As the incoming Vice-Chair for AAF-Houston, I was invited to attend the American Advertising Federation National Convention in Orlando, Florida earlier this month.  Sunny Florida was a great place to meet new people in our industry and attend some outstanding workshops.  This year’s theme was “Ideas at Work”.  We explored the impact on advertising of social media, digital trends, generational differences and diversity.

Additionally, we heard insightful and motivating presentations from keynote speakers, Duncan Wardle, VP, Creative Inc.-Disney Destinations LLC and Frank Cooper, VP of Marketing, PepsiCo.

Another important segment of the national convention is the National Student Advertising Competition sponsored this year, by State Farm. Teams representing colleges and universities from all over the US arrived in Orlando to compete.  This year, District 10 had two teams participating, Texas State University and our own University of Houston. I saw both teams present to State Farm Insurance executives/judges and they were astounding!  Both teams are to be congratulated and commended for their hard work.

The U of H NSAC Team

On Friday night, as I boarded my Southwest Air flight to head home to Houston, I was exhausted from the pace of the convention but also inspired by the terrific, innovative advertising professionals I had met and heard speak in Orlando.