards that you create.
Create Boards. What type of information do you share with your team? Industry news? Trends? If you work at an ad agency for example, you can create boards that will resonate with your clients or relevant within the industry (Email Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Project Management, Copywriting, etc)
Choose Carefully. Pinterest gives you the ability to make your pins and boards private, so that your competition can’t see what you’re pinning. If you choose to do this, remember that your content will be hidden from everyone, not just the competition.
Get Notified. You can receive notifications when a team member pins to your board and they make it very easy for you to share relevant pins to others within your organization.

Using the search tool to “listen”

Keep up with your competition. Search to see if they are on Pinterest, and gauge the level of engagement from their followers.
Customers are probably already talking about you. Perform a search for your company – you never know if there are pins already out there.
Search for your industry. Find and follow other experts and boards. It’ll prevent you from reinventing the wheel.

Click here to check out Ad Club’s new Pinterest page.

Happy pinning!

What’s Pinterest?

Events

Hey Entrepreneurs: Buffalo Startup Weekend Is Almost Here!

September 30, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

A lot of us think about starting our own business. We experience a burst of inspiration, a sudden vision about a market gap we could fill. We are almost surprised to realize that we have the market-tested skills to make this work. We stare at the walls of our offices and fantasize about how delicious it would be to stop working for The Man.

Buffalo Startup Weekend offers an opportunity to get a taste of entrepreneurialism before cashing in your 401k. The event is slated to run from Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6 in Davis Hall at the University at Buffalo North Campus.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and Buffalo Startup Weekend will then run straight through until 9 p.m. on Sunday. There will be brief interludes for eating and sleeping.

Tickets to Buffalo Startup Weekend are $50. Student tickets are $25. Registration is limited and is currently available online. Over five hundred people are currently registered.

Buffalo Startup Weekend is sponsored by the University at Buffalo and 360 PSG.

The Buffalo Startup Weekend reports that “Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.”

All are welcome at Startup Weekend — programmers, marketers, designers, public relations wonks, accountants, you name it — because anyone with business or creative skills can play a role in the launch of a new business.

Here’s how it works:

Participants show up on Friday night, have dinner, and listen to a series of short pitches for new businesses (if you have an idea, prepare to present your pitch). Everybody votes for the top ideas, and then teams are formed around the winners. The teams get organized and make a game plan for Saturday and Sunday’s work.

Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, the teams work as hard as possible for as long as possible to get their startup launched. Coaches will be available to help work through thorny issues. The work can go as late as necessary…or not stop at all.

The same process on Sunday — but the teams also need to prepare for presentations at 5 p.m. Following presentations, the judges will select winners and award prizes, and you will go home, your head swimming with ideas, connections, and probably enough caffeine to kill a horse.

The top three teams will receive prize packages that include professional web design and hosting, legal advice, marketing assistance, Venture Club memberships, and tickets to Helium Comedy Club, among other items. For a full list of prizes, visit the Buffalo Startup Weekend website.

This year’s judges include John Seman, president and CEO of Launch WNY; noted entrepreneur and advisor Aron Solomon, entrepreneurial law expert Diane McMahon; Brigid Doherty, executive director and secretary of the James H. Cummings Foundation; and Adrian Roselli, vice president of Algonquin Studios.

Buffalo Startup Weekend can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

AdWeek Events

Ad Week 2013 – From Reverse Mentoring to Questioning It All…

September 29, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

Whoa! What a whirlwind week we had to close out September! Another Ad Week – generously sponsored by The Buffalo News – is officially in the books. And this year, we did not disappoint.

Hopefully you got as much out of it as we did. The panels and speakers were engaging and informative. And the crowds (thanks to you) were large and lively. If you ask us, that’s a great recipe for success.

In case you didn’t make it to all of the events, here’s a quick synopsis in short-bit Twitter form.

Tuesday: AdLab – Leadership at Every Level – In partnership with Performance Management Partners and Leadership Buffalo

We had a great crowd to kick off the Ad Week festivities and re-open another season of our popular AdLab series. All in attendance were very eager for a great discussion on reverse mentoring and how can generations work together.

As our AdLab offerings evolve, you’ll see more topics like this, which break from the typical marketing/communications topics and additionally explore leadership and best practices.

Throughout the year it should make for a nice mix of shop talk, but also bolster skills that will help us become more well rounded leaders in our field.

What we learned: Since anyone at any age or stage of their career can lead, there’s no reason to let generation gaps get in the way of good work. Leaders can emerge at any age or any level.

Wednesday: Social Media Coffee Talk with Craig Kanalley of the Buffalo Sabres

This Ad Week event was bright and early and had another great turnout. In conjunction with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Social Media Club of Buffalo, the Ad Club hosted Buffalo Sabres Social Media Manager Craig Kanalley. Craig shared his story of being successful so quickly in the social media world, taking his talents from Buffalo, to Chicago, to New York City and now back to Buffalo.

What we learned: No matter how far you go or how successful you become, there’s always that chance to land your dream job back home. Craig did just that.

Thursday: The Golden Age of B.S. Bob Hoffman, author of The Ad Contrarian

%#$@ this was a great presentation! Pardon our French but some of Bob Hoffman’s passion rubbed off on us. He certainly didn’t disappoint the crowd by making us think about present-day advertising and shooting holes in commonly held beliefs.

What we learned: Bob believes it’s all B.S. The DVR hasn’t killed television advertising. Social media isn’t the be-all, end-all. Good creative still wins out in the end.

Friday: Ad Club After Hours

We raised a glass to a successful Ad Week at Lobby Bar at Statler City! Fun was had by all after what we believe was an invigorating and educational week.

What we learned: Every week should end with a Happy Hour!

We’ll see you at the next Ad Club event!

AdWeek Events

Great Mentoring Goes Both Ways

September 6, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

AdLab: Leadership at Every Level (Because Great Mentoring Goes Both Ways)
Tuesday, September 24th
Templeton Landing, 2 Templeton Terrace, Buffalo
Cash Bar & Hors D’oeuvres @ 5:15 p.m. | Presentation @ 6 p.m.
Student Members: $5 | Members: $10 | Non-Members $25

RSVP Now >>

The wait is finally over. AdLab is back in action and this event is one that you won’t want to miss. We’ve teamed up with Leadership Buffalo and Performance Partners to explore how leadership happens at every level. We’ll hear from local Millennial Gen X/Yers, on the importance of letting the young guns in an organization champion new ideas or initiatives.

Let us explain a bit more. While the majority of us look up to the well-seasoned vets for their knowledge and expertise, a new trend called “Reverse Mentoring” is sweeping the industry. These vets have begun to look to the younger generation of advertisers for advice on key business objectives such as enhancing brand awareness through social media and digital spaces.

We’re certainly not discrediting the senior decision makers, but is 20+ years of experience required to take ownership of a project or come up with a great idea? We’re not convinced.

If all of this makes you a little uneasy, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve called in some of the best in the biz to share their experiences, best practices and provide some insight on this important topic. RSVP today and join us Tuesday, Sept. 24th. We’re fairly certain it’ll be an enjoyable evening. Hey, you may even learn a thing or two!

AdWeek Events

The Golden Age of BS

September 5, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

Thursday, September 26
Ad Contrarian
“The Golden Age of BS” – presentation by Bob Hoffman
Karpeles Manuscript Library | 453 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY
Discussion: 7 p.m.
Members: $25 | Non-Members: $45

Author and advertising veteran Bob Hoffman will question some of the “truths” about advertising and marketing that you may currently hold to be self-evident. He’ll nudge you toward a state of skepticism about what you hear from advertising experts and pundits.

Bob will discuss the myth of advertising interactivity; the language of brand babble; frauds in display advertising; the fantasy of social media marketing; and the rise and fall of some advertising prophets.

If you’re in the industry – or even if you’re not – this lecture is sure to leave you asking yourself about the truth behind the advertising you consume. Prepare to be challenged, but also entertained.

RSVP NOW!

Bob Hoffman is a partner in the Type A Group, a consultancy that helps businesses understand and influence consumers over 50. He is the author of “101 Contrarian Ideas About Advertising” and “The Ad Contrarian” as well as “The Ad Contrarian” blog, which was named one of the world’s most influential advertising and marketing blogs by Business Insider.

Bob has created advertising for McDonald’s, Toyota, Shell, Nestle, Blue Cross, Chevrolet, Pepsico, Bank of America, AT&T, and more companies than he cares to remember.

AdWeek Events

Get Ready! Ad Week 2013 is Coming in Hot

September 5, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

Now that The Big Tip-Off is behind us, it’s time to gear up for one of the biggest weeks on the Advertising Club calendar – Ad Week. Cheers to those that filled the tip jars at Soho; it was our best year yet with over $4,000 raised for education programming.

Ad Week comes right at the start of the Ad Club membership year, which makes joining, if you haven’t already, even more essential. Get the most bang for your buck on Ad Week events and many more throughout the year by joining today.

The lineup for the 2013 session is pretty exciting, if we do say so ourselves. Much like you’ve experienced from past Ad Weeks, expect to be engaged, educated and have a little fun.

Thursday of Ad Week, in particular, is a day we’re really anticipating. It’s our Ad Contrarian presentation called “The Golden Age of BS.” Bob Hoffman will discuss the myth of advertising interactivity; the appalling language of brand babble; the massive fraud of display advertising; the fantasy of social media marketing; and the rise and fall of false advertising prophets.

It will definitely pique your interest.

Whether you decide to attend one event, or come for the whole week, we’re confident you’ll walk away with some inspiration and some industry insight that’s sure to impress your colleagues back at the office.

So here’s the rundown for the week:

Tuesday, September 24
Ad Lab with Leadership Buffalo & Performance Partners
Leadership at Every Level (Because Great Mentoring Goes Both Ways)
Templeton Landing | 2 Templeton Terrace, Buffalo
Cash Bar & Hors D’oeuvres @ 5:15 p.m. | Presentation @ 6 p.m.
Student Members* $5 | Members: $10 | Non-Members: $25

RSVP NOW

Explore how leadership happens at every level. Having 20 years of experience under your belt is no longer required to take ownership of a project, but with painstakingly visible differences between Millennials, Generation X and Y, a trend has become more apparent. The industry-wide trend we’re talking about is sweeping the marketing world and it’s called “Reverse Mentoring.”

It can lead to professional development and overall better leadership skills for promoting key business objectives such as building community and public relations, increasing lead generation and sales, and enhancing brand awareness, especially in the ever-evolving social media and digital spaces.

——————————————————————————————

Wednesday, September 25
Coffee Talk with Craig Kanalley
Real-time advice from Buffalo’s social media superstar
The Knox Room at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership
665 Main Street – Suite 200, Buffalo
Donuts & Hot Drinks: 8 a.m.
Discussion: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Pre-Order: FREE | At The Door: $5

RSVP NOW

If you’re on Twitter and don’t know of Craig Kanalley – you’re not really on Twitter. After three years at The Huffington Post – yes that Huffington Post – and brief stint as a social media editor at NBC News – yep, NBC news –Craig, a Tonawanda native, has returned home to work full-time as the social media manager for our beloved Sabres. Craig will spend his morning with us, fielding questions from audience members like you and chatting about all things social media. #GetYourHashtagsReady

——————————————————————————————

RSVP NOW

Bob Hoffman will question some of the “truths” about advertising and marketing that you may currently hold to be self-evident. He’ll nudge you toward a state of skepticism about what you hear from advertising experts and pundits.

——————————————————————————————

Friday, September 27
Ad Week Social
Ad Club After Hours
Lobby Bar at Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave, Buffalo
2 for 1 Drink Special from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Price: FREE

Cap off a great week of events with a cocktail among friends. There’s no need to RSVP, just mark your calendar and prepare to have a good time. Hope you can join us for a drink!

Events

The Big-Tip Off: The Most Entertaining Event Recap You’ll Ever Read

September 4, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

The post below was written by board member Matt Low who graciously planned, organized, and MC’d this year’s Big Tip-Off event. Not only is it an accurate recap, it’s an incredibly entertaining read.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT FOR THE AD CLUB OF BUFFALO’S THIRD ANNUAL BIG-TIP OFF.

(The following is the actual transcript[1] of what the MC of Advertising Club of Buffalo’s Third Annual Big-Tip Off, me, said on the evening of August 30, 2013. It is purely for the benefit of those who couldn’t make it or those who couldn’t hear me that night. What is in ALL CAPS, is what was said on mic (I was yelling). What is in parens (like all this stuff), the writer, also me, will use to fill in story gaps. What is in BOLD CAPS, is what was said off-mic (I was yelling even louder). And what is in italics, is what I was thinking. Enjoy. Oh please enjoy.)

SERIOUSLY, EVERYONE, THANKS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I’M MATT LOW. AN AD CLUB BOARD MEMBER.

As if you people don’t know who I am. They know who I am, right?

YES, THIS IS THE ADVERTISING CLUB OF BUFFALO’S 3^RD ANNUAL BIG TIP-OFF. ALSO KNOWN AS, “GIVE THE CLUB ANOTHER 30 TO 40 DOLLARS, YA CHEAPSKATE.”

That was a joke, people. I think I saw someone smile. Wait, can they hear me?

NO, SERIOUSLY. THIS IS A GREAT EVENT FOR HONORING THOSE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS: THE BARTENDER.

Okay, no one’s laughing. Or even looking at me.

THE MONEY COLLECTED IN TIPS TONIGHT BENEFITS THE CLUB’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUCH. SO, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING OUT. ANY STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT?

(No one responds.)

Don’t do the Ferris Bueller bit. Don’t do the Ferris Bueller bit.

ANYONE? ANYONE? BUELLER?

Dammit.

ALRIGHT, LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE AWESOME BARTENDERS HELPING US OUT TONIGHT. KEN TRABERT AND SARAH NUENDORFER OF CENERGY. DAVE NAPIERALA OF GELIA. BRYAN LEFAUVE OF SKM GROUP.

I totally just butchered his name.

SANDY GINGERICH AND VIRGINIA BATES OF ERIC MOWER. SEAN RADLICH AND KARLIE BEIL OF TRAVERS COLLINS. MIKE GLUCK OF GLUCKWORKS. ANDY DONOVAN AND BILL COUSINS OF DPOST. AND JIM HETTICH OF CROWLEY WEBB.

IN A FEW SECONDS, THEY’RE GOING TO BE SERVING DRINKS FOR YOUR TIPS. AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THE BARTENDER WITH THE MOST TIPS WILL TAKE HOME THIS SWEET TROPHY.[2] LET’S GET GOING!

FIRST UP: JIM, SANDY AND VIRGINIA, SEAN AND KARLIE, AND BRYAN.

TIP. TIP TIP. TIP.

Wow. I’m glad that’s over. What now? Drink? Drink.

(15-20 minutes pass. Our MC is now behind the bar.)

SO, IS EVERYONE HAVING FUN?

NO, THESE ARE NOT MY WIFE’S SUNGLASSES, SIR. BUT THANKS FOR ASKING. NICE FINGER.[3]

Seriously.

ALRIGHT, TIME’S UP, GUYS. SHIFT TWO, YOU’RE UP! MIKE, DAVE, BILL AND ANDY, KEN AND SARAH, GET UP HERE.

(Our MC spends the next 5-10 minutes making casual conversation.)

Boy that guy can talk. What’s his name again? His breath smelled like burnt cheese.[4] I’m kind of hungry. Okay, better push membership.

OKAY, PEOPLE QUIET FOR A MINUTE OR SO.

YES, YOU, LADY. QUIET! PLEASE?

I’M SORRY, YOU’RE GREAT.

I’ll FIGHT YOU ALL.

ANYWAY, IF YOU’RE NOT A MEMBER OF THE AD CLUB, YOU SHOULD REALLY LOOK INTO IT. THERE ARE TONS OF BENEFITS, LIKE DISCOUNTS TO AWESOME EVENTS LIKE THIS.

No one’s listening.

ALRIGHT PEOPLE, 10 MORE MINUTES.

TIP. TIP. TIP.

(10 minutes pass.)

ALRIGHT, AND THAT’S IT. STOP POURING, BARTENDERS. STOP. WE’RE GOING TO TALLY THE TIPS. IN THE MEANTIME, WE’LL AWARD THE DOOR PRIZES. TAKE OUT YOUR PINK TICKETS. WE’RE LOOKING FOR NUMBER 555689.

555689. 555689. 555689.

NO ONE? I’LL DRAW ANOTHER.

555417. 555417. 555417.

(This goes on for three straight hours.[5]

WELL, FOLKS, THE MONEY HAS BEEN COUNTED. AND COMING IN THIRD WITH $726 IS BRYAN LEFAUVE. COMING IN SECOND IS JIM HETTICH WITH $892. AND OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER WITH $934 IS DAVE NAPIERALA. COME GET YOUR TROPHY![6]

WE RAISED MORE THAN $4000 TONIGHT. EXCELLENT JOB, EVERYONE.

NOW, GO HOME. GOOD NIGHT.

I just want to go home and watch Orphan Black.

(Don’t get the wrong impression. This was a good night.)

1 “Actual” is being used very loosely here. It’s mostly true, but c’mon. I’m a writer.

2 It was not a sweet trophy. It was purchased from this crap trophy shop in my neighborhood. It had a guy in his underwear on top. And it was either that, a bowler, or a little girl playing soccer. What do you want for $30?

3 Didn’t happen.

4 This was actually a woman. And I will tell you who she was if you send me $5. [7]

5 Five straight hours.

6 Alright, it was a pretty sweet trophy.

7 Didn’t happen.

Blog Events

Ad Club of Buffalo to host the American Advertising Federation District 2 Leadership Conference

July 19, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

A Message from Club President, Charlie Fashana

Each year behind the scenes, advertising clubs from across the country get together for a meeting of the minds. Usually a two day conference, it focuses on sharing club best practices, collaborating and making recommendations and resolutions that can be taken back to the local clubs. Buffalo belongs to AAF District 2, which includes the likes of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.and Baltimore, among others in the northeast.

This September the conference is coming to us. For the first time in over 10 years, Buffalo has been chosen to host. Just think about what those folks saw a decade ago compared to what we’ve got going on now. We’re a city on the rise experiencing a creative revival all our own. Now we have the opportunity to showcase that progress to our peers.

I attended last year’s conference, hosted by the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation. It was a good experience. I learned about the AAF side of our business, networked a lot and had a great time seeing a side of Pittsburgh I hadn’t seen before. Some highlights included a tour of the Carnegie Mellon Educational Technology Center and dinner overlooking a life-sized dinosaur exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

But now as the host city, our opportunity is so much greater. This is our chance to boast. From the rebirth of our region to the smart, innovative and energetic marketing pros that call it home, I can’t wait to show us off!

What does this mean for you, our members? While the conference is for board members, a big part of the conference experience is the showcasing of local talent among our peers in neighboring Ad Clubs. I think we all can agree that Buffalo has much more of that than many of our out-of-market colleagues may think. So right now we’re brainstorming who, or what, might be a good fit for inclusion in the agenda.

Do you work for a company or with a company that has a great story to tell? Might you or your company be interested in showing off some groundbreaking research or innovative achievements? Have any must-see work or just know of a unique place to entertain visitors? Well, if you do, we’d love to hear. Email us at info@advertisingclubofbuffalo.com/.

What does this mean for the Ad Club of Buffalo and for the city of Buffalo? A lot. Hosting the AAF District 2 Leadership Conference is an incredible opportunity for our Club and great for Buffalo. It will put our local Club in the spotlight of the national organization we are part of, while also showcasing the many gems that Buffalo has to offer. We’re also thrilled about creating an economic impact as well. Approximately 30 to 40 professionals from five different states will be coming here for two nights, eating at our restaurants, drinking at our bars, seeing our sights and learning about Buffalo.

We’re treating this as a privilege to host this conference and are hoping to work with many local companies and agencies to develop great content. And we have already partnered with Visit Buffalo Niagara to help make this weekend a truly special visit for our attendees.

So again, if you’d like to be involved or want to share some ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Thanks in advance for any help!

Charlie

AdVENTising Blog

Is Flash Dead?

July 11, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

Written by: Board Member Carl EdholmThe short answer is no. Flash is not dead.

In fact, at this stage in the game it still makes the most sense to build apps and simple interactive websites using the usual web stack and to use Flash for very complex web/mobile apps, extremely interactive websites, and of course games.

7 reasons Flash is Alive & Well:

Web gl is not, and probably never will be, accepted by all browsers – and web standards are still adopted differently across these same browsers
The Flash player is built into the IE 10 browser and will update along with the rest of Windows
Flash Video is still better quality and easier to implement considering the continuing disagreements over WebM and H.264 formats
All interactive banner campaigns are still done in flash
Business applications are still being built in Flash as we speak
Flash can publish to HTML 5
Games

As the web is changing, so is Flash. It is becoming more focused and is adjusting to the current needs of a specific audience. Is Flash the tool for everything? No. Of course not.

Is Flash a better choice in some cases to use. Yes. Of course it is.

Is Flash dead? Absolutely not.

Board

First Time Board Member Tells All

June 18, 2013October 28, 2016Ad Club Of Buffalo

I became acquainted with the Advertising Club of Buffalo nearly a decade ago. I was a student at Canisius College (where leaders are made) and my advisor, Dr. John Dahlberg, advised me to get involved.

As this post may indicate, I did get involved. Very involved. I started attending events and networking the old fashioned way. I found myself having a genuinely great time geeking out with other people who love to talk about clever headlines and make fun of lame fonts. I also found myself learning a lot and meeting really great people (the kind of people it never hurts to know in an industry like ours.)

The Ad Club has helped me to grow as a professional, land my job, grow some more, hire interns, help the interns to grow, find freelance gigs, and stay tremendously interested and involved in the Buffalo advertising community despite the fact that I work client side. What’s helped me grow the most however, is serving on the Board of Directors.

I’m writing this post with a purpose. Board nominations are due this week and I know that some of you may be on the fence about running. As someone who was in your position around this time last year, I can only offer you one piece of advice and it’s the same piece of advice that Dr. Dahlberg gave me so many years ago: get involved.

I knew that being on the board would be a resume booster – but I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. It’s a beautiful thing when your profession and your passion are one and the same but to share that with a great group of motivated doers is another thing all together. And it’s nothing short of incredible.

As a club, we’re doing a lot of things right these days. Our events are selling out, we’re bringing world-class speakers to Buffalo, we’re offering practical education on topics people want to learn about, we’re reaching out to students, and our membership numbers are higher than ever before. That’s no coincidence. Our board is consciously driving this revival of sorts, and while I’m usually not one to brag I am confident that we collectively have much to be proud of.

The success is undoubtedly a result of great leadership, hard work, and personal accountability. That being said, if hard work and accountability aren’t really your thing you probably shouldn’t be looking to join our board.

As the co-chair for our AdLab series, I spent a lot of time planning and coordinating the monthly panel discussions. Sure, it takes time, a lot of emails, and some back-and-forth but it’s given me the opportunity to meet and correspond with Buffalo’s best and brightest. Along with all of the AdLabs, it’s expected that I attend the club’s happy hours and events – but I was already doing that anyway. There are board meetings once a month and committee meetings on occasion but I don’t dread them – I enjoy them.

A personal highlight was being asked to represent the club (and my company) by reviewing commercials on the morning show Winging It! the day after the Super Bowl.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love talking about commercials.

I could go on and on about all of the reasons I’ve enjoyed being on the board this past year, but I’d rather have you find out for yourself.

So, if you’d like to be an instrumental part of something awesome and you want to help us make things happen, we’d love to have you join us.

You can check out the specific areas of need and submit your nomination (for yourself or any other qualified candidates who might be interested) through this Friday, and I hope you will.

If you have any specific questions about what’s involved, feel free to get in touch.