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2012 AAF Omaha Ad Awards

The winners for the 2012 AAF Omaha Silver Medal, Ad Pro and Ad Rookie have been chosen, and all winners have been notified. All nominees were very deserving, and the selection committee had difficult decisions to make in every category, but here they are …

AAF Omaha 2012 Silver Medal Winner
Lori Meier AAF

Omaha 2012 Ad Pro Winner
Randa Zalman AAF

Omaha 2012 Ad Rookie Winner
Andrea Gourley


About the Winners

Randa Zalman
Online Strategist and Senior Account Supervisor
Redstone

Randa Zalman is the recipient of the 2012 AAF Omaha Ad Pro of the Year Award. She currently serves as the Online Strategist and Senior Account Supervisor at Redstone.

The Ad Pro of the Year award is given to an AAF Omaha member who has a distinguished track record of service in advertising including professional and community service, with particular attention to AAF Omaha service.

Zalman’s professional achievements include being a key part of the team that helped build and define Redstone’s line up of online services. In her role as Online Strategist and Senior Account Supervisor, she oversees development of all online client proposals as well as internal and external education materials. More importantly Randa helps everyone in the agency find new ways to integrate online advertising, mobile, search and social media into their client’s current marketing mix. She has earned a reputation as a knowledgeable, skilled presenter with expertise in sharing the latest trends in online advertising, mobile, search and social media. As such, she has served as speaker, panelist and webinar host for advertising, direct marketing, compliance and insurance organizations on the local, regional and national level. As Advertising Manager for Woodmen of the World, Randa was a leader in the creation and launch of their first ever branding advertising campaigns on local, regional and national platforms. She also helped provide cooperative advertising solutions and education to a Field Force of 1500.

Zalman served on AAF Omaha’s Board of Directors from 2005-2010. She was the After Hours Co-Chair from 2005-2006 and made major contributions as the Meet the Pros Co-Chair from 2007-2010. Before serving on the board, Zalman served on the Meet the Pros committee.

Other volunteer contributions include serving on the MADMA Board of Directors from 2003-2010 where she served as President from 2005-2006. She was on the YWCA Board of Directors from 2005-2007, served on the Insurance Advertising Compliance Association Board of Directors from 2007-2010 and currently serves on a committee dedicated to Social Media for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. She also has served as the PR Chair since 2010 for Help Portrait, a national non-profit movement that takes professional portraits of those who are homeless or in need, for free; and she founded Social Media Saturdays in 2010. This group helps others become more familiar with the technology and the opportunities that the online environment can provide. Activities include helping the elderly get and navigate their Facebook profiles so they can talk with their kids and grandkids. Sometimes it comes in the form of developing online fundraising strategies for non-profits that don’t have the resources to add one more thing to their budget.

Zalman will be presented with the Ad Pro of the Year Award on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at the Meet The Pros luncheon at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs.

Andrea Gourley
Art Director/Digital Designer
SKAR Advertising

Andrea Gourley has been named the 2012 AAF Omaha Ad Rookie of the Year. She currently serves as Art Director/Digital Designer at SKAR Advertising.

The Ad Rookie of the Year award is given to an AAF Omaha member with five or fewer years in the advertising business who demonstrates outstanding work both professionally and in the community, with attention to AAF Omaha service.

In Gourley’s short, two years in the industry, she has demonstrated an extremely high level of creativity and design capability and has been generous in donating her talents and time.

Gourley concepted and created all of the design work for AAF Omaha’s Meet The Pros event in 2011 and 2012. This included posters, website and other collateral material. She has also volunteered as a portfolio reviewer at the 2010 and 2011 Meet the Pros events.

Gourley’s major achievements include being awarded a National Judges Citation and Gold ADDY® in the 2010 AAF ADDY® competition in the student category, winning a Silver ADDY® in the 2010 and 2011 Omaha ADDY® competition and winning a Bronze Award in the 2011 AIGA award show.

She has also made major contributions to the community. She designed materials for The American Lung Association’s Corporate Cup in 2010 and 2011, designed a newsletter template for YMCA in 2010 which is still in use today and created the Episcopal Church's food pantry logo and other materials. She has also worked tirelessly on several projects for the Salvation Army including their annual report and created and designed a corporate identity for Episcopal Tri-Faith Ministries in Omaha.

Gourley will be presented with the Ad Rookie of the Year Award on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at the Meet The Pros luncheon at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs.

Lori Meier
Principal
Center Coast Communication

Lori Meier has been named the recipient of the 2012 Silver Medal Award from the American Advertising Federation Omaha.

The Silver Medal Award is given to an AAF Omaha member who has achieved success in their career, shown a consistent high degree of creative and original thinking in work endeavors, has worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession and has been active in civic groups including AAF Omaha.

Meier has been in the advertising industry for more than 20 years. Her top professional achievements include successful introduction of Cricket Wireless into the Omaha and Lincoln markets; she originated the OFA 100th Anniversary event and Legends of Advertising Hall of Fame; and she has had many marketing successes by clients as diverse as General Motors, the Atlanta Olympic Games Housing Committee, Kmart Corporation, Valmont, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Godfather’s Pizza, MSI (Midland Systems, Inc) and CoSentry, to name a few.

During her service to AAF Omaha she made major contributions serving in leadership roles including President; 2nd Vice President, Membership; OFA 100th Anniversary Chair; Meet the Pros Chair (twice) and roundtable speaker; 9th District Conference Committee; AdWars Committee; ADDYs® Committee; and Board member over Special Events, Public Service, Marketing and Sales, Legislative and Programs.

On top of AAF Omaha, Meier also served key roles for countless other professional organizations. She was a member and Pinnacle Awards Program Chair for AMA; she was a member and Bronze Quill Awards Committee member for IABC; and held many responsibilities with the Chamber of Commerce including Leadership Omaha Alumni, Youth Leadership Omaha, writer for LOAA Newsletter, Ambassadors Program and 20th Anniversary Event Committee.

Meier also made several civic contributions in the Omaha community. She was a key player and tireless volunteer for Junior League Omaha, Omaha Children’s Museum, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Nebraska Children’s Home, Opera Omaha, Campfire Boys and Girls Club, Creighton Prep CASE Technology Campaign, Fontenelle Forest, Adoption Links Worldwide, Great Plains Girl Scout Council and Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

During her career, Meier has also received multiple accolades for her work in the industry including: two Silver Awards at the Denver Ad Federation’s ADDYs® competition, Silver Award at the OFA ADDYs® Competition, National Gold Ink Pewter Award, IABC Bronze Quill Award, two AMA Pinnacle Awards, two PRSA Silver Anvils, two AAF Silver Awards and the 359th Presidential Points of Light Campaign Award.

Meier now lives in Austin, TX and volunteers for nearly a dozen organizations/associations. Meier currently serves as Principal for Center Coast Communication.

Meier will receive her award at the ADDY® Awards Show on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the ADDY® Awards show at the Hilton Omaha.  

Swanson Russell’s Schmaderer Promoted
to Vice President/Account Supervisor

Swanson Russell announces the promotion of Jason Schmaderer to vice president/account supervisor. With the promotion, Schmaderer becomes an officer of Swanson Russell.

Schmaderer began his career with Swanson Russell in 1998 as a public relations writer and was quickly promoted to public relations associate and later to public relations counsel. In 2003, he left the agency to take a public relations account supervisor position with Jacobsen Rost in Sheboygan, Wis. Schmaderer returned to Swanson Russell in 2004 as an account manager and was promoted to associate account supervisor in 2009. In his current role, he handles account planning and direction, brand management and product launches for clients including Rain Bird, Union Bank and Vista. Schmaderer is also active in the agency’s new business development.

“Jason’s professionalism and strategic thinking have been valuable assets to the agency over the years,” said Dave Hansen, partner/CEO of Swanson Russell. “He has proven his ability to build relationships with clients and is a true leader within the agency and professional organizations. Jason’s promotion is well-deserved.”

A St. Paul, Neb., native, Schmaderer earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Nebraska Wesleyan University, in Lincoln, Neb. He is active in Prescott Elementary School’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee and serves as a board member for the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association.

 

Swanson Russell Wins Most Awards at Annual PRSA Nebraska Anvil Awards Gala

Swanson Russell walked away with 11 Anvil Awards at the Public Relations Society of America Nebraska Chapter’s 2011 awards gala – the most of any organization in the competition.

Announced Dec. 8, PRSA Nebraska’s Anvil Awards are given annually to organizations that have successfully addressed a public relations issue with skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The awards acknowledge best practices within the profession. Swanson Russell was recognized for work in the categories of social media, media relations, brand management, marketing consumer products and integrated communications.

The agency won three Awards of Excellence and eight Awards of Merit. The 11 Anvil Awards represented work for clients including Berkley Fishing, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Weatherby, Briggs & Stratton Home Power and FMC.

“These awards are meaningful, because they emphasize results based on measurable objectives,” said Jeff Patterson, senior vice president/director of public relations at Swanson Russell. “Our PR staff worked closely with clients and other account team members to plan and execute this successful work. We appreciate PRSA Nebraska for the opportunity to have it recognized by our peers.”

Swanson Russell Welcomes Five

Swanson Russell announces the hire of Shanna Austin, Kathleen Divine, Ryan Larsen, Dave Markes and Taryn Vasa.

Austin, a Wichita, Kan., native, was hired as a production artist in the Omaha, Neb., office. She graduated from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Neb., with a bachelor’s degree in marketing management. She also holds an associate degree of occupational studies in design, illustration and computer graphics from the Creative Center Art College in Omaha. Before joining Swanson Russell Austin worked as a media ambassador at Bungalow/8 in Omaha. She also worked as an intern at Wright Printing in Omaha.


Divine serves as an associate graphic designer in the Omaha office. She received a bachelor’s degree in fine art with an emphasis in graphic design from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. While in school, she interned with Creative Services and worked as a community adviser at the University of South Dakota. Divine is originally from Raymond, Neb.

Larsen joins the Omaha team as a writer and producer. Prior to being hired at Swanson Russell, Larsen held a senior copywriter position at SCORR Marketing in Kearney. A native of Fremont, Neb., he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in mass media from the University of Nebraska–Kearney.




Markes joins the Omaha office as an art director. Originally from Colorado Springs, Colo., he holds a bachelor’s degree in visual communication and design from the University of Nebraska–Kearney. Prior to joining the agency, Markes was an art director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has also worked as an art director at Bailey Lauerman in Omaha.


The Lincoln office welcomes Vasa as an account coordinator. A Wahoo, Neb., native, she received a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a minor in business marketing from the University of Nebraska–Kearney. Vasa previously worked as an intern and account coordinator at SCORR Marketing in Kearney, Neb.






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, construction and the green industry. For more information about Swanson Russell’s Real Connection™ approach to advertising, public relations, interactive and branding services, visit www.swansonrussell.com.

Anderson Partners' Client Receives Award Recognition

I am writing to you because our client, Lutz & Company, has just been recognized by Accounting Today as THE top mid-size accounting firm to work for in the nation. Accounting Today and Best Companies Group designed the “Best Accounting Firms” program to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in the accounting industry, benefiting the nation’s economy, its workforce and businesses.

Lutz & Company was also named to INSIDE Public Accounting’s Best of the Best Firms for 2011, which honors only 25 firms nationally for their wise management and superior operational performance, based on more than 50 criteria. According to the publisher of INSIDE Public Accounting, the firms that earn this designation represent the best of what the accounting profession has to offer.

I have attached the press releases regarding the Best Accounting Firms to Work For recognition (along with a page from the December issue) and the Best of the Best Firms recognition for your reference and will call to follow up.

About Lutz & Company, P.C. Lutz & Company, P.C., is Nebraska’s largest independent and privately held certified accounting and consulting firm. The team is dedicated to providing exceptional service and a broad range of solutions to family and entrepreneurially owned, middle market companies and their owners. Core solutions include premier tax, accounting and assurance services, as well as wealth management, software, creative and consulting services in numerous industries.

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