Frank Compton, Co-Managing Director and Chief Creative Ambassador of Blattner Brunner, feels lucky to be in advertising, “Because if it wasn’t for advertising, I’d be living in a double wide, raising chickens, with dogs living under my porch. Thank the Lord, I came across that match book cover and drawed (sic) that Mexican dog and got me a degree!” If he weren’t in advertising, Frank would be the finest Elvis impersonator on the planet.

“I can wear my crocs. I can skip wearing underwear. I can say bad words. I can have a martini at lunch. And I work with people who make me laugh. People I love dearly. That’s what makes me lucky,” says Eddie Snyder,
Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Fitzgerald + CO. And if he weren’t in advertising? “I would be a wildly successful author. I would live in a small cottage at the end of a simple grass drive known as Blue Mountain Lane. I would drink jammy, deep ruby colored wine with my best friend, my wife. All while negotiating lucrative offers from the Hollywood jackals for my latest novel. Or, I would be a male stripper known only as Tango.”

Andy Fletcher, President and Chief Executive Officer at Fletcher Martin, keeps it simple: “We’re lucky to be in this business because everyone who’s not in this business thinks it’s fun.”

“I’m extremely fortunate to be doing what I do because if I weren’t
in Atlanta doing advertising, I’d still be in Michigan doing advertising,”
says Carl Warner, Co-President and Executive Creative Director at
J. Walter Thompson.

Leda Walker, Creative Resources Manager at Fletcher Martin, says “I’m lucky to be in advertising because of all the creative shrapnel I benefit from. I tell people what business I’m in and they usually ask me stuff like, ‘What’s Bono like’ and ‘Can I meet Cedric the Entertainer,’ and, ‘Is Richard Simmons really gay?’ And if she wasn’t in advertising? “I’d probably cry myself to sleep surrounded by my capuchin while watching a Lifetime original movie. Wait, I do that anyway. I’d rob liquor stores.”

“You can complain about how hard it is but, let’s face it, you’re lucky to have this gig,” says Jim Spruell, Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director at Fitzgerald + CO. “You’ll never throw your back out, you’ll never break a bone and, more than likely, you won’t come down with
black lung. So shut up and have some fun.”
    
“If I weren’t in advertising, I would most likely be a jazz pianist starving somewhere, or perhaps touring with a really great trio, having gone platinum,” fantasizes Michael Loving, Partner/Creative Director, TurnerLoving Company.

B.A. Albert, Chief Creative Officer and Founder, MATCH, Inc., says, “I love advertising because the business is never the same day-to-day. If I weren’t in advertising, I would be a dock master at a marina, selling shrimp and mooring boats.”

“I am lucky to be in advertising,” says Mike Gustafson, Creative Director at Fletcher Martin, “because I truly have no marketable skills. I basically sit around all day and make stuff up. I could sell used cars, but that would
probably require me to wear a coat and tie. So that’s out.” When Mike retires from the business, he hopes to join the Senior Golf Tour, “so I can sit around in a golf cart all day and make stuff up.”

Joe Paprocki, President/Creative Director, Paprocki&Co., Inc. agrees with Mike. “I get paid to think up stuff. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
His other career choice? Anesthesiologist.

“I feel lucky to be in advertising because I can’t do math,” admits MATCH, Inc. Creative Director Tina Chadwick. “If I weren’t in advertising, I’d probably
be a rodeo clown, but for rocking horses.”

“I feel lucky to be in advertising, where everyone is younger and cooler than I am,” admits Suzanne Harkness, Senior Vice President/Group
Account Director at Fitzgerald + CO, and past president of the Atlanta

Ad Club.  “Where you can’t go more than three days without some sort of meltdown ‘crisis’.  Where the gossip and rumors flow like lava, and career paths like a power grid.   Where the best days are spent around a craft service table
debating the merits of ads on bathroom doors versus urinal drains.  Where the best people you could ever imagine all flock together for the head rush and rapid heart rate you get from the best career on earth.” If she could choose another career? “Working in a quaint little coffee shop up in Seattle where cool, smart people come to get a head rush and a rapid heart rate wouldn’t be bad either.”

Josh Robinson, Art Director at WestWayne, feels lucky to be in advertising because, “Before this, I was going to raves with oversized pants on. Other than advertising, I would be pursuing a career in street performance with a focus on interpretive dance.”

“Where else can you learn about so many things – from automobiles to
zip drives – and get paid for it?” asks Howard Clark, President, Clark and
Company, and past president of the Atlanta Ad Club. “Over a career,
advertising agency people learn about dozens of products and services.
By contrast, those on the client side only learn about a few product categories in their career. Who’s smarter?” Howard’s fantasy after his ad career is over is “to be an expedition leader on a tundra buggy in the Canadian Arctic,
observing polar bears.”

“Seeing what makes people tick helps you understand yourself a little better,” says Rich Fabritius, Vice President/Account Management at Blattner Brunner. “Getting close to human emotions and motivations is exciting and invigorating. Plus, we get to make something. We used to be a country that made things and I’m proud that there is still a production element in what I do.” Rich’s “non-ad” career would focus on “changing management/organizational dynamics.”

Kent Matlock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Matlock Advertising & Public Relations, has reason to feel lucky. “My agency just celebrated 20 years of our collective best, and for that I feel lucky – and blessed. We may be uniquely qualified to consider ourselves ‘lucky’. After all, our downtown Atlanta HQ is located on Luckie Street. I toil daily in a field where I can follow my passion, surround myself with bright, talented people, and benefit from the support of family and friends. Some would say that’s luck; others would say providence. All I know is that I’m grateful.” If Kent weren’t in advertising, he’d be passing along his knowledge and experience through teaching.

From the Creativity Atlanta Board of Directors . . .

Thom Gonyeau, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mountain View Group Ltd. (President): “Advertising is the perfect blending ground of strategic business and inspiring creative. The industry allows us to develop a left-brain/right-brain approach to solving problems. Every day is unique and it’s never boring.” He adds, “Oh, and the people are fun, too.” What is his second career choice? “I got into the industry thinking PR would be a good fit, so maybe that’s what I’d do. More likely I’d be a teacher or a life coach. That’s sort of what I do now.”

“I got into the creative side of advertising because my calculus teacher in engineering school suggested that I choose a different line of work,” says Larry Stultz, PhD., Advertising Department Chair at The Art Institute of Atlanta (Education). “He said my career choice should have nothing to do with the left side of my brain. Lucky for me, Purdue had an art department.” Eventually Larry opened his own ad agency and “my accountant/business manager figured things out and used those little yellow arrow stickies so I would know where to sign.” If he weren’t teaching advertising, “I would still have to find something to do in front of a group. I just got my PhD., so I’d probably start Dr. Larry’s Outdoor Adventure Company and take people fishing, hiking, and canoeing. Nothing very normal, I promise.”
Melissa Dayne, Vice President Account Service, The Lvngrm (Membership), feels lucky to be in advertising “because I am so passionate about my profession, but I never really made any plans to be here.” If she hadn’t found her way into advertising? “I think I would have enjoyed being a fashion model photographer.”

“I wear tee-shirts to work. I get paid to play golf and darts. I stay at
Shutters. I work with nice people who are a lot smarter than I am. Best of all, I’m not required to lift anything heavy.” Great reasons from Brett Compton, Vice President/Creative Director at Blattner Brunner (Programs). If Brett weren’t in advertising, he “would definitely be a wholesale nursery grower.”

Brandi Williams, Account Supervisor at Fletcher Martin (Young
Professionals): “I feel lucky because I really have met amazing people that have become some of the closest friends I have. Not to mention how much fun we can all have together.” What would Brandi do outside of the advertising profession? “I would like to own a gift shop in a coastal area where I could ride a bike to work every day (well, a few days a week).”

“We’re lucky like gamblers,” says David S. Cohen, Senior Copywriter at
J. Walter Thompson (Programs). “The industry is just as addicting. One
moment, you’ve just sold a TV spot that’s smart and funny. The next Monday, you’ve got 10 print executions due by the end of the week. The great thing,” he continues, “is that either way we’re paid to create, play, associate with great people, and hopefully look with pride on something and say ‘I did that’.”

Lindsey Kirshner, Assistant Account Executive, TG Madison (Socials), feels lucky to be in advertising because, “Advertising lets me mix use of my brains and creativity on a daily basis.” If she weren’t in advertising, “I’d probably be at a normal job with regular hours and decent pay – but normal usually means boring!”

“It has kept me from having to chase ambulances (and I’m not real fast),” jokes Jon Andersen. advertising attorney and legal counsel to Creativity Atlanta. “If I were not in advertising law, I would like to have been an artist or musician.”

Eduardo Perez, President, PM Publicidad (Cultural Diversity) feels lucky to be in advertising, “Because the office environments are fun and funky. Because I can wear jeans most days. Because in spite of finding the creatives a bit frustrating to manage at times, they also keep me thoroughly amused. Because I enjoy brainstorming on a regular basis with people more creative than me. Because we always have beer in the refrigerator. Because I get to go on TV commercial productions even though I have absolutely nothing to do with them. And finally, because it never seems like ‘work’.” His second career choice? “I think I’d like to be with a venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging media and marketing technologies or working for Google in a similar capacity.”

“I feel lucky to be in advertising because I am fortunate enough to work with so many different people, with unique experiences and backgrounds, who have helped, and continue to help, shape me into becoming an effective account person,” says Latesha Williams, Account Manager at Ames Scullin O’Haire (Silver Medal). “I am loving every second of this industry since I began my career in it four years ago. If I weren’t in this industry,” she continues, “I would be a sports reporter/broadcaster. I love sports, especially professional football and college basketball, so I would definitely enjoy reporting on these two sports every week.”

Susan Solomon, principal of SKS Creative and Latitude Films (Sponsorship) says, “I feel lucky to serve the advertising community as a writer/producer because on occasion I’m paid to play. If I weren’t a writer/producer, I would be a real estate developer.”

“Janitor, Burger King cook, Six Flags fry cook, digger for Atlanta water works, laborer for Beers construction, roofer, carpenter, surveyor’s assistant, projectionist UGA, projectionist in other theaters in Athens, telemarketer,
Security guard Zayres, Secruity chief Richway, Assistant Photographer to
Dimitri Kessel, former Life photographer in Paris, sound-man, Assistant
Cameraman, film Grip, Line Producer, Sales Rep, Executive Producer are all jobs I had from the age of 15 till I found my true calling as an Headhunter to the Ad Industry 10 years ago,” says Guy Tucker of Ask Guy Tucker. “I am so damn lucky not to be doing the earlier jobs listed, and so are you all.  Some of those construction jobs involved buildings you might be in right now.  Yikes!”

“I took a chance in 1996 to change my career path from traditional to digital (interactive). Call it timing, excitement for something new or just plain good luck -- it was the best decision of my life,” says Bob Conquest, Chief Creative Officer of Moxie Interactive (Membership). “As I look back to my very first job as a technical illustrator and where I am today, as a CCO at a hugely successful digital marketing agency, I say to myself, ‘you lucky _ _ _ _!’ I work with an amazingly talented team and clients who want and allow us to
generate innovative creative ideas.  And the culture at Moxie provides an open and fun environment, plus constant motivation to be my best.”
And if Bob weren’t in interactive advertising? “When I was high school and even before that, I thought I would be a chef. I tried that and hated it. When I retire from this crazy advertising world I plan on creating a small workshop where I can build custom furniture that I design or collaborate on with others.”

To share anecdotes about your worst non-advertising job, or to see vignettes of well-known Atlanta creatives trying their hands at different professions, visit www.atlantaaddys.com.

Many Atlanta advertising agencies have “gotten lucky” over the years by
winning big at the Addy Awards. But, to rephrase a Tina Turner song, “What’s luck got to do with it?” It takes more than luck to win a Gold (or a Silver or a Bronze) Award at the Addys or any other awards show. It takes research, strategy, discipline, creativity, and hard work. BBDO Atlanta was Best of Show winner for Cingular Wireless last year. Fitzgerald + CO, Huey + Partners, Paprocki & Co, JWT/Atlanta, ComGroup MRA, and many other agencies went home with lots of Gold and Silver Addy Awards. Enjoy the work of the 2007 Addy winners in the pages of this Addy Show Annual. And don’t forget how lucky you are to be in advertising!