West Tenn.– The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee, a chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), will be hosting their February 2024 program featuring Marianne Purcell Dunavant, Ford’s community relations manager, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Discovery Park of America. The program, sponsored by Discovery Park, is free for members and students and $10 for non-members. Lunch will be provided. Register at AAFWestTennessee.com.

The planned $5.6 billion Blue Oval City campus in Stanton includes Ford's Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, which will help build out its next-generation electric truck, and the Blue Oval SK battery plant, will help produce EV batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

During this program, Dunavant will share what West Tennessee rural communities can do to benefit from and support this new development that is anticipated to create 30,000 jobs across the region.

Marianne Dunavant’s focus is local government and community relations in support of Blue Oval City. Dunavant previously served as a State Outreach Director for Victims’ Rights since 2020, and previously served as the District Director for 8^th Congressional District U.S. Representative David Kustoff from 2017-2020.

AAF West Tennessee serves as a networking resource and tool for keeping up with the latest trends in advertising, technology, creativity and communication, especially for those working in West Tennessee’s rural communities.

Who: AAF West Tennessee February Meeting

What: "Impact of Blue Oval City” featuring Marianne Dunavant, Ford, Blue Oval City’s community relations manager

When: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd., Union City, TN 38261

How to register: Register at AAFWestTennessee.com

Free for members, $10 for guests.

To join AAF West Tennessee, visit AAFWestTennessee.com.

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About AAF West Tennessee

The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee is a chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., The AAF acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. The AAF’s membership is comprised of nearly 100 blue chip corporate members comprising the nation’s leading advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals, located in ad communities across the country; and more than 200 AAF college chapters, with over 6,500 student members. The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives including the Advertising Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, and summer Ad Camps for high school students in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C.

West Tenn.– The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee, the recently-launched chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), will be hosting their September program at The University of Tennessee at Martin on Wed., Sept. 14, 2022. The program will be held in the meeting space at the UT Martin Cafeteria where lunch will be available for purchase. Lunch and time for networking will begin at 11:45 a.m. and the program will take place 12:15 – 12:50 p.m. The program is free for members and students and $10 for non-members.Kevin Adelsberger, founder and managing partner of Adelsberger Marketing, will be presenting a program entitled “Digital Marketing in a World Gone Mad.” He will take attendees through the latest disruptions in the digital marketing world and how students and professionals can make themselves and their businesses marketable, valuable and relevant for the next wave of digital marketing.

Adelsberger is the founder and managing partner of Adelsberger Marketing in Jackson, Tenn. In 2019, the company formed a partnership with Alexander Thompson Arnold CPAs. 

“We’re thrilled to be able to host this program here at UT Martin,” said Dr. Robert Nanney,

professor and chairman of the Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communication at UT Martin and an AAF West Tennessee board member. “Providing an opportunity for students to engage with professionals working in various careers in marketing and communication is a win for both.” 

AAF West Tennessee serves as a networking resource and tool for keeping up with the latest trends in advertising, technology, creativity and communication, especially for those working in West Tennessee’s rural communities. 

Parking for this event will be available at the University Center parking lot, the library parking lot or in the overflow lot across the street from the University Center.

The October AAF West Tennessee program, sponsored by Tencom, will take place Tues., Oct. 11, 2022, 5:30 – 7 p.m. at The Mill Workspace at 217 S Mill Ave. in Dyersburg, Tenn. AAF West Tennessee board member Chris Donaldson will serve as host for a program featuring Alan Ingalls of The Attention Company. Ingalls will share tips and tricks he has discovered while helping businesses successfully incorporate video of all kinds into their marketing mix. He’ll also share more about his day job at Rough Country and his passion for film and music video production. This program is free for members and students and $25 for non-members.

For more information, to sign up for the programs or to join, visit AAFWestTennessee.org. 

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About AAF West Tennessee

The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee is a chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., The AAF acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. The AAF’s membership is comprised of nearly 100 blue chip corporate members comprising the nation’s leading advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals, located in ad communities across the country; and more than 200 AAF college chapters, with over 6,500 student members. The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives including the Advertising Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, and summer Ad Camps for high school students in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C.

 

West Tenn.– The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee is hosting their April program at the Professional Development Center at 305 College St. in Dyersburg, Tenn. Summer Paris, founder of Paris Creative Agency, an advertising marketing agency based in Jackson, Tenn., will lead a panel, Big Coverage for Those Working in Small Towns. Panelists will include Brandon Shields, editor for the Jackson Sun and Keli McAlister, public information officer for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The program will be held on Thurs., April 14, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“If your work includes working with media in any capacity, you’ll find this panel with Summer and local media contacts crucial to building successful campaigns in smaller markets,” said Amy Finch, AAF West Tennessee board member and director of content and public relations for The Tennessee Board of Regents. “As the media landscape has quickly evolved, staying aware of trends in public relations is more crucial than ever.”

The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee holds their monthly meetings in rural communities throughout West Tennessee. This chapter of The American Advertising Federation serves as a networking resource and tool for keeping up with the latest trends in advertising, technology, creativity and communication, especially for those working in West Tennessee’s rural communities. 

The AAF has more than 150 clubs across the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it is the oldest national advertising trade association in the country. The AAF also has 15 district organizations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. AAF West Tennessee is part of district seven. The organization also helps more than 4,000 college chapter members kickstart their careers with more than 140 college chapter network and an array of student programs. 

In addition to networking and monthly lunches with a relevant speaker that will take place in various locations throughout West Tennessee, benefits of a membership in AAF West Tennessee include access to participate in special events hosted by the club, discounts on industry publications including Adweek, Advertising Age, and Brandweek along with discounts on other services including shipping, office supplies, rental car services, insurance and more.

This program is free for AAF West Tennessee members and college students and $15 for non-members. Advanced reservation is required.

West Tennessee Chapter of the American Advertising Federation Begins 2022 with Three Programs for Advertising and Communication Professionals 

West Tenn.– The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee, the recently-launched chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), has announced its first-quarter schedule of monthly programs.

The club serves as a networking resource and tool for keeping up with the latest trends in advertising, technology, creativity and communication, especially for those working in West Tennessee’s rural communities. 

The club’s first three upcoming programs will provide opportunities for members and guests to learn more about Blue Oval City, influencer marketing and tactics being implemented to grow Tennessee’s tourism and hospitality business. Each month, the programs are held at different locations around West Tennessee and accessible via Zoom for members.

JANUARY 2022 Mark Herbison and Blue Oval City: West Tennessee Game Changer Sponsored by Discovery Park of America Thurs., Jan. 13, 2022 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Location: Discovery Park of America 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261 The State of Tennessee, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), HTL Advantage, together with Ford Motor Company, recently announced the Memphis Regional Megasite, located in Stanton, Tenn., has been selected as the sight for one of the largest battery and vehicle manufacturing campuses in the U.S.  The news that Ford and SK Innovation will invest $5.6 billion to build a 3,600-acre mega campus called Blue Oval City has understandably been called the “announcement of the decade” and is no doubt a game changer for West Tennessee for many reasons. Production of next-generation all-electric F-Series trucks will begin in 2025. Ultimately, Blue Oval City will result in the creation of more than 27,000 new jobs, both directly and indirectly, and more than $1.02 billion in annual earnings. Mark Herbison, president of HTL Advantage, oversees the development and marketing of multiple industrial sites across the HTL region, including Blue Oval City. He will share the behind-the-scenes of how this “game changer” came to be, lessons learned from managing the announcement of such a major development and what business opportunities this may create for those in the advertising, marketing and public relations industries. Lunch included.  Free for members and college students, $15 for non-members, advance reservation required at AAFWestTennessee.org. FEBRUARY 2022 Seth Dortch: Influencer Marketing Sponsored by Bluebank Resort Wed., Feb 16, 2022 5:30 – 7 p.m. Bluebank Resort 813 Lake Dr, Hornbeak, TN 38232 Whether the brands you’re building are individuals, companies, or organizations, you won’t want to miss this presentation from one of the most popular influencers in West Tennessee. Working out of Union City, Seth Dortch is a leading figure in marketing, branding, and the outdoor industry as an influencer, marketing professional, photographer, marketing manager for Final Flight Outfitters Inc. and brand ambassador for companies like BF Goodrich, Rough Country, Benelli USA, Turtlebox Audio and others. His social media reaches over 200k followers and is a testament of the ability he has to brand with authenticity, connection, and consistency. His passion for the outdoors combined with his skills in the world of social media and marketing have given him a proven expertise in driving sales for the brands he works with. Seth will share tips and tricks along with suggestions if you want to tap into the power of an influencer for the brands you work with. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and cash bar included. Free for members and college students, $15 for non-members, advance reservation required at AAFWestTennessee.org. MARCH 2022 Lori Nunnery: Talking Travel Sponsored by WNBJ-TV Thurs., March 10, 2022 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Double Tree 1770 US-45 BYP, Jackson, TN 38305 Lori Nunnery puts her 25+ years of experience in the tourism and hospitality fields to work every day as executive director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Jackson, Tennessee. And that work is important since Tennessee tourism generated $16.8 billion in domestic and international travel spending in 2020 according to newly released economic impact data from U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. While that’s a big number, because of the impact to the industry from Covid-19, it was a 31.6 percent decline from the previous year.  Nunnery is leading the way in working with those in her region and around the state in implementing tactics that will see Tennessee’s number of visitors return bigger and better than ever.  In her presentation, she will share some of the opportunities that exist for those who work for or with tourism and hospitality-related businesses.  Lunch included. Free for members and college students, $15 for non-members, advance reservation required at AAFWestTennessee.org.

“The AAF West Tennessee board is thrilled to launch our new program with such esteemed guests,” said Mandy Hinson, director of development for West Tennessee PBS and the 2022 AAF West Tennessee board chair. “We’re currently planning the other programs, and I know these are going to be helpful for others like me working in our industry.”

For more information, to sign up for the programs or to join, visit AAFWestTennessee.org. 

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About AAF West Tennessee

The American Advertising Federation West Tennessee is a chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF), the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., The AAF acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. The AAF’s membership is comprised of nearly 100 blue chip corporate members comprising the nation’s leading advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals, located in ad communities across the country; and more than 200 AAF college chapters, with over 6,500 student members. The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives including the Advertising Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, and summer Ad Camps for high school students in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C.

 

 

A group of advertising and communication professionals has come together to form a new chapter of The American Advertising Federation (AAF) that will serve as a networking resource and tool for keeping up with the latest trends in advertising, technology, creativity and communication, especially for those working in West Tennessee’s rural communities.

AAF has more than 150 clubs across the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it is the oldest national advertising trade association in the country. The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. AAF West Tennessee is part of District 7. The AAF also helps more than 4,000 college chapter members kickstart their careers with more than 140 college chapter network and an array of student programs.

A group of more than 75 professionals from around the region came together at Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn. this summer to hear more about the organization and explore the feasibility of a West Tennessee chapter. After a favorable response, the group collectively decided to move forward.

“As ‘The Unifying Voice for Advertising’ the American Advertising Federation delivers on our mission to promote and protect advertising, media and marketing through a unique, nationally coordinated grassroots network of brands, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters,” said Steve Pacheco, President and CEO of AAF National.  We are all truly excited to support this new chapter as they meet the needs of the growing West Tennessee business and industry community.”

Mandy Hinson, director of development for West Tennessee PBS, will begin serving a leadership role on the board as president beginning Jan. 2022. “In my role at West Tennessee PBS, I have the pleasure of working with so many talented professionals in every type of business imaginable,” Hinson said. “I am certain both those working in media and those tasked with communicating about their products and services with the public will greatly benefit from a membership in AAF West Tennessee.”

Other initial officers in the club include Peter Noll of Jackson, Tenn., general manager of WNBJ 39 in Jackson, Tenn. who will serve as secretary and Drew Hayes of Hornbeak, Tenn., owner of Blue Bank Resort who will serve as treasurer.

Discovery Park of America, a museum and heritage park in Union City, Tenn., has purchased the first corporate membership for its marketing, sales and public relations team. “I have been involved in the AAF chapters in both Memphis and Washington, D.C.,” said Scott Williams, the museum’s president and CEO. “I know firsthand the benefits membership in AAF provides. In both markets, my primary vendors and industry friendships came out of my memberships in those clubs.”

For new members and those interested in finding out more about AAF West Tennessee, a launch party will be held Oct. 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Historic Ann’s 1893 in Union City, Tenn. Included will be a cash donation bar and light appetizers. You may register for a free ticket for you and a guest to that event here.

In addition to networking and monthly lunches with a relevant speaker that will take place in various locations throughout West Tennessee, benefits of an AAF West Tennessee membership include access to participate in special events hosted by the club, discounts on industry publications including Adweek, Advertising Age, and Brandweek, discounts on other services including shipping, office supplies, rental car services, insurance and more.