Tri-State advertising and marketing holds annual Addy Awards

Local business leaders gathered to appreciate the art of advertising Friday night at the Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals' annual Addy Awards banquet at Drury Lodge.

Members of the advertising industry in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky were presented with 53 awards recognizing their work in various forms including print media, television, radio and online.

Mike Tenholder, general manager of Concord Printing Services, received the night's highest honor, the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award.

Tenholder began his career in the design and printing business in 1974 and has worked at Concord for more than 30 years. He was instrumental in the founding of the Tri-State Advertising group, serving in various capacities including president. Tenholder is the father of two children and has been married to his wife, Carol, for 33 years.

"My job is never the same and it never gets boring," Tenholder said. "I get to work with a lot of creative people."

Jon Rust, co-president of Rust Communications and publisher of the Southeast Missourian, who presented Tenholder with his award, described him as the "ultimate team member."

"He has the ability to see the big picture and pay attention to details at the same time," Rust said.

The Addy Awards program also recognized the Tri-State Advertising group's 2010 "Advertising with a Cause" campaign benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. Four media partners including KFVS12, The Southeast Missourian, Mississippi River Radio and Red Letter Communications each donated $10,000 worth of services as part of this program. The result was the recruitment of 16 men and 52 women who joined the organization to serve as mentors to area youth. The Tri-State Advertising group selected Big Brothers Big Sisters from a pool of more than 50 organizations that applied for advertising assistance.

From left, Jon Rust, co-president of Rust Communications and Gary Rust, chairman of Rust Communications, congratulate Mike Tenholder, general manager of Concord Printing Services, on receiving the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award on Friday during the annual Addy Awards banquet. (Carol Robert)

Three Best of Show winners were recognized Friday night for their achievements in advertising during the past year. Southeast Missouri Hospital was honored for its "What it Means" television advertising campaign. The Wright Group of Perryville, Mo., was recognized for its brochure for Delta Companies Inc. Red Letter Communications was awarded for its flash banner on the STIHL USA website.

Aix Gold Medal Addy Awards were presented during the banquet. Gold Medal winners included Saint Francis Medical Center and Element 74, both of which received awards in two categories each, Red Letter Communications and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The Gold Medal winners will be judged in the American Advertising Federation's state competition in St. Louis this spring. From there, winning entries will compete on the national level in Orlando in June, explained Tri-State Advertising group president Richard Proffer.

According to Proffer, the organization had a successful year. "While other clubs are seeing membership decline, we have seen our membership numbers rise above last year," he said.