Is there a Board Member in YOU?

Call for Nominations
Have you ever thought that if you were in charge of an event, how you would make it better? Sure, you have. We welcome it. We encourage it. And now we're inviting you to show us how it is done.

Creativity Atlanta is looking for a few good ad-women and men. We are now accepting nominations for positions on the Board of Directors (and yes, you can nominate yourself). All members are eligible (and if you aren't a member, becoming one is not so difficult).

What's involved? Board members help shape the face of the club.You will have the opportunity to ensure the club is meeting the needs of Atlanta's advertising community. We ask that you attend as many of the monthly meetings as possible and you are strongly encouraged to chair one of our committees, though that is not required. We are looking for people, though, who want to get involved and make a difference.

To nominate yourself or someone else (who's agreed to it), please send an email to nominations chair, Thom Gonyeau, at thom@mvgltd.com or call him at Mountain View (404-633-3366) if you need more information.

Think about it. Act on it.

Register Today!

Production SIG Happy Hour
Creativity Atlanta's new Production special interest group hosts its first happy hour. The Production SIG will be hosting a happy hour the third Wednesday of every other month. This event is free of charge to attend and the first drink is free! Kick back, socialize, commiserate, & network with friends and colleagues. Hope to see you there!

When: May 17, 2006, 6-8 PM
Where: Front Page News, Midtown, 1104 Crescent Avenue

To register, visit www.creativityatlanta.org.

Silver Medal & Young Professional Awards
Join us as we honor an advertising guru and a future one at Creativity Atlanta's annual Silver Medal and Young Advertising Professional Awards event. This year's Silver Medal award recipient is ad veteran, Jim Pollak, and the Young Advertising Professional honor goes to Brandi Williams. District and National ADDY award winners will also be recognized. Details below. Don't miss it!

When: May 23, 2006, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Where: 103 West, 103 West Paces Ferry Road

To register, visit www.creativityatlanta.org.

One-on-One with Guy Tucker

A conversation with Guy Tucker, the founder of the homegrown agency recruiting firm, Ask Guy Tucker, Inc. on the anniversary of its 10th year in business.

From your perspective, what has been the biggest industry shift over the past 10 years?
When I opened the firm 10 years ago, agencies didn't use e-mail and the internet wasn't a place to hang out. It was a novelty, a place to wait for dial up and slow connections. Certainly no one anticipated the amount of advertising and money spent there today. We've just placed two Interactive Creative Directors at two different firms; there wasn't any such position then, much less talent with real finesse or expertise in the field.

What are some of the specific things ad candidates are looking for now versus 10 years ago?
Stability seems to be important after the last few turbulent years for the ad business. And candidates want (and get) more exposure to senior level executives before they accept positions. On the other hand, clients are looking for better candidates with more skills including knowledge and ability in integrated marketing and thinking.

What would you pinpoint as the highlight of your career in the past 10 years in Atlanta?
The highpoint of my career was receiving the Silver Medal award in 2004. I have always loved the Atlanta Ad community, but never more than that day. My sister was in town and my ailing father was able to attend (he died 4 months later). Dad was able to see that his son didn't turn out too bad. The smile on his face made it all so wonderful.

Denmark {the agency}

Member News

First Security National Bank (FSNB), one of Atlanta's oldest community banks, announced today they are once again partnering with the award-winning regional marketing firm, The Banks Agency . Hired to develop and execute FSNB's new branding campaign as they enter into two of Metro Atlanta's new "smart communities," The Banks Agency will develop a whole new look and feel for FSNB.

As of April 1, Carl Warner is the executive creative director of JWT Atlanta , sharing the function of Co-President with General Manager, Tony Accurso. Warner previously was creative director at JWT Detroit, where he has supervised seven new automobile launches for Ford over two years. The 20-year veteran of advertising was formerly at DDB, Team One Advertising and The Richards Group, where he worked with a range of clients.

Denmark {the agency}'s continued growth has prompted the full-service advertising and communications agency to expand its leadership team. The latest addition to the team is Jim Crone . Tapped as Executive Vice President, Crone will lead the agency's branding, interactive and public relations practices. Crone comes most recently from Huey/Paprocki Advertising, where he was managing director. Crone joins President and CEO Priscilla Jessup and Vice President/Creative Director Todd Haislip on the agency's leadership team. 

A month after receiving five awards at ShowSouth (2 Golds, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze), ComGroup received two Official Honoree awards from The 10th Annual Webby Awards. The agency also announced the promotion of Wally Stoneman to Creative Director. Formerly an Associate Creative Director, Stoneman has been with ComGroup for seven years and has been instrumental in the agency's growth. Additionally, ComGroup promoted Elisa Nelson to Senior Account Executive on the agency's ADT and Cingular accounts, and named Tracy Jordan as Office Manager.
 
Creativity Atlanta board member, Larry Stultz, will receive his doctorate from Georgia State University on Saturday, May 13, 2006. He studied for over seven years in the Educational Policy Studies Department of the College of Education with a concentration in Social Foundations, and his dissertation is an ethnographic case study in cultural voice, identity, and agency in graphic design higher education. Dr. Stultz ran a design studio/advertising agency in New Orleans and Atlanta for twenty-three years, and he now teaches creative and conceptual thinking methodologies at The Art Institute of Atlanta, where he serves as Chair of the Advertising department.

Atlanta had 10 National ADDY award winners this year including three National Golds, four National Silvers, one Student Gold and two Student Silvers. Winning agencies include BBDO Atlanta, Blue Sky, ComGroup MRA, Fitzgerald+CO, JWTAtlanta, The Creative Circus and Portfolio Center. Award recipients from the District and National awards will be presented at this year's Creativity Atlanta Silver Medal Award luncheon on May 23.

Joanne Truffelman

FEATURED RANT:  Give Charity to Those "In Need"
Did you ever wonder what happens to all of the great ideas that agencies present to prospects and clients that are not sold?

Imagine an arsenal of creative concepts for every service industry, package goods companies, soft drink companies, the healthcare industry, insurance companies, banks, airlines, cosmetics and on and on; collected for over 50 to 60 years. Where are they all? Why hasn't some agency started a new agency utilizing all of the great work from other agencies? Whew! Think of that database! I bet they would sell products with results over-the-top, and win all of the awards along the way.

Good question? If there is an answer, it probably is between a rock and a hard place or sent to the black hole. It has been said "no idea is original". Ideas breed more ideas, coming from our sub-conscious and things we have sighted throughout our lives. Interesting, that some of those ideas have a way of appearing and reappearing.

Those of us in the ad biz know that we are probably at the top of the list for industries which spend the most time, the most money and get the least amount of rewards for the efforts. What do we do about it? We can't change the business totally, but we can ask clients at the very least, what they would expect in return for their time and money.

We are in a creative business and that is what sells our clients and ultimately consumers. We have to prove our marketing intelligence visually (from power-point presentations to execution of the creative product), however, why is it always given away? We all give back by way of helping our favorite charities and not-for-profits. That should intentionally be FREE, but those who we propose to, in order to make a profit, should pay a price.

So dear clients out there, now that I have ranted, a little goes a long way! Any small token to help agencies present their best work, is compensation that will benefit you in the long run and probably reap the greatest rewards.

Note: Actors and actresses are protected by unions and work, only "for hire". Illustrators and photographers are protected by ASMP laws and their work is "for hire". Maybe it's time to ask the 4A's (AAAA) to protect us!

Joanne Truffelman is Founder and Chairman of TG Madison.