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2017 ADDYs Recap: AD SMACK BATTLE RUMBLE MANIA

On Friday, March 10, the local ad community came together to recognize the true winners of our industry: the creative geniuses of Western New York.

More than 410 advertising masterminds entered the ring at Buffalo RiverWorks to attend the 2017 WNY American Advertising Awards. From snarky signs to exclusive entourages, the atmosphere was lively, competitive, and celebratory – reflecting the show’s theme, “AD SMACK BATTLE RUMBLE MANIA,” perfectly.

Developed by local agency Crowley Webb, this year’s awards show satirized the hyped-up competition between local ad agencies around award season. Over 500 professional and student entries were received and scored by judges from Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Washington D.C.

Special thanks go to co-chairs Marcia Rich, UX Designer at Crowley Webb, and April Brown, Art Director at FARM Buffalo, who worked hard to ensure a raucous time was had by all.

And now, on to the winners.  Read on to view the great achievements of the night.


 

Professional Winners

Crowley Webb brought the final smack down, taking home the most ADDYs with 29 awards (5 Gold, 24 Silver). Gelia received a total of 26 awards (16 Gold, 10 Sliver), Block Club was honored with 16 awards (3 Gold, 13 Silver), The Martin Group took away 13 awards (13 Silver), White Bicycle secured 12 awards (7 Gold, 5 Silver), and dPost 11 awards (8 Gold, 3 Silver). A total of 26 companies took home at least one gold or silver award.

Other award winners include:

  • FARM Buffalo (2 Gold, 6 Silver)
  • Eric Mower + Associates (1 Gold, 4 Silver)
  • FIFTEEN (8 Silver)

Best of Show

The big winner of the night was Gelia, picking up the Best of Show Award for their Smiling Teds, “Science of Used Car Dealers” campaign.

Special Awards

Several very talented individuals were also honored with Special Awards.  The 2017 recipients were:

  • Andy Donovan, President, dPost – David I. Levy Communicator of the Year Award
    This award was created to recognize outstanding achievement and service in the communications industry.

    Andy Donovan, President of dPost accepts the David I. Levy Communicator of the Year Award.
  • Laurie Wolfe, Broadcast Producer, Laurie Wolfe Productions – Alex Osborn Award for Creativity
    Named in honor of Alex Osborn of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn fame, this award recognizes individuals who, through outstanding creative achievements, have left an indelible mark on the Western New York creative community.
  • Ted’s Hot Dogs – The Odysseus Best Client Award
    The Odysseus Award was established in 2011 by the Advertising Club of Buffalo to honor a client in the Western New York market (individual or group/department) who has used the discipline of strategic marketing and advertising in an extraordinary way.
  • Charlie Riley, Director of Marketing and Communications, Lawley – Joe Crowley Award for Service
    This award recognizes not only hard work, but also outstanding achievement in furthering the activities and interests of the club.
  • Sam Tato, 3D Artist, dPost  AAF Buffalo Future Star Award
    This award honors an outstanding young professional in the marketing and advertising field who has demonstrated great potential in his or her early years in the industry.

The Veritiv Creative Use of Paper Award

White Bicycle received this award once again for their Andrea Nardello “Fire” Packaging for Blue Elephant Records. A special thanks to Jean Clemens from Veritiv for her continued support of AAF Buffalo and this award.

 

Best Show Book Ad Award

FIFTEEN won this year’s award with their interactive thumb battle rumble mania-themed ad.

 

 

Student Winners

College students were also included in the action. Taking home the Student Best of Show were Alexandra Casarsa, Courtney Ewings, Gina Griffo, and Samantha Lonczak of Villa Maria College for Skald Book Design. Lonczak’s 4 student awards (1 Gold, 3 Silver) were the most overall. Angela Marini of Daemen College took home 2 Gold awards, while Holly Norris of Buffalo State College took home 1 Gold and 1 Silver. A total of 17 students took home at least one gold or silver award.

Courtney Ewings, Gina Griffo, Samantha Lonczak, and Alexandra Casarsa of Villa Maria College accept the Student Best of Show Award for Skald Book Design.

Students each taking home one Gold award include:

  • Grace Gruarin, VIlla Maria College
  • Noah Herman, Daemen College

Student Silver award winners include:

  • Alexandra Casarsa, Villa Maria College
  • Troy Deweever, St. Bonaventure University
  • Courtney Ewings, Villa Maria College
  • Jeffery Marotta, Villa Maria College
  • Jessica Puskar, Villa Maria College
  • Rachel Peck, Canisius College
  • Alicia Salerno, Villa Maria College

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The 2016 WNY American Advertising Award Show was sponsored by: Buffalo Limousine, Holiday Inn Express, WNED TV, Gateway Printing & Graphics, Inc., Big Ditch Brewing Company, IMG_INK, Veritiv, Cohber Press, Inc., Hodgins Engraving, Minute Print, PromoWorks, CJ Sound, Sound Video Solutions, and Speier Displays.

On to a Bigger Ring

The Gold and Silver winners in both professional and student categories will have the opportunity to compete in the AAF District 2 American Advertising Awards with the hope of moving on to the national show in New Orleans in June.

Congratulations to all the winners and another successful year of work in WNY!

 

Watch the judge’s Best of Show selection process below. Special thanks to Jason Yates for this superb contribution.

 

Relive the memories by flipping through the 2017 American Advertising Awards show book, or view pictures from the night on our Facebook page.

Blog Board Stuff

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: TIM BOUCHARD

You might recognize him by his bright yellow car, or know him as one of those crazy cyclists that wear spandex. Or, perhaps you know him for his killer work at the agency he co-founded, LUMINUS. But when he’s not biking 40+ miles or meeting with clients, Tim Bouchard serves as AAF Buffalo’s vice president. Read on to see what makes our second-in-command really tick.

Let’s hear about your day job.

Where do you work, and what does your role entail?

I’m a managing partner at LUMINUS, which means I wear many hats. I help with business development, client communication, project management, internal reviews, and all the boring business stuff. Being that my roots are in digital media, I still find time to keep up with web design trends and contribute to the programming processes here at the studio.

What trends or insights are you finding in your field/market?

LUMINUS’s origins are in the success and quality of our web and digital services. The traditional advertising community has been slowly integrating more focus on digital over the last 10 years, while we have been simultaneously growing into a full-service agency offering traditional services. It’s fun to see both sides playing in the same arenas.

What advice do you have to give to emerging talent in your field?

For those interested in the digital realm, stay forward thinking. Creative processes and digital advertising change rapidly as new technology and social markets emerge. Always be learning.

Tell us about organizations/charities that you’re passionate about.

I’m involved in and support local cycling, whether its races or organizations like GoBike Buffalo.

What are three things you use at work every day?

My Mac Pro, Slack, and Quick Wit

What was your first job?

My first professional gig was working for a little company called Student Voice when it was just 10 people. Some of you may know it now as Campus Labs.

Describe yourself in one word.

Determined.

What’s your favorite hidden gem in WNY?

“That Taco Place” in Batavia – or “Taco Joe’s,” as us regulars call it.

Now, let’s talk a little about AAF Buffalo.

Why did you join AAF Buffalo?

As a young business owner, I saw an opportunity to involve my company from an exposure standpoint and a resource for my team to continue professional development. As a single company, we cannot pull together the classes, speakers, and networking events that a group like AAF Buffalo can.

What has been your proudest moment in your role on the AAF board?

Creating the BrandHack event, which brings students and professionals together to competitively create a media campaign for a local non-profit. I wanted to bring an idea from my tech background into the creative space. I also really wanted an event that tied students directly with professionals.

How has AAF Buffalo impacted you professionally?

Being on my first board has expanded my management and communication skills. It’s introduced me to contacts internally within AAF as well as local industry leaders that I can share conversations with now at a common level.

What differentiates AAF Buffalo from other groups?

We are fortunate to work in an imaginative and enjoyable field. We create every day. AAF Buffalo allows us to get together and share that feeling with each other and constantly push each other to be even better.

Why would you encourage others to join AAF Buffalo?

Buffalo is a small town that still has somewhat limited resources. This organization is in place to help us support each other. You’re never done learning. We offer accessible and approachable ways to support local students –  to open doors and help them become the best future professionals they can be. This is an all-inclusive organization.

Keep up with Tim on Twitter at @timbouchard, or Instagram at downincircles.

Board Stuff

Board Member Spotlight: Scott Bartels

AAF Buffalo President Scott Bartels has been on our board for six years – serving as treasurer for three, and as president for the latter. He’s seen AAF and the advertising community of Buffalo through various trends, and can rock a mic at a networking event like no other. Read on to learn a little more about our head honcho and his take on advertising in 2016.

Let’s hear about your day job.

Scott-500Where do you work, and what does your role entail?

I’m Assistant Vice President of Digital Content Delivery at HSBC Bank. Essentially, I work with our digital team to manage our website content.

What trends or insights are you finding in your field/market? 

Well it’s probably obvious, but mobile and video are huge right now. So much of the content we consume on the internet is audiovisual, and most of us are viewing it on some sort of smartphone or tablet. Virtual and augmented reality are also becoming hot topics, but I think it’s too early to tell how they’ll fit into our everyday lives and be fully leveraged from a marketing standpoint.

What advice do you have to give to emerging talent in your field?

Take advantage of every opportunity to learn, and put yourself out there and meet people. Networking can definitely feel uncomfortable at first, but once you do it a few times, it’ll get easier and lead you to a whole network of new contacts.

Tell us about organizations/charities you’re passionate about.

Buffalo Prep is an amazing organization that provides hard working, intelligent students with great academic opportunities. I’m really excited about AAF Buffalo’s new partnership with Buffalo Prep this year, and looking forward to introducing their students to careers in advertising.

What’s your favorite hidden gem in WNY?

I really love the Darwin Martin House, which is a historic site right in a city neighborhood. I’ve always found the architecture and its story intriguing; every detailed feature was done for a reason and to perfection.

Now, let’s talk a little about AAF Buffalo.

Why did you join AAF Buffalo?

In 2011, I was at a point in my career where I saw the need to network more in my field, and AAF Buffalo seemed like it would provide that opportunity. Almost six years later, I can’t imagine my life without this experience.

What has been your proudest moment in your role on the AAF board?

We’ve accomplished so much over the years, but this past June we won first place in three national AAF achievement awards. It was an awesome recognition for years of hard work on the board, and a great testament to the support of our members.

How has AAF Buffalo impacted you professionally?

In addition to introducing me to new people and ideas, AAF Buffalo helped me grow my leadership skills and gain a lot more confidence in public speaking.

What differentiates AAF Buffalo from other groups?

Our yearly American Advertising Awards show. Our show brings the entire advertising industry together for a celebration of the great work developed in this region. Not only is it a celebration, but a reunion of sorts for many who have worked together through the years.

Why would you encourage others to join AAF Buffalo?

You’ll meet some really great people, who have a shared passion for the same line of work. It gives you the opportunity to develop professionally, learn new ideas, share challenges, open new doors to your career, and make some great friends in the process.

Keep up with Scott on Twitter at @sbartels47, or Instagram at scooterb47.

Blog Skillshop Stuff

Skillshop Recap: Lights, Camera, Action, Edit

By Jaime Applegate

Last Thursday, Pegula Sports & Entertainment helped us bring in our new membership year with a video production Skillshop. Joe DeBenedictis and Travis Carlson took us on a crash-course in developing, producing, creating and even editing a short video. They started out the night telling us their stories and showcasing a few of their most recent works. We learned that in as little as 30 seconds, a story can unfold through sights, sounds and movement to convey certain emotions to the viewer. But 30 seconds of video takes much longer to create and Joe and Travis took us through each step. By the end of the night, they created a minute and a half video to demonstrate what we learned (with the help of a few lucky attendees!).

video-skillshop-photo_web

Travis, a videographer with PSE, took us through the fundamentals of story including the “Four P’s” – People, Places, Plot, and Purpose. Each point plays an important role in making “the story that you want to see” and should be considered when developing the narrative. He then took us through the secrets of the camera and demonstrated numerous lighting techniques to evoke certain sentiments about the characters. This is where the attendees really got to engage in this Skillshop – Travis and Joe chose “actors” from the crowd and described the plot for our new reality short – “The Breakfast Show.” Joe produced and Travis filmed the show keeping everyone entertained as we got a real look at what goes on behind the scenes. I will never look at a reality show the same way again!

Joe, a producer and editor at PSE, shared his tips and tricks in editing with Adobe Premiere Pro. He took us from starting a project in the program all the way to a near-finished piece, staying an extra hour for all the diehard editing fans. Joe finished up the video on his own time and uploaded to YouTube for all the attendees to enjoy: https://youtu.be/HNgltaB0oDw

Fav comment during our @AAF_Buffalo seminar: “you’ve ruined every reality show for me”. You’re welcome! #editing pic.twitter.com/FlCD9uRS2s

Attending events like this is always a confidence booster for me because it reminds me of my passion. The storyline, the filming, the lighting – it’s all fun to watch but what really got me excited was the editing portion of the night. As a designer, I’ve dabbled a bit in video editing programs but now I can’t wait to try some of the tips I learned. Attending workshops is a great way to learn about different areas of focus in our field. We have a few more planned for this year – make sure to take advantage of this great opportunity to add to your skillset!

 

Stuff

Previewing our 2016-17 Calendar

By: Marcia Rich

It’s September, which means a new year for AAF Buffalo (formerly the Advertising Club of Buffalo). And as a second-year board member, I’m excited to give you a sneak peak into what we have in store for 2016–2017.

This year, we’re planning to hold at least two Skillshops. The first Skillshop of 2016 is scheduled for September 8 and the team from Pegula Sports and Entertainment will teach attendees some tips for DIY video production. The event is for members only, so don’t forget to renew or sign up now (shameless plug).

skillshop-video

New this year is our Spotlight Speaker Series. Four out-of-town speakers will be coming to Buffalo throughout the year to present on different hot topics in marketing and advertising. We’ve restructured ticket pricing for these events to give you the best bang for your buck. Check the events page often to make sure you’re getting the best value.

  • October 12: Zontee Hou, principal and founder of Media Volery LLC, will present “Marketing Your Customers Want: The Alchemy of Content Marketing.”
  • November 15: Aaron Irizarry, director of UX at Nasdaq, will present “Hold Fast: Managing Design Teams When Sh!t Hits the Fan.”
  • April 11: Todd Radom, independent graphic designer specializing in branding for professional sports franchises and events, will present “Design for Sports with Todd Radom.”
  • May 9: Jonathan Kranz, copywriter and founder of Kranz Communications, will present “Nightmare Marketing: How to Create Great Content for ‘Boring,’ Complex, and Undifferentiated Products.”

Zontee Hou will present during Ad Week, which begins Monday, October 10. The first event of Ad Week will be with Buffalo Prep, where students will spend the day immersed in the advertising world. The students will visit Crowley Webb, Luminus Media, and dPost to get a well-rounded view of our industry and different career opportunities they might be interested in. Be sure to visit our website for more details on Ad Week (coming soon!).

We’re also bringing back favorite events like the holiday bowling tournament, Uber Bowl, Preview Night, and – our biggest event of the year – the American Advertising Awards. Crowley Webb will be taking the creative lead for the show this year, and I’d love to tell you more about what they’re cooking up, but you’ll just have to wait.

So, yes, there’s a lot to look forward to this coming year. Including seeing all your lovely faces at these exciting events.

Blog Events Stuff

Tipping Big, For the Kids

By Brittany Klotzbach

Last Thursday, we had one of our favorite events that we host annually: The Big Tip-Off. This has become a beloved tradition the past six years because it allows us to put the spotlight on some of our most notable “celebrity” marketing experts in the area. This event combines networking, friendly competition among local agencies, and easy-to-make drinks (… these are volunteer bartenders after all). Competitive bartending is entertaining and satisfying to watch in itself. Tack on the fact that we are doing it for a good cause, raising money for the AAF Buffalo student scholarship fund, and it makes the experience even more exciting.

Between the promotional videos leading up to the event and the methods the bartenders used to boost their tip money (i.e. glow-in-the-dark glasses, decorated tip jars, and fancy vests – to name a few), they did a fantastic job doing their part to raise money for the scholarship fund and student portfolio review events. This year’s Big Tip-Off brought in a total of $3,716 on tip money alone. Congratulations goes out to Matt Low, this year’s winning bartender who raked in an impressive $1,111. We also had a great turnout with 110 people in attendance, easily packing in the roof-top/upstairs bar of SoHo Burger Bar.

AAF Buffalo is proud to provide scholarship opportunities to local marketing students through the money we raised collectively at this event. A special thanks is owed especially to our celebrity bartenders who worked hard to earn those tips alongside Matt Low, representing Crowley Webb: Ben Siegel, Block Club; Tyler Stanley, EMA; Jason Yates, Gelia; Tim Bouchard & Mike LaDuca, Luminus Media; Jim Lynch & Kailey Kolozsvary, The Martin Group; Frank Conjerti & Josh Gumulak, Quinlan. We would also like to thank all of the generous attendees that tipped big.

We hope to see you all again next year to challenge the returning champions from Crowley Webb!

Announcements Latest News Stuff

Welcome to AAF Buffalo

Screen Shot 2016-08-25 at 3.19.53 PMThanks for stopping by. If you weren’t at our Big Tip-Off event, you might be thinking, “Where the heck did the Ad Club go?”

Well, we’re still here and we’re better than ever. Today, we announced that our name is changing from the Advertising Club of Buffalo to AAF Buffalo (the Buffalo chapter of the American Advertising Federation).

Why the change?

In short, we wanted to better align ourselves with the American Advertising Federation at the national level, which we’ve been a chapter of for many years.

After a trip to ADMERICA, the American Advertising Federation’s national conference in California this past spring, we came away with a few things: a realization that we’re a strong chapter in the national advertising community, an appreciation for the national connections accessible to us through AAF, and new ideas on how to provide our members with the most value.

Most of our members haven’t realized that they’re also a member of AAF’s national network of organizations, which includes a host of resources, connections, and discounts. In fact, nearly 20% of our annual membership fee pays for access to AAF.

With input from our members over the last several months and unanimous approval from our board, we believe this is a natural and positive progression for our organization.

What to expect:

With our new brand, our logo isn’t the only thing that’s changing.

This move will help us transition our organization from a “social club” to a professional resource for members to gain greater exposure to the industry while staying current with the latest trends. This includes our first ever Spotlight Speaker Series, member-only Skillshops and more.

We’re evolving – and we hope you’re ready to do the same. To become a member or renew your current membership, please visit aafbuffalo.com/membership.
If you have any questions or comments about this exciting change, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@aafbuffalo.com.

Advice Board Stuff

How the Ad Club Changed My Life (And How It Could Change Yours)

I want to preface this story by telling you that the headline you just read is not one of those over-sensationalized clickbait headlines designed to draw you into an article that won’t live up to the promise of its title. It’s not my attempt to “sell” anyone on the Ad Club. This is a 100% true story — my story — of how the Ad Club of Buffalo changed my life, and how I honestly believe it could change yours too.

—–

In February of 2014, the Ad Club sent out an email to all active members saying that they were in need of a new treasurer to join the board of directors. Anyone was welcome to apply.

I was working at Quinlan at the time when the email hit my inbox, and after opening it to briefly consider its contents, I moved it out of my inbox and into the archive folder. It couldn’t have been 5 minutes later that Frank Conjerti walked into my office.

“Did you get that email from the Club?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said sheepishly, knowing what he might say next.

“I think you should do it.”

Frank was the one who had introduced me to the Ad Club in the first place and encouraged me to start showing up for monthly AdLabs. I knew immediately after attending my first event that I wanted to get more involved and eventually join the board, but I was only 2 months removed from turning 24 at the time, and I was fairly certain that I had no real shot at becoming treasurer given my relative inexperience and lack of connections.

I explained these concerns to Frank, but he wasn’t having any of it. He was already a board member at that point and was planning to run for the position of secretary in a few months. He convinced me that I’d have a shot at making it, if for no other reason than the fact that treasurer was seen as a boring job, and not many other people were interested in the responsibility.

Over the next month, I had conversations with Charlie Fashana and Scott Bartels, the president and treasurer at the time, respectively. They both gave me the same advice: Go for it. What I lacked in experience, I could make up for with passion and ambition, and the Club is always looking for eager hard workers to join the board regardless of age or experience level.

Frank and Scott went to bat for me at the next board meeting, telling the rest of the crew that I’d be a good candidate for the job. Everyone else must have been asleep or not in attendance that night, because I came to work the next day to find out that I was the next treasurer of the Ad Club.

Here’s me and Frank, celebrating like dweebs.

[responsive] Corey and Frank[/responsive]

—–

Over the course of the next year, I took on as much work and responsibility for the Club as I could reasonably handle (and sometimes maybe a little more than I could handle). Scott’s inaugural advice to me upon becoming treasurer was to do as much or as little as I wanted with it. The board was an infinite sandbox of possibilities, and he told me I’d get as much out of it as I put in.

I took his advice to heart and jumped in wherever possible. The Club had an ambitious schedule and plenty of work to go around, so  I was able to help with planning events, writing copy, sending emails, building web content, and a whole host of other tasks that I might not have been able to do at my day job. It gave me a creative outlet where I could comfortably learn new skills and try new things without the fear of losing clients over a cheesy email subject line.

By day, I was an account executive, but by night I was extremely restless. Not so much with my job, but with my entire career path. Was managing clients something I wanted to do forever? Or at least for a long time? Was I truly fulfilling my career dreams? I had no idea. But when I needed it the most, the Ad Club was there for me. It offered me a chance to explore new territory and talk to people from all different walks of advertising and marketing life.

I was also given a tremendous support system to show me the ropes and teach me how to be an effective board member. My first year on the executive board put me in the company of Frank Conjerti, Katie Briggs, and Scott Bartels — secretary, vice president, and president of the board. And in my second year, I had the pleasure of working with Matt Low and Dan Nesselbush in addition to Scott (who is never leaving the Club). I couldn’t have asked for better people to learn from, and over time, I grew to be good friends with all of them.

In fact, I grew to be friends with many of the folks I met through the Ad Club. Which brings me to the next part of my story.

—–

I don’t think there is a single thing about the Club that changed me more than the people. Getting involved with the Ad Club gives you the opportunity to meet and connect with so many people that you wouldn’t otherwise spend time with. Local celebrities, creative directors, agency owners, freelancers, photographers, designers, media planners, in-house marketers, CEOs, college students… again, you get out of it what you put into it.

As a young advertising executive, I absolutely ate this up. I talked to as many people as I could, but more importantly, I built relationships with the people I was lucky enough to call my colleagues. I sought out others who seemed to share my same sensibilities, and I quickly found people who transcended the work sphere of networking and business cards to become my real friends.

Spending as much time working with people as I spent with my fellow board members is a real exercise in team-building. You’d be hard-pressed to plan an event as big as the ADDYs and not share some good times with your colleagues along the way.

Being a part of the Club was more than just work for me; it was actually fun. Whether we were fiercely debating new events, packing hundreds of ADDYs entries into envelopes, or kicking field goals for Ad Week videos, I enjoyed every second of my time with the Club.

Here’s me in front of a goofy sign, being a total dweeb:

[responsive]Corey and a sign[/responsive]

If life is about the people you surround yourself with, then you won’t be disappointed with what the Club has in store for you. There are some really great people out there, probably people just like you, and the only way you’ll ever get to know them is by showing up and getting involved.

—–

So let’s get back to me for a second. This is my story, after all.

By the time my second year on the board rolled around, I had already parted ways with Quinlan (ugh, what a millennial) in favor of a Digital Media Director position with the Mac Groups. In this new role, I was producing content, promoting websites, and directing strategy on an everyday basis. And I couldn’t have gotten there without the Club. As I said earlier, the Ad Club was the place where I was able to hone these new skills and make myself a better, more employable worker.

The restlessness didn’t go away though. I still spent my nights wondering if I was missing out on something more. And then a new opportunity presented itself. I was able to start a new agency, Blue Oak Marketing, where I would have full control of my own destiny and the ability to take on any project I wanted. It was the answer to all the sleepless nights I’d had, and it was something I’d always dreamed of doing but never thought I’d be ready for.

I say this with full, unwavering confidence: I never would have done any of that without the Ad Club. When I was most lost and looking for answers, I found solace in my colleagues at the Club. When I had new ideas that needed confirmation, I’d bring them to meetings with me and run them by other committee members. And when I knew what I wanted to do, but thought it just might be too crazy to achieve, I sought advice from some of my closest confidants on the board and found the confidence to take a risk.

So let’s recap the ways the Ad Club has changed my life so far: it helped me build marketable job-related skills that led to a new position, it offered guidance at one of the rockiest times in my career, it gave me the confidence and support to follow my dreams and start a new agency, and it has introduced me to a handful of people that I now consider close friends.

That’s not enough for you? Ok, let’s talk about this next part then.

—–

In June of 2016, I left the Ad Club of Buffalo, and the city of Buffalo, maybe forever. Whoa. Chill for a second. Buffalo will always be my first home, and of course I’ll be back to visit, but I don’t know if I’ll ever live there again.

Over the past year, I met a girl who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, started one of these newfangled “long distance relationships,” and fell in love. Awwwwwwwwww.

Actually, I didn’t meet her this year. I’ve known her for many years. But we hadn’t seen nor heard from each other in a very long time, and we just reconnected in September of 2015. And in another life, that might have been all that it was: a random reconnection between two friends from different cities, and nothing more.

But this isn’t another life. While we were chatting, we discovered that both of us would be in Washington, DC at the exact same time only a couple weeks later. Her, for a wedding she was coordinating. And me, for the Ad Club. I was going to Washington with Scott to represent Buffalo at the annual AAF District 2 meeting, which is where leaders from other Ad Clubs in our region gather to share stories, learn from each other, and make our clubs better.

While I was there, I made some time to have dinner with Alexia, the girl whom I now love and share a 3-bedroom house with. Dinner turned into our first real date, and the rest is history. I live in Raleigh now, and, despite my love for Buffalo, moving here was the easiest tough decision I’ve ever had to make.

Here’s a picture of us in Washington, being on a date like dweebs:

[responsive]Corey finds love[/responsive]

So let’s revisit that list of things the Ad Club gave to me and add “relationship” and “new home.”

Ok, I’ll concede that it took me a lot of hard work to get each of the things on the list, and I’m not going to pretend that a random Ad Club conference just handed me a great relationship and a new place to live. But in a weird, indirect kind of way, I don’t know if I’d have those things if I hadn’t gone to that conference. And I don’t know if I’d have a great number of things in my life if I hadn’t taken Frank’s advice and responded to that email in February of 2014. So much in my life has changed since that day, and over the next 2 years, I’m sure plenty more changes will take shape. But there is one thing that I keep coming back to, and that thing is how important the Club has been as a part of my life.

—–

So now you’ve heard my story. Let’s talk about yours. No matter how old you are, no matter what stage of your career you’re in, and no matter what branch of advertising and marketing you work in, I can confidently say the Ad Club has something to offer you.

I can’t argue with the fact that my path through the Club is probably an anomaly, but I have worked with a few dozen people on the board at some point over the past few years, and what I can tell you is that the ones who get value and reward out of the Club are the ones who come to the table with something to give. Whether it’s time, passion, skill, or just an extra set of hands for someone in need, the Club will come back around and give something back to you. You’d be surprised how often that one guy who you helped with a project a few months ago ends up in a hiring position right when you need a job. Or how often you’ll run into someone at an Ad Club event who is going through (or has gone through) the exact same career challenges you are. So let me give you a simple list of things you can do if you want the Ad Club to give you the same kinds of opportunities it gave me:

  • Show up. Go to events. Participate.
  • Talk to new people. It’s tough but it’s worth it.
  • If you can, apply to join the board at some point.
  • Give. You’ll get just as much, if not more, back in return.
  • Be open-minded. Try new things. Hone new skills.
  • Say yes. A lot. Take every opportunity you’re given.

Honestly, those are probably all good points to follow for any part of your life, but they’re especially true of the Ad Club. I’ve already said it several times, but I’ll say it again: you get back what you put into it.

—–

If you’ve read down this far and not fallen asleep by now, you’re probably in this next group of people I’m about to mention, so stay with me for just one more second. The last thing I want to say is thank you. Thank you to everyone I’ve met along the way. Thank you to my fellow board members from the past few years. Thank you to Tina Pastwik, who does a lot of hard work for the Club and doesn’t get nearly the recognition she deserves. And most of all, thank you to my colleagues from the 2 e-boards I was fortunate enough to serve on. To Frank Conjerti and Katie Briggs, thanks for all the support and encouragement throughout my first year. And to Matt Low, Dan Nesselbush and Scott Bartels, thanks for one hell of a last year to send me off.

Being a part of the Advertising Club of Buffalo was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and it’s one I won’t soon forget. I loved the 26 months I spent as treasurer, and I’ll always love the Ad Club for making me a better worker and a better person. Here’s one last picture to celebrate the ride. What a bunch of dweebs:

[responsive]corey and the e-board[/responsive]

 

ADDYS AdLab Blog Board Events Stuff

A Look Back

AAF Buffalo club achievement awards

As another Ad Club year winds down, it is a perfect time to reflect on the many successes of 2015-16 and to look ahead to the future.

A better Ad Club

Our focus in the past year was to bring new and exciting events to our members as well as enhancing our successful annual events, this included:

  • More guest speakers from out of town including Anthony Shop, Anne Esse and Brokaw.
  • Introduction of member-only Skillshops to help you learn and grow in your career.
  • Brand Hack, an all-day “hack-a-thon” for our creative professionals and students
  • Networking trivia nights
  • Your favorite events, bigger and better: Preview Night, Holiday Bowling Tournament and Uber Bowl

Buffalo Wins National Honors

In June, the AAF honored the winners of the Club Achievement Competition at the “Salute to Achievers Ceremony” at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.  This competition is designed to recognize outstanding accomplishments of its affiliated advertising clubs, showcasing the programs and projects its professional member clubs undertake each year. It was established to honor significant contributions to the AAF network of professional advertising clubs and to encourage excellence in areas of club operations that strengthen the AAF’s member clubs.

For the first time ever, the Ad Club of Buffalo received awards in the three categories we entered.

As part of AAF Division Two, which includes clubs with 250 to 499 members, we won the following:

  • Advertising Education – 1st place
  • Communications – 1st place
  • Programming – 1st place

American Advertising Awards

What a night it was in March at the 2016 WNY American Advertising Awards show at Statler City, over 420 of the industry’s best gathered to celebrate the achievements of the year.  We had a record of more than 500 professional entries and nearly 50 student entries.  We continued celebrate our region’s great work with an impressive showing at the district awards level as well as a handful of winners at the national show.

On top of all this awesomeness, we were presented the AAF Incentive Award. This award is given to the top 10 clubs nationally that showed the highest increase in entries to the American Advertising Awards.

Saying goodbye…

The summer is always bittersweet as we say farewell to our departing board members and welcome a new group to help guide the club.

Matt Low served five years on the board, including last year as vice president. Not only did he lend his great creative talents and leadership to everything the club did, but Matt was instrumental in improving our academics committee and overseeing the Don Nichols Scholarship Competition.

Corey Crossman served two years on the board as treasurer. Corey brought incredible passion to everything he did for the club, including ensuring the club’s financial success, overseeing the communications committee and leading our efforts in this past year’s Club Achievement Awards.

Sarah DiPofi and Christie Witt Berardi both served two years on the board and took on the difficult role as American Advertising Awards chairs not once, but twice. Their hard work paid off with two successful celebrations of our great industry, setting record attendance each year.

The club is in a great place because of these dedicated individuals and we thank them for their contributions.

Newbies

Our executive board welcomes two second-year board members into new roles, Tim Bouchard as vice president and Kyle Rogers as our new treasurer.

We also welcome five new board members that bring a wide range of experience and skill to the board.

  • Andrew Bevevino – Martin Davison PR
  • Erin Collins – BlueCross BlueShield of WNY
  • Erin Haskell – Crowley Webb
  • Matt LaSota – Outer Harbor Development Corporation
  • Tess Alberts – EMA

Thank You

All of this work would never be possible without a strong team to run the club. I continue to be impressed more and more each year at the talent that makes up our board of directors and volunteers. They put in countless hours and have fun doing it. I thank each one of you for your continued dedication to making the club a huge success.

What’s next?

We are excited about 2016-17 as we take the Ad Club to the next level beginning this August. Join us at The Big Tip-Off on August 25 at Soho Burger Bar to find out more and help support our scholarship fund!

-Scott Bartels, Advertising Club of Buffalo President

Students Stuff

More students recognized by the Ad Club

By Matt Low

Supporting the next generation of the local marketing/communications community is always a top priority of the Advertising Club of Buffalo. And so we’re once again pleased to recognize a handful of bright students as part of our annual Don Nichols Scholarship Competition. Samantha Lonczak, Ali Casarsa, Liankham Thang, Dylan Nowak, Rebecca Warthling, Nina Puccio, Christopher Vickers, and Jeffrey Marotta presented us with work worthy of praise.

The Don Nichols Scholarship Competition, now in its 18th year, awards promising communications students a little financial help for their continued education. Each year, we present students with a thought-provoking theme that they are tasked with bringing to life, in any medium they choose – could be a poem, video, a painted brick, or a nicely designed poster. This year’s theme of “The 2016 Election” garnered entries from more than 40 talented students. But the work below rose to the top without much contention, name-calling, or yelling from a podium. You kids and your diplomacy.

Don Nichols founded the Albright Art School’s Graphic Design Department in 1950. He brought the program to UB, where he served as its head until his passing in 1987. He educated countless graphic designers, some of whom went on to national prominence. Nichols was awarded the Alex Osborn Award for Creativity from the Art Directors/Communicators of Buffalo, along with the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching from UB.

Samantha Lonczak - Don Nichols 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha Lonczak of Villa Maria College took home first place.

Ali Casarsa - Don Nichols 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ali Casarsa of Villa Maria College was awarded second place.

 

Liankham Thang - Don Nichols 2016

Liankham Thang of Villa Maria College won third place.

 

DylanNowak-DonNichols_web

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dylan Nowak of Villa Maria College received an honorable mention.

 

warthling--don-nichols_web

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Warthling of Villa Maria College received an honorable mention.

 

Nina Puccio - Don Nichols 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Nina Puccio of Villa Maria College received an honorable mention.

 

Vickers_DonNichols_web

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Vickers of Buffalo State College received an honorable mention.

 

Jeffrey-Marotta-Don-Nichols-2016

Jeffrey Marotta of Villa Maria College  received an honorable mention.