Chad Wiebesick's Official BlogMy bloghttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2010-03-02T20:11:17ZSquarespaceHow Would You Rebrand Detroit?http://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2010/3/2/how-would-you-rebrand-detroit.htmlChad Wiebesick2010-03-02T20:03:47Z2010-03-02T20:03:47ZIf there were ever a city in recent American history with as much discussion about its dramatic demise, it would be Detroit. The news is sobering:  A staggering three out of ten Detroit residents are unemployed  – the worst in the nation among big-city populations. Three out of four freshmen do not graduate high school. And since 2007, houses have been cheaper than cars.

Fortunately, a number of organizations are improving the situation. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, for instance, are two non-profit organizations whose mission is to make Detroit a better place.

One unexpected organization making a difference, in particular, is the largest magazine publisher in the U.S. – Time, Inc. I discuss what Time is doing in my Concentrate article.

]]>Bentley Playing in the Snowhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2010/2/12/bentley-playing-in-the-snow.htmlChad Wiebesick2010-02-12T17:17:46Z2010-02-12T17:17:46Z

Our 6-month old puppy is playing in the snow for the first time.

]]>Ann Arbor Advertising Awards Show Honors the Best in Creativityhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2010/2/9/ann-arbor-advertising-awards-show-honors-the-best-in-creativ.htmlChad Wiebesick2010-02-09T19:51:00Z2010-02-09T19:51:00ZEach year Ann Arbor hosts the area’s most revered and anticipated advertising awards show – the Ann Arbor ADDY Awards. With hundreds of local entries and the chance to compete nationally amongst 50,000 entries, the stakes are high and the competition tough.

Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ann Arbor ADDY Awards is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Local winners from Ann Arbor continue to the regional level, competing against winners from Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. Regional winners then compete nationally. Entry in the local ADDY competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY. The ADDY Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting over 50,000 entries every year across the nation.

I'll be MC'ing the event on Friday, February 19th. We expect well over one-hundred people to attend. Hope you can make it there!

]]>Did You Know?http://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/10/15/did-you-know.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-10-15T20:05:13Z2009-10-15T20:05:13Z 

Your A2AC membership automatically makes you a member of The American Advertising Federation (AAF) – District 6, the industry’s largest and most representative organization of the advertising industry.

You can take advantage of many benefits as an A2AC member. For a complete listing of member’s benefits, check the AAF web site (www.aaf.org).

AAF Member Benefits – District 6
• Access to the AAF online job bank
• Newsletters: Interact and Government Report
• Awards eligibility
• National and District Conferences
• Member Discounts: Available exclusively to AAF members
• AAF Government Affairs Advocacy

Ann Arbor Ad Club Benefits –
• Networking
• Monthly events (with food and beverage)
• Membership directory on a2ac.org
• Free press release distribution on a2ac.org
• Guest privileges: each member can bring a friend to one event for only $20

• • • MEMBERSHIP FEES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Individual Membership – $175
Student Membership – $25 per semester
Corporate Membership – $425 (up to three members)

Your membership includes dues to AAF as well as monthly events with food and beverage.

• • • EVENT FEES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Members – free
Non-Members – $35
Students – $10

• • • MEMBER LOGOS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Are you a member and would like to see your logo here? Please let us know! Email info@a2ac.org or call Chad Wiebesick at (734) 661-1792.

]]>"Pure Michigan" Campaign - Inside the Client's Strategyhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/10/1/pure-michigan-campaign-inside-the-clients-strategy.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-10-01T17:50:03Z2009-10-01T17:50:03ZHave you seen the Pure Michigan campaign that's sweeping the Midwest with its iconic imagery and emotionally-moving creative? The campaign is winning awards across the nation. Find out from the client what makes the campaign so successful and why Forbes called Pure Michigan one of the best tourism campaigns ever.

The Ann Arbor Ad Club welcomes David Lorenz as our guest speaker on Thursday, October 8. Lorenz is the Manager of Public and Industry Relations for Travel Michigan, the state bureau responsible for one of the most popular advertising campaigns in the state of Michigan. The award-winning “Pure Michigan” campaign received national attention last year when Governor Granholm approved $45 million in additional funding for the campaign – an unprecedented tourism budget for the state.

David Lorenz will provide client insight into what makes the campaign so successful, including Forbes ranking it as one of the all-time best tourism campaigns. Lorenz will speak on the creative strategy, research, objectives, and brand statement for the campaign including their effective use of integrating TV, radio, outdoor, print, interactive and social media. Its website has been named the nation’s best for the second straight year, particularly for its effective use of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and others.

Tourism is Michigan’s third largest industry, bringing in an estimated $18 billion a year to the state and employing approximately 200,000 people. Lorenz says, "Michigan is a special place because of the unique combination of experiences travelers can enjoy, from awesome views from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the world class collection at the Detroit Institute of Art. In the past, we relied on the in-state traveler to support the industry. Today, it is critical that we make "out of state" travelers aware of our world-class attractions and destinations.”

The event will be held at Ann Arbor Spark, 330 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, beginning with active networking and refreshments at 5:30 p.m. The program runs from 6-7 p.m. Members attend for free, while non–members pay $35, and students pay $10 to attend. Register and buy tickets at www.a2ac.org (pre-registration will begin Monday, September 28th).

Special thanks to DesignHub, a creative services and marketing firm headquartered in Saline, Michigan, for sponsoring this event. DesignHub proudly celebrates their 10th year in business.]]>Keynote Speech by Social Media & iPhone Maven Who Furthered President Obama's Campaignhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/9/4/keynote-speech-by-social-media-iphone-maven-who-furthered-pr.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-09-05T01:41:25Z2009-09-05T01:41:25ZRaven Zachary holding the iPhone.Are you interested in social media, mobile marketing, or technology? Then you defintely don't want to miss this event!Obama's iPhone app

The creator of Barack Obama's iPhone app for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign – Raven Zachary – is at the top of an industry that never existed up until two years ago. Raven will travel to Michigan in September, to inspire Michigan residents to reinvent and innovate

Last year, Raven Zachary’s iPhone application generated hundreds of nationwide news stories and was quickly named among Apple’s coveted Top 10 List. His application greatly furthered President Obama’s wildly successful social media initiatives. Marketing pundits attribute social media’s instrumental role in helping President Obama communicate with his constituencies and rally up support.

Raven Zachary will discuss reinvention and innovation - themes that touch the heart of Michiganders - from GM's "re:invention" branding tagline to Detroit's drive to rejuvenate and innovate the city.

The Ann Arbor Ad Club and the University of Michigan's American Advertising Federation Chapter are thrilled to host social media visionary Raven at the Michigan League. Buy tickets and RSVP at www.a2ac.org. The event is Thursday, September 17th from 7-9 pm at the Michigan League.

The event will have a cash bar and active networking.

]]>My Favorite Way to Knot a Neck Tiehttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/7/25/my-favorite-way-to-knot-a-neck-tie.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-07-25T04:45:45Z2009-07-25T04:45:45ZHere is my favorite way to tie a tie. The illustration is what you see standing in front of a mirror looking at the reflection of yourself. Click on the image for a larger size.

The 7.3 knot version, as calculated by Cambridge University professors.

 

 Here is a link to the full study of the mathematical ways to knot a tie - all 85 possible ways:

http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~ym101/tie4/long_article.pdf

 

]]>Presentation at U-Mhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/2/17/presentation-at-u-m.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-02-17T03:01:25Z2009-02-17T03:01:25ZTonight I'm preparing a speech I'm giving at University of Michigan's School of Information about social media / Web 2.0 on Feb 18 @ 12 pm.

]]>"Social Media" event hosted by Refresh Detroithttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/1/26/social-media-event-hosted-by-refresh-detroit.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-01-26T17:18:54Z2009-01-26T17:18:54Z 

"Social Media" panel discussion at Refresh Detroit

Here is a podcast of the "Social Media" panel discussion I moderated at Washtenaw Community College for Refresh Detroit on January 21, 2009. Audience included web professionals, business owners, and marketers wanting to learn more about how to leverage social media for their business. Panelists included:

  • Nick DeNardis, Associate Director of Web Communications at Wayne State University
  • Shauna Nicholson, Marketing Manager, Biznet Internet Solutions
  • Kevin Krason, President, Biznet Internet Solutions
  • Ken Burbary, VP Digital at BIG Communications

Listen to the podcast here.

]]>New blog spewed from ad agency president/curmudgeonhttp://www.chadwiebesick.com/blog/2009/1/8/new-blog-spewed-from-ad-agency-presidentcurmudgeon.htmlChad Wiebesick2009-01-08T20:33:00Z2009-01-08T20:33:00ZAdverspewAdverspew, a new advertising blog filled with “Caffeine-induced rants about the business I love and hate,” has just launched.

Each blog post is handmade by Ernie Perich, the president and creative director of Perich Advertising + Design in Ann Arbor, MI.

Check out www.adverspew.com for Ernie’s recent posts – “Your Ad Will Self-Destruct in 10 Seconds” and “Some People Shouldn’t Wear Speedos.”

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