The Atlanta Advertising Club recently honored outstanding performances in the advertising field, hosting the “Best of the Best.” The evening’s high honors included ADDY awards, the Silver Medal Award, the Austin P. Kelley Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Young Advertising Professional Award. The awards honored individuals who have furthered industry standards, heightened creative excellence, and honored their social responsibility. A tall order.
The 2000 Austin P. Kelley Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mike Turner, Chairman of Turner Fernandez Turner. Among Turner’s most notable advertising campaigns are the Shell Answer Book series, the launch of Zest Soap, Cool Whip, Opryland, Maxwell House Instant Coffee, and Shell Fire & Ice Oil. Turner was profiled in the Wall Street Journal’s “Legends in Advertising” series and has been featured in two college textbooks. The award recognized his social contributions as well. Turner has actively supported people with AIDS by creating company policies to protect people with the disease and delivering lunches to homebound patients.
Larry Smith, President of Larry Smith & Associates accepted the 2000 Silver Medal. In the 28 years Smith has participated in the industry, he has held positions at agencies such as Luckie & Forney, Cargill Willson & Acree and McDonald & Little. In 1982, Smith opened Larry Smith & Associates, making a name for the company by introducing the HOPE scholarship and the Golf Channel. A past president of the Ad Club, Smith has participated in every level of the advertising industry, from teaching at the Portfolio Center to partnering with the community. His non-profit contributions include working with the Salvation Army and coaching little league. Other nominees for the Silver Medal included ad notables Chris Hall, BBDO South; John Drake, Cole Henderson Drake; Guy Tucker, Ask Guy Tucker; and M.A. Bleker, Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Debra Sercy accepted the Young Advertising Professional Award. Sercy has been with Cole Henderson Drake for four years, progressing from Account Executive to her current role, Client Services Director, Vice President. Besides managing nine employees, she works on accounts including Novient, Snapper Lawn Equipment, and Wendy’s. She dedicates numerous hours to the Wellness Community, The Leukemia Society, and the Junior League of Atlanta.
The Ad Club is making some social strides as well, educating young and old about issues confronting the industry today. Beginning in March, the Ad Club will offer up Atlanta advertising’s marquee names as part of Emory’s community education series, “Evening at Emory.” The educational series attracts people of all ages and educational backgrounds. The Ad Club’s contribution is “Blurring Boundaries, Advertising in the Digital Age.” The six week series, taught by advertising and marketing professionals, will address the impact of new technology on an old industry and how to transform the traditional models. Presenters will broach an array of topics, from winning an account, to internet branding, to defining DVD. Taking the podium: Jamie Turner/President, Turner Fernandez Turner; Sal Kibler and B.A. Albert of MATCH, Inc.; Jeff Upshaw/General Manager, Account Planning, BBDO South; Don Cole/CEO, President, Fletcher Martin Ewing; Nik Manthia/EVP, Media Director, BBDO South; ML Strausberg and Michael Lollis of J. Walter Thompson; Steve Colby and Richard Sampson of Pogo Pictures; Andrea Forsland, Founder/CEO, The Rev; Matt Thornhill/Executive VP, Abovo Marketing Services; Chris Stephenson, Tom Fulks, Missy Bern of Crawford Communications; Minsoo Pak and Jerry Brewer of The Voltage Factory.