How on earth did this crazy idea come to reality? Larry DeVincenzi was the man in charge of branding and marketing the entirely new concept from its genesis to the grand opening. Find out how it was done on a small budget and very short timeline.

Be ready to have your questions answered about the future of this key downtown development.

Our Speaker: Larry DeVincenzi is a creative marketing director with more than 25 years of leadership experience in both mature and high growth companies. Larry has created successful brand platforms and projects for Fortune 500 and internationally recognized companies such as Caesars Palace, CommRow, Cox Communications, Discovery Channel, ESPN, Grand Sierra Resort, NBC Sports, The Montage, Microsoft Licensing, MGM Grand Hotel, Porsche Cars North America, Southwest Airlines and the Universities of Nevada in both Reno and Las Vegas.

Larry has been recognized with over 75 national, regional and local awards for professional excellence including numerous Addy’s, Telly’s and Communication Arts design awards.

Tuesday, January 17
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Friday, January 13th

Luncheon Pricing
$25 AMA, A2N2, PRSA Members with RSVP
$30 Non-Members with RSVP
$35 Without RSVP (Seating is on a space-available, first-come, first-serve basis)
$10 Students with RSVP

* The AMA is charged for each RSVP no show. If you cannot make it, please provide us with at least 24 hour notice or we will have to bill for being an absent RSVP’er. 

A handful of Northern Nevada’s premier organizations are teaming up to help a local nonprofit organization, Think Kindness, with their proceeds.

Throughout the evening, prizes will be raffled off including:

• A Kindle
• Exclusive products from the international brand Skagen
• Tickets to the Knitting Factory
• Wine packages
• And much, much more

“This event is the one chance for professionals to mingle with every advertising, design, marketing, printing and PR professional in town. And it’s a great way to celebrate the holiday season,” said Connie Weber, president of the AMA.

Friday, December 9
Location: Cargo at Comm Row
Time: 5pm to 8pm

Mingle Bells Pricing
Price of admission includes two drink tickets and heavy appetizers.

$35 – Members RSVP *
$40 – Non-Members with RSVP
$45 – Without RSVP
* AMA, A2N2, PRSA, AIGA, Ad2Reno, and SGN Members

Our Speaker: Jon Killoran is the Chief Executive Officer of the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, with the mission to bring a future Olympic Winter Games back to Reno/Tahoe. Jon has served in this position since February 2009, working with public and private sector leaders from Nevada and California to position our region as a premiere sports destination and bid favorite to host the Games. Before joining the Olympic effort, Jon spent 21-years in Reno’s television news industry. He earned several awards for his work as a sports broadcaster before being promoted to a similarly distinguished stint as news director for KRNV News 4.

Tuesday, November 15
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Friday, November 11th

Luncheon Pricing
$25 – AMA, A2N2, PRSA Members with RSVP
$30 – Non-Members with RSVP
$35 – Without RSVP (Seating is on a space-available, first-come, first-serve basis)
$10 – Students with RSVP

Our Speaker
Ron Strauss is an innovative thinker in marketing and branding. Hundreds of CEO’s have benefited from his insights into how to rediscover the power of their corporate and product/service brands. Ron led the marketing campaigns for:

• Siemens
• Schlumberger
• Land O’ Lakes
• Mobil

which won CLIO, One Show, and AMY awards. Ron co-authored the highly acclaimed book Value Creation: The Power of Brand Equity.

He also authored “Leading CEOs and Boards to a Greater Understanding of Brand Equity” in the inaugural issue of Chief Marketing Officer Journal.

A Cornell University alumnus,  he created the American Marketing Association’s two-day training seminars “Brand Measurement – Its Purpose, Potential and New Approaches” and “Online Branding: What Does Great Performance Look Like?”

Tuesday, October 11
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Friday, October 7th

Responsibilities:
IGT is looking for a Public Relations Manager to lead company-wide PR strategies and drive global messaging. Supervise and mentor a team of PR Representatives and manage external PR and advertising agencies and related vendors. Build media relationships and develop a media outreach plan. Write and distribute press releases and media alerts. Oversee the coordination of media events.  Work cross-functionally to support PR for product launches, corporate initiatives, technology developments, and achievement of company milestones. Analyze performance data and prepare management reporting relating to campaign results, corporate impact and other important quantitative and qualitative data.

Qualifications:

• BS/BA required with a degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English or related
• 8 years of PR experience and 2+ years of experience managing PR teams
• International experience a plus
• Expertise in developing and executing PR strategy
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills
• Creative, able to influence and passionate about influence internal and external audiences
• Team player

Interested and qualified applicants must send their resumes with cover letter to: Teri.Diaz(at)IGT(dot)com

Marketing Specialist III

Manages and leads the implementation of sales tools and product marketing materials for IGT’s largest product line – Core Products. Visit www.IGT.com/Games to learn more.  Projects you will be responsible for managing and spearheading are product brochures, web content, power point presentations, and publicity stunts for product launches, the writing of creative briefs and video scripts and special projects as needed. An understanding of social media marketing is helpful. The ideal candidate will be creative, possess superior communications and budget-planning skills, and be up to the task of launching products with casino partners, globally. You will frequently engage with sales, product management and the game studios to validate messaging and receive input on needed sales materials. You believe there is no “I” in team and work well with peers.

Qualifications – Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, marketing, communications or related field. 5+ years of experience in corporate marketing with demonstrated career progression. Casino marketing and/or gaming industry knowledge a plus.

Interested and qualified applicants must send their resumes with cover letter to: Teri.Diaz(at)IGT(dot)com

Join these innovative small business owners, as they discuss the effective marketing strategies they’ve used to survive the economy, and thrive in our area. What works? What hasn’t? Find out at this month’s luncheon and seep in the experiences shared by these successful small business owners.

Paul Doege – Owner, Recycled Records | Panelist
	In late 1980, Paul Doege acquired Recycled Records, then on Wells Avenue. Now in its 33rd year, Recycled Records remains the only remaining dedicated music/movie store in the Reno area, outlasting such notable institutions as Mirabellis, Wherehouse, Sam Goody, and Tower Records.

Misty Young – Owner, Squeeze In | Panelist
	The original Squeeze In was opened in May 1974 in downtown Truckee. Now, over 37 years later, the Squeeze In operates in three locations around Northern Nevada. Year after year, Truckee has voted the Squeeze In as the best breakfast in Truckee, as well as the restaurant recently was voted the best breakfast in Reno in 2011.

Jay Bushman – Owner, Nothing to It Cooking School | Panelist
	Started in 1995, Nothing to It Cooking School provides hands-on and demonstration classes taught by a variety of Master Chefs. The school started at the request of friends eager to improve their skills in the kitchen and hasn’t turned back since.

John Murphy – General Manager, Reno News and Review | Moderator
	John has been the General Manager of the Reno News & Review for 11 years and also produces downtown Reno’s “Rollin’ on the River” music series. John has been an advertising and marketing professional for 27 years. The Advertising Association of Northern Nevada, named him “Ad Person of the Year” for 2010.

Tuesday, September 20
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Monday, September 19th

Luncheon Pricing
$25 – AMA, A2N2, PRSA Members with RSVP
$30 – Non-Members with RSVP
$35 – Without RSVP (Seating is on a space-available, first-come, first-serve basis)
$10 – Students with RSVP

In the fight for equal opportunity for women, there has been a disconnect in the fundamental differences between men and women. Those differences do exist and as marketers this news is important. Women account for roughly 85% of all consumer purchases include everything from vehicles to healthcare.

Whether your focus is on sales, design, copy, client relations, management, this topic involves you.Don’t miss Susan Hill and Kymberlee Simantel answering the tough questions from moderator, Alison Gaulden in a panel style spit fire.

Our Panelists:

	Susan Hill – Panelist Susan Hill, MA, APR, is owner and chief amplifier for Susan Hill Public Relations ~ Marketing, a public relations consultancy that works with businesses to amplify their messages for growth and success.
	Kymberlee Simantel – Panelist Kymberlee Simantel is an Inspiration Engineer & CEO of Winning Ways For Life. She inspires confidence & charisma through artful communication and connection.  Kymberlee launched the eWomenNetwork, Reno/Tahoe, an international woman’s business organization in 2005.
	Alison Gaulden – Moderator Alison Gaulden started Agile Campaign Strategies in 2009 to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for public relations, with specialties in public affairs, community and member relations, media relations and publicity, marketing and volunteer/board development.

Tuesday, August 16
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Friday, July 12th

Luncheon Pricing
$25 – AMA, A2N2, PRSA Members with RSVP
$30 – Non-Members with RSVP
$35 – Without RSVP (Seating is on a space-available, first-come, first-serve basis)
$10 – Students with RSVP

Our Speaker
Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Management at The University of Nevada, Reno. He earned his doctorate in Business Administration at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.  Bret teaches university courses in organizational behavior and social business to both undergraduate and MBA students.  He blogs about leadership and social business at his website Positive Organizational Behavior. You can also find Bret on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Tuesday, July 19
Atlantis Hotel Casino
Networking: 11:30 AM – Noon
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 PM
RSVP by 12pm, Friday, July 15th

Luncheon Pricing
$25 – AMA, A2N2, PRSA Members with RSVP
$30 – Non-Members with RSVP
$35 – Without RSVP (Seating is on a space-available, first-come, first-serve basis)
$10 – Students with RSVP

Art Slaves 2011 Entry Form

Art Slaves is accepting submissions through June 24, 2011 for its 15th annual Art Slaves Show and Sale art show featuring the work of communications professionals in northern Nevada. The show is themed on Le Salon de Refusés — Salon of the Refused — an exhibition ordered by Napoleon III to showcase artists whose works had been rejected by Paris’ official Salon. Anyone in communications — advertising, PR, media, film, radio, printing, etc… — can submit work. Artists of all genres are encouraged to submit their work.

The show will hang at the Siena Casino in the Lounge Loft at 1 Lake Street, Reno throughout July during ARTOWN and is open to the public. An artists’ reception will be held July 7 from 5-10pm. The public is invited to view and purchase all displayed artwork during the July 7 reception that will feature spoken word performances, live music and libations.

Submission Details:
• $25 per entry
• $15 per student entry
• All submissions must be original
• Flat pieces must be wired for hanging
• Artists may submit multiple pieces to the Show and Sale, pending exhibition space.
• All submissions must be accompanied by an Art Slaves entry form and must include the size of each piece.
• Click here for entry forms. Completed forms may be faxed to (775) 829-7662.
• All artwork must be received by Digiman Photography Studio, 4690 Longley Lane #124 in Reno, by 6pm on June 24, 2011.