Hall of Fame 

The writer you can’t afford. The client who got away. The star-making casting director. The audio engineer who slaps that bass. The A.E. who excels at Excel. You love them. Let’s celebrate them.

With everything slowly getting back to normal, it’s time to come together once again to remember and honor the people who made our industry more than just a business. Those that not only changed with the times but whose ideas were truly timeless.

AAF PITTSBURGH IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE 2021 HALL OF FAME AWARDS.

This is your chance to nominate a person or company that embodies the values of our industry – leadership, integrity, fortitude and the ability to have fun along the way. Besides the Hall of Fame, you can also nominate someone for three other categories: Hall of Achievement, AAF Silver Medal Award, and Patricia Martin Crystal Prism Awards.

Nominations are due by July 30, 2021. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN PERSON!

GORDON ROBERTSON – HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE CHAIR

HALL OF FAME

The AAF Pittsburgh Hall of Fame is our ultimate award honoring advertising legends who have significantly contributed to our industry. This award recognizes their extraordinary achievements as advertising leaders – from their significant industry contributions to their personal commitments to society. 

Criteria for Election

Eligible candidates are those individuals who have completed their primary careers, who have distinguished themselves in those careers, who have contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation and who have made volunteer efforts outside the workplace.

The nominee must be retired from his/her primary career. The nominee’s record of advertising and service must have been accomplished in the advertising industry in the United States or with an American company abroad. The Council of Judges considers the election of either living or deceased persons.

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT

AAF Pittsburgh established a Pittsburgh Advertising Hall of Achievement Award to recognize young talented individuals who are making a significant impact in our advertising market. This award is AAF Pittsburgh’s premier award for outstanding advertising professionals age 50 and under. 

Criteria for Election

Nominees must be 50 years old or younger at the time of nomination and employed in the Pittsburgh advertising industry – agency, client or media. They are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Outstanding career achievements, with measurable results, in the field of advertising, whether in publishing, marketing, sales, or media.

Qualities that motivate others to excel, by mentoring, inspiring, training or volunteering.

AAF SILVER MEDAL

The AAF’s Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern.

Annually, clubs across the country bestow this national AAF honor upon outstanding members of the local advertising community. The AAF Silver Medal is considered the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award.

Eligibility Criteria

Contribution to His/Her Company – The recipient must have achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media or advertising service. 

Creative Ability – The recipient must have shown a consistent, high degree of original thinking in their field.
Contributions to the General Advancement of Advertising – The recipient must have worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.

Contributions to the Community – The recipient should be someone who has been active in civic, religious, or other groups dedicated to human or social welfare.

Service to the American Advertising Federation – The honoree should have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the local American Advertising Federation chapter. Service to the corresponding AAF District and AAF National further solidifies the depth of service.

PATRICIA MARTIN CRYSTAL PRISM

The AAF District Two Patricia Martin Crystal Prism Award Program was established to single out and spotlight an individual who has made outstanding contributions to their advertising community through their local Ad Federation. 
This regional award bestows the honor and the gratitude of AAF Pittsburgh and District Two to an individual whose efforts have contributed to its success. It acknowledges their commitment, contributions, and giving of themselves to further the industry’s standards and to enhance the image of advertising.

The Patricia Martin Crystal Prism Award is not usually given out annually or even bi-annually, but instead, is only awarded when there is a noteworthy recipient.

Criteria:

Recipients are selected by a panel of judges from their local ad federation. Judges use the following criteria when making their selections:

Contribution to His/Her Ad Federation – The recipient must have achieved success in one or more of their Ad Federation’s initiatives.

Creative Ability – The recipient must have shown a consistent, high degree of original thinking in their field.

Contributions to the General Advancement of Advertising – The recipient must have worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.

Please let us know if you would be interested in being on the list to receive sponsorship and program ad information. Sign me up!

PAST HALL OF FAME, HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT, AAF SILVER MEDIA, PATRICIA MARTIN CRYSTAL PRISM AWARD

1996

HALL OF FAME
Berniece Preisser 

1997

HALL OF FAME
Jane Calloman Arkus, George Ketchum, Al Goldman, Arnold Varga

1998

HALL OF FAME
Barbara Clark McCully, Bob Trow, Al Van Dine, Jim Ficco

1999

HALL OF FAME
Lester Gallagher, Marv Jacobson, Thomas McKenna

2000

HALL OF FAME
Bill Genge, Lou Cardamone, Stan Marshall, John Waldron

2001

HALL OF FAME
Al Dudreck, Jack Goldsmith, Bill Sprague, Ray Werner

2002

HALLOF FAME
John Chepelsky, Hal Downing, Sr., A.P. Hill 

2003 & 2004
No inductees

2005

HALL OF FAME
Ann McFadden, Ed Lehew, Joe Pytka

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
David Egan, Cathy Bowen

SILVER MEDAL AWARD:
Ray Werner

CRYSTAL PRISM:
Cheri Gmiter

2006

HALL OF FAME:
Anthony Bucci, Torrence Hunt, Thomas J. Smith

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Bryan Ward, Kevin Srigley, Bill Garrison & Dave Hughes

SILVER MEDAL AWARD:
Michael Brunner

CRYSTAL PRISM:
David Case

2008

HALL OF FAME:
George Hill, Ronald J. Baumgarten, Mark H. Gray, Ron Layport, Robert Lando

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Brian Bronaugh, Scott Morgan, Jeff Hennion  (Dick’s Sporting Goods)

2010

HALL OF FAME:
Bob Bernardini, Cliff Miller

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Jay Giesen, Dave Kwasnick, Burton Morris

CRYSTAL PRISM:
Karen Smith

2012

HALL OF FAME:
Tony Jaffe, Jody Lange, Heinz (first corporate inductee)

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Michael Killen

SILVER MEDAL AWARD:
Dave Vissat

CRYSTAL PRISM:
Meade Johnson

2015

HALL OF FAME:
Michele Fabrizi, Ed Fine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Tom Cwenar, John Hinderliter

SILVER MEDAL AWARD:
Rick Sebak

CRYSTAL PRISM:
Bob Gilbert, George Founds

2017

HALL OF FAME:
Petra Arbutina, Bill Binstock, Joe Blattner, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group

HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT:
Andy McKenna, Dave Popelka, Geoff Tolley, Larkin Werner

SILVER MEDAL AWARD:
Joe Smith

CRYSTAL PRISM:
Lillian Young