Dear Ad Club friends,
It’s been two years since Chris Ramey passed me the Presidential baton and I’ll have a hard time letting go when my tenure ends on December 31st. It’s difficult to leave a group as committed to giving as the Ad Club Board, a band of sisters and brothers who may occasionally debate but never deride, one that’s genuinely thrilled about holding events that hold the industry together, while generating buckets of cash for NABS and our student scholarship program. And so, I’ll devote my last message as President to thanking this ragtag group of do-greaters.
Let me begin with our shining Vice President (soon-to-be President) Caitlin Neve. I see her now with that Titian-flamed hair leading a Student Day panel with deference, humour, and grace. Caitlin, you’ve been a magnificent partner and we’ve worked together flawlessly to wind our way through new events, new Board members, and new priorities. Thank you for your ever-resounding YES, and your steely adherence to bringing the Ad Club Roadshow to life and to agency boardrooms. You’ll make a fearless President and I’ll look forward to watching you sparkle.
Now to Alan Sifuentes, our Director of Giving (soon-to-be Vice President). Alan, as well as your having my very favourite last name in the history of surnames (Si-fuen-tes – such voluptuous syllables) you are also a man purpose-fit for your role. There has rarely been a kinder, more charitable, more empathetic leader and I bow to your radiating decency and honour.
To Lynne Brady, our Finance Director, I say, only half-jokingly, you must NEVER leave! As well as being the holder and arbiter of all invoices, year-end statements, governance, and expenses, you also know more about this Board than any other serving member. You are our guru whenever we need historical reference or just a common sense opinion, and I respect and appreciate the hell out of you for serving so many for so long with such dignity and unflappable humour.
Adrian Seeley, you dedicated Digital Director (and soon-to-be Director of Giving) you! You’ve done so much, created entire Universes for ticket selling, reworked the soon-to-be-released Ad Club website, helmed every newsletter, fielded endless volunteer/potential partner requests and you’ve done it with a tiny team that sometimes consisted of only YOU! I know how much of your life that you’ve poured into the Ad Club and I am so grateful for your tireless work (P.S. I can always tell when you’re at your most tireless when your hair goes all gravity-defying Kid ‘n’ Play!)
Sotero Bernardo, you’re like an uncoiled spring of boundless energy and I LOVE that that energy cannot be devoted to only one role. As our Partnership Director, Co-Party Director, and Associate Sports Series Director, you’re in so many places at once, spreading joy, lovable mayhem, and unbridled passion to every industry corner. Thank you for being an unquenchable spark – you’re a tenacious dynamo and I swear that you’ll single-handedly bring Agency Wars back to life by hook, crook, or sweet-natured knockout blow! Thank you for being our rock…and our Rock!
Nissa Poetranto, you literally climbed a mountain, suffered horrible windburn, and braved a stifling lack of oxygen for NABS – you are the embodiment of dedication. Your tenure on the Board reflects that commitment; you’ve put 10+ years of your life into acting as our Communications Director and have scaled the mountain of knowledge required to bring the Ad Club into the age of social media. I will miss you terribly when we both leave in December but I like to think that we’ll occasionally make “ghostly” appearances in each other’s lives.
To Leith Mason, our silver-maned maven of OOH Day, I leave you with a final poem.
My dearest Leith,
To us bequeath,
A love of our medium
That beggars belief.
Your work is gold,
Your hair all pewter.
Dedication manyfold.
No eye astuter.
David Nolet, Chair of Golf Day, I shall phrase your praise in links-related lingo. You, my friend, are the Jack Nicklaus of Golf Day events. You execute each round flawlessly, your tactical genius is on display with every sponsor activation, and your preparation and study of the course, your audience, and the day is legendary. In fact, Golden Bear be damned – you, sir, are the Rhodium Bear!
Cristina Gardeazabal, I love that you’re blessed with both right and left-brained acuity – for a Creative Director, your ability to develop process around the disarray that was our creative to-market strategy is just heaven-sent. Equally angelic was your creation, in concert with the saintly Sr Sifuentes, of the Connection Coffee event series, a networking connection point for juniors in our industry to meet and greet their veteran executive counterparts. To watch you work an event as you mediate a panel and advise the up-and-comers in our industry is to watch an Olympian god in action.
Norm Laing, you revitalized Newspaper Day with a Brews and News event that was bubbling with good cheer, effervescent in its display of the sparkling appeal of news journalism, and had the industry hop-ping in its pursuit of the Trivia Championship Trophy. You reminded planners and buyers of the power of newspaper with an event that showcased meaningful content instead of dull talking heads, and it deeply resonated with the re-energized crowd. Well done!
Liz Lem, your first Digital Day was a triumph! I described it as a beautifully choreographed ballet in my thank you note after the event, and you are most certainly its prima ballerina assoluta! The combination of truth-telling panelists, evocative keynote speaker, and emotional tribute to our dear Tanner Soeting was an impassioned love letter to the digital industry and its future. Digital Day is the Ad Club’s largest event and you exceeded expectations with a full year of preparation to bring forth a perfectly executed pas de deux of scintillating content and priceless sponsorship exposure. Brava!
Kat Upton, you come from a family of diplomats which is obviously how you’re able to navigate the choppy political waters required to put together the very best parties. As Party Chair, you need to balance the fun with sponsor expectations, venue requirements, and profitability goals. You did that time and again this year with the Summer Party, the Halloween Party, and our newest event, the Sk8 Party, which provided a welcome respite from our usual adult-beverage-fuelled events to warm the soul with ice-bound athleticism and soul-defrosting hot chocolate. And, as a reward for all that diplomacy and sheer hard work, it must heat your own heart to hear that Ad Club’s parties are considered the events of their season – Winter, Summer, and Spooky!
Cam Chapin, you’ve moved seamlessly from parroted deck-swabber to Party Chair pirate in the last year. I’m amazed at the level of dedication (and Sotero-like energy) that sees you hefting beer cases and handling the registration desk at the Halloween Party, keeping a vigilant eye on exuberant attendees at the Summer Party, skating like Stoiko around the rink checking for injuries at the Sk8 Party, and managing sponsors at Ski Day. You truly are a man for all seasons!
Daryna Pechendis, my favourite of many favourite facts about you is that you’re a new Canadian who decided to give back to this industry by joining and then leading Student Day. I’m impressed daily by your dedication (hosting Student Day and then jetting off to France was a spectacular feat of endurance). ти неймовірний, Daryna!
To Ryan Ladisa, Ski Day Chair, I applaud you for bringing the industry its favourite event marker of winter with the warmth of a roaring apres ski fire. How can I not celebrate a man who spent the night before Ski Day 2023 in the emergency room but who still turned up near-death at the hill at 6 am the next morning to ensure the day’s success? You’re a wonder, Ryan!
Jeric Barbadillo, you campaigned for and brought the industry the Sports Series, with its phenomenally successful first foray, the Ad Club Basketball league. This beautifully organized series did so much to amp interest in the Ad Club from a new generation and dispel fears that our sports events were too elitist. Plus, it showcased the mad skills of our first champions, IPG! Thank you for sinking an astounding three-pointer from centre court!
And last but NEVER least Tim Hughes, I am utterly grateful for the 15 years you’ve spent serving the Ad Club. Magazine Day was one of the Club’s first events and you have helmed the last few for the elegance and esoteric splendour that defines the medium. Thank you for being the human equivalent of the September edition of Vogue – your arrival at every meeting is always hotly anticipated and your wit as plentiful as a 200 page perfect-bound issue!
Finally, I end this weighty tome with gratitude to every attendee, every speaker, and every sponsor that has stood in support of the Ad Club. We couldn’t exist without you, and without you, NABS and our student scholars would be without so very much.
Thank you all for the last six years!
Amanda Newell
President, Advertising Club of Toronto
