Ad People of the Year
It’s time to honor the best and the brightest in the Northern Nevada advertising community. Please join us at the Ad People of the Year Awards Ceremony at Harrah’s Reno at 11:30 am on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Click here to buy tickets.
The 2009 Ad People of the Year Honorees
Thomas C. Wilson Award | Brian Crane, creator of Pickles
Brian Crane began his career in advertising, but to everyone’s delight that is not where he will finish it. Crane is the award-winning cartoonist behind the widely syndicated “Pickles” comic strip.
Crane attended Brigham Young University, receiving an Art degree in 1973. He began his career designing advertising for the Hayward Daily Review in Oakland, California and eventually ended up in Reno where he worked at DRGM, the agency which later became the Glenn Group. In 1990, Brian was working as an art director at Doyle McKenna Bayer Brown on such accounts as Sierra Pacific Power Company, Westpac and John Ascuaga’s Nugget. That year, his strip was picked up by the Washington Post Writer’s Group. While most published information says he retired from agency life to devote full time to the strip, for some period of time he really worked as an art director during the day and a cartoonist after hours. For months, a map of the world hung over his art board at the agency and pins marked the locations of newspapers that had picked up Pickles. Eventually, enough newspapers with enough circulation subscribed to the strip so he could become a “full time” cartoonist.
Throughout his advertising career, Crane used cartoons in ads he designed and eventually he began designing greeting cards using his cartoons. After several unsuccessful tries, the strip was picked up in 1990 by the Washington Post Writers’ Group and Crane retired from agency life to devote his full attention to his comic strip.
Pickles is about an older couple, Earl and Opal, sharing their golden years with their daughter, son-in-law, beloved grandson, dense dog and cynical cat. Whether observing the differences between genders and generations or taking a wry but sympathetic look at life in the twilight years, Crane’s good-natured wit and dry humor has found its fans. Among them, hundreds of national newspapers, the National Cartoonists Society, and even Charles Schulz, who wrote the forward to Crane’s first published collection of “Pickles” comics.
In 1995 and 2001, Pickles was nominated for best comic strip of the year by the National Cartoonists Society, winning the coveted award in 2001. Today, “Pickles” is syndicated in 647 newspapers around the world.
Brian Crane lives in Sparks with his wife, Diana. He’s the proud father of seven and grandfather of eight.
Ad Person of the Year Award | John Murphy, Reno News & Review
We all know newspapers are dead. Just don’t tell John Murphy.
While many established papers have folded in recent years–including the Rocky Mountain News, Albuquerque Tribune and Baltimore Examiner–Reno’s free weekly news and entertainment tabloid is alive and well.
Editor John Murphy has not only managed to keep the Reno News & Review going, but he’s managed to grow his circulation, develop a successful companion online presence and give a whole lot back along the way. With in-depth feature-based articles that speak to current and real world issues, the RN&R is bucking the trend and flourishing with a circulation of nearly 90,000 readers each week.
John Murphy has also made giving back to the communities the paper serves a huge part of his company’s mission. Since 1995, the RN&R has donated over $1 million in public service advertising to area non-profit organizations, causes and fundraisers.
John is a past president of the Reno Ad Club and served for many years on the Board of the A2N2 Foundation.
Promotion Person or Group Award | Reno Philharmonic
When the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra needed to select a new conductor for their 2009 season, they got some help from a non-traditional source – the audience. The “Last Conductor Standing” was an interactive, multi-media marketing campaign that invited the community to help choose the orchestra’s next conductor, “American Idol” style.
By previewing videos and podcasts of the conductor candidates, watching audition concerts, evaluating conductor performances, and ultimately voting for their favorites, the audience became a part of the campaign and a component of the ultimate conductor selection made by the Search Committee and Board of Trustees. Early season ads included evaluation forms to track performances during the season-long competition. Post-concert emails drove concert-goers to the online evaluation forms. The audience votes were combined with selection committee evaluations and musician input to make the final decision.
A record number a season subscriptions were sold along the way and the whole process created a buzz in the Northern Nevada community that nearly forgot they had a professional orchestra. The campaign and search process was lauded by the League of American Orchestras and was featured in Symphony Magazine. The Reno Phil staff have been invited to conferences to present the concept to other orchestras as a model for running a conductor search that will not only locate the ideal candidate for the position, but also re-energize the community.
Community Contribution of the Year Award | The Glenn Group for Resolution-A-Thon
The employees were asked to come up with a project that they could use to get pledges from family, friends and business associates. The Resolution-A-Thon concept was for each employee to get pledges for sticking with their New Year’s resolution.
A variety of silly, serious, difficult and easy resolutions were explained on a dedicated website with fun videos and pledge pages for each employee with a Paypal donate button.
The agency raised $31,905 with over $20,000 of that going to Food Bank of Northern Nevada and the balance to Three Square (food bank) in Las Vegas which provides a bag of kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods to children who lack adequate food over the weekend.
The Resolution-A-Thon website provided a phone call testimonial of one elementary school teacher in Las Vegas who experienced the positive impact of the project first hand.
Buy Your Tickets Online
Ad People of the Year Awards Ceremony
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 | 11:30 am
Harrah’s Reno
| Your ticket purchase is your RSVP. Buy your tickets online and you’re done! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ad People of the Year Awards Ticket a2n2 or ad2 member |
$20 | |
| Ad People of the Year Awards Ticket AMA, AIGA or PRSA member |
$20 | |
| Ad People of the Year Awards Ticket Non-member |
$30 | |
| Ad People of the Year Awards Ticket Student |
$20 | |
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$90 | |
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Award Criteria
Thomas C. Wilson Award
The recipient must have made significant contributions to advertising and been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern. They must have shown a consistently high degree of excellence in the field of advertising over a lifetime, coupled with strong community involvement.
Ad Person of the Year Award
The recipient must have achieved singular excellence in the advertising field during the last year, while demonstrating strong community involvement.
Promotion Person or Group Award
The recipient must have made an outstanding contribution to the effectiveness of promotional activities on behalf of the community. The time frame of this award is not necessarily limited to the past year.
Community Contribution of the Year Award
The recipient should have made an outstanding advertising-related contribution to the community during 2009. This award recognizes those businesses or individuals that have been active in furthering the industry’s responsibility in areas of social concern.
Past Honorees |
|
| 2008 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Michael Eardley
Casey Strachan Tune In To Kids Charter Media |
| 2007 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Jim Burke
Esther Isaac Pete Copeland and Molly Dillon Jeff Ross |
| 2006 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Dan Gustin
William Letcher Anti-Meth Coalition Dali Weiderhoft |
| 2005 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Bob Felten
Jeff Dow Reno Radio Reps RTC |
| 2004 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Tom Rodrigue
Tim O’Brien Moms on the Run Rose/Glenn Group |
| 2003 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Scott Mortimore
UNR NSAC Team Tiffany Frisch, PR Concepts Nevada Museum of Art |
| 2002 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Travis Lynn
Stan Byers Reno Air Races Association CSG Direct |
| 2001 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
no award
Karen Ferguson Christy Jefferson Reno News & Review |
| 2000 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Valerie Glenn
Dan Morgan Susan Komen Race/Nevada State Fair Envision |
| 1999 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group Community Service |
Lynn Atcheson
Michael Eardley Pat Smith Jerry Cail, Bear Printing |
| 1998 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Bob Alessandrelli
Jeff Ross Steve Trounday |
| 1997 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Eric Anderson
Edward Estipona Artown |
| 1996 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Betty Stoddard Muncie
Jackie Shelton Reno Rodeo |
| 1995 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Norm Nielson
Larry DeVincenzi Bruce Van Dyke |
| 1994 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
John Glenn
Stephanie Kruse John Ascuaga’s Nugget |
| 1993 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Dave Newman
Scott Voeller Reno Redevelopment Agency |
| 1992 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Jim Elliott
Brian Crane Jay Milligan |
| 1991 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Stanton K. Berdrow
Bob Felten Rick Heckman |
| 1990 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Bourne Morris
Ron Cooney International Winter Special Olympic Games |
| 1989 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Dr. Joseph Howland
Bob Alessandrelli City of Sparks Redevelopment |
| 1988 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Jim Thompson
Steve Rusk/Jennifer Evans no award |
| 1987 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Lynnae Hornbarger
Cynthia Kelly/Valerie Rose Ben Plaza |
| 1986 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Sash Nakamoto
Mark Bayer Willie Davison |
| 1985 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Don Cralle
Mark Bayer Candace Pearce |
| 1984 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Bob Carroll
Tom Draper RSCVA/Dick Scott |
| 1983 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Phil Rose
Alan Randolph Norm Neilson |
| 1982 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Laurie Vasquez
Tom Merrill C.J. Hadley |
| 1981 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Pete Peterson
Dan Gustin/Mark Curtis Bill Thornton |
| 1980 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Jerry Higgins
Gary O’Brien Sierra Arts Foundation Board |
| 1979 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Jim Herzig
Frank Kratzer Howard Cannon |
| 1978 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Allen Dunn
Binney Evans Board of Trustees, Reno Air Races |
| 1977 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Gene Evans
Jan Bleachner Frank Ferrari |
| 1976 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
John Garberson
Marion Miller Vern Durkee, Sr. |
| 1975 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Lee Hirshland
Bill Bleachner John Dermody |
| 1974 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Ron Smith
Jim Elliot John Ascuaga |
| 1973 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Gene McKenna
Bob Carroll Mike O’Callaghan |
| 1972 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Fred Davis
Si Sellers Will Jurgens |
| 1971 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Howard Doyle
Lorraine Arms Bill Harrah |
| 1970 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Wallie Warren
Ken Webster Dick Campbell |
| 1969 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year Promotions Person/Group |
Mark Curtis, Sr.
Allen Dunn Pat Baker |
| 1968 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award
Ad Person of the Year |
Mel Matheson
Don Thompson |
| 1967 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award | Jordan Crouch |
| 1966 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award | Roy Powers |
| 1965 | |
| Thomas C. Wilson Award | Thomas C. Wilson |
Neither the nominee nor the nominator need be a2n2 members, though the nominee must do, or have done, business in Northern Nevada.
