May 2009, Issue 2

In This Issue...

• Introduction
• When Growth Stalls
• AAF Houston Awards $10,000 in Scholarships
• AAF Reinvents Itself with a Reality TV Show
• Member News

Introduction

This month we hear from businessweek.com columnist and marketing expert Steve Mckee. At a time when business leaders are struggling with maintaining their company’s health in the midst of a recession, McKee's presentation is compelling and timely. He shares insights into how companies lose their way, and exposes the destructive internal dynamics that hinder successful turnarounds.

To help students follow their dreams, the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston, the non-profit group set up by AAF Houston, continues their proud tradition and awards several scholarships this month. College students pursuing degrees in advertising or related areas of communication receive these scholarships.

Imagine the AAF’s National Student Advertising Competition as a reality TV show. It may be in production soon if AAF President James Edmund Datri succeeds in his pitch to various groups. Advertising is not all Madison Avenue. It is hard work and Datri believes this would give students and the general public a better idea of what the industry really does.

As always, if there is something you want to share, drop me a line at rtrel@rtmarcom.net. I look forward to hearing from you.

Rita Trelewicz
Editor
AAF Houston AdSmart

When Growth Stalls

Steve McKee, president and co-founder of McKee Wallwork Cleveland, will present "When Growth Stalls," a lively presentation based on his new book "When Growth Stalls: How It Happens, Why You're Stuck & What To Do About It," at the AAF Houston monthly luncheon on Wednesday, May 20.

At some point in almost every company’s life cycle, growth stalls. Determined to find out why, Steve McKee embarked on a five-year research journey examining more than 700 corporations, many which had at one time been among the country’s fastest growing companies. The research yielded hard-won lessons and perspectives from executives who have lived on the front lines of real-life growth crises.

You’ll learn how growth stalls happen, why you’re stuck and what to do about it. McKee will present fascinating case studies and analysis, revealing the seven characteristics that commonly correlate with stalled growth. He’ll also share the steps leaders need to take to return to the growth curve. Regardless of what's going on outside of an enterprise, it’s what’s inside that counts.

McKee Wallwork Cleveland is a full service marketing communications firm that has twice been awarded the American Marketing Association's EFFIE Award, one of the industry's highest honors. His firm specializes in helping stalled companies rekindle growth.

Steve has been published or quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Advertising Age, Adweek, Investor's Business Daily and The Los Angeles Times, as well as in dozens of regional and local newspapers and magazines throughout the U.S. He has appeared on CNBC, ESPN2, CNNfn, Bloomberg radio and network television affiliates in more than two dozen cities across America. He is the author of the new book, When Growth Stalls, in bookstores March 2009.

Register Now for this event. Thanks to Saurage Research, the official research partner of AAF Houston, for sponsoring this luncheon.

AAF Houston Awards $10,000 in Scholarships

The Advertising Education Foundation of Houston, the non-profit group set up by AAF Houston is proud to present six one-year scholarships to benefit college students pursuing degrees in advertising or related areas of communication during the May 20 luncheon meeting.

AAF Reinvents Itself with a Reality TV Show

James Edmund Datri, president of the AAF is working hard to polish the organizations image with a new reality TV show along with a presence on Facebook and Twitter. He is the third man to be president of the AAF in 40 years, taking the reigns from Wally Synder who held the post for 17 years.

A lawyer, former congressional staffer and lobbyist, Datri came onboard in November and quickly instituted some changes aimed at cutting costs. Now, he is working on ways to improve the industry’s image. One of his ideas is turning the AAF’s National Student Advertising Competition into a reality TV show. He believes this would give students and the general public a better idea of what the industry really does. It is not all Madison Avenue.

The next few months will continue to be challenging for the advertising industry. Due to huge budget deficits, Congress plans to consider reducing the deductibility of ad expenses. Datri’s argument with Capitol Hill is that if you touch advertising, you hurt everyone because advertising is the engine for everyone else to sell their product or services. Despite complaints that the ad industry has too many organizations, Mr. Datri said it actually has far fewer lobbyists, than other industries of its size.

Member News

Long-time public relations executive and civic leader Sabra Sue Hall Gill, APR, died peacefully on March 20, 2009 after a short battle with cancer. A native Houstonian, Sabra began her professional career in 1964 with Houston Natural Gas Corporation and had been active in both corporate and agency public affairs ever since. She founded Sabra H. Gill and Associates in 1984 and was affiliated with Cargill Associates at the time of her death.

A member of the American Advertising Federation, she served as newsletter editor and as a director as well as one of the founders of the now 39-year old nationally acclaimed Advertising Student Conference. She served as founding President of Alpha Chi and was a founding director and past president of the Houston Advertising Education Foundation.

If you have any news you want to share with the group or want to include a short profile in future newsletters, please contact Rita Trelewicz. Let the Houston Ad Crowd know what is going on with you.