Join us for a unique luncheon featuring Matt Dawson, founder of Crop, a grassroots creative conference based in Austin that brings together creatives from across the country. Matt will be joined by former AAF-BR President Jonathan Palmisano for an engaging roundtable discussion — with participation from you. Together, they will explore themes of creativity, entrepreneurship, and the power of building meaningful communities. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn, contribute, and connect with fellow members over lunch. Matt Dawson: Designer, Illustrator + Founder, Crop Cons Matt Dawson is an Austin-based Creative Director and designer known for bold, polished work across branding, illustration, and typography. He's collaborated with clients like Jeep, Major LeagueBaseball, Pearl Jam, Phish, Toyota, and Disney, bringing a sharp eye and strong visual voice to every project. Over the past […]

“Holiday Branding that Endures: Coca-Cola’s 90+ Years of Christmas Magic” Sarah Gillis (Director, Shopper Marketing & Digital Strategy) & Javier Presas (Manager, Media and Promotions) Coca-Cola A look at how Coca-Cola built one of the longest-running, most emotionally resonant holiday campaigns in advertising history—and what marketers can learn from it today. NOTICE: Our speaker luncheon is on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 (a change from usually a Friday)

"How I Built a Motorcycle Rally as a Creative (Bike Fest's Story & Brand Journey)" G Williams CEO + Founder, Grova Creative Tallahassee Bike Fest (Tally Bike Fest) was built from a creative vision to break away from the typical rally experience. Tired of the same old events, G Williams set out to create something fresh, inclusive, and family-friendly, where brand cohesiveness took center stage in every detail. Unlike many rallies that lack brand control, Tally Bike Fest was intentionally designed with a unified look, feel, and message that carried through every touchpoint. Designed to celebrate the wider community, Tally Bike Fest embraced Tallahassee’s unique landscape and culture. With no local competitors, it quickly stood out as a modern, vibrant, and community-driven alternative, and quickly rose to over 4,000 riders. From the […]

"Brand to Shelf: Leveraging Creativity to Drive Sales" Tyler Murray Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, North America, VML In today's competitive landscape, how do you ensure your brand's story translates into commercial success? VML's Chief Revenue Officer, Tyler Murray, will lead this session, unpacking the strategy required to bridge this gap. Featuring an exclusive deep dive into VML’s Cannes Lions-winning campaigns, such as “Name this Oreo", you'll discover the secrets behind success – from the initial creative concept to its profound impact on the bottom line. Learn how to fundamentally shift consumer behavior and boost product off the shelves. You'll leave with a proven framework for transforming ideas into results, harnessing the art and science behind effective campaigns.

Sunshine and Storms: Weathering a Creative Life Step inside the colorful world of Tad Carpenter, designer, illustrator, and co-founder of brand design studio Carpenter Collective. In this honest walk through the studio’s creative process, Tad shares how his childhood wandering Hallmark's hallways sparked a lifelong love affair with playful, purposeful design. You'll get an intimate look at how he and his wife and creative partner, Jessica, transform their childlike wonder into award-winning brand systems that capture hearts and turn heads. Part behind-the-scenes studio tour, part inspiration rally, this session delivers honest insights wrapped in Tad's signature warmth and wit.

Last luncheon before summer break Come join us to hear the future of advertising, LSU’s NSAC team, as they present their entry in the National Student Advertising Competition! Each year, LSU advertising students compete in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), with over 100 schools around the country to execute a full advertising campaign for a national client. The student teams “pitch” their campaign to a panel of judges. We invite you to join us to celebrate our local advertising students and their pitch. We’ll be presenting the Ralph Sims Award – Honoring Lifetime Achievement in Advertising Education, and the Rising Star Award – a new member within their first 2 years who has shown active involvement in club activities, and set a shining example for other members. The winner of the AAF-BR […]