FISHTANK CREATIVE WINS 8 GOLD ADDYS, JUDGE'S AWARD

ERIE, PA — Along with taking home eight Gold ADDY® Awards—the most golds awarded to any agency—fishtank creative won an exclusive Judge’s Award at the 38th Annual Erie Advertising Club ADDY Awards on Friday, April 4 at the Concourse of Union Station. The local full-service advertising agency received the Judge’s Award as well as a Gold ADDY in the category of Non-traditional Advertising for its creation of custom-designed, full-length elevator door graphics—part of an overall hand hygiene awareness campaign developed for Hamot Medical Center entitled: Spread the words. Not the Germs. “The ad campaign has played a crucial role in our efforts to increase awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in the medical center,” said Emily McCracken, Hamot’s Director of Infection Control. “The diverse use of the ad materials has helped us reach almost everyone that would enter the facility with this critical message.” Displayed prominently throughout the hospital, the campaign featured non-traditional advertising elements such as the full-length elevator door graphics as well as large hanging hallway banners and wall signage. “Ultimately, our goal was to create a highly visible, highly memorable buzz campaign that would literally stop people in their tracks,” said Jamie Potosnak, fishtank creative account supervisor and creative director. “We wanted to continually educate as well as incite hospital patients, visitors and staff to comply with proper hand hygiene standards established by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.” This year’s ADDY Judges were Jim Elkin, CEO, ADgility Solutions, Cincinnati, Ohio; Tom Moore, President, Moore and Associates, Cleveland, Ohio; and Sue Hough, Founder and Art Director, Octavo Designs, Frederick, Maryland. According to Judge Tom Moore, he chose fishtank creative because of its unique approach to delivering such an important message to so many people. “Although I don’t typically get too excited about the proliferation of advertising media, the proliferation of germs is even worse. “This elevator sign is just brilliant, I think it works in so many ways,” Moore added. “It’s just absolutely perfect—it’s pure genius. I’d talk about it more but I’ve got to go wash my hands.” The ADDY Awards is the first of a three-tier, national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) that recognizes creative excellence in the field of advertising. The ADDYs are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 50,000 entries every year in local ADDY competitions. fishtank creative, founded in 1990, is a full-service, Erie-based marketing, advertising and public relations resource powered by the Velocity Network with regional and national accounts. Its client roster includes: Hamot Medical Center, RAILPOWER, Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, Erie Zoological Society, DAD’s Pet Care, Velocity Network, Erie Redevelopment Authority, Erie County Recycling Program and Ashtabula County Medical Center.

LOCAL ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES ACCEPT BEST OF SHOW HONORS AT 2007 ADDY® AWARD COMPETITION

fishtank creative receives prestigious award for fifth time in six years

Erie, PA—Jamie Potosnak, vice president–account services, and Jim Lynch, president, recently accepted Best of Show honors on behalf of fishtank creative at the 37th Annual Erie Advertising Club ADDY® Awards. A panel of three out-of-market judges awarded the full-service marketing and advertising agency with Best of Show 2007 for “Go. Downtown.”—a series of four 15-second television commercials shot and edited in-house for the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (EMTA) new Bay Liner Trolley service. The quartet of television spots first aired locally in August 2006 to promote EMTA’s new handcrafted fleet of trackless trolley-inspired vehicles. fishtank creative was awarded the evening’s top prize for the fifth time in the last six years and the sixth time overall in the past nine years. Along with Potosnak, who served as art director, director of photography and editor, Mike Hermann, vice president-creative services, served as creative director/copywriter and Melissa Nemenz served as account coordinator. The ADDY award ceremony—which took place on Friday, March 23, at the Metropolitan Dance Club in downtown Erie—is the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The ADDY Awards Competition is the industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence. A full-service advertising agency with small boutique appeal, fishtank creative is a strategy rich, ultra-conceptual resource for its local, regional and national client base.

MAGGIE THE VIRTUAL DOG

We love dogs here at fishtank—so much so we often bring them along to work with us. In fact, it's not unusual to find them roaming the hallways, doing their business on the neighboring law firm's lawn or just napping away the afternoon on one of our beanbag chairs. What a life, right? Well, when we had the opportunity to develop an interactive website for DAD'S Treats, we just had to incorporate our love of all things canine into the creative. The new site (www.dadstreats.com) which just recently launched, acts as a portal to two of DAD'S premium dog treat brands—Better Than Ears and Nut-Tastics. But what makes this site most appealing to animal lovers of all ages is the addition of a virtual dog on the homepage. Actually, she's a multi-talented little Jack Russell Terrier named Maggie. Once the page loads, you can type in any number of commands and/or tricks and Maggie will perform them in real time. From dog-training standards like come, fetch and shake hands to more elaborate tricks including dancing, counting and even yoga poses like downward-facing dog, Maggie virtually does it all. Yeah, the pun was intended. Best of all, you won't ever need a pooper scooper. Already a celebrity in her own right, Maggie has made numerous national TV appearances including stints on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Animal Planet's Pet Star and Fox News. She's sure to have millions of new fans once they see her strut her stuff in cyberspace. So check Maggie out, people. And remember to share the love.

WE'RE UP AND BLOGGING

Check out the new fishtank blog at fishtankcreative.blogspot.com

LOCAL ADVERTISING AGENCY HONORED BY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF ERIE COUNTY

fishtank creative recognized for its role in successful Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project

Erie, Pa.—Jamie Potosnak, vice president of account services, and Mike Hermann, vice president of creative services, recently accepted a Community Education Award on behalf of fishtank creative from The Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie County (CAC). The award ceremony was part of A Night in Tuscany, an annual fund-raising dinner benefiting The CAC. The Italian-themed fine-dining event was held at Porter’s Restaurant on Saturday, March 25, 2006. According to Judy Smith, PhD, executive director of the CAC, fishtank creative was acknowledged for its critical role in assuring the success of the organization’s three-year Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project. The local advertising agency was among those “who helped make a difference for children in the Erie community.” The CAC enlisted the strategic design services of fishtank creative to help spread the project’s educational message via billboard to thousands of individuals within the Erie community. Other award honorees included Saint Vincent Health System, Hamot Medical Center, Corry Memorial Hospital, Erie County Medical Society Alliance, the Rotary, Erie Community Foundation and LaMar Advertising of Erie. Detective Sergeant Joseph J. Spusta, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, also received The CAC Auxiliary Recognition Award that evening. Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) occurs when an individual violently shakes an infant or toddler and causes physical damage. In 25 percent of SBS cases, a fatality occurs. Forty percent of the cases result in severe and permanent injuries such as paralysis, blindness and severe learning problems. The Shaken Baby Prevention Project started in earnest after seven cases of SBS were identified in late 2001 and early 2002. Since the three-year initiative began in 2003, no reported cases of SBS have occurred in Erie County. The CAC will continue to focus on community awareness throughout the year. For more information on Shaken Baby Syndrome, contact The CAC at (814) 877-4020 or visit the National Shaken Baby Center website (www.dontshake.com). A locally owned, full-service marketing and advertising resource, fishtank creative (www.fishtankcreative.com) specializes in the development, design and execution of all creative services including website, broadcast, collateral and multimedia materials.

FISHTANK CREATIVE TAKES HOME BEST OF SHOW AT 35th ANNUAL ADDY® AWARDS

Agency wins top honors for fourth year in a row

Erie, Pa.—Jamie Potosnak and Jim Lynch recently accepted Best of Show honors on behalf of fishtank creative at the 35th Annual Erie Advertising Club ADDY® Awards. The veteran full-service advertising agency was awarded Best of Show for “ATM/Meters”—an offbeat television campaign developed for Cunningham Chrysler of Erie. The two :30 spots take a quirky, humorous slant on real life issues while driving home vehicle price points and dealer sales incentives. Both spots were filmed and edited in-house by fishtank creative, incorporating national voice talent and a custom music bed. This is the fourth year in a row that fishtank creative has received the prestigious Best of Show distinction from ADDY® Award judges. Potosnak, vice president of account services, and Lynch, agency president, worked on the award-winning spots along with copywriter/vice president of creative services Mike Hermann. Overall, fishtank creative received 12 total ADDY® Awards for local, regional and national clients including The Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute, Time Warner Cable—Shreveport, La., Molly Brannigan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, Blakeslee Furniture & Flooring, MANTEC and Cunningham Chrysler. The agency also received several ADDY® Awards in the category of industry self-promotion. The world’s largest advertising competition, the ADDY® Awards honor excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the industry.

LOCAL AD AGENCY NAMES PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENTS

fishtank creative officially incorporates

Erie, Pa.—fishtank creative recently restructured its operations and has officially become an incorporated entity. Jim Lynch, founding member and former sole proprietor of fishtank creative, has assumed the role of agency president. As the majority shareholder, Lynch will continue his duties as art director/creative director—a title he has held since the agency’s inception in 1990. With more than 20 years’ experience in graphic design, Lynch has worked exclusively in the advertising and marketing industry. His areas of expertise include creative development, multimedia production, marketing planning, corporate identity, web and print design. Jamie Potosnak, account supervisor, has been named vice president of account services. A minority shareholder, Potosnak has been an integral member of the fishtank creative team since 1999. He boasts more than eight years of local, regional and national marketing experience in the health care, higher education, consumer, business-to-business and industrial fields. Mike Hermann, creative director/copywriter, has been named vice president of creative services. Also a minority shareholder, Hermann has been with fishtank creative since 2001. An advertising veteran with more than 10 years’ industry experience, he has served as copywriter and creative director on numerous high-profile, award-winning campaigns for the agency’s local, regional and national client base. A locally owned, full-service marketing and advertising resource, fishtank creative (www.fishtankcreative.com) specializes in the development, design and execution of all creative services including website, broadcast, collateral and multimedia materials.

FISHTANK CREATIVE LAUNCHES BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE WEBSITE

Local advertising agency unveils latest web design

Erie, Pa.—fishtank creative recently launched the new corporate website for the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute. Located at www.barberinstitute.org, the website offers individuals, families and professionals worldwide immediate access to the organization’s leading-edge services, education and support. “The Barber National Institute is an exceptional, person-centered organization that continues to be a real difference maker in people’s lives,” said Molly McGrane, account supervisor at fishtank creative. “They’ve helped make dreams come true for thousands of people with disabilities and their families … and we’re extremely honored to have been chosen to create the work.” “In re-designing the website, we wanted to capture the essence of the Barber National Institute—its people, its culture and its mission,” added Mike Hermann, creative director/copywriter at fishtank creative. “Our goal is to help spread the Institute’s tradition of excellence to all corners of the world.” A world-class learning and developmental resource for children and adults, the Barber National Institute has earned a global reputation for expertise and innovation in the field of disabilities. “Log on to the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute website and you can't help but notice the children,” said Maureen Barber-Carey, Ed. D., executive vice president of the internationally recognized non-profit organization. “Their smiles fill the pages and their dreams pave the way. Using their voices and paintings, each link grabs your attention and leads you on a journey through an organization where helping children and their families is a way of life.” For more information regarding the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute and its many services, please visit www.barberinstitute.org today. A locally owned, full-service marketing and advertising resource, fishtank creative (www.fishtankcreative.com) specializes in the development, design and execution of all creative services including website, broadcast, collateral and multimedia materials.

FISHTANK CREATIVE GARNERS NATIONAL ACCLAIM AT 25TH ANNUAL TELLY AWARDS COMPETITION

Agency gains national recognition in consecutive years

Erie, Pa.— Molly McGrane and Jamie Potosnak, account supervisors at fishtank creative, recently accepted two national Telly Awards on behalf of The Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute and Gannon University. McGrane accepted a Telly statuette for “Dreams,” a 30-second television commercial produced for the Barber National Institute. “Dreams” was designated Finalist in the Regional Television category. Potosnak accepted a Telly statuette for “Visit,” a 30-second television commercial produced for Gannon University. “Visit” was designated Finalist in the Regional Television category. The spot also previously received Best of Show honors at the 2002 Erie Advertising Club ADDY® Awards. Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and receives over 10,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries. It has become one of the most sought-after awards in the TV, commercial and video industry. Full details of the Telly Awards competition are posted at www.telly.com. A locally owned, full-service marketing and advertising resource, fishtank creative specializes in the development, design and execution of all creative services including website, broadcast, collateral and multi-media materials.

FISHTANK CREATIVE REELS IN BEST OF SHOW AT 34th ANNUAL ADDY® AWARDS

Agency garners advertising’s top award for third year in a row

Erie, Pa.—Jamie Potosnak recently accepted Best of Show honors on behalf of fishtank creative at the 34th Annual Erie Advertising Club ADDY® Awards. The veteran ad shop was awarded Best of Show for Connected To The Future—Erie Cablevision Annual Report 2002. Overall, fishtank creative received 26 total ADDY® Awards for local, regional and national clients including The Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute, Time Warner Cable—Shreveport, La., Erie Cablevision/Time Warner Cable, Cunningham Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Hamot Medical Center, Better Results, Inc., and the Children’s Advocacy Center among others. This is the third year in a row that fishtank creative has received the prestigious Best of Show distinction. The agency previously won top honors in 2003 for Hamot Medical Center’s “Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute (M.I.S.I)” campaign, and in 2002 for Gannon University’s “Visit” campaign. The world’s largest advertising competition, the ADDY® Awards honor excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the industry.