CEA Announces May 14 Fundraising Event, Featuring Obama Strategist David Plouffe

Howard University and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) today announced the appointment of Adrianne C. Smith as executive director for the Center for Excellence in Advertising (CEA). A 15-year veteran of advertising and marketing communications companies, Smith previously served as partner of AdHere Network, an affinity/relationship marketing and video production firm.

“Adrianne has the necessary background and knowledge to help Howard University develop the Center’s curriculum and to lead CEA into the future,” said Dr. Jannette L. Dates, dean, John H. Johnson School of Communications at Howard University.

“I’m pleased that Adrianne has joined CEA, and the 4A’s looks forward to working with her and Howard University to expand the ranks of African Americans in middle and senior roles at agencies,” said Nancy Hill, president and CEO, 4A’s, and a director on the CEA board.

With an initial $250,000 grant from the 4A’s, CEA was established in September 2008, to help the advertising industry eliminate barriers and identify opportunities to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workforce at middle to senior management levels. CEA will be managed by Howard University’s John H Johnson School of Communications, which has the only accredited degree-granting program in advertising among the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). CEA’s vision is to become the advertising industry’s certified talent resource and pipeline for people of color. It will be the preeminent training facility for individuals who are interested in advancing their careers in the advertising industry.

Smith and her staff are planning CEA’s first major fundraising breakfast event, “Diversity: The Ultimate ROI,” featuring David Plouffe, the campaign manager for President Barack Obama, which will be held on Thursday, May 14, in New York City. Executives from advertising agencies and corporations will be in attendance to hear Plouffe share insights on the value of diversity and why building a diverse team was vitally important to the President’s success in achieving the “Ultimate ROI.” Funds raised from the Plouffe event will be used to develop and launch CEA’s pilot professional development program courses.

In addition, Smith has partnered with the Roundtable of Advertising Diversity Executives (RADE) to help develop critical elements of CEA’s Executive Education Program curriculum. She has also created the HBCU Advertising Leadership Team, which includes professors from various HBCU’s who will help develop a national pipeline of diverse talent of HBCU students and alumni.

» More Information on the Center for Excellence in Advertising

About Howard University
Howard University is one of 48 U.S. private, doctoral/research-extensive universities and comprises 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, a Truman Scholar, 19 Fulbright Scholars and 10 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American PhDs than any other university in the world. For more information about Howard University, call (202) 238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at www.howard.edu.

About the 4A’s
The American Association of Advertising Agencies is the national trade association of the advertising agency business. The 1,175 member agency offices it serves in the United States employ 65,000 people, offer a wide range of marketing communications services, and place 80 percent of all national advertising. The management-oriented association helps its members build their businesses, and acts as the industry’s spokesman with government, media, and the public sector. For more information visit our Web site at www.aaaa.org.