Member Profile: Joe Olsen

Employer: Phenomblue

Job Position: CEO, Director of Strategy & Innovation

How long have you been a member of AAF Omaha? I year.

Why did you join AAF Omaha? Support the local advertising community.

What's the most interesting thing on your desk? My MacBook Pro. It's full of all my secret projects.

Your last meal would include? Spaghetti and meatballs. Mt.Dew. A Bombpop.

Type of music you like most? Tie. Indie Rock & Hip Hop.  

If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? I would make air travel more expensive. Affordable airfare has ruined the flying experience for business travelers. Did I mention I am writing this from Southwest flight 1545 row 15 middle seat...

Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. What does it say? I don't have any books near me, but I just Googled "Stuck on a plane" and the fourth line says "Flight from hell? Sounded like it."

If you could meet any one person (from history or currently alive), who would it be? Sean Carter.

Creative Award Winning Senior Art Director
to Speak at September AdBites

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Regency Lodge
11:30 Networking
12 Noon Luncheon & Program


Chris Newman
Senior Art Director with Euro RSCG Chicago

Chris Newman, an award-winning senior art director at Euro RSCG Chicago, has quickly risen through the ranks from junior level to senior level art director over his six years with the agency. Chris is a lead creative on the agency's expanding relationship with Sprint and has contributed to multiple direct mail pieces and the launch the Sprint Premier identity, a key customer loyalty retention program.

With a strong understanding of design, strategic conceptual thinking and a keen awareness of how to craft and execute an on-target message, Chris is constantly raising the bar for creative and marketing ideas. For high-profile clients including Sprint, Kraft and EFFEN Vodka Chris has produced award-winning direct mail, out of home and digital work aimed at both the consumer and B-to-B segments.

Register Today!

Chris holds multiple Tempo (Chicago Direct Marketing Association) and AMBIT (Kansas City Direct Marketing) awards for his direct marketing work. In 2010, he was recognized in by Direct Marketing News in their annual "30 under 30" award and by the Chicago Direct Marketing Association's "Emerging Leaders" awards. Press coverage of Chris's outstanding work has appeared in the United States Postal Service's Deliver Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times Media & Marketing blog.

Chris began his design career before with an internship at design agency, Round2 Communications (r2i) in Baltimore, MD and participated in The Martin Agency Student Workshop in Richmond, VA. Upon graduation, Chris was hired full-time at Euro RSCG Chicago, a rare first step for a creative right after graduation.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts Advertising and degree in Fine Arts Graphic Design from Iowa State University.

For more information and to register for this luncheon visit www.aafomaha.org

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The American Advertising Federation Omaha (AAF Omaha) is driven by the volunteer efforts of its membership. Through the work of board members and committees AAF Omaha remains a strong voice in your industry. Most efforts require just an hour or two of your time per month. Please consider joining a committee today!

Thanks to members like you, AAF Omaha will continue to grow stronger. As we move forward to make our club and industry even better, we need your active involvement to achieve another successful year for the club.

Please email teri@novia.net with your committee selections. Or update your Membership Profile and tell us what activities you would like to be involved with. You may select more than one committee listed below. You will be contacted by an AAF Omaha Board Member to provide you with committee information and meeting dates. Your active participation in the American Advertising Federation Omaha is very much appreciated!

• Education/Scholarship/Speakers Bureau
• Meet the Pros
• AdBites Professional Development over Lunch
• AdNight After Hours Networking
• Fundraisers
• Holiday Party
• Bowl-O-Rama
• AdWars
• Nebraska Advertising Awards, ADDYs
• Newsletter, AdMuse and Public Relations
• Public Service
• Membership
• Legislative Issues
• Diversity
• Movie Series

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            Stack Creative unConference

Belong. Network. SAVE.

The American Advertising Federation Omaha (AAF Omaha), is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for its members.

The 2010 Stack Creative unConference is right around the corner, and AAF Omaha is able to offer its members a discounted registration rate-AAF

OMAHA MEMBERS WILL SAVE $50!

What is an unConference?

An unConference is an interactive alternative to the usual conference. Because of the constantly changing nature of digital media, presentations that are prepared six months in advance are sometimes no longer relevant by the time they are given. At an unConference, the agenda is created live by its attendees, providing exchanges for participants that are up to the minute and always relevant. Most of the sessions are not
presentations but rather dialogues and conversations about emerging trends, issues
and industry projects.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Build new collaborative networks and partnerships across disciplines.
• Learn something new from others in the field.
• Find answers to the questions that matter to them.
• Consider business issues related to the advertising industry.
• Be exposed to new ideas for making and keeping advertising relevant.

Who's Attending?

Participants for The Stack Creative unConference include many of the top creative minds in the MidWest.  Including leaders from:

• Traditional agencies
• Interactive agencies
• Clients from a broad range of industries
• Production companies
• Internet media properties
• And people in diverse roles including creative directors, digital artists, CMOs, media planners, copywriters, art directors, futurists, geeks and technical people.

What will be talked about?

• We expect questions like these to be addressed:
  • What shifts are happening in the media landscape, and how are they changing the creative process?
  • What are the shifts in business models?
  • How are new technologies like smartphones, netbooks and GPS devices going to change advertising in the near term?
  • Will online publications kill print? And if so, what then?
  • As a traditional creative, what are effective strategies for expanding into the digital media ecology?
  • As a digital native, how can I work more effectively with traditional creatives and weave our different skills/life experiences together?

All the sessions will have notes taken at them and a book of proceedings will be compiled-so those sessions you can't make, you won't completely miss. The following week, a summary of the events will be sent out via e-mail so that you can read up on all the other interesting topics discussed.

When and where does it all happen?

• Tuesday, September 7
• Nomad-1013 Jones Street, Omaha, NE 68102

How much is registration (for an AAF Omaha Member)?

• Typically, registration for the event is $100. However, AAF Omaha members are able to receive a $50 discount by entering the organization's promo code. Simply contact Teri Hamburger at 402.561.6625 or teri@novia.net and let her know that you're registering for the event. She'll then provide you with the promo code.
• 
  EVEN BETTER NEWS!! . all AAF Omaha members who register for the 2010 Stack Creative unConference will be entered into a drawing to have their unConference registration PAID FOR IN FULL. That's right . members have the opportunity to attend the unConference for FREE!
• And if you're not currently an AAF Omaha member?? Become one! Check out our website at www.aafomaha.org or contact Teri Hamburger at 402.561.6625 or teri@novia.net and find out how you can become a member. Once you're signed up, you can also receive the discounted 2010 Stack Creative unConference registration rate (you'll save more than 25% on membership and unConference registration combined!). Plus, you'll be entered into the drawing for the FREE unConference registration.

There's More!!

• When you become an AAF Omaha member, you'll begin receiving other great AAF Omaha benefits including:
  
  • Networking opportunities with local industry leaders
  • Discounted rates for professional development
  • Discounted ADDY® Awards entries
  • Timely information on local and national advertising issues and more!!

Check out the 2010 Stack Creative unConference website for more details and to see who's attending: http://www.stack2010.com/

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AAF Omaha Presents
"Waking Sleeping Beauty" Movie Screening
Thursday, September 16th
The Dundee Theatre - 4952 Dodge Street
7:30 PM

"One of the best comeback stories in show business history."

- John Horn, Los Angeles Times

This documentary is a look behind the scenes at the re-birth of Disney animation. "Waking Sleeping Beauty" is no fairytale. It is a story of clashing egos, out of control budgets, escalating tensions and one of the most extraordinary creative periods in animation history.

View Trailer

Register

Sponsored by

What many forget is back in 1984, animated movies were a dying art form. They were expensive. They were creatively bankrupt. And they weren't making nearly enough money to justify the costs. It wasn't until a girl named Ariel came along ("The Little Mermaid") that Disney remembered what great animated movies can do for the studio. After "Little Mermaid", the studio produced three of the biggest animated hits of all time: "Aladdin", "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast".

Visit http://omahaadclub.org/walking-sleeping-beauty/ for more information about the movie.
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Nominate an Industry Legend

The Advertising Hall of Fame® is the most prestigious award bestowed in the advertising industry, honoring those who have raised the standard for advertising excellence. The esteemed Advertising Hall of Fame® members include Charlotte Beers, Leo Burnett, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, Tom Burrell, Jay Chiat, Katharine Graham, Roger A. Enrico, Pat Fallon, Chuck Fruit, John H. Johnson, Stanley Marcus, John E. Pepper, Keith Reinhard, Allen Rosenshine, Ted Turner, Mary Wells Lawrence. Click here for a full list of members.

Candidate requirements are:

• Completed their primary career (from US or an American company abroad)
• Distinguished themselves in their career
• Contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation
• Participated in volunteer efforts outside the workplace.

Click here to download the nomination requirements and form.

Nomination Deadline: September 27, 2010

The Advertising Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner honoring the newly elected candidates will be held in March 2011 at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.

For more information, contact Lisa Rubin at (800) 999-2231 or events@aaf.org
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Swanson Russell Promotes Rolf, Nass in Creative Department

Swanson Russell announces the promotions of two creative department staff, Ashley Rolf and Staci Nass.

With her promotion to graphic designer, Rolf's duties include conceptualizing and executing catalog and advertisement layouts as well as logo designs for clients. She is involved with layout and design for new business pitches.

Previously a production artist, the West Point, Neb., native joined Swanson Russell in the fall of 2008 after completing an internship at the agency. Rolf holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree in advertising from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In Nass's new role as graphic/tech specialist, she will help lead an initiative to enhance the creative department's graphic technology and expertise. Her duties include developing presentations for client meetings and new business pitches, and converting clients' printed catalogues into interactive resources.

Nass, a Lincoln native, joined Swanson Russell as a production artist in 2004 after graduating from Southeast Community College in Lincoln.

Nass and Rolf are based in Swanson Russell's Lincoln office.

Founded in 1962, Swanson Russell is Nebraska's largest marketing communications firm, with offices in Lincoln and Omaha. In addition to working with local and regional clients, the full-service agency is nationally recognized for expertise in agriculture, healthcare, outdoor recreation and the green industry.
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Two Students Win Swanson Russell's
Marketing Communications Scholarship

Swanson Russell has selected Brianne Hake and Halsey Lutt as the 2010 recipients of the Gus Swanson Memorial Communications Scholarship.

The scholarships honor Gus Swanson, who in 1962 co-founded what has become the state's largest marketing communications firm. The statewide scholarship competition, in its ninth year, is designed to help foster excellence in marketing communications. Each year the Gus Swanson Scholarship is awarded to a Nebraska high school senior who plans to pursue a communications-related degree in college and to a Nebraska college/university student with a communications-related major. Those majors include advertising, marketing, communications studies, public relations, journalism, graphic design and desktop publishing.

Hake is this year's university recipient and receives $1,000 to apply towards her education. Originally from Leigh, she is majoring in advertising at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and won a Paper Anvil Award from the Nebraska chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for Outstanding Electronic Media Campaign in the student awards category in 2009. Hake has a 3.956 GPA, is on the Dean's List and is involved in a multitude of extra curricular school and community service activities. She will be a senior this fall and expects to graduate in the spring of 2011.

As this year's high school recipient, Lutt receives $500 to apply towards her educational endeavors. She graduated from Wayne High School last spring and plans to study news-editorial at UNL in the fall. A Wakefield resident, Lutt posted a 3.854 GPA, earned Academic All-State honors in cross country and journalism and was a member of the National Honor Society, among several other academic honors.

Hake and Lutt recently visited Swanson Russell's Lincoln office for a tour and discussion with Swanson Russell leaders.

To apply for the scholarship, students were required to write an essay on a marketing communications campaign of their choice. In addition to the essay, other criteria used to judge the competition included school activities and honors as well as community involvement.

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Grant to Educate Low Income Individuals in Business Startup

The Small Business Association of the Midlands (SBAM) received $20,000 Grant from the Recovery Act funding through a Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) grant, which is managed by AIM Institute.

SBAM will use these funds to teach business and entrepreneurial skills to low income residents interested in starting or expanding a business. In October 2010 a book will be published and seminars conducted at sites in north and south Omaha. In addition, the Small Business Association of the Midlands will work with micro lending agency in those communities. People interested in the program can contact SBAM via email at info@sbamidlands.org

The Small Business Association of the Midlands is a Nonprofit Membership Organization, founded in January 2009 that assists micro & small businesses to develop, grow and operate more efficiently. Meeting and events are held monthly -each quarter there is a breakfast seminar, day long boot camp and networking event, and hold special conferences annually.

The AIM Institute manages the Strengthening Communities Fund grant through its Compassion Institute of the Midlands (CIM) project, a partnership with the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, funded by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant. The CIM supports faith-based and community-based nonprofit organizations in the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro area by offering an array of training workshops and annual grants

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DAAKE Welcomes R.J. Rauso as Web Designer
Joins the Firm with Seven Years Marketing, Design and Web Programming Experience

Award-winning visual communications and design firm DAAKE is pleased to announce the addition of R.J. Rauso as Web Designer. Rauso will develop strategy, design and programming for DAAKE's growing list of Web-based clients, in collaboration with the firm's partners and vendors.

"R.J.'s passion for art and technology adds another creative facet to our design team," says Greg Daake, the firm's principal and founder. "His roots as an illustrator and his proven experience in Web design will afford our clients a truly unique and innovative perspective."

Prior to joining DAAKE, Rauso was an Interactive Web Designer for an Omaha advertising firm, where he was responsible for art direction, strategy and Web design and programming, including Flash animation. He earned a bachelor's degree in digital art from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

For more information, contact Greg Daake at 402 933 1094 or gdaake@daake.com.

About DAAKE

DAAKE is an award-winning visual communications and identity design company in Omaha, Nebraska. DAAKE works in identity, print, advertising, motion, interactive, exhibit, and Web, applying imagination, creativity and strategy to the business of clients nationwide, propelling their brands.

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Swanson Russell Promotes Wostrel, Welcomes Miller,
Salem and Williams to Public Relations Department

Swanson Russell announces the promotion of Kellie Habeeb Wostrel to public relations manager, and welcomes new additions to its public relations department: Kelly Miller, Jeff Salem and Kassi Williams.

Wostrel oversees three public relations staff in Swanson Russell's Omaha office. She also manages public relations programs for clients including Land O'Lakes Purina Feed, E-Z-GO and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Previously a public relations counsel, Wostrel has become a leader and educator in traditional and social media initiatives for clients as well as the agency.

Wostrel is a native of Medina, Ohio, but grew up in Omaha. She joined Swanson Russell in 2008 and has more than a decade of media and public relations experience. She previously held positions at Bozell in Omaha, USA Roller Sports in Lincoln and Weber Shandwick in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and an emphasis in broadcasting.

Wostrel currently serves on the board of directors for the Public Relations Society of America/Nebraska Chapter as vice president of education.

Miller joins Swanson Russell's Omaha team as a public relations associate. She is involved in the planning and implementation of public relations and social media programs for various clients.

A native of Arcadia, Neb., Miller previously was the marketing and events director for the Hastings (Neb.) Family YMCA, public relations manager for Valley County (Neb.) Health System and a staff journalist at a Nebraska weekly newspaper, the Sherman County Times. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she majored in journalism and public relations.

Salem serves as a public relations associate in the agency's Lincoln office. In this position, he plans and executes public relations programs, with his primary clients in the green/turf industry.

A native of Lincoln, Salem previously held positions as news editor and government reporter for the Sun News in Kansas City, Mo. Salem received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, and a degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Williams works in the Omaha office as an account service and public relations coordinator. Her responsibilities include assisting with the management of various marketing communications projects and client relations, media tracking and outreach, and public relations writing.

A native of Knoxville, Iowa, Williams graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in animal science and journalism with an emphasis in public relations. During college, she held various public relations and agribusiness intern positions at Iowa State University Extension, Equine Marketing Group and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
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Redstone Expands Online Media Team

Omaha-based advertising agency, Redstone, has promoted two team members and added one to their expanding online media department.

"We think Redstone can bring a mostly unique perspective to online advertising that combines our very-real talents in producing, placing and tracking traditional media and integrating that with online channels," said Claudia Martin, Redstone President and Media Director.

Randa Zalman has been promoted to Online Strategist, Sr. Account Supervisor and Amanda Peterson has been promoted to Online Specialist, Media Buyer.

"There's no question that the Internet is changing the way consumers find out about new products and services," said Ms. Zalman. "Like radio advertising built on print advertising and TV built on radio, online media is now becoming a more and more important part of the media mix."

As part of her expanded duties, Ms. Zalman provides strategic counsel to agency clients on social and online media. She has been a frequent speaker on these topics at regional and national marketing events. Ms. Peterson has more than a decade of traditional media placement experience and has helped build the agency's system for analyzing, negotiating and placing online media schedules.

Redstone has hired Amy Jacobberger as Online Specialist, Account Coordinator. Ms. Jacobberger is a graduate of University of Nebraska at Omaha and brings with her online and account service experience from her time with other professional communications firms.

Redstone is an agency specializing in advertising, media, online and direct marketing with offices in Omaha and Des Moines. Founded in 1984, Redstone serves some of the region's premier brands in retail, home services, education, financial services and franchising.