Colle+McVoy announced that Sam Soulek has joined their ranks as an associate design director, a new role at the agency. As C+M continues to push its design offerings, Soulek will play a key role in the day-to-day design direction across all clients. Soulek is joining Colle+McVoy from mono and has experience working with Apple, Nike, Target, Philips Distilling, Lucy Activewear, and Time Warner Cable among others. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts, Esquire Magazine, Graphis, HOW, Print, STEP Inside Design, Graphic Design USA, Creativity Design Annual, Retail Innovation Awards, MN AdFed’s The Show, and AIGA. Nice.

Sam Soulek, Associate Design Director at Colle+McVoy

The Effie Awards were founded in 1968 by the American Marketing Association as an awards program to recognize the most effective advertising efforts in the United States each year. What differentiates them from other awards shows is the fact that they aren't judged solely on their creativity; but, also on their business success as well. This year Minneapolis took home three Effie awards through Fallon, Carmichael Lynch, and Fast Horse. Fallon won in the "Automotive - Vehicle" category for their campaign for Cadillac titled, "Cadillac ATS vs. The World."

Carmichael Lynch was also awarded an Effie in the "Automotive - Vehicle" category for their "First Car Story" campaign for their Subaru client. Finally, Fast Horse was awarded a Silver Effie in the North American Shopper Marketing competition for "Manufacturing: Single-Retailer Rollout." Fast Horse was co-lead for Coca-Cola's "Diet Coke Young Designer Challenge" that launched in Target stores nationwide. Portland, Ore.-based Wieden + Kennedy also was recognized as co-lead. "We’re proud to show that with hard work and creativity, a small Minneapolis agency can compete with the biggest international agencies,” said Jörg Pierach, president and creative director of Fast Horse. “We thank the clients whose trust in us and guidance on behalf of their valued brands make it possible.”

"Cadillac ATS vs The World Trailer" Cadillac - Fallon

"First Car Story Winner" Subaru - Carmichael Lynch

"Young Designer Challenge" Diet Coke - Fast Horse & Wieden+Kennedy

Minneapolis-based Olson today named former Wachovia Chief Marketing Officer Jim Garrity and former Zurich Financial Services Chief Marketing Officer Arun Sinha to its board of directors. They are expected to help steer the digitally driven independent agency, which offers digital, advertising, loyalty, public relations, and mobile capabilities to a roster of blue-chip clients that includes Target, General Mills, MillerCoors, Wrigley, Best Buy, Northwestern Mutual, Amtrak, and others. “Having access to marketers with the experience and perspectives of Jim and Arun is a wonderful advantage for our growing agency,” said CEO John Partilla. “These are people who have succeeded at the highest levels, and who are committed to helping us deliver the same levels of success to our clients.”

Garrity’s resume includes senior marketing and advertising stints at IBM, Compaq, and Wachovia, where he spent 10 years as EVP and CMO and lead a successful overhaul of the marketing organization that cut costs and increased performance. Today, he serves as founder and CEO of BridgeTwoWorlds, LLC., a marketing consultancy helping advertisers, agencies, and digital media companies bridge the gap between the worlds of traditional and digital communications. Sinha, a Lecturer and Senior Faculty Fellow at the Yale School of Management, brings substantial CMO perspective to the Olson board, having held that position at Zurich Financial Services and Pitney Bowes, transforming that company from a mailing company to a software, services, and solutions provider. He has also held senior executive positions in marketing, business development, and brand management at Philip Morris and Young & Rubicam. His work has earned a number of marketing accolades, including the “Chief Marketing Officer of the Year” award by the CMO Institute in 2011 and “Marketer of the Year” honors from the Direct Marketing Association in 2009.

Garrity and Sinha are joining Olson at a moment when the agency is enjoying new-business momentum, having added agency-of-record duties for brand such as TiVo, Saucony, and the Belize Tourism Board since November. They will join a group of directors that includes Partilla, agency founder John Olson, former Campbell-Mithun CEO Howard Liszt, and KRG Capital Managing Director Bruce Rogers.