ADventures

Get Your ADDY Gala Tickets Now!

2012-02-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

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.

AAF-Knoxville Welcomes Branding Guru Abigail Rendin

2012-01-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Who does Oscar nominated Morgan Spurlock (director of Super Size Me) look to when he is doing a movie completely about advertising? Spurlock talks to Abigail Rendin, Senior Manager at Olson Zaltman Associates. And this week, Abigail is coming to Knoxville to talk to us.

AAF Knoxville
January Seminar & Lunch
Thursday, Jan 26, 2012
Register: Members Non-Members Students

Olson Zaltman Associates is a research based consulting firm that identifies deep consumer insights to help clients develop and implement effective marketing, communications and innovation strategies. Olson Zaltman Associates uses an exclusive research tool, ZMET® (the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique), that identifies the deep mental and emotional universal orientations that structure and guide how people think, feel and behave with regard to a particular topic.

Abigail has spearheaded major branding and innovation research studies with Fortune 500 firms around the globe. She is also the firm’s Global Partner Liaison managing the network of firms that license ZMET in over 25 countries around the world. Abigail recently appeared in Spurlock's documentary film Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Her contagious passion for insights and outgoing nature makes her a natural speaker at conferences around the country. She holds a BA in Anthropology and a BA in International Studies both from The Pennsylvania State University.

• January 26, 2012

• 11:30am -1pm (11:30-12 networking/shmoozing)

• Peerless Restaurant

• Lunch

• $25 Members in advance

• $35 Non-Members

• $20 Students

• $35 Members Paying the door

Make Reservations Here: AAF-Knoxville Welcomes Jewelry TV's Pat Bryant

2011-11-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Join us for our next AdFed luncheon on November 17, as we welcome Pat Bryant, Jewelry TV's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, who'll share his experiences and ideas on marketing communications, television, direct response, online, and many other topics.

To make reservations, simply click the links below:

Big Wig Winners Announced

2011-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

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.

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 microsite 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.

AAF-Knoxville Takes You Behind the Brands

2011-05-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

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:

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

How do you peg someone?

Communicators: Extroverted, people-oriented, friendly, stylish, open, emotional/animated, socializes regardless of time, empathizes with others, popular and gung-ho.
Commanders: Commanding, bottom-line oriented, dominating, formal, impatient, emotional/direct, always pushed for time, about achievement, restless, quick/impulsive and fast.
Calculators: Non-nonsense, facts-oriented, assessing, conservative, closed, unemotional/reserved, values and manages time, about organization, selective, cool/distant, objective and controlled.
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?

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

So what do they want to hear?

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.
Commanders: Show them the benefits and throw in a high-profile reference. Ask them how they would do it and about their opinions.
Calculators: Stay focused on the facts, the details and the long-term benefits. Ask them how they would organize it and solve the problems.
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?

2011-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

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.

"Tactics, Tactics, Tactics: Where Has the Strategy Gone?" will examine the enthusiasm for new types of online content, and look at how companies can get too absorbed in the daily implementation to take full advantage of new media options. He'll then show how sound strategy can enhance communications--and ultimately, save work, money, and headaches.

Rollo started in the buisness as New Product Marketing Manager for the Canadian division of Apple Computers. He then quickly showed his expertise in the digital world by increasing online store sales and site traffic for Home Depot and enriching the interactive user experience for Delta Airlines before joining 22squared in May 2008.

He has worked with brands like UPS, Earthlink, Sabre Travel Systems, Coca-Cola, Durex, and Beazer Homes, and he'll share with us what works - and, more importantly, what doesn't - in the digital realm.

To make a reservation, click here.

Mad Men Mob Magnificently

2011-04-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

The average consumer mentions specific brands 60 times per week in conversations with friends, family, and co-workers. This same consumer is spending over an hour a day engaging with others on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook. Offline and online, word of mouth is happening and the smartest brands are benefiting from these conversations by becoming more talkable.

Learn as John Moore, former Starbucks Coffee and Whole Foods marketer, shares the do’s and don’ts of using word of mouth marketing and social media to make your brand more talkable. (You can see more of John’s ideas and expertise at www.brandautopsy.com and http://brandautopsy.typepad.com.)

Thursday March 24, 2011

11:30 -1pm, 11:30-12 networking

Peerless Restaurant

$25 Members
$35 Non-Members & Members without RSVP
$20 Students

ADDY Recap: Winners And, Well, More Winners

2011-03-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

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.

This ADDYs set a standard to live up to.

Special congratulations are in order several individuals, including David Jacobs of The Tombras Group (Winner of the Robert McCabe Silver Medal Award), plus Jennifer Holder of First Tennessee Bank, Ben McWhorter of Citadel Broadcasting, and Steve Richardson of The Tombras Group (all new inductees into the AAF-Knoxville Advertising Hall of Fame).

For a complete list of winners from this year, click here.

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

2011-02-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

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.

This is for Saturday night only, and tell the reservations folks you're with the Knoxville Advertising Federation to get this great rate.

And, to get you in the mood for great advertising, take another look at this great retrospective from Ad Age on the first Century of our business, written by the inimitable Randall Rothenberg: http://adage.com/century/rothenberg.html.

12 Days and Counting

2011-02-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-02-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

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.

See who's already coming by clicking here.

ADDY Awards Shaping Up To Be Among Best Ever

2011-01-31T11:43:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-03T11:37:00.001-07:00

Check out this great post from Knoxify on our Big Wig Awards, which includes neat photos and our winners' list. http://knoxify.com/big-wig-jig-aaf-knoxville-celebrates-the-unsung-heroes-of-advertising/

Big Wig Award Winners

2010-10-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-10-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

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.

BigWig Voting Begins

2010-10-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

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 visiting http://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

2010-09-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

"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.

The author of Brand Zeitgeist, Houchens will showcase the importance of developing and maintaining a brand for marketing supremacy. His lively session will feature several real world branding hits and misses.

Houchens is a marketing speaker and author. He has spent years working in both media and marketing including as the operations manager of a radio group, as the online director of a newspaper, and as the marketing director of a healthcare organization.

In addition to speaking to groups around the world about common sense marketing, Chris has been blogging his insights on marketing since 2005. The Shotgun Marketing Blog has been listed as a top marketing blog by several ranking lists. Read it at http://ShotgunConcepts.com

Wiggin' Out

2010-09-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

I'm betting every one of them gets a standing ovation.

Putting Fun Back Into TV Premiers

2010-08-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

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.

May Non-Profit:

2010-05-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Our May non-profit organization to recognize is FISH, which actually is a series of groups focused on ending hunger.

In fact, the organization is so efficient that a simple $5 donation can feed a family of four for three days.

The FISH organization is divided into several segments. Simply stated, there's the "delivery" part (FISH) and the "come get it" part (FISH Hospitality Pantries).

In addition, there is a group for young people to learn and assist in any way they see fit (Schools of FISH). And there is the Friends of FISH, made of people who conduct fundraising and special events.

FISH is a 100% volunteer organization. There are no paid employees. Every cent donated goes directly to purchase food or pay for the transportation to get food to Knoxville.

To learn more, visit these websites:

www.schoolsoffish.org

www.fishpantry.org/index.php

www.discoveret.org/fishkc/websites.htm

We're Not Asking You To Be Part of the Revolution. You Already Are.

2010-05-24T10:22:00.001-07:00

Our topic for the AAF-Knoxville luncheon this Thursday is "Media Revolution." Guy Jacobssen, VP of Media Services at The Tombras Group will lead a discussion of change in the media marketplace, and cover issues that anyone involved with media--sales reps, media buyers and planners, business owners--need to understand to adapt to changes.

New media is the buzz, but the 800 pound gorilla is still TV. Radio has lots of new perks. Outdoor isn't static. And print reaches people who still have money to spend.

The dynamics continue to change, and knowing what's truly going on can mean the difference between the right--or wrong--choices.

You can participate in the conversation, too. If you have questions that you'd like to ask, use the form on our website to let us know. We've been gathering questions from media professionals around the area, so this promises to be a very powerful gathering.

District 7 ADDY® Awards Results: AAF-Knoxville Receives Most “Gold”

2010-05-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Hornsby Brand Design, Pellissippi State student Cordelia Norris and The Tombras Group for winning 2010 American Advertising Federation District 7 ADDY® Awards. AAF-Knoxville received the most District Gold ADDY® Awards of any chapter in our five-state region, which includes Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee! All of the Gold winners will now move up to the final national tier of the competition – winners will be announced on June 12. With more than 60,000 entries from 200 chapters, the ADDY® Awards are the nation's largest recognition of creative excellence.

District Gold ADDY® Awards:

Hornsby Brand Design: “Mercy Hill” Website for Mercy Hill Church
Pellissippi State Student Cordelia Norris for “Upside Studio”
The Tombras Group: “Buzzed Creeps” Online Spot Animation for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Big Monster Attacks” Online Spot for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Big Monster Strikes Back” Website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Big Monster Strikes Back” Online Spot for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Creeps Website Animation” for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Hell On Water” Website Homepage Image for Zodiac Boats
The Tombras Group: “Helping Hand” Print Ad for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau (3 Awards Received)
The Tombras Group: “Low Impact Vacation-Tent” Print Ad for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau (3 Awards Received)
The Tombras Group: “Low Impact Vacation-Horses” Print Ad for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tombras Group: “Low Impact Vacation Print Campaign” for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tombras Group: “Nailed TV Spot” for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (3 Awards Received)
The Tombras Group: “Nailed Non-Traditional Campaign” for the Tennessee Department of Transportation
The Tombras Group: “Shoe Multimedia Campaign” for Bank of Tennessee

District Silver ADDY® Awards:

The Tombras Group: “Busted” Online Spot for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Online Creeps Spot Animation” for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group: “Hope Gala Invitation” for the American Cancer Society
The Tombras Group: “Love Your Money Multimedia Campaign” for the University of Tennessee
The Tombras Group: “Pig Maze” Print Ad for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tombras Group: “Save More Souls” Website Homepage for Zodiac Boats
The Tombras Group: “Skating Rocks” TV Spot for Bristol Motor Speedway

April Featured Non-Profit: Friends of Literacy

2010-04-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Each month, AAF-Knoxville features a local non-profit organization as part of its lunch meetings. For April, we're delighted to welcome Melissa Nance, Executive Director for Friends of Literacy.

Since 1991 Friends of Literacy has been the voice of the illiterate.

Friends of Literacy is:

Private (not government operated)
Independent (not part of a school system)
Not-for-Profit
Local (Serving only Knox County)
Governed by a volunteer board of local corporate and community leaders
Is supported by members (individual and corporate donations)
Supported by local, regional, state, and national foundations and granting agencies

We support programs that offer year-round daytime and evening adult education classes.

Our Goal: To provide funding and volunteers that support basic education and life-skill training to adult students, helping them to become better workers, parents, and citizens.

What is Literacy? "Literacy means an individual's ability to read, write, and speak English, and to compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals and develop one's knowledge and potential." - National Literacy Act 1991

Benefits of Literacy:

Better job opportunities, increased earnings
Educational advancement
Decreases intergenerational cycle of poverty
Raises workforce effectiveness
Increases civic participation

To learn more, visit www.friendsofliteracy.org.

March Featured Non-Profit: Laurel High School

2010-03-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

AAF-Knoxville has begun a program whereby we invited area non-profit organizations to our lunch meetings for a brief presentation on their services and efforts. For March, we're featuring Laurel High School.

Since 1971, Laurel High School has offered an option for students with curiosity, energy, and independence of spirit. Students are prepared to make sound decisions after graduation because they have had ample opportunity to make decisions while at Laurel. They help shape school policies, pursue their individual interests, and help determine their own class schedules.

Students come to Laurel for a variety of reasons:

what they want is not available in other schools.
they desire more stimulating classes.
they want more input in determining their own classes .
they appreciate the increased opportunities and attention that are made possible by small classes in a small school.
their experience includes life lessons as well as academic studies.
a student can make mistakes in a supportive environment.
individuals are valued even when painful mistakes are made.
the consequences of their actions at Laurel are natural rather than arbitrary.
rules are limited to only those necessary for a framework within which the school must operate or to those basic to the school’s fundamental philosophy.
the faculty, staff and Board of Directors share Laurel’s philosophy and are committed to the school and its students.

To learn more, visit www.laurelhighschool.org.

Knoxville ADDY® Awards Article

2010-02-25T16:53:00.000-08:00

Congrats again to all of the 45th Annual Knoxville ADDY® Awards winners. We got some nice ink (and pixels) today in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Click here to view it.

ADDY® Awards Recap

2010-02-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to check out a nice recap of the past weekend's AAF-Knoxville ADDY® Awards: http://aafknoxville.com/addys.

You'll also find downloads that display all winners and "Best of Shows", including this year's President's Award, Silver Medal recipient and our Hall of Fame inductees.

What's Everyone Wearing to the ADDYs?

2010-02-18T16:08:00.001-08:00

The ADDYs are a celebration in creativity--both in communications work and costume. And the ADDYs gala this Saturday night will feature the best of both.

NOTE: A few tickets are still available. Get details at www.aafknoxville.com/addys.

What will people be wearing? Here are a few rumors so far:

One major agency promises a "white-out," and even suggests that they might have a sponsor in Chlorox bleach.
Another innovative individual says her dress has "pockets." To hold all her awards? Or to steal food? Time will tell.
Someone else says that patent leather ties are not dead.
Another thinks that Don Draper will seem a little shabby in comparison.
And still someone else predicts that at least one person there will be wearing bowling shoes.

It's all less that 48 hours away now.

ADDYs Reservations Due Today

2010-02-16T04:50:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already made your reservations for this Saturday's ADDYs gala (the biggest celebration of creative work in East Tennessee, and arguably its best party), you need to do so today.

Just follow this link to the ADDYs page, and join the fun. You really don't want to miss this year's event.

ADDYs Highlight: Robert McCabe Silver Medal

2010-02-14T15:19:00.000-08:00

The ADDYs recognize excellence in many ways. One highlight each year is the naming of the winner of the Robert MeCabe Silver Medal.

The Robert McCabe Silver Medal is a national AAF honor given to the person who has shown

excellence and creativity in advertising for his or her company, community, and the industry as a

whole. The winner is selected from a group of nominees that has been reviewed and evaluated by past presidents of AAF-Knoxville. Over the years, the winners have represented many of the most respected people ever to serve in the communications profession in East Tennessee.

Who will 2010's winner be? Come to the ADDYs on February 20 and see. (INSIDER's NOTE: You'll definitely agree with the selection.)

Make your reservation for the ADDYs here.

Past Winners of the Robert McCabe Silver Medal:

1965: Charlie Haun, Cummings Outdoor

1966: Charlie Davis, Davis Newman Payne

1967: Roger Daley, Knoxville News Sentinel

1972: Neal Branch, WBIR-TV10

1974: Sam Newman, Davis Newman Payne

1976: Janet Dawson, WATE-TV6

1977: Gil Champagne, Knoxville News Sentinel

1978: Kenneth Hodge, Hodge Printing

1979: Richard Joel, University of Tennessee

1980: Liz Tombras, WBIR-TV10

1981: John Payne, Davis Newman Payne

1982: Bobby Denton, WIVK

1983: Bud Brooks, Ford Brooks Agency

1984: Jim Dick, Dick Broadcasting

1985: Charles Tombras Sr., The Tombras Group

1986: Jim Hart, WBIR-TV10

1987: Don McNeil, Tennessee Press Assoc.

1988: Lynn Leopper, WBIR-TV10

1989: Marvin Jack Kress, Kress Agency

1990: Ty McCloud, WATE-TV6

1991: Dick Meshendorf, Home Federal Bank

1992: Pat Wilson, WATE-TV6

1993: Ross Bagwell, Sr., Bagwell Productions

1994: Steve Dean, WBIR-TV10

1995: Dorothy Smith, Smith Marketing

1996: Jim Earley, Earley & Assoc.

1997: Shelba Murphy, Knoxville News Sentinel

1998: Charles Tombras Jr., The Tombras Group

1999: Tom Rowland, Rowland Productions

2000: Ann Staup, Direct Mail Services

2001: Chris Wise, Lancaster Consulting Group

2002: Ann Proud, Media Directions

2003: Ed Brantley, Citadel Broadcasting

2004: Curtis Parham, CP Productions

2005: Sam Littleton, WBIR-TV

2006: Terry Gillingham, South Central Communications

2007: Buddy McLean, Davis Newman Payne

2008: Carolyn Morton, Lamar Advertising

2009: Lisa Duncan, Dogwood Arts Festival

Congrats!

2010-02-12T13:38:00.001-08:00

Congrats to the following Greater Knoxville companies who entered the nation's largest creative competition and are ADDY® winners. We hope to see you at the celebration on Saturday, February 20, where we honor the creative produced in East Tennessee during 2009 - we're also going to honor four local industry icons. Did we mention it's the biggest party of the year? Click here for event details.

AAF Knoxville
Blue Media Boutique
Bluegill Creative
Dave Moore Studios
Dean Hitt & Associates
Designsensory
DoubleJay Creative
Drive Thru Ideas
Hornsby Brand Design
Karma, Inc.
Orange Apple Branding Boutique
Pellissippi State Student Cordelia Norris
Pellissippi State Student Kurt Taylor
Pyxl
South Central Media
TeamHealth
The Bingham Group, Inc.
The Tombras Group
The Visible Group
Tombras Interactive
TradeMark Advertising
UT College of Engineering

It's Only The Biggest Party of the Year

2010-02-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Please join the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville as we honor and celebrate the creative produced in East Tennessee during 2009.

This event will be the year’s largest gathering of advertising, marketing, creative, media, and production professionals.

Also, we will induct three local advertising icons into the AAF-Knoxville Hall of Fame and award one individual the National Robert McCabe Silver Medal.

Saturday, February 20, 2010
Crowne Plaza Hotel
401 West Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37902

6pm: Reception & The Gallery of Work
7pm: Dinner & ADDY® Show
Attire: Black Tie

THE GALLERY: Network and peruse the displays of all submitted print work

THREE-COURSE PLATED DINNER

ENTERTAINMENT: Tracey Ozier

RSVP by Tuesday, February 16, 2010, to Karen Taylor:
edirector@aafknoxville.com or 865.742.4838

SEATS / TABLES

$65 per ticket or $600 for a table of 10
Payment must be received by Thursday, February 18, 2010
Make checks payable to:
American Advertising Federation of Knoxville
P.O. Box 50842, Knoxville, TN 37950
Table assignments from the front of the ballroom to the back are made on a first-paid- first-reserved basis

RAFFLE
Purchase $2 raffle ticket and bid on great gifts to help support student ADDY® entries in 2010

September Non-Profit: The United Way

2009-09-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

AAF-Knoxville has begun a program whereby we invited area non-profit organizations to our lunch meetings for a brief presentation on their services and efforts. For September, we're featuring The United Way of Greater Knoxville.

United Way of Greater Knoxville advances the common good by focusing on education, income, health and basic needs. Its goal is to create lasting change while working to prevent problems from happening in the first place. The emphasis is on helping individuals become self-sufficient, and have the skills and resources needed for personal success.

The United Way supports 45 agencies in East Tennessee, including groups as diverse as The Salvation Army, the Girl and Boy Scouts, Child and Family Services, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad.

This year's United Way Campaign has just kicked off, with a goal of raising $11.8 million between now and November. John Lansing, President of Scripps Networks, is the Chairman of this year's campaign, and events slated to help with the fundraising include a telethon on Monday, September 21, featuring the Food Network's Guy Fieri. There is also an online auction planned with some surprising (and very exclusive) items to be offered, and hundreds of meetings, presentations, spare change drives, and other efforts that support the biggest and one of the most important community service events in East Tennessee.

Representatives from the United Way will tell us more at our luncheon on Thursday. We're delighted to welcome them.

Fall TV Premier Coming Up Fast

2009-08-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

This year, we're making our Fall TV Premier an evening event. Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 26 and be at the coolest place in town--The Square Room, beginning around 4:30 pm. We'll have food, networking fun, and probably other kinds of fun.

Then at 6pm, the local TV networks will give us an exclusive sneak preview of all the new Fall shows. It's the only event in town where you can see all the networks in one place, and if TV is part of your media mix (or if you just want to see what's new), this is the place to be.

Visit www.aafknoxville.com for more details.

Bowled Over!

2009-07-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

We knew Ad Fed In The Gutter Would Be Fun. But Nothing Like This.

What a great turnout on Thursday! The first Ad Fed In The Gutter Bowling Tournament was a rousing success. Thank you to everyone who came and played a hard game of trash talking and ball throwing. Here are the final stats: We had almost 120 bowlers on 18 teams. When the pins had settled, here are the final scores:

1. Tombras - Lane 28 - 265.8 - GOLD Trophy
2. BlueGill Creative - Lane 26 - 236.5 - SILVER Trophy
3. Tombras - Lane 27 - 227.6 - BRONZE Trophy
4. KNS - Lane 23 - 226.5
5. DesignSensory - Lane 15 - 220.4 - Most Creative Award

6. KNS - Lane 22 - 218.8

7. DoubleJay Creative - Lane 24 - 203.6 - Most Rowdy Award

8. Nihilists - Lane 20 - 203 (Didn't really matter to them, though. They belief en notzing.)
9. Tombras - Lane 29 - 198.1
10. TradeMark - Lane 19 - 191.5

11. KNS - Lane 21 - 189.6

12. Pellissippi - Lane 30 - 186

13. WVIK - Lane 16 - 182

14. DoubleJay Creative - Lane 25 - 181.8

15. DNP - Lane 31 - 176

16. DNP - Lane 32 - 166 - Worst Losers Award (you put up a fight but it was a small one)

17. WBIR - DNF*

18. WBIR - DNF*

*WBIR gets the coveted post tournament "Dude" award. They took a break between games, and ran out of time before finishing their second game. We take comfort in that--Channel 10, out there takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. We know it came straight from the heart. (PLEASE NOTE: There would have been a trophy, but in the spirit of the award, we never got around to finishing it.)

By all accounts, it was fun for everyone.

And a note from AAF-Knoxville President, Brian Potter, who owns his own bowling shoes: "I want to send out a special thanks to Sarah Mills of Trademark and her team of Gutter Balls: Wayne Bowman (BrainPosse), Andrew Dill (Orange Apple), Josh Loebner (Trademark) and Courtney Hendricks (Conway Marketing). And a special thanks to Susie Norris of Orange Apple for all the design work and to Michael Torano of N8 Promotions for donating the great T-shirts."

This Bowling Thing Is Really Taking Off

2009-07-14T14:36:00.001-07:00

Our "Ad Fed In The Gutter" bowling event for July 23 is sparking a lot of interest. So far, more than a dozen teams are indicating they'll play, and we expect more to sign on in the next few days.

You can learn more about the event, the trash talking behind it, and the sport of bowling in general by visiting www.adfedinthegutter.com.

And watch for some interesting videos coming in the next couple of days to support this remarkable event.

A Flash Mob. Southern Style.

2009-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

You know what a flash mob is, right? A group of people get notified to show up at a certain place, and have an almost-impromptu pillow fight, or dance, or poetry reading, or whatever, then disperse in a matter of minutes.

That's the old-school flash mob. Then there's the AAF-Knoxville Southern style flash mob.

With our flash mobs, things are a bit more civil. People tend to linger, visit with each other, get to know one another. Instead of performance art, they exchange stories, ideas, and--often--business cards. People come and go as they please, and thanks to a few libations and snacks, people tend to mark the date for the next flash mob on their calendars (Hint: it's every second Tuesday of the month.)

If you haven't been to an AAF-Knoxville flash mob, drop by for a few minutes. It's an experience you'll want to have. Typically every time it rolls around.

See ya Thursday at Aubrey's at Northshore. 'Round 5:30, let's say. Look for us out on the patio.

_________________________________________________________________

Web - Facebook - Twitter - District - National

2009-06-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

OK, What’s KO?
Knoxville Overground has an ambitious mission to foster entrepreneurship in Knoxville. See what this means to you on June 25.

Alex Lavidge of Knoxville Overground will show us how his unique organization is designed to help new businesses prosper - and how this integrates with the East Tennessee Marketing and Advertising Community. Join us for this fascinating look at how to help ideas grow.

Thursday, June 25th
Peerless Steak House
11:30 Networking
12:00 Installation of 2009-2010 AAF-Knoxville Board of Directors
12:15 Lunch and Presentation

$20 AAF Members with RSVP
$25 Non-member with RSVP
$30 At the door with no RSVP
(Visa & MasterCard accepted with $1.25 fee)

RSVP by June 22nd to Karen Taylor: email or 742-4838.
If you do not RSVP, you'll be forced to pay more moola.

_______________________________________________________________________

Web - Facebook - Twitter - District - National

National ADDY® Awards

2009-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Knoxville's Tombras Group for winning two National ADDY® Awards! A Gold ADDY® Award was given to Tombras for the Festival Events Microsite produced for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau. A Silver ADDY® Award was given to Tombras for its own Portfolio Website. The event took place this past weekend in Washington DC.

District ADDY® Awards

2009-06-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to these Knoxville-area business who received District 7 ADDY® Awards! Our market was one of the most winning of all 25 AAF chapters located in our five-state region of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Results from the National ADDY® Awards will be posted soon.

Gold ADDY® Awards

Shelton Group for the American Institute of Architects
The Tombras Group for the Festival Events Microsite produced for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tombras Group for the Animated Paper Sculptures produced for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Tombras Group for the Arts & Crafts Festivals Banner Ads produced for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau

Silver ADDY® Awards

Designsensory for the Tennessee Vacation Seasonal Websites produced for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Hornsby Brand Design for the Knoxville Area Transit Logo
The Tombras Group for the Dunk Moto TV Spot produced for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The Tombras Group for the Baseball TV Spot produced for Saint Thomas Health Services
The Tombras Group for the Hope Gala Campaign produced for the American Cancer Society
The Tombras Group for the Hope Gala Illustrations produced for the American Cancer Society
The Tombras Group for the "Hell on Water" Social Networking Website produced for Zodiac Boats
The Tombras Group for the Portfolio Website produced for The Tombras Group

Traditional Media Conquer a Non-Traditional World

2009-05-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Join AAF-Knoxville for a panel discussion on how traditional media are adapting to new competition from non-traditional sources, and how they're finding new revenue streams, new ways of communicating - and new audiences. Panelists include:

Ed Brantley

Bruce Hartmann

David Jernigan

Jeff Lee

Moderator Katie Granju

Knoxville Social Media Association

Thursday, May 28

Peerless Steak House

11:30-12:00 Networking - 12:00-1:00 Panel Discussion

$20 for AAF members - $25 for non-members

RSVP by May 25 to Karen Taylor: email or 742-4838

Flash Mobs

2009-04-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

We can't promise a pillow fight or a night in jail, but the AAF-Knoxville Flash Mobs offer some great networking for those of us in the marketing-communications-advertising-interactive-media-production-type worlds. We usually gather on a Thursday night at the Aubrey's at the Landmark Center. We've found it to be a pretty good central location for folks to pop in on their way home. Our next one is slated for Thursday, May 14. Unless the weather's crappy, you'll find us on the patio from 4:30 until 7:30 or 8. Not sure how to find us? Just gravitate toward the noisiest, most obnoxious crowd - it's just what happens when you combine extroverts with alcohol.

AdFed To Stage Media Auction

2009-03-30T07:18:00.001-07:00

Gala Will Include Roast of WBIR’s Biven

The American Advertising Federation of Knoxville (AAF-Knoxville) is hosting a media auction on April 9 as a fundraiser and an opportunity for small business and non-profits to snag great deals on television, radio, outdoor, and print media.

The event will raise money for AAF-Knoxville and Saving Little Hearts, a foundation dedicated to helping children with congenital heart defects. It will be held on the patio of the Crown and Goose gastropub in The Old City, beginning at 6:30 pm.

A bonus to the evening is a celebrity roast of WBIR’s Russell Biven.

“We thought this would be a good time to create an event that could benefit a number of organizations throughout East Tennessee,” said David Jacobs, AAF-Knoxville President. “The media auction can help people expand their promotion at reduced costs. And we’re honored to be associated with Saving Little Hearts and look forward to being able to contribute to their remarkable efforts.’

Jacobs noted that the event will also be a chance for networking with some of the most creative minds in East Tennessee, and that in addition to media, several businesses and individuals are expected to donate weekend trips, dining packages, and other items to be auctioned.

“If you are familiar with our group, you know people have a good time at our events,” he said.
Jacobs said people can learn more by visiting a website created for the event: www.aafmediaauction.com.

Congratulations to Doublejay Productions

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

AAF-Knoxville Member Doublejay Productions recently took home major honors at the prestigeous South By Southwest Festival in Austin for its work on "That Evening Sun," a drama starring Hal Holbrook. The movie won the Audience Choice Award for Narrative Feature and Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

Congratulations to everyone at Doublejay for this remarkable work, and watch for "That Evening Sun" opening soon. You can read more at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/archives/2009/03/locally_made_su.shtml

See what happens when the best marketing minds meet at once.

2009-03-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Join us March 11th for the first-ever joint meeting of the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville and the Knoxville American Marketing Association.

Our meeting will feature a panel discussion on marketing in this tough economy. Guest speakers include:

Matt Fischer: Chief Creative Officer/Chief Operating Officer at WonderGroup
(the advertising and branding guru)
Mike Such: Owner of Junk Bee Gone
(the entrepreneur and small business owner)
Marshall Wilkins: Director of Marketing at Chick-fil-A
(the in-house marketing and customer service expert)
Mark Moon: Professor of Marketing at UT
(the moderator)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - Peerless Steak House

11:30-12:00 Networking - 12:00-1:00 Panel Discussion

$25 per person

Submit questions for the panel at edirector@aafknoxville.com or 865-742-4838.

RSVP by March 9th on the KAMA website or call 865-539-1300 and choose option #2.

2009 ADDYS RECAP

2009-02-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

256 Gold, Silver and Bronze ADDYs awarded to 24 companies:

Bluegill Creative - Cassandra Design - Clarityworks - Colloredo & Associates - Designsensory - DrozDezign - Early & Associates - Environmental Systems Corporation - First Baptist Concord - Friends of Literacy - Hornsby Brand Design - Lamar Outdoor Advertising - Mediapulse - Merritt Music Productions - Orange Apple Branding Boutique - Pellissippi State Student Cordelia Norris - S.D. Professionals - Shelton Group - The Bingham Group - The Tombras Group - Tombras Interactive - TradeMark Advertising - University of Tennessee Knoxville Student Madhuri Jagadish - Virtual Interactive Center

BEST OF SHOW: The Tombras Group for "Low Impact Vacation 2.0" print campaign done for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau

BEST OF PRINT: The Tombras Group for "Low Impact Vacation 2.0" print campaign done for the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau

BEST OF INTERACTIVE: Tombras Interactive for "Save More Souls" social networking site done for Zodiac Boats

BEST OF DIRECT: The Bingham Group for "Blue-Gray Invitation" done for the Olde Farm Golf Club

SPECIAL JUDGES AWARD: The Tombras Group for its "Grove Park Inn RFP Response"

ROBERT MCCABE SILVER MEDAL RECIPIENT: Lisa Duncan, Executive Director of the Dogwood Arts Festival

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: Tom Hembree, Senior VP of Marketing for K-VA-T Food Stores; Sam Littleton, Account Executive for WVLT-TV; Paul Scoonover, President of Asen Advertising & Marketing

PRESIDENT'S AWARD RECIPIENTS: AAF-Knoxville Membership Co-Chairs Wayne Bowman with BrainPosse and Marti Townsend with the News Sentinel

To see the ad congratulation winners, click here. To read the Knoxville News-Sentinel article on the Addy Ceremony, click here. And visit the AAF Knoxville Facebook page for photos.

Congratuations to all the winners!

Come to the Biggest Ad Party of the Year

2009-02-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

It's the 44th Annual Knoxville ADDY Awards

Please join us as we honor and celebrate the creative produced in East Tennessee during 2008. It'll be the year’s largest gathering of advertising, marketing, creative, media, and production professionals.

Saturday, February 21, 2009
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee

6-7pm: The Gallery
- Networking & Showcase of Creative Entries

7-9pm: Dinner & Show Featuring Entertainment by “Christabel and the Jons”
- Presentation of Robert McCabe National Silver Medal & Hall of Fame Inductions
- ADDY Winners Reel

Tickets: $65 Per Person | $600 for a Table of 10
- Table assignments from the front of the ballroom to the back are made on a first-paid-first-reserved basis. RSVP to Karen Taylor: edirector@aafknoxville.com or 865-742-4838.

ADDY Entrants

2009-01-23T10:11:00.001-08:00

The following companies and individuals have entered the 44th Annual Knoxville ADDY Awards. Judging is tomorrow, Saturday, January 24, so keep your fingers crossed for everyone behind the great work from 2008 that has been submitted.

Blue Media Boutique
Bluegill Creative
Cassandra Design
Chaney Marketing Services
Clarityworks
Colloredo & Associates
Designsensory
DrozDezign
Early & Associates
Environmental Systems Corporation
First Baptist Concord
Friends of Literacy
Hornsby Brand Design
Lamar Outdoor Advertising
Mediapulse
Merritt Music Productions
Orange Apple Branding Boutique
Pellissippi State Student Cordelia Norris
Phyllis Samples Creative
PME Communications
Rowland Productions
S.D. Professionals
Shelton Group
TeamHealth
The Bingham Group
The Tombras Group
TradeMark Advertising
University of Tennessee Knoxville Student Madhuri Jagadish
Virtual Interactive Center

ADDYs Are Getting Close

2009-01-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

Entries Due January 22

Knoxville's biggest and best advertising competition is now taking entries. The 44th Annual ADDY Awards ceremony will held February 21 at the Crowne Plaza, with a gala event that celebrates the best advertising and communications work in the East Tennessee area.

You can now enter your work online by clicking here. Hard copies of your entries must be dropped off on January 22 at the Crowne Plaza on Summit Hill Drive. The online entry process is simple and quick, and you'll have your work ready for review by some of the best communications minds in the nation.

Watch for more ADDY updates in the upcoming days. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever! Check out www.aafknoxville.com and our Facebook page, too.

Knoxville's 40 Under 40

2008-12-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Travis Morin of Trademark Advertising for being named into Knoxville's 40 Under 40!

Thanks for representing Knoxville advertising so well, and good luck with the success of your agency.

Click here to read more.

Congrats to WIVK!

2008-11-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

We were just watching the CMA Awards, and Knoxville's own WIVK was name-dropped for winning the CMA for the best morning radio show in a medium-sized market. Congratulations to Andy, Alison, Jimmy, and WIVK from the Knoxville advertising community!

No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

2008-11-10T18:48:00.001-08:00

Has any Knoxville advertising agency or marketing firm used a "great ape" or a chimpanzee in an ad? If not, you may have just lost your chance.

A Remarkable Resource For Ideas

2008-10-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, you owe it to yourself to check out http://www.ted.com/. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an annual conference in Monterey that invites a select group of innovators, scholars, artists, and others to exchange ideas and share research.

Topics can cover everything from anthropology to zoology. And there are a number of gems for advertising folk. Without trying hard, I found four interesting "Ted Talks," presentations that last 20 minutes or less. How about Malcolm Gladwell (author of Blink and The Tipping Point) discussing how one man's ideas about spaghetti sauce changed how food industry consumer research is done. Or Alisa Miller breaking down news coverage in the United States, and discovering, that even though we have more access to news from around the world than ever, we may actually be getting much less coverage of issues that concern us.

If you're interested in ideas and how the mind works, brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor shares her experience of living through a stroke--and how the event allowed her to better understand the ways the two cortices of your brain act independently of each other. And if you are trying to understand other cultures and language, National Geographic's Wade Davis talks about all the languages and cultures around the world that are dying out, and why we may be losing some very important gifts of diversity.

There's lots more. And a few minutes of exploring the site may help spark some new creativity and ways of thinking for your own business/life/spirit.

Projections for 2009

2008-10-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this article in the Financial Times. A few multinational ad agencies are forecasting a not-so-positive 2009 for our industry. Two thoughts from the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville: 1) Results, ROI and measurements of campaigns will rise in importance, and 2) Now is the time to be a loud voice in the marketplace - resist the temptation to pull back. Instead, dial up your advertising and marketing efforts and let your competitors pull back.

Never Been To An AAF Knoxville Meeting? Take a Gander at Us At The Crown and Goose

2008-10-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

If you've wondered what the Ad Club in Knoxville is all about, you're about to have your chance. This Thursday, October 23, we're kicking off our membership drive at the Crown and Goose in the Old City. Our merry band of Mad Men (and Women) will be on premises at Knoxville's Gastropub from 5 until 8pm.

Better yet, it's free.

So come and answer those nagging questions in your brain, like:

Do all advertising guys look like Don Draper?

Do we get paid extra for subliminal ads on our eyelids?

Just what the heck is a "sparkling drop of retsyn?"

Is the ad biz as fun as it looks on TV?

We think the answer to the last one is no--it's actually even more fun than the small screen can even begin to depict. But see for yourself. You don't necessarily have to be in the ad biz currently to come visit. We'll be glad to have you.

And seriously--we can explain that whole retsyn thing.

Just Curious--What Happens Next?

2008-10-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

If you've seen the latest iPhone ad, you're no doubt impressed by how simple it is to download plenty of useful applications to your phone.

In fact, you can be speaking Mandarin in a matter of seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9jKAiUEgXE.

This, of course, is pretty cool. You can almost instantly walk up to a native Mandarin speaker and impress him/her with your command of the language. Just like Mike Myers impressing Tia Carrere in Wayne's World, when he learns to speak a few phrases of Cantonese. Schwing!

But then something struck us: once you ask the question about a restaurant recommendation, what happens next?

Chances are, the native Mandarin speaker is going to reply in a tone that, for him or her, is a comfortable pace, and for you is something akin to ludicrous speed. Are your ears capable of picking up the words fired back at you and typing them into your iPhone for translation? After four years of Spanish, trying to understand the normal conversation flow of native speakers was still way past my skills.

It's probably not completely fair to pick on Apple for this one--the ad does demonstrate the simplicity of downloading apps. But there are plenty of other apps that are a lot more mainstream that might have been better choices for the demo. According to digitalreview.com, the top 3 iPhone apps are: 1. EBay, SaveBenjis (web price comparisons), and iDrink (a digital cocktail recipe book). Things many of us understand.

Bickering

2008-10-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's great when agencies compete. But how about when one of them picks a fight with another one through advertising? I'm not sure that's altogether healthy for our industry. Check out this article about an agency going after CP+B. As AAF-Knoxville has told several of our members, we all do better when we compete, which we do every day. But our organization provides a forum for us to come together on common ground to advance our industry.

Is Microsoft Onto Something?

2008-09-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

We've been watching the semi-bizzaro unfolding of Microsoft's new campaign, which has morphed from Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld at Shoe Circus earning Big Top points to the new back-at-ya-Apple "I'm a PC" series.

Crispin Porter+Bogusky can sometimes do avant-garde work for the sake of the work, but they might be onto something here.

It's a little early to tell, but is there a subculture of PC pride out there somewhere? The Chiat/Day Mac campaign is classic, but did CP+B find its weakness by telling all the PC users out there that it's time to tell Justin Long to just shut up for a while?

Now granted, in the ad biz, Macs are the rule, and (full disclosure here), I've been one of the lone PC guys in several agencies where I worked.

In an ironic twist, I was the computer maverick.

And I've put up with lots of Mac snobbery, even though people brought me files to adjust so we could give clients documents that would work on THEIR PCs.

So--is there a PC nation out there brimming with pride that will go out and wear T-shirts and get Windows tattoos and celebrate being part of an "in" crowd?

Doubt it. In fact, I can pretty much bet that this would never happen, even if you put Mohave-powered guns to their heads.

But CP+B has reminded me (and a lot of other people), with classic strategy, that if I'm happy with my PC, I can sit back and smugly let the trendy folks do whatever they want.

Skulls and Crossbones Go Viral

2008-09-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. I'm not making this up.

Here's the official website. And besides being an overlooked national holiday, this is an interesting example of how even the weirdest ideas can take off with a little good publicity and the instant powers of the internet.

National Talk Like A Pirate Day has been around for a few years. It was a goofy idea that caught the attention of humorist Dave Barry, who included it in his newspaper column. That was the tipping point, and with a minimal website, the idea went viral.

In addition to the website, there are a bunch of YouTube videos, and having just discovered it today, I've already annoyed numerous friends with details and bad pirate accents.

Just shows what the power of a little good communications can do. Garr!

Learn From Some Knoxville Marketing Experts

2008-09-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Panel Discussion: Marketing Convenience in a Not-So-Convenient Economy

In a world (homage to the late, great Don LaFontaine) of savvy consumers, super-stores and a lagging economy, how do some retailers stay relevant? On Thursday, September 25, the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville invites you to learn how the marketing experts from area convenience store businesses overcome these challenges. Specific topics will include:

- Musings & Evolution (effects of consumer habits, super-stores, and the economy)

- Store Branding (selling and moving products in and around the store)

- Creative Messaging (finding unique ways to talk to the target audience)

- Media Placements (finding unique ways to reach the target audience)

Thursday, September 25

Peerless Restuarant

11:30 Networking | 11:45 Lunch & Panel Discussion

$20 Member | $25 Non-Member (credit cards accepted with $1.25 fee)

RSVP by September 23 to Karen at edirector@aafknoxville.com or 742-4838

Tennessee Brand Undergoing Some Modifications

2008-09-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

Click here to check out a story about a Tennessee brand that might be making some modifications to its products. I was worried that Cracker Barrel was going to add fish tacos to its menu "in an effort to boost profits and sales at a time of intense industry competition, therefore ushering in a more aggressive period of new product news and customer diversification." But it looks like they're adding some breakfast skillets, which seems appropriate - maybe they'll be positioned as the south's rendition of fajitas. Should we consider these skillets a significant enough product development initiative to bring in bigger crowds? If so, expect to wait 25 minutes instead of the usual 15 for a table on the weekends. (The quotes are mine, but I'm sure someone said it during a meeting somewhere.)

Surveying Knoxville's Advertising Community

2008-09-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

The American Advertising Federation is asking Knoxville's advertising community to participate in a survey about the networking, professional development and other services it offers. Click here to put in your two-cents worth (password: district7). The results will be revealed at AAF-Knoxville's Membership Drive on Thursday, October 23.

Marketing Knoxville + Oak Ridge

2008-09-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of talk in the media about Innovation Valley's new campaign to boost the economic development of Knoxville and Oak Ridge. Competition to recruit new business and grow existing industry is fierce in the southeast, so Innovation Valley (a partnership of chambers of commerce and economic development agencies in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties, Oak Ridge and Tellico Lake area) is raising funds to support a five-year campaign. The organization hopes to create 30,000 jobs, increase existing business jobs by 19,000, create more than $3 billion in capital investment, increase per capita income to $45,000, and increase high school graduation rate by 20 percent. Support this Knoxville and Oak Ridge marketing initiative any way you can, and click here to read more here.

Just How Shiny Is Chrome?

2008-09-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

Been tinkering a lot with Google's new browser, Chrome, over the last few days. It's pretty impressive in a variety of ways. It seems to be faster on a three-year-old computer than Explorer or Firefox, and the interface is unobtrusive so the page you're viewing appears bigger and more open on the screen. That's nice.

There are also interesting features like being able to surf anonymously (you can visit this blog and no one ever has to know), which is also a perk that comes with the new Explorer 8. And Chrome lets you do interesting things in conjunction with Google's growing list of online resources.

It's a serious competitor to established browsers, and if you're into web design, you've gotta start looking at how your pages work with Chrome.

Now--here's an irony. Chrome's still in beta, so maybe this will be resolved, but if you try to post to a Blogger-driven blog in chrome, it's a crapshoot as to what your finished post will look like. Fonts change for no reason. There are boxes that appear from nowhere. Colors don't always match what you select.

That's got to be a little embarassing for the folks at Googleplex.

But since Chrome is open source and there are scores of geeks already at work on tweaks, let's see where it goes. And we invite you to share your takes on Chrome with other members of the communications community. Weigh in by clicking the comment link below.

Chime in on Seinfeld & Gates

2008-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the new Microsoft TV ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. They were created by Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Fast Company magazine talked about the relationship in this article.

The American Advertising Federation of Knoxville wants to know what you think. If you haven't seen it, view it here, then make a comment to this post and voice your opinion as a Knoxville advertising pro.

Monkeys Are The Best

2008-09-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

So this has nothing to do with Knoxville advertising, but you have to read this story about George, the 7-week-old chimp at the Knoxville Zoo. Check out the part in Georgie boy's hair - in 7th grade (early 80s), I tried so hard to have a middle part that would allow me to feather my hair back. Lucky monkey looks cooler than I ever did.

Online Fieldtrip: Advertising Hall of Fame

2008-09-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

If you haven't visited the Advertising Hall of Fame online, it's worth a few clicks. The site is nicely designed, and it offers a bunch of content about the industry's greats, including biographies, examples of work, audio clips of speeches, and other neat collectables.

One noteworthy omission: Bill Bernbach used to carry a card around in his pocket. He'd refer to the card frequently.

It simply said: "Maybe he is right."

Pretty noble for a copywriter, huh? Especially one that's been called the greatest of all time.

Social Network for Knoxville Advertising Pros

2008-09-02T18:58:00.001-07:00

Get in touch. Stay in touch. Network with other pros. Be notified about after-hour events. RSVP for luncheons. Connect with National AAF. Connect with District AAF. Look at goofy photos. Add goofy photos. Write on a wall. Comment about goofy photos. Learn about some news. Tag your colleagues in goofy photos. Become a member of the AAF-Knoxville Facebook group. Join some other groups. Post some links. Be social.

Their Knoxville Ads Worked - Until I Went to Shop

2008-09-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've got a bit of the new car itch. And I was hoping to scratch it a little this weekend by kicking some tires at a few Knoxville car dealerships. Why? Because their advertising in Knoxville worked - I saw the "Labor Day Sale" ads, liked the message of 0.9% and 1.9% interest rates, and decided to at least drive a few of the models that I've had my eye on.

I hate shopping for a car; I would rather go to the dentist. (Seriously, I love my dentist.) But on Sunday afternoon, I got myself psyched up and drove to the first of three Knoxville car dealerships I wanted to visit. As I was pulling up to the entrance, I could feel my blood pressure increase, then my pulse. I slowed down, started to pull in, then the gate was closed. I looked down the street, and the other gate was closed. The dealership wasn't open. So I went to the second dealership, and it was closed too. The third one? Yup, closed.

Ugh. All of that mustering up for nothing. Well, since I was out, I decided to visit a fourth Knoxville dealership. The cars it has are not within my first choices, but at that point I had nothing to lose. I park my car, get out, and am immediately approached by a sales professional.

"I'd like to drive your [blank] model with the [blank], [blank], and [blank]," I said.

"Oh, that one's out on a test drive," he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, how about another model. I like the [blank]," I said.

"We've got just one, and it's up here on the sidewalk on display," he gestured.

"Can I drive it?" I asked.

"Well, if you can wait a while. These other cars will have to move, and I'll have to get the ramps." he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, okay. Well, can I sit in it?" I asked.

He went and got the keys, opened the doors, started up the car to get the air conditioning cranked, and offered me a seat. I sat in the driver's seat, and he got in the passenger's. I looked around for a few minutes, played with the buttons, and dialed the radio to a good XM station.

"I'd really like to drive this," I said.

"Well, what if you make an appointment for tomorrow and come back?" he asked.

So I made an appointment for Monday. Then came Monday morning. On my way back out to that dealership for my appointment, I decided to first stop by the other three that were closed on Sunday.

"They're all having 'Labor Day' sales, so surely they'll be open on Labor Day," I thought. I thought wrong. They were closed. Again. Ugh. Now I'm not in the mood to return to the fourth dealership to talk the sales professional into selling me a car. Or just letting me touch one. So I went to the grocery store instead.

If you're going to advertise it, be prepared to sell it.

Knoxville Fall TV Premier - Recap

2008-08-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, August 28, more than 90 Knoxville advertising professionals gathered at Peerless Restaurant for the Fall TV Premier, presented by the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville. Presentations were made by Charter, Comcast, CW, WATE (ABC), WBIR (NBC), WTNZ (Fox), and WVLT (CBS). For some photo highlights, check out the photos section of our Facebook group page. Oh, and the Mahi-Mahi was fantastic.

Tennessee Brand Says "Socialize liberally. Drink conservatively."

2008-08-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this Ad Week blog entry about one of everyone's favorite Tennessee brands getting into the mix (no pun intended) of political advertising.

Knoxville's 40 Under 40

2008-08-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Do you know anyone in the Knoxville advertising community who might be worthy of being named one of Knoxville's 40 Under 40? Click here to fill out the nomination form. Entries are due October 1, and it's presented by the Greater Knoxville Business Journal and UT's Professional MBA Program.

Knoxville Fall TV Premier

2008-08-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Get the first look at fall's new TV shows at the next AAF-Knoxville meeting.

Join the American Advertising Federation of Knoxville and representatives from Knoxville television stations and cable networks on August 28th, as they unveil the new shows in their fall lineups. Get an insider's view of not just the shows, but the programming strategies behind them.

When: Thursday, August 28th, 2008
Where: Peerless Restaurant
Time: 11:30 Networking, 11:45 Lunch and Presentation
$20 for Members
$25 for Non-Members
(credit cards accepted with $1.25 fee)

RSVP by August 25th to Karen at edirector@aafknoxville.com or 742-4838.

AAF-Knoxville Connects You to AAF SmartBrief

2008-08-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Click here to subscribe to American Advertising Federation's SmartBrief. It brings you the advertising news that really matters (besides the stuff you'll find in this blog). AAF's editors handpick key articles from hundreds of publications, do a brief summary of each and provide links back to the original sources. In other words, they do all the research - and you get the news you need, without the fluff.

What's With The Horse?

2008-08-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering why we have a horse in the masthead, let me introduce you to Trouble.

Trouble is the beloved pony of Jennifer East, AAF-Knoxville Board Member and Media Representative Extraordinare. Trouble was adopted as the official mascot of AAF-Knoxville and, by unanimous decision, is included in all our communications.

Kinda like a client/boss who insists a logo or slogan be included in everything you do, whether it makes sense or not.

So I guess you could say that including Trouble in all our stuff is just one more way we convey to our membership that "hey--we KNOW what you go through every day."

That's why we love Trouble. That, of course, and hearing the stories Jennifer tells about him. Come to a meeting and ask Jennifer. You'll see what we mean.

O.K. Let's Start With The Free Stuff, Part 1

2008-08-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

A few good (free) reasons why we like this organization.

AAF-Knoxville has been around for a long time, and there are a few reasons for this. In the early days, it was one of the only ways for members of the advertising community to get together in a relaxed atmosphere, share stories and ideas, and get to know each other outside of work. Lots of friends were made.

And lots of business was done.

That's still true today. Except instead of just connecting once a month, AAF Knoxville gives you the ability to network with the most important advertising people in East Tennessee on an almost-daily basis, if you so choose. We've initiated a number of electronic tools this year (like this blog, Facebook, newsletters, and other resources) so members can have a freer exchange of information.

And just a few weeks, our online community is as large (sometimes larger) than the groups that attend our meetings.

And it's free. If you want to see for yourself, check out a few links:

http://www.aafknoxville.com/

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21781339491

http://www.aaf.org/