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Inc. magazine seeks to recognize and to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and hard work that entrepreneurs put into building their companies. The Inc. 5000 annually ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. And for the second consecutive year, Launch was honored to make the list.
We moved up a few hundred spots, landing at #3145 for 2011. There are more than 27 million businesses registered in the U.S. so the ranking puts the agency in some lofty company.
The Inc. 5000 are catalysts for job creation and growth. In fact, the 5000 created 370,592 jobs in the last three years.
Launch Principals Michael Boone, Diane Seimetz and Dave Wilgus would like to thank Jane Berentson, Editor, Inc. magazine and her staff for the list and recognition. And, of course, credit goes to our client partners, and our creative, talented staff.
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Valerie Lyon, has rejoined Launch Agency working with the account service team, specializing in client service and business development.
A California native, Valerie graduated from Humboldt State University with a Journalism degree. She started her career in San Francisco at Ketchum Advertising in media planning. She then moved to Dallas to join Bozell, which became Temerlin McClain, where she led the national JCPenney business as Account Director for several years. Valerie was part of Launch in the early days, before joining the executive management team overseeing research, interactive and media services at Temerlin McClain. Most recently a SVP, Brand Development Director at FKM, Valerie is happy to be reunited with her former Launch colleagues.
Valerie is married with a teenage daughter. In her off time she enjoys hiking, cycling, reading and watching the sunset at Cedar Creek Lake.
Valerie Lyon
The Q&A provides insight into how Valerie’s mind works:
Q: Who would play you in feature film/tv movie of your life?
A: Diane Keaton
Q: Favorite piece of Art?
A: Handmade coffee mugs from Buck Pottery in Gruene, Texas
Q: Best weather?
A: See: Sonoma, California
Q: Guinness World Record potential?
A: Most time spent talking with strangers about cottage cheese
Welcome Valerie!
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I recently returned from SIGGRAPH 2011, Vancouver, BC. SIGGRAPH (or Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) is a premier international computer graphics, video, animation and new technologies conference.
SIGGRAPH 2011: Make It Home
The overall focus centered around the idea of community within the animation/effects/interactive industry. This was a chance to acknowledge the key companies and individuals that have steadily helped push and grow the computer graphics industry and specifically the SIGGRAPH family.
Of course great work, ideas and inspirations were all around. While last year saw a heavy industry push towards “stereoscopic 3D,” that emphasis seemed to have faded. Interactivity, through gaming and online productions, still held high interest. And some of the best, budding ideas were found in the student/research expo, “The Studio.” One incredible prototyped development actually measured an individual’s heart rate and vitals simply through web cam use and its recordings. Virtual reality and immersive interactive environments were prominent again; 3D printers were also on display and demoing capabilities.
The lectures at SIGGRAPH balanced technology with the human element and thoughts on the industry. The keynote speaker was Cory Doctorow, an industry blogger and Wired contributor. He spoke specifically on the effect patent laws are having on the individual and creativity. Production teams/directors from some of the latest features, Rango, Thor, Pixar’s La Luna and Cars 2, and Smurfs, shared personal and technical insights as well.
Finally, the SIGGRAPH animation showcase gave attendees a chance to view some of the strongest visualizations and productions from the past year. Enjoy just a few unique styles and amazing ideas from around the world — some beautiful, some dark, some funny, but all very well-crafted:
La Luna (the latest Pixar short – trailer, and another beautiful piece on its way)
Paths of Hate (Jury Award – trailer)
Coke “Siege” (commercial spot, Wieden + Kennedy, Nexus/Fx, Mat)
Amnesty International “Death to the Death Penalty” (commercial spot, Pleix)
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Best in Show – trailer and iPad app)
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For the past five years, Launch has awarded $1,000 scholarships to the top design and art direction portfolios at University of North Texas’ College of Art and Design. Based on a portfolio review, these scholarships are given to the design and art direction majors whom Launch representatives and UNT faculty recognize as having achieved an outstanding body of creative work. David Wilgus, agency principal and creative director, was on hand for the judging and to meet the winning students.
This year Aaron Kotara (left) was the winner of the 2011 Launch Agency award in Art Direction and Ashley Ayer (right) was the winner of the Graphic Design award. Eric Ligon (center) is the Associate Dean at the College of Visual Art and Design.
Kotara, Ligon and Ayer at UNT
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In what has become an annual tradition, Launch Agency employees celebrated the Fourth of July and all things Americana with a South-of-the-Border battle in the 2011 Tex-Mex Taste-Off.
The trash talk started at 8:30 that morning, but the competition kicked off at noon with five competing salsas, three quesos, four guacamoles and two desserts. Congrats to all our winners:
Best Original Salsa: Michael Boone, reigning champion of Taste-Off 2010
Best “Fun” Salsa: Joanna Rodriguez with her Fiesta Salsa
Best Queso: Jason Giles and Richard Wezensky, whose secret ingredients were cilantro and soy sausage bits
Best Guacamole: Alexandra Watson, whose guac packed some heat
Best Dessert: Megan Kelly with her killer Sopapilla Cheesecake.
All these competing dishes – combined with fajitas supplied by Launch Principals Michael Boone, Diane Seimetz and David Wilgus – made for an incredibly stuffed and happy Launch staff. Photos follow.
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Have you checked out the incredible wine selection at Sam’s Club lately? If so, you know they carry a vast varietal assortment from all around the world—New Zealand, Italy, France, Canada, Washington, Oregon and, of course, California.
Diane Seimetz, principal, and Megan Lucy Neal, account service for Launch Agency, recently had the privilege to travel to Napa Valley with the Sam’s Club wine buying team. Trekking alongside them was videographer John Carstarphen to partake in—and film—a behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary Robert Mondavi Winery. The team also had the opportunity to conduct an interview with fifth-generation West Coast winemaker, Joel Gott.
Launch will next produce a short film describing the great lengths the buying team undergoes to place high-quality, delicious, affordably priced wines in every Sam’s Club. This video is part of a series Launch is creating on various categories of unique, world-class products available at Sam’s Club.
So the next time you are craving a crisp, cool glass of pinot grigio or another varietal for your summer entertaining, shop Sam’s Club and check out the vast selection of wine. We’re sure you’ll find something you like!
View the slideshow below for some of the best from Napa:
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As the ad agency for the new Honda of Burleson, Launch created the tag line “A dealership experience worth talking about.” And on Saturday, June 28th, they joined their client in celebrating a grand opening event worth talking about.
The event was open to the public, and featured a full day of family fun for the entire Burleson and Fort Worth communities. In addition to getting a firsthand look at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Honda sales and service facility, attendees also got to enjoy a bounce house, slides, a climbing wall, balloon animals, face painting, live music, an air show and free hot dogs, snow cones, cupcakes, drinks and a taco bar, courtesy of Fuzzy’s Tacos.
Launch helped brand and promote the event with a series of grand opening invitations, emails, radio commercials and signs. And based on the fact that approximately 600 people attended—and that 17 cars were sold that day—it was clearly an event that will have people talking for a long time to come.
Click here to view more photos from the event.
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Launch Agency has once again added creative firepower with intern Jeffrey Rodriguez, aka “J-Rod 2.” (Art director Joanna Rodriguez has already claimed the original “J-Rod” moniker). A recent graduate from the University of North Texas, Jeffrey joins the team bringing with him his passion for graphic design.
A native of the Lone Star State, Jeffrey grew up in Plano, Texas. The Communication Design major studied typography, graphic design, packaging, publication design, art direction and AfterEffects motion in earning his degree.
Jeffrey’s other interests include discovering new music, hanging out with friends, working out, and — believe it or not — cleaning and organizing. He will also be Launch’s “go to” man when it comes to smooth R&B and Top 40 music.
We interrogated Jeffrey to figure out how this “neurotic” (his words, not ours) designer works:
Q: Most unique talent?
A: I’d like to think I’m a good whistler. Name a song!
Jeffrey Rodriquez, Launch Agency's cleanest creative
Q: Favorite kind of games? Board games, mind games, video games…?
A: I LOVE Scrabble/ or Words with Friends — any kind of word game.
Q: What is your favorite piece of art?
A: “The Great Wave of Kanagawa” by Hokusai
Q: Celebrity you’d most like to meet.
A: Beyonce Knowles
Q: What is your favorite children’s movie?
A: Disney Pixar’s “Up”
Q: Favorite inspirational rocket/space related saying?
A: “Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
Please join us in welcoming Jeffrey, along with his eye for graphic design and tidiness, to Launch.
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Sam’s Club searches the world – literally – to discover delicious seafood and negotiate the best prices on behalf of their Members. Last month Jason Giles, Launch Agency account manager, traveled to Brussels, Belgium to attend the world’s largest seafood fair, the 2011 European Seafood Exposition.
Giles accompanied – and filmed, along with videographer John Carstarphen – Sam’s Club buyers as they sourced, sampled and selected the highest quality seafood to ultimately offer Members in the U.S. The film footage will be edited into a short video, part of a series Launch Agency is producing for Sam’s Club, and will highlight the lengths buyers go to in order to secure the highest quality, freshest seafood for Members – in addition to ensuring the product is sourced in a sustainable manner.
From Chile to Norway to Asia, countries from all over the globe were represented in Brussels. See photos of Jason’s travels below, and stay tuned for more; the Sam’s Club quest for the best seafood will take Jason and the team to Copper River, Homer and Anchorage, Alaska next month.
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No question, advertising is an unusual industry. And in an appropriately “truth is stranger than fiction” moment, Launch Agency managed to win two prestigious awards from the Dallas Society for Visual Communicators this past Saturday for work promoting an entirely different award show, the 2011 Dallas ADDY Awards.
The winning entry was a video piece originally screened at the aforementioned ADDY event, titled “Suffer For Your Art Teaser Video.” This entry received a Gold Medal, as well as a Judge’s Choice award from judge Greta Ackerman, Associate Design Director at Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
The video focuses on some of the strange, silly and downright surreal moments that Dallas advertising notables have encountered during their time in the ad business. Launch principals/creative directors Diane Seimetz and David Wilgus created the video, with the help of acclaimed director Jeff Bednarz and Directorz executive producer Jeremy Besser, and also appear in it. Charlie Uniform Tango edited the piece, including the efforts of executive producer Lola Lott, editor Jack Waldrip, assistant editor Alex Campos and graphic artist Dave Slack. Launch principal, Michael Boone makes a cameo in the video as well.
Watch the winning entry here:
Suffer for Your Art Teaser Video
And check out more photos from the 43rd annual DSVC Professional Show:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/launchagency/sets/72157626889614148
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