SCC David Selby to receive CAF’s Silver Medal Award

SCC’s David Selby

DAVID SELBY, SCC MANAGING PARTNER / PRESIDENT is the recipient of the Chicago Ad Federation’s 2014 Silver Medal Award, which honors a distinguished member of the Chicago ad community for their creativity, contributions to advertising and the community and accomplishments.

An industry dinner to honor Selby will be held at a Michigan Avenue hotel around the end of January, according to the CAF.

Selby, who’s been with SCC since 2009, is an expert strategist and marketer who helped build some of the world’s most powerful brands.  He spent 19 years at Leo Burnett as SVP/account director on major accounts such as McDonald’s and Millers, followed by SVP/chief marketing officer roles for Sears and Potbelly Sandwich Works.

He serves on the executive committee and chairs the marketing committee of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and is also on the board of Gilda’s Club of Chicago. 

AT TODAY’S AD WOMAN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON honoring Laura Desmond, CEO/Starcom Mediavest, a record nine former Ad Women of the Year have been assembled for the first time.  They are Lisa Donohue, Starcom; Nina Abnee, Renetta McCann, Carla R. Michelotti, Leo Burnett; Lisa Cochrane, Allstate; Fay Ferguson, Burrell; Dana Anderson, Mondelez; Tonise Paul, Energy BBDO and Ruth L Ratny, ReelChicago (the only film biz, non-agency recipient in CAF history).

AN AICP AFTER PARTY for those who want to continue the evening is being hosted by The Spin Artist’s producer Darryl Manuel and director/editor partner Phil Lee.  Venue is the HQ Beercade in their building at 213 W. Institute Place. First drink is on the hosts, cash bar, good music and company thereafter.

While commercial editorial is currently their bread-and-butter says Manuel, a former agency producer, “we made an entry into television with a short horror film we made for Cathy Hughes’ TV One” that aired on the network’s ‘Fright Night File’ on Halloween.”

Their large, comfortable and eclectic office space is shared with editor Gail Gilbert of Cerise Films and colorist Kelly Strong, who worked together with Lee at the now-defunct Avenue Edit for many years.

AGENCY DOWNSIZING seems to be more prevalent these past two months than noticed before.  The size of the cuts is relatively small, 4%, 5%, but in a big agency that could be substantial. 

The latest staff reductions we’ve heard about are at McGarryBowen Chicago and New York.  Last week, the agency’s reduction of 4% added up to less than 10 dismissals in Chicago and up to 30 in New York.

The RIF was blamed on “evolving clients’ marketing and business needs,” according to the agency’s official statement. 

ACTIVIST FILMMAKER SEAN FAHEY’S efforts to erect a billboard criticizing Fox news host Sean Hannity has finally been realized.

Fahey’s crowdfunding campaign of nearly $7,000 enabled him to raise the message, “The Sean Hannity Show is Intellectual Terrorism” for all to see. It now towers 30-feet above the intersection of Route 83 and Butterfield Road near the Oak Brook mall.  See the earlier ReelChicago story here.

Fahey, a Chicagoan temporarily (we hope) based in LA, explored the people behind the 2008 housing crisis in the award-winning doc, “Bailout.”

AMAZING PHOTO STATS!  Pictures that the Reel’s Dan Patton took of WIF Focus Awards guests last week have garnered, as of this writing, 17,231 clicks and 600 likes. Take a look at them here.

Send us your news.  Tell us about your next event.  Sign up for 2015 advertising.  All of the above goes to ruth@reelchicago.com.