Conferences & Special Events 

In 2007, the AAAA held six major national conferences, including our first-ever “Digital Conference for Agencies,” as well as numerous management and account planning programs and professional development seminars and workshops across the United States.

Annual AAAA Conferences Held in 2007

The 14th annual Media Conference & Tradeshow was held February 28–March 2 at the Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Under the theme, “Communications Leadership: Increasing the Odds for Success,” the Conference examined the critical issues surrounding the evolving and changing media landscape. More than 1,500 Conference attendees and 116 exhibitors participated in the Conference & Tradeshow. In addition to panel discussions on ebiz for media, featured speakers included:

• Marc Goldstein, Mindshare North America
• Mich Mathews, Microsoft
• Jim Stengel, The Procter & Gamble Company
• Additionally, a panel of industry leaders discussed the status of e-trading. Moderated by Steve Grubbs, PHD North America, the panelists included Peggy Green, Zenith Media USA; David Grubb, Microsoft; Christi Korzekwa, The Home Depot; Howard Rosenberg, eBay Inc.; and Ray Warren, Carat Media Group Americas

The 89th annual Management Conference for Agency CEOs took place April 18–20 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, FL. The Conference agenda revisited the popular and successful theme from the 2006 Management Conference, “ROI: Return on Ideas. Return on Involvement. Return on Investment.” Featured speakers included:

• Chuck Brymer, DDB Worldwide Inc.
• Susan Gianinno, Publicis USA
• Anthony J. Hopp, Campbell-Ewald
• Paul Krugman, The New York Times
• Tom Messner, Euro RSCG Worldwide
• Michael Roth, Interpublic Group

The 2007 Account Planning Conference, held August 6–8 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, featured a program that ignited debate about the rapidly changing world of marketing communications and creativity—and examined how planners play critical roles as catalysts for that change. Featured speakers included:

• Bruce Mau, Bruce Mau Incorporated
• John Partilla, Time Warner
• Penry Price, Google
• Sir Ken Robinson, noted social researcher
• Eric Ryan, Method
• David Vanderveen, XS Energy Drink

The Finance Conference, held September 26 in New York during Advertising Week, focused on topics such as agency compensation, intellectual property and marketing accountability. Featured speakers included:

• Tim Brenton, The Brenton Group
• Courtney Gibbons, MasterCard Worldwide
• Melanie Howard, Future Foundation
• Candice Kersh, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
• George Recine, McCann Worldgroup
• Ron Urbach, Davis & Gilbert LLP
• Gordon Wyner, Millward Brown
• A panel discussion on agency compensation and new business models featured Ron Baker, VeraSage Institute; Michael Farmer, Farmer & Company; Sal LaGreca, Anomaly; Tim Williams, Ignition Consulting Group; and Jim Zambito, Johnson & Johnson

The Talent Conference, held September 27 in New York, provided a closer look at how to attract, recruit, retain and manage agency talent. Featured speakers included:

• Brian Brooker, Barkley
• Fran Gargotta, MARC USA
• Michael O’Keeffe, ?What If!, The Innovation Company
• Donna Pedro, Ogilvy New York
• Ralph Simone, Productivity Leadership Systems LLC
• Chuck Underwood, The Generational Imperative, Inc.
• Elizabeth Zea, Gilbert and Partners

The first-ever AAAA Digital Conference for Agencies was held June 14 in New York. Themed “Insights. Innovations. Best Practices,” the Conference featured a lineup of speakers who addressed the complex and unique concerns that agencies must deal with in the digital arena. Featured speakers included:

• John Bell, 360° Digital Influence, Ogilvy PR
• Colleen DeCourcy, JWT
• Matt Freeman, Tribal DDB Worldwide
• Rob Griffin, Media Contacts
• Eric Johnson, Ignited Minds
• Brian McAndrews, aQuantive, Inc.
• Alan Schanzer, MEC Interaction, North America
• Karen Seamen, Cramer-Krasselt
• Chris Weil, Momentum Worldwide, Inc.
• A best-and-brightest panel weighed-in on what it will take for digital agencies to be successful now and in the future, and featured David Blum, Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners; Joe Celia, Grey Global Group, G2 Worldwide; Larry Harris, Draftfcb; Tarik Sedky, Y&R Advertising; and Jay Woffington, Bridge Worldwide

In addition to national conferences, the AAAA held nearly 50 programs via regional seminars and meetings, including:

Account Planning-Oriented Programs
Quantitative Research Workshop, Chicago (March 29–31)
Quantitative Research Workshop, New York (November 2)

Management-Oriented Seminars/Workshops
Benefits-Based Pricing Negotiations, Chicago (March 21)
Intellectual Property & the Ownership of Agency Ideas & Work, New York (June 28
Medical Advertising: Negotiating Benefits-Based Pricing Solutions, New York (September 6)
New York Sales Tax Seminar, New York (November 6)

Professional Development Programs
Executive Leadership Program, The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, FL (January 22–26)Agency Management Development Program, New York (June 27–29)
How to Connect Brands With Consumers in a Multi-Channel World, featuring Tim Williams, San Antonio (March 8); Los Angeles (April 24); Adelphia, MD (May 16); and Memphis, TN (November 29)
Pitch on Target—Skills for Making Presentations That Clinch the Deal, featuring Pam Erb, Kansas City, MO (February 13); and Austin, TX (June 6)
Senior Account Management Leadership Workshop, featuring Sheila Campbell, Winston-Salem, NC (June 19)
Winning New Business by Perfecting Your Pitch, featuring Mark Schnurman, Chicago (December 6)