Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s American Advertising Awards and congratulations to all of our winners. Below is a summary of the awards and a link to view the creative. Please also join us in recognizing our Silver Medal recipient, Paul Keener, Ad Pro of the Year, Mike Simmons, Ad Rookie of the Year, Allison Otto, and Mosaic Award recipient, The Digital Foundry.

Silver Medal Recipient – Paul Keener

Paul Keener, Director of Marketing and Creative Services for KFVS12, is AAF Cape Girardeau’s 2023 Silver Medal recipient. The Silver Medal Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and have been active in furthering industry standards, creative excellence, and responsibility for social concern.

A native of Charleston, MO, Keener graduated from Southeast Missouri State University, where he launched and eventually became the Student Director of the first campus TV station, Community Access Channel 10.

“I have always been fascinated by television, the entertainment programming, sports, and the technology of audio and video signals traveling un-seen through the airwaves,” said Keener. “My fondest memories as a kid were watching CBS programs in the evenings with my Dad and watching local news on KFVS.”

In 1982, Keener joined KFVS12 as a part-time studio camera and teleprompter operator alongside Don McNeely, Mike Shain, and Randy Ray. Since then, he has held the positions of Newscast Director, Studio Supervisor, Promotion Manager, and Director of Promotion and Creative Services, a role that eventually became Director of Marketing and Creative Services.

He also played an integral role in several community initiatives at KFVS12 – such as the annual Heartland Blood Drives, Heartland’s Best recognizing high school valedictorians, and charity telethons benefiting Easter Seals, Crusade for Children, St. Jude Dream Homes, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Keener says he takes pride in the efforts of KFVS12 to help viewers through natural disasters including the ‘Heartland Cares’ relief efforts following the Perryville, Mayfield, Harrisburg, and Poplar Bluff tornadoes to coverage of the devastating floods of 1993 and 1995, the former being the subject of a project that aired on KFVS12 and offered on VHS tape that Keener wrote, edited and produced called “The Great Flood of ‘93.” 

In addition to his years of success at KFVS12, Paul has also served on numerous boards and committees such as the Raycom Media promotion advisory board, the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the SEMO Communications Department professional advisory council, and the CBS Network promotion caucus, on which he still serves.

Ad Pro of the Year – Mike Simmons

Mike Simmons, Department of Mass Media Instructor and SECreative Advisor at Southeast Missouri State University, received the 2023 Ad Pro of the Year Award. This award honors a professional who is making a positive difference today through work, involvement in the community, advocacy of important issues, and/or through the people he/she mentors.

Over the years, Mike has built SECreative into an award-winning advertising and strategic communications agency ran by Southeast Missouri State University students.  Through SECreative, Mike provides students with real-world experiences by regularly delivering creative services to multiple divisions at the University, including the Department of Mass Media, Holland College of Arts and Media, and University Marketing. More importantly, his work with SECreative provides an invaluable benefit for small businesses and non-profits who don’t have the financial resources but are in dire need of assistance in branding and marketing their organizations.

Clients such as The Corner Grocery, People Organized to Revitalize Community Healing (PORCH), and St. Mary Cathedral all have made compelling community connections as a result of advertising and branding services received from Mike and SECreative.

Mike isn’t an adviser in name only. He meets weekly with the entire SECreative group to share his expertise in trainings, and mentor students as they complete work for clients. He also uses his professional network to bring in speakers and takes students on agency tours help student prepare for what’s next. “The absolute best part of teaching is getting to encourage & inspire students to develop their talents and abilities,” stated Mike.

Mike maintains regular contact with alumni working across the country to ensure his students are receiving the skills they need for tomorrow’s jobs in the industry.

Ad Rookie of the Year – Allison Otto

Allison Otto, Account Coordinator at Red Letter Communications, received the 2023 Ad Rookie of the Year Award. This award honors a young profession under 30 years of age who is a remarkable talent on his or her team and deserves to be recognized for leadership, creativity, problem-solving and drive.

Allison’s colleagues describe her as an  intrepid, perpetually committed young advertising professional who seeks to learn from and collaborate with clients and coworkers. Joining Red Letter fresh out of college, her team was impressed with how quickly she learned the fundamentals of their business and continuously aims to offer her clients effective and distinctive counsel related to marketing communications.

“From day one, Allison has shown up, taken on responsibility while understanding that her professional development can be spurred on through a commitment to ‘learn by doing.’ Often young professionals can be hesitant in account roles – Allison has avoided any type of paralysis/inaction induced by hesitancy through reliance on senior coworkers,” stated Clay Schermann, VP of Strategy at Red Letter.

Last year, Allison also donated her time to assist in a marketing and communications class’s curriculum at Southeast Missouri State University. Through this activity, Allison helped shape future marketing professionals by connecting her own professional experiences with the students’ situations.

Mosaic Award

This year’s Mosaic Award goes to The Digital Foundry for Fire | A Manifesto.

The AAF’s Mosaic Awards honors companies and individuals who embody the Mosaic Principles—an action-oriented roadmap to create a more inclusive industry. Mosaic Award recipients display their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through creative work, advocacy, and company-wide initiatives.

Best of Show

Professional Competition

• Print Division | rustmedia for Scout Pass
• Online/Interactive Division | CDC-BME STIHL for Hunting Prep for TikTok
• Cross Platform Division | Red Letter Communications for STIHL Made In America Campaign
• Film, Video and Sound Division | TMSOUNDHOUSE for Fairway Ford: Mustang Mach-E4X

Student Competition

• Best of Show | SRLGroup2 Fall2022 MK443/AR416 for Spectrum Record Lounge Poster Campaign

Professional Competition

GOLD WINNERS

SILVER WINNERS

BRONZE WINNERS

Judges Citations

rustmedia for FLYCGI Campaign

“This brand system is designed to lead to some really fun and engaging content. The architect of the system has set the FLYCGI Team up with tools to elevate every piece of brand material that they make.”

rustmedia for Water & William Identity

“Everything about this creative feels like a fine wine or a delicacy which lends itself well to a high priced olive oil. The brand identity is the right amount of lux, plus the right amount of healthy.” 

Southeast Missouri State University for See Me Series: “Georgia, Georgia” Campaign

“You can tell these local creatives take pride in their work. These pieces feel like something that is made by and for the people in your community. It is really infectious.”

Creative Edge for Hiring Nightmares

“This spot was carefully crafted and artfully scripted. The storytelling was great, the colloquial back-and-forth between the characters was terrific. And the comedic button at the end wrapped it all up in a nice bow.”

Student Competition

ALL WINNERS