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The Aggie 100 honors the fastest growing Aggie owned or managed companies worldwide. Launch Agency was recognized as #51 on the list with a compound annual revenue growth rate of 28% from 2008 to 2010.
The Aggie 100 honors graduates from across disciplines and is a program created by the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School.
“We know how to get brands started, we know how to get them started again and we know how to keep them successful,” explains Michael Boone, Principal at Launch and 1984 Texas A&M graduate with a degree in marketing. “Thanks to a great roster of client partners and a very talented staff, we have grown each year we’ve been in business, especially the past few years. Inclusion in the Aggie 100 is recognition of that success.”
The official recognition came at a formal luncheon in the Zone Club at Kyle Field on the Texas A&M University campus. More than 600 honorees, employees, faculty, administrators, and well-wishers were in attendance.
“Since the founding of Texas A&M University, Aggies have been leaving a legacy across all businesses and industries,” said Dr. Richard H. Lester, Executive Director of the Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. “Over the last seven years, the Aggie 100 companies have continuously proven that even in tough economic times, solid business ideas and hard work pay off.”
The Aggie 100 list in its entirety may be viewed at www.aggie100.com.
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Launch Agency digital & social media planner, Alexandra Watson, just passed Google’s AdWords certification exams in advanced search engine marketing. She is now a Google AdWords certified professional. Alexandra was also awarded a DFWIMA (Dallas-Ft Worth Interactive Marketing Association) scholarship for excellence in interactive marketing.
Watson attended DFWIMA’s 2011 Excellence in Interactive Marketing awards dinner at the Dallas Museum of Art on April 19th, to be recognized as a scholarship recipient. The scholarship program is new to DFWIMA this year. The fund was established in 2010 to support the study of interactive marketing at DFW area universities. Outstanding students were selected by faculty nomination and included recipients from Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas and University of North Texas. Watson was selected by Temerlin Advertising Institute faculty as SMU’s first recipient of this prestigious award.
Watson graduates from SMU in May 2011 with a Master’s degree in Advertising-New Media. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average while working full-time at Launch to build the digital and social media planning discipline at the agency.
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Launch principal David Wilgus has served on the University of North Texas CVAD board for the past two years.
“I’ve been a big fan of the school over the years,” UNT alum Wilgus said. “We’ve hired several art directors from their award-winning design program, and I’m always impressed by the talented students they produce.”
UNT’s College of Arts and Design is considered one of the best art schools in the southwest, offering 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Wilgus has been closely involved in helping the school launch its new Design Research Center (DRC) in downtown Dallas. The DRC opened in January to serve as an “urban laboratory” where graduate students and faculty members can spark and sustain design-driven solutions to real world problems.
To learn more about UNT’s College of Visual Arts and Design visit http://www.art.unt.edu.
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The Launch Agency account service team increased its ranks with the addition of Carl Brandvold to the fold. Most recently with The Richards Group, Carl brings with him a love of brand marketing and building client relationships.
Born in Illinois, he spent most of his childhood in California, then attended high school and college in Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State and went work at Walsh Branding in Tulsa — as a graphic designer! He soon discovered his passion for account service and working directly with clients, and switched departments and career paths (and wardrobes?). Carl left Walsh for Richards in 2010 and joined Launch in March, 2011.
Carl’s other interests include illustrating, drawing, fishing and running. Recently he ran his first half marathon. He also loves old school films in all genres, but he is particularly fond of comedies and mob movies. And to balance his love of the classics, he also loves tech and gadgets, especially those made by Apple.
The Q&A provides insight into how Carl’s mind works:
Neil Patrick Harris, err... Carl Brandvold
Q: Most unique talent?
A: I can do a pretty good impression of a raptor. Seriously, it’s loud.
Q: Favorite galaxy or constellation?
A: I feel like if I were a big Star Wars fan or Trekkie this would be an opportunity to say something witty. Unfortunately I am not.
Q: Favorite kind of games? Board games, mind games, video games…?
A: Board games. Simple games that involve social interaction. Apples to Apples is always fun. It gets people to laugh.
Q: Who would play you in the feature/art film/made-for-TV movie about your life?
A: Ugh. Fine. I’ll say it. Neil Patrick Harris. Apparently I look like him…I don’t see it.
Q: What is your favorite piece of art?
A: I’m a big architecture fan. Art Deco and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.
Q: What is your favorite piece of children’s entertainment?
A: Does Harry Potter count? I really want to go see the new Harry Potter theme park in Florida. Don’t judge me…
Q: Celebrity you’d most like to meet.
A: David Bowie. I’ve been a Bowie fan since I was 5 years old. My uncle used to make me recite over and over that I loved David Bowie. Apparently, it worked.
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Diane Seimetz, Launch Principal, offered her take on Journalism and Mass Communication Education at the recent Idea Summit hosted by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC). The topic of the Summit, held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, was “The changes I would make in Journalism Education.”
Communications professionals, including Seimetz, came to discuss what Journalism majors — and the corresponding curricula — are doing right and critical areas for improvement. The event focused on the perception that there are no new jobs in these professional fields, and the consequent dwindling numbers of students in these majors. In attendance were eminent presenters and academics from some of the most respected mass communication schools including Syracuse, Trinity Tech, TCU Schieffer, BYU, Missouri and Scripps College of Communication.
“The topline to the students was that the world still uses pictures and words to tell stories,” explained Seimetz. “The need for that skillset and talent hasn’t changed.”
In addition, “Students should be held to real-world timelines and more realistic deadlines. They should be taught how to concept quickly and accurately, and call upon that creativity at a moment’s notice to survive in their first jobs out of school. Inspiration is capricious, but creativity is on demand.” Seimetz proposed pointers on “how to do things quickly” and “how to articulate and present ideas well.” She contended that good ideas are often lost because someone couldn’t sell them.
Seimetz suggested class topics with more immediate, and practical application, such as: “How to Have a Two Way Conversation with Your Audience,” “How to Change Your Voice When You Change Medium,” “How to Sell Something in 140 Characters” and “Writing for an Audience with the Attention Span of a Gnat.”
One of her key takeaways was that because the lines between advertising, marketing, and journalism are blurring, there are new opportunities for students who understand aspects of all three and possess the skills to utilize them. Most current courses offered in these programs are attribute-driven as opposed to benefit-driven. Shifting this paradigm could help students in their approach to solving problems and critical thinking.
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Last month, Launch welcomed its newest copywriter, Ryan Ingram.
Originally from Texas, Ryan heeded the siren song and returned to Texas after an 8+ year stint at Ogilvy & Mather New York.
Ryan graduated from Texas Tech and jumped into the advertising industry at Ogilvy Houston and, later, JWT Houston before heading to New York. During his career he has created successful and award-winning work for blue chip brands such as American Express, IBM, Motorola, Shell and Pfizer, to name a few.
Ryan is a connoisseur of culture as well as a secret lover of romantic comedies. He thinks Point Break is a severely underrated movie. One of his roughest days in memory was the day Lost ended. Now he lives out his own romantic comedy with his wife, his 15-month old son, and a lack of sleep.
As Ryan turns his gaze to Launch’s client roster, we turn ours to his Q&A.
Ryan Ingram in "Being Ryan Ingram"
Q: What is your favorite children’s movie?
A: The Dark Crystal. It was creepy, trippy, and I don’t know what was
going on, but it was awesome.
Q: Favorite “That’s what she said” quote?
A: “This doesn’t do it for me.”
Q: Do you currently hold any Guinness World Records? If not,
which are you most likely to achieve in the near future?
A: I don’t, but it would be consecutive hours in a tanning bed
without anything happening. I’m really white.
Q: If you were a toaster what kind of toast would you make?
A: I would toast bacon, extra crispy, or beef jerky, or slim jims.
Something with meat.
Q: How will the world end?
A: Exactly like Independence Day without Will Smith, 30-minutes in.
Launch is happy to have Ryan helming a pen, paper, word processor and concepting on its – and its clients’ – behalf.
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March is Launch’s anniversary month, so the agency celebrated in style with an agency dinner March 10th, at the exceptional Steve Field’s restaurant in Plano. The eight-year anniversary party was an evening of fine food, fabulous friends, and shared stories of hard work, great creative and success.
There was only one requirement for entry to the dinner, a contribution of personal insight gained from tenure at Launch. As the staff of 25 went around the massive table between delicious courses, each regaled with agency experiences, inside jokes, and office anecdotes.
It began with a few comically photoshopped pictures of staff members and continued with hilarious memories of office pranks. Diane Seimetz was even awarded the title of Creative Gangsta complete with a giant plush crown.
But the tone of the evening echoed strongest in the unanimous expression of gratitude the employees felt toward Launch and their peers. The heartfelt laughter and camaraderie remained even as the employees called it a night.
Now, with eight years of strategic and insightful work behind them, Launch prepares for eight more. The agency is ready with new surprises and renewed dedication to the clients and communications that made it what it is today.
Happy Anniversary, Launch, and may there be many more to come.
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Neither wind, nor rain, nor snowpocalypse could prevent Art Director Ellen Marquart from her first day at Launch Agency this past February.
Ellen Marquart
Ellen’s overland adventure from Atlanta to Dallas, lasted 3 days through icy roads and bewildered Southern drivers. Now that she joins Launch she can continue her work in art direction, graphic design, and popular cultural studies. A self-diagnosed pop culture nerd (read aficionado), Ellen is addicted to television and popular entertainment.
Born in Brazil, Ellen moved to Houston when she was 3. After relocating again to attend a Southern Adventist University in Tennessee, she went on to the Johnson Group, and then N+A Advertising in Atlanta.
To better understand the mind of Launch’s newest AD, the Q&A was tailored to plumb the inner depths of her psyche. Read on to find out even more about her.
Q: What is your spirit animal?
A: A hummingbird
Q: Who would play you in the feature/art film/made-for-TV movie about your life?
A: Michelle Williams. I stole her haircut. So they wouldn’t have to pay for a stylist.
Q: Play, opera, or symphony? TV, movie, or concert?
A: All of the above.
Q: Are you now or have you ever been employed by the CIA or any other clandestine agency?
A: I haven’t but it’s always been a secret dream of mine.
Q: What is the most awkward / unfortunate elevator conversation you have ever had?
A: I haven’t ridden a lot of elevators in my life but I did have a very extensive conversation about hand sanitizer with a man on a plane once.
Q: Celebrity you’d most like to meet.
A: Zachary Levi (Chuck, Tangled)
Q: Best movie 1-liner?
A: “Inconceivable!”
Ellen’s talent and skills enhance the Launch creative firepower and bring female flair to the art directors. Please join us in welcoming her!
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Alexandra Watson
With bounding enthusiasm, Alexandra Watson, New Media masters-candidate-intern extraordinaire, began her first official day at Launch two weeks past.
Her superpower — the ability to discern media consumption habits of the world’s most elusive prey in the Ahab’s quest of advertising. Her research interests include digital & social media strategy, influence within social networks, online metrics & analytics, and cross-cultural communication (which she researched for 5 weeks in India last summer).
She is above all else, a loving mother of two girls and a dedicated wife. Currently she is working on her Masters at SMU in Dallas. Before returning to school she worked in the financial services sector with non-profit organizations. She also has extensive experience in database management, database marketing, CRM, and business planning.
To see if she even has any free time, and if so, how she likes to occupy it, read on:
Q: If you were a toaster, what would you toast, and to what degree?
A: Sesame seed bagel, well-toasted. Practical and filling but a bit different.
Q: How do you feel about the pending robot apocalypse?
A: As long as the robots will need an analyst for their data, I’m okay with it.
Q: Hobbies?
A: Photography, scrapbooking, painting, singing, Lego games on Xbox 360 with my kids.
Q: Favorite copywriter intern?
A: Definitely Matt L.
Q: What is your ideal vacation?
A: A week at a beachside resort with my family in a place we’d never been to before. Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or somewhere on the Mediterranean would be great.
Q: Favorite inspirational rocket/space related saying?
A: “I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” (Og Mandino, American essayist & psychologist, 1923-1996)
Q: Best film adaptation of a novel?
A: The Count of Monte Cristo (new version). The movie was better. In the book his revenge goes on for years and years.
Q: What is the best weather?
A: Cool and cloudy. With a chance of meatballs.
Launch welcomes Alexandra and Alexandra welcomes Girl Scout cookie orders. The form is on her desk. Check out her blog at blog.strategyrockstar.com.
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