The Newsroom

2021 AAF District 10 Mosaic Award Honorees

October 12, 2021—

Honorees:

2021 AAF National Mosaic Award Honorees

WASHINGTON DC, March 10, 2021—Today, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) announced the 2021 Mosaic Awards honorees, who will be recognized for their unwavering commitment to inclusion and for offering a voice to multicultural communities. Each year, the AAF receives entries from companies and agencies across the country that are reviewed and judged by senior industry leaders. This year, the organization will celebrate the 2021 winners during The Mosaic Awards, which will be live streamed on April 29, 2021.

From an overwhelming number of submissions, all winners have embraced advanced marketing techniques, business practices and have developed diversity programs that not only help improve the bottom line, but also secure a relevant role in a continuously evolving corporate environment.

“Our multicultural communities are hurting amid a tough year, faced with battling a global pandemic and acts of racism. Creativity has the power to influence and change society for the better. I’m proud that AAF continues its long-standing tradition of celebrating these diverse and inclusive stories by spotlighting them annually at the Mosaic Awards,” said Melanie Mitchem, AAF Mosaic Council Chair and SVP, Executive Director of Global Communications & PR at FCB.

This year’s panel of judges included senior executives from Arc Worldwide, dentsu, LinkedIn, The Trade Desk, Ulta Beauty, and Wieden+Kennedy.

The AAF will honor the following campaigns, industry leaders and programs during the 2021 Mosaic Awards
(District 10 Honorees shown in pink):

Mosaic Champion
Alex and Cathy López Negrete
Lopez Negrete Communications

Multicultural Integrated Campaign
Adobe Diverse Voices: “When I See Black”
Adobe | 72andSunny Los Angeles

Multicultural Talent & Suppliers in Advertising
GSD&M Vendor Diversity Program

Student Impact Award
“Design Looks Like Me”
College for Creative Studies | Jessica Bonello

Workforce Inclusion
GSD&M Affinity Groups and Employee Resource Groups

Allyship to Advocacy
“Heritage Road”
BMW USA | Hill Holliday

Data Driven Transformation
“Project Understood”
Google | FCB
Canadian Down Syndrome Society

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Programs
“The Code: Opening the Door to the Industry’s Next Generation of Talent”
dentsu

Innovative Narratives
“Twitter Black Lives Matter Campaign”
Twitter | Clear Channel Outdoor

Attended by top thought leaders in the advertising and media industries, Mosaic Awards brings professionals together for awareness, innovation, collaboration and celebration.

“The Mosaic Awards are a shining example of great work with high impact created by a diverse group of Advertising practitioners and professionals that help us all lead by example,” said Steve Pacheco, CEO, at the American Advertising Federation. “I’m inspired by this work and all of the individuals who worked so hard on these outstanding concepts. It’s more important than ever to celebrate the successes and champion the causes that the AAF’s Mosaic Center stands for.”

Creating an inclusive industry has been a priority of the AAF by way of its Mosaic Center for more than two decades. The Mosaic Center serves as a resource and advocate for diversity and inclusion. The Center is committed to helping advertising and media reflect the country’s evolving cultural makeup. The AAF uses a substantial portion of its resources to implement a myriad of programs that promote and advance multiculturalism within the industry including the Most Promising Multicultural Students Program, HBCUs for Advertising and AdCamp.

For more information on the AAF NATIONAL Mosaic Awards, please visit aaf.org/mosaicawards, or contact Ayanna Jackson at ajackson@aaf.org.

Cancellation Notice: ADvent10n 2020

AAF Tenth District Membership, 
The AAF Tenth District Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation – as the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and members is paramount. Adhering to the preventative measures as recommended by public health officials, such as limiting interaction with others and practicing social distancing by avoiding crowded public events and places, the AAF Tenth District Executive Committee has made the decision to cancel the upcoming inaugural Mosaic Awards and ADvent10n 2020 in Oklahoma City.For those individuals or Clubs who have paid registration fees to attend ADvent10n 2020, you will receive an email in the next several days from the Advent10n 2020 team regarding your full refund. At that time, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel your room reservation(s) as well as your transportation carrier. Most travel institutions are waving cancellation/change fees due to the pandemic.

Concerning the 2020 District National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), the AAF National office has decided to move District competitions to a virtual competition format. The District NSAC Chair, “Z” Filipovic, and District Education Chair, Sandi Edgar, have been working closely with the National office on its guidelines and insights to make the best of this situation while providing an equitable platform for all of the participating collegiate teams. Further details will come from our District NSAC Chair.

Details surrounding traditional activities that take place during the District business meeting and Governor’s Ball will be emailed to you in the coming days.

In the interim, Be Safe. Be Healthy. BE BOLD.

— Bill Richmond | Governor, AAF Tenth District

Mosaic Awards Winners Announced

Dinner & Awards Ceremony, April 17, 2020, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The American Advertising Federation Tenth District announced winners for the organization’s diversity and inclusion awards. The honorees will be celebrated at the inaugural Mosaic Awards on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The Mosaic Awards recognize individuals, companies and agencies within the four- state district of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas whose commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through their creative work and organization-wide initiatives.

2020 Class Announced

Induction Ceremony, May 8, 2020, in Austin, TX

Austin, Texas – –  February, 2020 – – The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is proud to announce nine individuals including two sets of partners as the newest members of its 2020 class of inductees: Jim Stuart and Randy Bacon of Fort Worth; Dennis D’Amico of Dallas; Mike Levy of Dallas, Mark McGarrah and Bryan Jessee of Austin, Brad Snyder of Corpus Christi, Mary Ann Stutts of San Antonio and J. Adan Trevino of Houston.  Each of these distinguished honorees has made significant contributions to the advertising industry and to their communities. The 2020 Governor’s Award will also be presented to Dallas-based advertising agency Walo.

The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Tenth District of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The 12^th induction ceremony and dinner will be held on Friday, May 8, 2020, at the 7:00 PM at the Austin Hilton in downtown Austin.

The 2020 inductees include:

Jim Stuart (Deceased) & Randy Bacon, Fort Worth:
For 15 years, Jim Stuart was chief executive officer and Randy Bacon was president/chief operating officer of StuartBacon Advertising-Public Relations, based in Fort Worth.  Founded in 1987, their agency served a variety of local, regional, national and international clients with full-service advertising and public relations capabilities. Besides generating successful campaigns for clients, the agency was a frequent winner of awards and accolades, including Employer of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Professional Ethics Awards.  StuartBacon strongly supported the local advertising community, encouraging employees to participate in trade organizations such as the American Advertising Federation and the Public Relations Society of America, as well as volunteering for non-profit organizations. In 2012, the partners closed their business but stayed involved with the arts and advertising world.

Dennis D’Amico, Dallas:
Dennis D’Amico, a graduate of the University of Missouri, started his career as an advertising assistant in Springfield, MO before becoming an account executive and copywriter in St. Louis. In the 70’s he moved to Dallas to become marketing director for an insurance company.  From 1976 until 1984 he operated D’Amico & Associates. Before he founded the Growth Strategies Group in 1996, he served as General Manager of the Dallas office of Houston-based Fogarty Klein & Partners. Dennis’s industry, charitable and non-profit contributions are many. Over the years, Dennis has served multiple organizations and sits on a variety of boards, continuing to chair projects. He has also been the Executive Director of the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies) North Texas and Oklahoma Council since 2005.   

Michael R. Levy, Austin:
Mike Levy founded Texas Monthly magazine in 1973, and was its publisher for 35 years, during which time the magazine had a total readership of 2,500,000 and was considered one of the best in the country. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and from the University of Texas School of Law, Mike changed the media landscape in Texas with the creation of his magazine.  It has become the “gold standard” for regional publications. He led the fight against advertising taxation in Texas as chairman of the Texas Council of Advertising & Magazine Publishing. Mike has received numerous awards from around the country, including his industry’s highest honor.  He has served on numerous local and regional boards and contributed his time and talents to many more charitable and civic organizations.

Mark McGarrah & Bryan Jessee, Austin:
One of the hottest agency, not just in Texas but nationally, is McGarrah Jessee, based out of Austin, TX. They built their business by doing things differently. The agency’s holistic brand thinking has fostered loyal clients, with an average tenure of nine years. Putting people ahead of profit has been a theme preached by both Mark and Bryan. They’ve set high standards and stood by their principles and represent some of the biggest brands in the country. They are the type of agency that makes award-winning creative and treats clients like partners. The partners have also contributed to their community, helping to found Job Propulsion Labs.  They also support non profits like the E4 Youth Program, which helps underserved creatives cultivate real workplace skills.

Brad Snyder, Corpus Christi:
For over 30 years Brad Snyder has served clients at the local, state, national and international level.  His agency, Snyder + Associates has a well-deserved reputation for conceptualizing, designing and producing effective and award-winning marketing campaigns. Keeping clients for decades shows his loyalty and the ability to grow with those clients.  Brad’s love for this industry goes much deeper than just his professional work.  His contributions to the American Advertising Federation are numerous and his long service to the Tenth District is filled with honors. Brad’s devoted patronage of the arts helps bring incredible exhibitions to Corpus Christi.  His passion for connecting his community with arts and culture is evident when you see him supporting galas, fundraisers, grand openings and other ceremonies.

Mary Ann Stutts, San Antonio:
Mary Ann Stutts has been a leader and innovator in developing and nurturing the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.  Her peers recognize her as being a driving force in the competition’s rise to prominence, known as the “Super Bowl” of college advertising.  As a professor of marketing at Texas State University and a brilliant strategist, her system of teaching the AAF competition campaign courses has proven to be very successful.  Teams under her guidance have advanced to national competition nine times since 1990, and they have won two national championships. Mary Ann has won numerous personal awards, including the highest educator award presented by the AAF. The knowledge she has passed on to her students has enabled dozens to land jobs with many agencies.

Adan Trevino, Houston:
Founded on August 2, 1984 by J. Adán Treviño and a business partner, KXLN became the first Spanish-language television station in the Houston market when it first signed on the air on September 18, 1987. Adan is considered the “father of Spanish language television” in Houston. He was President/CEO of Pueblo Broadcasting Company and ran KXLN-TV Channel 45 for several years, until they sold it to the Univision Network. He grew the station to 24-hour broadcasts, founded the first 5:00 and 10:00 PM newscasts and became one of the largest billing stations in the entire Univision system. Adan is one of the founders of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was chairman of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers, served on multiple boards and foundations.

About the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame

The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame was created by the Tenth District of the American Advertising Federation to honor men and women from the region who have distinguished themselves. Inductees need not be a member of the AAF Tenth District. Inductees will automatically be nominated for the National Advertising Hall of Fame as they become eligible.

“We look forward to our annual induction ceremony in Austin this year. With these distinguished honorees, the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is continuing to grow a roster of men and women who have made a significant impact on the advertising industry and their communities,” said Randy Kemp, co-chair of the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame.

2020 Governor’s Award Announced

The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is proud to announce that the recipient of this year’s “Governor’s Award” is the independent idea shop called WALO Creative Inc. WALO is based in Dallas Texas.

The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Tenth District of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The “Governor’s Award” will be presented at the ceremonial Hall of Fame induction dinner to be held in Austin on Friday, May 8, 2020.

WALO was founded in August 2014 by Walter Barraza and Lalo Durán. They believe “concept is king and develop every idea with the highest production value in mind, so your brand stands above your competitor’s.” Some of their clients include Jarritos, 7-Eleven, MCFA and Mineragua.

Fleeing a civil-war-torn country in Central America brought Barraza, WALO’s Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director, and his family to Dallas.  Living in the U.S. enabled him to become a sponge for all cultures. Speaking Spanish at home and English in school with friends that were Latino, American, African-American and Asian allowed him to develop a unique perspective on Life.  That perspective has molded his work and keeps it evolving.

Raised on one of the busiest USA-Mexican borders, Durán, WALO’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner, grew up living in two worlds, which allowed him to witness how the convergence of cultures is shaping this country. That has given him a unique perspective that he truly enjoys showcasing in his work, and this has also broadened his perspective when tackling his clients’ marketing challenges.

The AAF Tenth District’s Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame “Governor’s Award” is presented to the advertising agency who, during its years of service, has distinguished itself through work produced on behalf of clients, who has contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation, and who has made volunteer efforts outside the workplace. Previous winners include GSD&M, Lopez Negrete Communications, Moroch and the Balcom Agency.

The honoree’s record of service reflects accomplishments made in the advertising industry in the United States and who is located in the four-state area of the Tenth District (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas).