Category: Blog

Central Minnesota is home to a cast of amazingly talented marketers. And you don’t just have to take our word for it. I’m sure you can think of those people in your professional life who radiate excellence in our industry. Sub- missions are due Friday, January 27th!

Silver Medal Award

This is precisely why the American Advertising Federation presents the Silver Medal Award and Emerging Leader Award each year. We think those that have gone above and beyond deserve to be recognized in front of their industry peers.

The AAF Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in further the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern. Each year, AAFCM bestows this honor upon an outstanding member of the central Minnesota advertising community.

If you wish to nominate someone for the Silver Medal Award Program, you may submit your application here. Our panel of judges is comprised of past club presidents and Silver Medal Award winners. The recipient of the award will be announced at the 2023 American Advertising Awards.

Emerging Leader Award

The AAFCM Emerging Leader Award was established in 2017. This award was created to recognize young professionals who are making outstanding contributions to marketing, advertising, design, and/or communications.

Emerging Leaders, while young in their careers, have already shown themselves to making an impact. They are individuals who have begun to further industry standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern.

Emerging Leader nominees must be under the age of 35 (as of the end of this year), and contribute to the industry in the Central MN community. Sound like someone you know? You can submit your Emerging Leader application here. One will be announced at the 2023 American Advertising Awards.

You heard that right! The time is nearing for our biggest event of the year – the American Advertising Awards. And we are bursting with excitement to return to a live show in February!

The AAA’s, as we like to call them, are the pinnacle event of the year to celebrate creatives in every capacity on both a local and national level. We have so much amazing talent in our own community of Central Minnesota, and now is the time to show it off.

Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), our local competition is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Entering the competition supports our entire industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.

Whether you are a student, freelancer or a creative working in-house or in an agency, we want to see your work! Submissions can be entered into Student or Professional categories to be judged.

A few important dates to know:

• Entries are due Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

• Early bird tickets are available until January 20, 2023.
  • $25 Pro Member / $45 Pro / $16 Student Member / $30 Student (Parent/Sibling of Student)

• Regular Ticket Price: (January 21, 2023 – Day of the Show):
  • $35 Pro Member / $55 Pro / $21 Student Member / $35 Student (Parent/Sibling of Student)

• Join us for the show on February 25, 2023!

All of the details for submitting your work, FAQ’s and more can be found here.

It’s that time of year again…AAA Season! The American Advertising Awards (AAA) is one of our staple events – a national competition that’s available to all creatives on a local level. 

There are a few steps involved in submitting your work, and we’re here to help you navigate the process seamlessly. Whether you’re new to the AAA submission process or just need a refresher, we want to help answer any questions you might have.

If you have any additional questions that we don’t address below, please check our social channels for more information or reach out to us! We’re happy to help and want to make this a successful and fun event for everyone. 

Q: How are virtual submissions different?

A: The submission process will be the same as previous years, with the only difference being that all of your work will be submitted digitally. There will be no physical files given to us. Details on submitting your work can be found at the 2023 American Advertising Awards website. 

Q: Do I still need to print and mount my work?

A: Nope! You will not need to print and mount your work. Our judges will not be coming in-person.  When you submit your work, you will have the opportunity to attach up to 5 files and an optional video upload. However, if you would like your art to be displayed at our in-person event in February, you can definitely print and mount it.

Entry Kits can be purchased here.

Q: Who can I reach out to if I need help with the submission process?

A: Please reach out to Leah Rado at leah.rado@gmail.com with any questions regarding submissions. She will be happy to help!

Q: Do I have to be a marketing agency to submit?

A: Absolutely not! The American Advertising Awards highlights the work of all creatives, no matter how big or small. Whether you’re a student, freelancer, or work in-house or at an agency, your work is welcome! We are so lucky to live in a community with strong talent and we want to see it all.  

Q: Where do I find a list of categories to submit?

A: You can find Professional categories here and Student categories here.

Q: What if I feel like my work is best seen tangibly/in-person? 

A: We get it! Often, the best part of a project is seeing it all come together off-screen. Being able to touch it, feel it, and show it off to all your friends. Our recommendation is to take the time to get quality proofs of your work and present it as best you can on-screen. This might mean mocking up a scene in which your work might appear. Think about how you might present a concept to your clients/boss before it’s actually been created. Anything you can do to help someone visualize the work will help.

Q: How do I make sure I buy a ticket for The Show?

A: You can buy tickets for The Show on our event page. Early bird tickets are available to purchase until January 20^th, 2023.

Q: Are there any AAA entry/show ticket discounts? 

A: Yes! If you are an AdFed member, either student or professional, you will receive a discount on your submissions and ticket prices for the show. Discounts are as follows: 

Single Entry: Professionals $60 (Non-Member $100) – Students $40 (Non-Member $55)

Campaign Entry: Professionals $100 (Non-Member $160) – Students $50 (Non-Member $70)

Ticket Pricing: A discount on your show ticket.

If these price breaks aren’t enough to convince you to become a member, check out all of our member benefits!

Have you ever had that perfect night where everything fell into place and it’s hard to find the words to describe just how great it actually was? That’s exactly how we’re feeling trying to recap our first-ever AAFCM Kickoff Party.

We’re still salivating over the delicious pizza. Green Mill did not disappoint. As if that wasn’t enough, they also helped us create a signature drink for the event. What was the inspiration? Glad you asked! Well, when you attend the American Advertising Awards (AAA), you have the opportunity to win an Addy award. So, we decided to give out our own “Addy” in the form of a delicious beverage for our members and attendees to enjoy. They’ve earned it. So “The Addy” was born!

Didn’t have a chance to try this delicious drink? Make your own at home!

The Addy:

• 1 oz Saint Germain
• 1 oz Gin or vodka
• Soda water
• Lime Juice
• Splash of Cranberry Juice

There was no better place to enjoy this cool and refreshing drink than out on the patio, listening to the musical stylings of the one and only Askel Krafnick. Not only did he provide great entertainment, but he also walked away with a free ticket to the AAA’s in one of our three drawings. Brittany Kapsner also received a ticket to the awards show and our biggest giveaway of a free one-year membership was awarded to Amber Miller. Congrats to you three! Look for more giveaways and fun throughout the season.

We weren’t kidding when we said we were ready to make this a season to remember and this was a great way to kick off the season. If you didn’t immediately leave this event and sign up for a membership, what are you waiting for!? This is just the beginning of an incredible programming year. What can you expect to see?

• Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start a business? You won’t want to miss Hustle Hour in September.
• Is history your jam? Keep an eye out for our first-ever Ancient Advertising Luncheon at the end of September.
• Do you fancy yourself a designer? You’ll want to show off your skills in this year’s CMYK Poster Show.
• Or are you just looking for some fun social events where you can network with other creatives? This is the place for you!

Keep an eye out for all our fun events that will be announced this year!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support AAFCM in our first event of the season and we look forward to seeing you all throughout the year!

When thinking about the message I wanted to write to introduce myself as the new board President for AAFCM, I initially thought I’d write a piece about myself and all the great things about AAFCM. In fact, I wrote a really polished blog and then deleted it. Nothing short of the unfiltered truth felt right for this. So here it goes.

When I talk about the year our club had in 2020, I won’t use words like unprecedented or tell you how challenging it was to engage not only our members virtually but our very own board, myself included. I mean, it was, but you’ve heard that story and those words from everyone. So I’ll tell you a new story.

In 2020, I happily accepted the VP seat with excitement and pride. If memory serves, that was February of 2020. Shortly after, everything changed. We finished out the 2019-2020 season and entered 2020-2021 programming with our fearless leader Taylor Sellnow at the helm. What followed can only be described as something akin to building the plane while trying to flying it. Taylor handled it with dignity and grace and a work ethic like no other. Seriously, she deserves a cape #superhero.

Looking back, I knew that having agreed to the VP role meant I would be President the following year. Full transparency… I just remember feeling grateful that 2020 wasn’t my presidency year. I thought for sure the pandemic would be long over by the time I took the reigns…

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely been on this ride along with our club. It hasn’t been easy. I won’t sugar coat it with “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” or “we’re a stronger club because of it” or {insert another cliché about challenges and overcoming obstacles}. While that’s all true, 2020 was not kind to our club. Or our membership numbers. Virtual events when everyone and their mother were doing virtual events didn’t bode well for us. Don’t get me wrong, we still brought quality content and tried to provide as much value to our members as possible, but we get it. It wasn’t the same.

And at the risk of sounding like an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend trying to win you back…. I’m here to tell you that we’ve changed. It’s true what they say. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone (in-person events and YOU). We’re different now.

What does that mean, you ask? Well, we thought about playing it safe and providing the same events we had pre-COVID, but that just didn’t seem like enough. So this year, we have completely shaken up our programming. We’re not only creating new events; we’re adding more to the docket and dropping old ones that no longer serve our members or us.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the pressure to make this a banner year and recoup the members we’ve lost. While I do feel those things, most importantly, I want to provide the programming and value our past, present, and future members deserve. “If you build it, they will come” or something like that. We’re building it, so… come! From our CMYK poster show to our new Friendsgiving event and so much more. There is something for every type of creative.

Want to learn more about what our club does? If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly invested ;). Our kick-off event is coming up on Thursday, August 19th, from 5-8 pm at the Green Mill in St. Cloud. Come check it out and learn a little bit more about AAFCM. Register here.

Wishing you an abundance of health, wealth, and happiness.

– Tiffany

It’s AAA Season! If you’re not familiar with the AAA it’s one of our staple events – the American Advertising Awards – a national competition that’s available to all creatives on a local level. Like any award submission, the process has several steps. If you’re new to the AAA submission process or even if you’ve entered in the past – we get it, it can be a bit overwhelming. Knowing this only happens once a year, we wanted to help answer any questions you might be asking as you prepare to submit your American Advertising Award entry (or entries!) And yes, if you haven’t heard, our 2021 show will be virtual. It doesn’t change much, but we did address that in the questions below, too.

If you have additional questions regarding the American Advertising Awards or the submission process after reading this, check us out on Facebook, as we’ll be sharing some more video resources there – or reach out to us! We’re happy to help and want to make this a successful and fun event for everyone.

Q: How are submissions for 2021 (VIRTUAL) different? 

A: The actual submission process for 2021 will be no different than in previous years. The only difference will be all of your work will be submitted digitally, there will be no physical files given to us. Details on submitting your work can be found on the 2021 American Advertising Awards website.

Q: Do I still need to print and mount my work? 

A: No! This year you will not need to print and mount your work. Our judges will not be coming in person and we will not be hosting an in-person event to display the work so your submission, along with the files and graphics will all be digital. When you submit your work you will have the opportunity to attach up to 5 files and an optional video upload. This is the case for all local, regional, and national events this year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  

Q: Who can I reach out to if I need help with the submission process? 

A: Please reach out to Taylor Sellnow at taylor.s@horizonroofinginc.com with any questions regarding submissions. She will be happy to help!

Q: Do I have to be a marketing agency to submit? 

A: Absolutely not! The American Advertising Awards highlights the work of all creatives no matter how big or small. Whether you’re a student or you work Freelance, In-House, or at an Agency, your work is welcomed! We are so lucky to live in a community with strong talent, we want to see it all. 

Q: Where do I find a list of categories to submit?

A: You can find Professional categories here and Student categories here. 

Q: Does virtual judging change anything? 

A: Short answer: No!

Long Answer: Traditionally, the judging weekend for our Central Minnesota American Advertising Awards show is one of our favorite weekends of the year. It’s our shot to show 3 people from different corners of the country the incredible work that happens here in Central Minnesota. Not to mention putting our awesome area on display and showing our pride in living, working, and creating here! However, each year, all the judges do at least some virtual judging, even when we aren’t in a pandemic. Some clubs from across the country even do all their judging virtually, it’s just the process that works for them. We’ll probably go back to in-person judging when it’s safe to do so (I’m talking about you, 2022!), but until then, we’re working within the guidelines and recommendations that our national AAF leaders are asking us to follow. 

Q: What if I feel like my work is best seen tangibly/in-person? 

A: We get it! Often, the best part of a project is seeing it all come together off-screen. Being able to touch it, feel it, and show it off to all your friends. Our recommendation is to take the time to get quality proofs of your work and present it as best you can on-screen. This might mean mocking up a scene in which your work might appear. Think about how you might present a concept to your clients/boss before it’s actually been created. Anything you can do to help someone visualize the work will help. 

Q: How do I make sure I buy a ticket for The Show?

A: You can buy tickets for The Show on our event page. If you wish to receive a Commemorative American Advertising Award Show Box for $25, you will need to purchase tickets by Friday, January 22nd. You can also purchase a link to The Show for $10 which will be available until the day of The Show. 

Q: Are there any AAA entry/show ticket discounts? 

A: Yes! If you are an AdFed member, both student or professional, you will receive a discount on your submissions and ticket prices for The Show. Discounts are as follows: 

• Single Entry: Professionals $55 (Non-Member $95) – Students $35 (Non-Member $50)
• Campaign Entry: Professionals $95 (Non-Member $155) – Students $45 (Non-Member $65)
• Ticket Pricing: 50% off Commemorative AAA Show Box

If these price breaks aren’t enough to convince you to become a member, check out all of our member benefits!

Q: What should I expect from a virtual show that might be different? 

A: Nothing! Well, except for being in-person of course. Our team has been working diligently behind the scenes to make this the best possible event for our attendees. The laughs and the recognition you love to receive will still remain. The best part is, you get to enjoy it all in your pajamas!

Are you ready to say goodbye to 2020? We hear ya! That’s why we decided to focus this year’s 6th Annual CMYK Poster Show on the year ahead. 

The 2020 CMYK Poster Show Theme is 2021.

The fun thing about the Poster Show is that the theme can be interpreted in any way you want. Have fun with it! Check out 2018’s event recap and see how the theme Puns & Quotes was interpreted.

How should you approach this theme?

Well, that’s the beauty of this competition, you can approach it however you darned well, please. What inspires you? What tells the world a little more about who you are? What makes you say, “oh, I can’t wait to do that in 2021”? 

The idea is you’re designing a unique poster with your wishes for the future and sharing it with the world, er, at least some local foodies and poster enthusiasts. So, use your favorite font, textures, colors, etc., to share a little piece of you. Make it pretty, make it clever, make it whatever you will – just make it, and join us at the 6th annual CMYK Poster Design Competition. 

Show us what you wish and hope for in the new year. What does 2021 mean to you? 

Join us at the Poster Show

This year’s Poster Show will look a little different but still be the fun event you expect it to be. With social distancing in mind, this year’s show will be a come-and-go style. You will not need to be present to win at the silent auction, but you will need to be present to bid. Masks will be required, and we’ll have plenty of hand sanitizer. Plus, you can’t forget the food! 

Lingen Dairy will be selling cheese curds, burgers, and milkshakes! Anyone else’s mouth watering?! 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21st

TIME: 4:30 to 7:30 PM

WHERE: Cooper Collective: 

COST: FREE – Bring your friends! 

THE FINE PRINT: The cost for poster entry this year is again $15. Competition is limited to the first 40 creatives. The deadline to submit your entry will be October 15th October 18th at 11:59 PM. All of the details can be found here.

Whether you’re an artist, a food truck enthusiast, or you’re just looking for some normalcy; this is an event you don’t want to miss. See all you cool cats and kittens at the show!

We’re the names you read in your inbox and on the AAFCM social channels. We’re the
voices you hear introducing speakers and moderating panels at our events. We’re the faces you see at the registration tables and mingling with attendees. We’re the passionate, dedicated individuals committed to bringing our community of creatives together to inspire one another and learn together. 

We are your 2020-21 Board of Directors and we’re so excited to meet you!

 

Alicia Chapman, Content Curator

• Alicia is a Freelance Writer/Editor and Owner of Bluebird Creative. She loves finding unique stories in everyday interactions. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her husband and son. She can typically be found at a local brewery, with her nose in a book, or cheering on a local sports team.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: I’m looking forward to the CMYK event – I’ve heard so many great things about it!

 

Bridget Deutz, Immediate Past President

• Bridget owns a Digital Marketing company, Greenline Marketing. When she’s not working or having fun at AdFed events, she likes spending time with her family and friends, playing games, enjoying music, digging in antique stores, sipping iced coffee or red wine, and hanging out with her labradoodle, Dolly.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: Do I have to pick? CMYK, AAAs, Beauty & The Bias … I love them all.

 

Bryce Jacobson, Website Design & Development 

• Bryce is a web designer and developer at Meta 13. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and three busy kids. If he gets the chance he also loves the outdoors, especially fishing.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: CMYK and The American Advertising Awards (ADDYs)

 

Dan Maciej, Treasurer

• Dan is a Marketing Specialist at Automotive Parts Headquarters, Inc. When he’s not at work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three kids, working on his hobby farm, or messing around in his shop with old cars and tractors.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: I really enjoy the monthly luncheons!

 

Jessi Ewald, Digital Marketing

• Jessi is a Digital Project Manager at DAYTA Marketing where she helps clients in various industries achieve their marketing goals. In her free time she enjoys antique shopping with family, finding unique pieces they can repurpose. Of course, also spending time with her pup, Hank.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: The CMYK Poster Show. It’s so cool to see all of the talent right here in Central MN.

 

Jordan Rezac, Programming

• Jordan is a Jr. Processor at New American Funding and previously worked in events and digital marketing. On the side, she channels her creativeness with her Etsy/Instagram shop: Jo + Co. When she’s not busy crafting, she enjoys spending time on the lake with her fiance, Zach, their two fur babes, Laila and Zeke, and her family and friends.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: This year she is looking forward to the American Advertising Awards and Beauty and the Bias!

 

Kristine Sylvester, Membership + Community Connector

• Kristine Sylvester is a Sales Representative at Facetime Business Resources.  She enjoys spending time with her husband Chad and her two children Kallie and Sam.  When she is not working you will probably find her at the hockey rink or at a horse show.  She also loves spending time with all of her fur babies which include her two horses (Kira and Stella), two dogs (Max and Finley), and her two cats (Sox and Snookie). When there is time, she also enjoys volunteering in the community at various events. 
• Favorite AAFCM Event: Coffee with Creatives

Leah Rado, Secretary

• Leah translated her love of sports into a career and is the Athletic Media Relations Director at the College of Saint Benedict. When she’s not courtside keeping stats, taking photos, or writing, she enjoys playing volleyball, running, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with George and Rudy – her rescue wiener dogs.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: CMYK – I love the energy and seeing the amount of creative talent we have around the area.

 

Mandi Moon, Marketing Management

• Mandi is a National Speaker and Brand Marketing Consultant for sales teams, professionals, and entrepreneurs. She works with those who want to do a better job of telling their story to build business. Mandi is also the Founder of The Good People, a networking group for those who want to start or level up their business by utilizing a Collaboration Economy. Growing up in Central Minnesota, Mandi has a heart for telling stories about all the good people and great business here! In her free time, you can find her at brunch or reading the latest in human psychology.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: Always looking for an excuse to get glam – The American Advertising Awards

 

Taylor Sellnow, President

• Taylor works at Horizon Roofing, Inc. as the Director of Experiences. She recently became a new mom and enjoys spending time with her baby boy Colt boyfriend Tyler, and dalmatian Floyd. On weekends you can find her on the lake, drinking a craft beer, or somewhere listening to live music.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: It’s a tie between the CMYK Poster Show and the American Advertising Awards!

 

Tiffany Schultz, Vice President

• Tiffany is the Director of Content Strategy and Promotion at Lake One. She also does freelance content creation and project management. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, consuming too much coffee, traveling, and reading.
• Favorite AAFCM Event: Beauty & the
  Bias!

Aghhh, do you smell that? A freshly brewed cup of coffee, nothing better.

Wait, wait. That might not be true. 

How about a freshly brewed cup of coffee AND conversation with fellow creatives? There, that’s better.

AAF of Central Minnesota is beyond excited to invite our Members to a new morning meetup called Coffee with Creatives. This is a member-exclusive networking, open conversation, roundtable event where morning networking, learning, insightful conversation, and caffeine come together. 

Come Have Coffee with Us

When we began talking about our membership changes for the 2019-20 season, we knew our crew deserved something special. We began rattling off ideas – nothing was off the table. As the conversation continued, we kept coming back to some type of ‘morning meetup.’ As a board, we are proud to create in the Central Minnesota community, but we felt something was missing in the creative landscape, especially when it came to professional opportunities to work both sides of our brain. From this, Coffee with Creatives was born. 

Our goal for Coffee with Creatives is to create a space where like-minded individuals can come together and share their triumphs and tribulations that come with this industry, and in the Central Minnesota area. Every month members will gather at the Capital One Cafe to discuss topics, trends, and challenges relevant to the creative industry. Think successful paid advertising, mood boards, freelance, B2B vs. B2C marketing, and more. 

Not only will this exclusive membership perk provide professional value, but it will also be FUN! No more snooze-worthy presentations, a “this could have been an email” lecture, or 2005-style powerpoint presentation. This is a new kind of professional development opportunity! One of the best parts? It’s open to students, freelancers, business owners, professionals … if you’re a Member of AAFCM and consider yourself part of the ‘creative’ field, come have coffee with us! 

However you define yourself: writer, designer, account executive, developer, human; Coffee with Creatives is for you. See you there!

Coffee with Creatives FAQ

Q: I’m interested in coming but I’m not a member … Now what?

A: Not to worry! Anyone is welcome to come once as a guest of the AAFCM Board. You’ll love it so much, after that you’ll want to become a member and you can come every time! Plus, when you’re a member you can bring a guest too

Q: Does Coffee with Creatives happen at the same time and place every month?

A: Yes! Capital One Cafe has graciously allowed us to use their space. Join us in Meeting Room 2 at Capital One, Downtown St. Cloud. We’ll be there on the last Tuesday of every month from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM.

Q: Will coffee and breakfast be provided? I’m not creative on an empty stomach.

A: You bet your sweet chocolate-covered donut it will! Capital One Cafe will provide the caffeine and the monthly sponsoring company will provide the eats. 

Q: Do I have to be professionally affiliated as a marketer, advertiser, designer, etc. on my LinkedIn page to come?

A: Heck no! If you identify as a creative person, you’re welcome to join us. Remember, the first time is free to guests but after that, you have to be a member to join. Trust us, you’ll love it. 

Q: How do I become a member? 

A: Easy as 1-2-3. Check out our membership page for pricing, benefits, member exclusives, and more on why you should join. We have a ton of fun and you won’t regret becoming part of our crew!