By Andy Goldsmith
On September 17th, a new conference debuted in our city, sponsored by the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies).
The conference was unabashedly Atlanta-centric and revolved around the idea that agencies, clients, Atlanta, and creativity at large need the perspectives of as many different people as possible to win. And a market like ATL might just be the best place to do the most meaningful creative work of your career.
With speakers from VML, Fitzco, Brunner, Majority, Chemistry, BBDO, Coca-Cola, and others, this half-day event was a great way to unite and inspire the agency community and beyond. The conference showcased diverse speakers who talked about creativity and culture in ways that underscore our pride in practicing our craft here.
The conference and the vibe surrounding it felt modern, energizing, and progressive. Whether it was the theme of Creativity & Belonging, the diversity of the audience, the cohesion and feeling of community, or the fact that speakers ranged across disciplines and titles, not merely CEOs, the audience seemed attentive and inspired.
The 4A’s, as the trade association for the advertising industry, believes the creative community in Atlanta is second to none. We’re hopeful this event will be a jumping-off point for creating an intentional space and ongoing dialogue for our industry here.
4A’s provides a wide variety of services and support to member agencies, including
- Agency Management services to help executives make informed decisions on how to run the business, e.g., surveys, whitepapers, benchmarks, industry standards, and expertise
- Operations services to help you provide better service to your clients, including research, trends, media guidance and insights, and learning and development for all levels of the agency
- Community-building to help members engage with other bright minds on areas of common interest, including national conferences and topical committees (Strategy, Account Management, New Business, Finance, Media, and more)
- Advocacy which includes both lobbying and defending agencies in Washington, DC, and statehouses nationwide; as well as working with the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) to help steer client/agency relationship management in positive ways
If your agency isn’t a member of the 4A’s, find out more at aaaa.org or contact Andy Goldsmith agoldsmith@4as.org
Andy Goldsmith is the 4A’s SVP of Member Engagement & Development for the Southern Region. He’s responsible for providing leadership, advocacy, and guidance to agencies across the southern US. Andy brings a many-layered background to the 4As, with decades of experience in the agency, client, and consulting worlds. He’s a natural facilitator who works to help people define the real problems to be solved by being good at asking the right questions and even better at listening to the answers. His outside passions include cycling, guitar, and France (the country, the language, and the wine).