2010–2011 Nebraska ADDY® Awards

On behalf of AAF Lincoln, the 2010–2011 ADDYs^® Committee would like to salute each of our sponsorship partners for your invaluable service and generous support in producing this year's event. We couldn't have done it without you.

Jeremy Stewart
Art Director, Evolution Bureau, San Francisco

Jeremy is behind some of Evolution Bureau’s most cutting-edge work, supporting a diverse blend of national brand clients combined with local nonprofits. As the agency’s lead art director, Jeremy’s consumer-centric advertising work has garnered feature stories from Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times and USA Today’s Pop Candy, along with creative press accolades from Advertising Age, Creativity/AdCritic, BrandWeek and Communication Arts. Some of his latest work includes “Serenading Unicorn” for Juicy Fruit, “Clean it up” for Orbit, “Create Your Canvas” for Lands’ End and the award-winning “Ballet But?” campaign for Smuin Ballet. For each client, Jeremy strives to develop meaningful creative content that engages consumers and creates a unique brand experience they readily seek and share.

Michael Brazeal
Associate Professor, Roosevelt University, Chicago

Michael has been in the agency business for 28 years, working as a creative director for the past 17. During the dotcom madness, he helped launch Stamps.com, iShip and CornerDrugStore.com, all of which still exist on the Web today. He has also been employed by companies such as Marsteller/Young and Rubicam, McCann-Erickson, LOIS/EJL and Wheatley Blair, in a variety of positions from account executive and copy supervisor to executive vice president and executive creative director. His work has earned him multiple awards, on local, regional and national levels, including the Gallagher Report’s Broken Pencil award for "the most obnoxious TV commercial we’ve seen this month."

Ron Kohudic
Interactive Creative Director, Colman Broham Davis, Chicago

Ron’s has spent his career designing compelling pieces in a wide range of media including direct mail, print, interactive and outdoor. He has also had the opportunity to work with an enviable list of blue chip clients. United Airlines, Service Merchandise, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Eddie Bauer, Bang & Olufsen, Grainger and others have all benefited from his clear design sense, attention to detail and efficient use of graphic techniques to create an immediate response, as well as a lasting impression. He is currently Interactive Creative Director in the River North area of Chicago for ad agency Colman Brohan Davis. Ron and his team of art directors work on some of the agency’s larger clients. Under his supervision, the team maintains a high level of quality and brand standards for each of these clients. Ron strives to do great work for a wide variety of clients for years to come.

Steve Baer
Senior Director of Digital Strategy, TBWA Chiat/Day, New York

Steve is the freelance creative strategist at TBWA Chiat/Day in New York, working in the area of business, brand, digital and communications strategy. His current projects include social media strategy and program architecture for Dr. Pepper, through-the-line brand concepts for J&J, Macy’s, Tommy Hilfiger, E*TRADE and Smirnoff, and product development for LabCorp (health care sector). During his previous position with the company as senior director of digital strategy, he oversaw digital planning for ABSOLUT, Nivea, GSK, Michelin, Hotels.com and Mars, as well as health care digital strategy for various Johnson & Johnson brands. He has also worked for Agency.com New York, Fullsix London, Engage Inc. and Young & Rubicam Advertising.

Adam Torpin
Designer, Oxide Design Co., Omaha

Since discovering design in college, Adam has spent his days blurring the line between passion and obsession. As a student, he won several local, district and national ADDY^® awards as well as a variety of AIGA awards. Since completing school, Adam has made up one third of the team at Oxide Design Co. In his relatively short career as a professional designer, his work with the Oxide team has appeared in Communication Arts Design Annual 50 & 51, LogoLounge 5 & 6, Best of Business Card Design 9, Letterhead & Logo Design 11, Step 100 Reader's Choice 2008 and various AIGA award shows. Adam approaches every project as an opportunity to uniquely communicate a clear and simple message.

Barbara Ruser
Senior Writer/Producer/Vice-President, SKAR Advertising, Omaha

Throughout her career, Barb's job titles have run the gamut from layout artist, designer, creative director, advertising director and marketing specialist to her current title of senior copywriter/producer and vice president at SKAR Advertising in Omaha, NE. Barb has collaborated to win a variety of local, regional, national and international awards. Some of the highlights have been first place in the 2003 American Advertising Federation (AAF) Division II National Public Service category and being named 2004 Omaha Federation of Advertising (OFA) Ad Pro of the Year. She has also been honored to serve as a judge for various advertising competitions including local and district AAF ADDY^® awards and local American Marketing Association awards.

Dave Distefano
Creative Director, A&K Marketing, Omaha

An 11-year veteran in ‘da business,’ Dave’s first taste of ad creative came in college when he freelanced for a small marketing firm who used his illustrations for presentations to brands like Betty Crocker, ConAgra and The Swanson Corporation. Since then, he’s pretty much worked in every area of visual communication. Web, video production, editing, design, art direction—he’s done it all for a wide range of clients.