“It has been so gratifying to know that LGA’s 24 hours of nonstop work has done so much to enable these Mecklenburg County nonprofits to tell their stories to people who need their services and to reach out to individuals and organizations that can support them in furthering their missions,” said Judi Wax, executive vice president / director of public relations at LGA, who oversees Goodstock.

The organizations chosen will receive some of the marketing pieces they need most, such as a print ad, brochure, press kit, radio script, logo and identity package, social media strategy, Facebook page, and more – all overnight and all for free.

“Summit House implemented a new corporate image using the logo, taglines and brochure developed for us during Goodstock last year,” said Denna Weston, Triangle director, who oversees branding for Summit House, one of the nine organizations selected in 2009. “We revamped our newsletter to utilize the new images and created new letterhead, business cards and marketing materials, giving us an incredible opportunity to present our organization and its mission to numerous groups and individuals. The new logo, brochure and taglines have made it immensely easier to explain what this organization is committed to accomplishing and represent our brand in a professional, concise manner.”

During Goodstock, recipients will have access to LGA’s advertising, public relations and marketing experts, and their proposals will be evaluated on the following:

• The services they provide in Mecklenburg County
• Their need for and inability to fund marketing, advertising and PR initiatives because of budget cuts, reductions in donations or a measurable increase in demand for their organization’s services due to the economic downturn
• Submission of their application by email to goodstock@lgapr.com by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31
• Their status as a 501(c)(3)
• Their availability to meet with LGA at its offices during the 24-hour period

LGA launched its first Goodstock last year in honor of its 25th anniversary. The agency produced more than 25 pieces of work for nine nonprofits, including new names, logos, taglines, a website, press materials, key messages, fundraising event ideas and social media strategies.

The original Goodstock was created six years ago in Madison, Wis., by Andy Wallman, president and executive creative director of Knupp and Watson, an agency of similar size and services to LGA. Last year, the firms hosted Goodstock events concurrently in Charlotte and Madison. The firms will hold Goodstock events simultaneously again this year.

For more information, visit www.lgaadv.com or email questions – with Goodstock in the subject line – to goodstock@lgapr.com. No phone calls, please.

Nonprofits chosen to receive LGA’s services will be announced on Monday, Sept. 20, and expected to be present at LGA’s offices at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, for a briefing with the LGA team.

The application process for Goodstock 2010 is now closed. Please check back in late September to learn more about the non-profits that will participate.

In his 16 years with the agency, Aldridge has been involved in everything from major branding campaigns to new product launches for clients such as BB&T, American Tire Distributors, Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists and Novant Health. Aldridge leads a multi-disciplinary creative team to deliver strategic, effective communications for some of LGA’s largest accounts.

“Todd consistently looks for ways to support the efforts of the agency and its clients,” said Steve Dunkley, senior vice president / executive creative director. “He has the kind of work ethic, passion and talent needed to help our clients succeed and grow.”

Prior to LGA, Aldridge served as a graphic arts manager at the Charlotte Chamber, where he was responsible for design and production of publications and marketing materials related to the Chamber’s member resources and events.

In the community, Aldridge has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America, served as a youth coach for local soccer and baseball teams and performed in “The Nutcraker” with the Piedmont Dance Theater.

Aldridge is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in illustration.

Since joining LGA in 2004, McCray has consistently delivered on the development and execution of strategic public relations initiatives for a variety of LGA clients, and currently provides senior-level counsel on EthosPartners, Wingate University and Charlotte’s bid for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

“Stacey is an accomplished PR professional, leader, supervisor and role model both at LGA and in our community and has played a key role in our success,” said Judi Wax, LGA’s executive vice president / director of public relations.

Prior to LGA, McCray served as director of public relations for Johnson C. Smith University and external communications supervisor for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where she managed the nationally recognized marketing campaign, “Greatness comes in 148 locations,” which led to a 96 percent family participation rate in the district’s system-wide choice plan.

In addition to her client work, McCray represents LGA in the community as an active volunteer. She has served on the boards of the Charlotte Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Classroom Central and as a volunteer coordinator and mentor for Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. She also has served as public relations chair for the annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon since its inception eight years ago and is actively involved in her church and university alumni association.

Jones brings more than 16 years of agency experience to her role at LGA. As a group creative director, she is responsible for providing strategic oversight and leading creative efforts for variety of LGA’s accounts including Babson Capital Management, Piedmont Natural Gas and Presbyterian Hospital.

“Jennifer brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position,” said Steve Dunkley, senior vice president and executive creative director. “We are pleased to have her as part of our growing creative team.”

Prior to joining LGA, Jones worked at Mullen in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she created, strategized and wrote brand-building campaigns for T.J. Maxx, Wachovia, SunTrust, Hanes and LaQuinta Inns and Suites. Her creativity and consumer insight even led to a national dialogue on men’s underwear, and an opportunity to work with Michael Jordan, in the Hanes commercial, “Boxers or Briefs?”

Jones graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communication.

Wiggins joins LGA from Bouvier Kelly Advertising in Greensboro, N.C., where he served as a media planner/buyer. In addition, Wiggins worked at Mullen in Winston-Salem, N.C. for five years.

“Wiggins’ brings extensive experience to this position,” said Shawn Gordon, vice president/media director. “His expertise in negotiating and executing broadcast media schedules and developing promotional media packages for clients will be an asset to clients.”

Wiggins graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. He lives with his wife, Jordan and their eleven-month-old son, Dexter.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 16, 2010 — Luquire George Andrews (LGA), one of the Southeast region’s leading advertising, marketing and public relations firms, received a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at a ceremony held June 3 in
New York City. The Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding strategic public relations planning and implementation.

“The Award of Excellence recognizes top public relations programs in our industry,” James J. Roop, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2010 Awards and Honors Committee chair and president of Roop & Co., Cleveland, Ohio. “To receive an Award of Excellence, programs must be of Silver Anvil caliber and represent some of the finest strategic and creative thinking in our profession.”

LGA was selected from more than 800 entries nationwide to receive the 2010 Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for its “Jumpstarting a Physician Practice in a Competitive Market” campaign in the integrated communications category. Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists, Central Indiana’s premier provider of comprehensive orthopedic services and the official team physicians for the NFL Indianapolis Colts, had not promoted itself in years and was losing market share when LGA developed an integrated communications plan to reestablish the practice and increase new patient volumes. With public relations, advertising and marketing supporting each other, 2009 was the orthopedic practice’s most successful year ever.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the impact this campaign has made for Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists, and we are equally proud to receive this national recognition for a program that involves brand strategy, public relations, advertising and new media,” said
Judi Wax, LGA’s executive vice president of public relations. “It is a testament to the creativity, hard work and dedication of the integrated team and our agency.”
The Silver Anvil Awards program has grown in scope and stature since its inception in 1946, and awards are now given in 59 categories and subcategories. In the 60-plus-year history of the Silver Anvils, many organizations have been recognized, including solo practitioners, agencies of all sizes, large and small businesses, top corporations, nonprofits, associations and government agencies.

About Luquire George Andrews
A leader in integrated communications in the Carolinas for more than 25 years, Charlotte-based Luquire George Andrews (LGA) provides advertising, marketing and public relations services to a broad range of clients from major regional corporations to global Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit www.lgaadv.com.

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
With more than 31,000 members, PRSA is the largest organization of public relations professionals and students. PRSA is comprised of 111 local Chapters organized into 10 geographic Districts; 16 Professional Interest Sections that focus on issues, trends and research relevant to specialized practice areas, such as technology, health care, financial communications, entertainment and sports, and travel tourism; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which has more than 300 Chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. PRSA is headquartered in New York.

The ADDY® Awards exemplify the best of the best in advertising. They represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types and creative of all sizes. LGA won the following awards:

• • Judges’ Award for Print – Consumer / Trade, Full-Page Color – Don’t Worry/Charlotte Plastic Surgery
• • Gold ADDY® for Special Event Campaign – Fight Night Tickets / Charlotte Sports Commission
• • Gold ADDY® for Outdoor Board – Goal Posts / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Gold ADDY® for Mixed Media, Local Consumer – It’s a Rush Campaign / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Silver ADDY® for Direct Marketing – Jersey / University of North Carolina Charlotte
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color – Banana / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color – Balloon / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Publication, Full-Page Color –
  Don’t Worry /Charlotte Plastic Surgery
• • Silver ADDY® for Consumer or Trade Campaign, Color – Balloon + Banana / Blum, Inc.
• • Silver ADDY® for National Radio – Holiday Hints / Quail Hollow Championship
• • Silver ADDY® for Local TV – Deer / Meineke Car Care Bowl
• • Silver ADDY® for Local TV Campaign – Deer + Snowman / Meineke Car Care Bowl
• • Silver ADDY® for Self-Promotion, Direct Marketing –
  Holiday Tin: Mr. Pistachio Head / LGA

“We have an outstanding group of creative professionals who work hard to provide results for our clients,” said Steve Dunkley, senior vice president/executive creative director. “LGA is honored to be presented with these awards.”

“Research shows that consumers want to know more about everything from budgeting and saving to credit and investing so they can feel empowered in their own abilities to make good financial choices, especially in this current economic environment,” said Peggy Brookhouse, LGA president and partner. “This campaign was created to emphasize BB&T’s 138-year history of sharing the knowledge that helps clients move confidently in the right direction.”

Beginning Monday, April 5, the campaign will run in 33 markets along the East Coast, including Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C., and incorporates television and radio advertising. The advertising primarily will be weighted towards Alabama and Florida markets to coincide with the on-boarding of new clients to BB&T from the conversion of Colonial Bank, which was acquired in 2009.

Four, 30-second TV commercials illustrate BB&T’s personal approach by showing clients going the opposite direction of the crowd while walking through an airport, shopping in a mall, driving in a car or heading to work because of the peace and independence that comes with better knowledge and control of their finances. The 60-second radio commercials complement the campaign.

“The spots are a dramatic and relevant presentation of what it’s like to know more about your finances and where that can take you. They show how knowledge from BB&T can assist them in making informed decisions and provides them with an optimistic view of the future related to their finances,” said Steve Dunkley, LGA executive creative director.

The campaign is targeted to a cross section of BB&T’s client base as well as the bank’s service lines, including commercial banking, checking and savings, mortgage lending and general retail services.

“The intriguing visuals and story lines work on a level a bit deeper than the typical ad campaign because it’s reflective of not only the better financial path that BB&T clients are traveling, but also of BB&T’s history of independent thinking and sound principles, which has helped the bank emerge as one of the most respected in today’s economic environment,” said Marty Kelso, LGA associate creative director/copywriter.

“It’s a pleasure to reward hardworking and talented people like Pete, Judi and Bobbi,” said Peggy Brookhouse, LGA president and partner. “All three of these individuals have been instrumental in LGA’s success and in helping our clients reach their business goals.”

As LGA’s chief operating officer for the past nine years, Marco oversees agency operations – including capital equipment needs assessment, preparing for growth, contract negotiations and managing expenses and receivables. He has an extensive media and advertising background that includes more than 30 years in the newspaper and broadcast industries, as well as in agency media planning and senior account management.

Since joining LGA in 2006, Wax has led continued growth in the agency’s public relations practice – expanding existing relationships and developing new clients in key business categories, including healthcare, financial services and food products. A 26-year PR veteran, she has extensive experience in strategic program development, media training and crisis management. Wax has held senior positions at leading agencies in the Midwest, including Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm. She also is a former feature writer for the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald. In 2009, she received the Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business Achievement Award.

Adderton has contributed to LGA’s success for more than 10 years, managing vendor relationships and production functions, including collecting competitive bids, estimating, proofreading and maintaining quality control. She has been involved in the graphics industry in Charlotte for more than 25 years, including time at Belk Printing and Washburn Graphics (now Cadmus), and on the client side at Premier, Inc.