Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons and Black Advertising Professionals Reign at AdColor Awards
 photo by Steed Media Servce |
BOCA RATON, Fla. – More than 500 of the nation’s elite advertising professionals descended upon this dreamy resort community in the Sunshine State for a black-tie celebration of African-American and minority excellence during the 2nd Annual AdColor Awards.
Featuring five-star cuisine, white cloth tables and the hip-hop/soul sounds produced by Akintayo Adewole, the AdColor Awards promoted the need for much greater inclusion in the exciting world of advertising and awarded legends, innovators, change agents and rising stars.
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“AdColor and the AdColor Awards were created for the purpose of sharing and highlighting the stories of those professionals of color who, despite the obstacles they overcame and the heights they reached, have always reached back,” says Tiffany R. Warren, the founder of the AdColor and the AdColor Awards and the vice president of Multicultural Programs and Community Outreach for Arnold Worldwide.
During the event, Hip Hop impresario Russell Simmons, one of 20 AdColor Award recipients, declared the future of America will be imperiled unless it exemplifies authentic diversity and inclusion. The crème de la crème of American advertising and media agencies agreed with his sentiments – including those at GTM, Arnold Worldwide, Uniworld, Carol H. Williams Advertising, Google, CNN, Diageo, Microsoft Advertising and Yahoo.
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Simmons was crowned the All-Star Award winner. Other award winners included Carol H. Williams, who coined the Secret deodorant’s slogan “strong enough for a man but made for a woman” (one of the most famous commercial phrases of all time) and Byron E. Lewis, whose UniWorld Group is one of the largest African-American-owned multicultural agencies, with annual billings of $250 million. – terry shropshire
List of Awardees:
All-Star Award: Russell Simmons, Chairman-CEO, Rush World Synergies, New York
Legend Award: Carol H. Williams, founder of Carol H. Williams Advertising, Oakland, Calif.
Legend Award: Renetta McCann, founder Publicis Groupe’s Vivaki People Practice
Legend Award: Byron E. Lewis, founder, Chairman/CEO, UniWorld Group, New York
Legend Award: Rishad Tobaccowala, CEO/Denuo & CIO, Pulbics Groupe Media, Chicago
Innovator: Kimbo Tom, VP-Ideas and Innovation, GTM Inc., Atlanta
Innovator: Devika Bulchandani, Exec VP-Chief Strategy Officer, McCann Erickson, New York
Innovator: Danny Robinson, Senior VP-Creative Director, Martin Agency, Richmond, Va.
Innovator: JD Michaels, VP-Director, Press, BBDO, New York
Innovator: Howard Buford, CEO-founder, Prime Access, New York
Change Agent: Stacy Brown-Philcot, director of consumer operations, Google, Mountain View, Calif.
Change Agent: Chad Germann, president/CEO, Red Circle Agency, Minneapolis
Change Agent: Tony Hill, VP of Advertising, USA Today, McLean, Va.
Change Agent: Vida Cornelious, VP-Creative Director, DDB Worldwide, Chicago
Change Agent: Donna E. Pedro, Senior Partner/Chief Diversity Officer, Ogilvy New York
Rising Star: Kunal Muzumdar, Account Planner, Razorfish, Seattle
Rising Star: Catherine Auguste, Digital Media Planner, Mindshare-Team Detroit, Dearborn, Mich.
Rising Star: Desmonique Bonet: Senior Account Exec, Google Inc., New York
Rising Star: Keenan Ellsbury, VP-Head of Interactive Solutions, Ogilvy-Team Detroit, Dearborn, Mich.
Rising Star: Angel Suarez, Brand Manager, Disney-ESPN Media Networks, New York
MVP: Saatchi & Saatchi, Professional Partnering Solutions
