It all started in 1977 when Bob Brown, who, along with Willa Brown, the Executive Director of the Denver Ad Club (now Denver Advertising Federation) converted the organization's monthly newsletter, Denvertising, to Rocky Mountain Advertising & Marketing Review. The plan was to create a regional magazine that carried a special section for the Denver Ad Club.

A short time after starting the magazine, Bob suffered a stroke and was unable to continue as a one man publisher. With the help of a lot of Ad Club members, Willa carried on for a short time but the load was too much and the magazine was sold to Larry Larkin of Westates Publishing. In 1990, the DAF decided to produce their own magazine and A&M Review began to fade. In 1991, CSC Publishing acquired the magazine from Westates and our first issue was August 1991.

The original cast of CSC Publishing included Ken Custer, Publisher; Phil Stinemates, Editor; Curt Cerveny, Sales; and Tom Mulvey, Columnist and Advisor. The main focus of the editorial was to feature all of the more than 20 advertising and marketing related organizations in Colorado and their events and to report on general news of the industry including people, agencies and accounts. The B/PAA (now Business Marketing Association), Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association and Sales & Marketing Executives added newsletters to the publication. In September 1993, the DAF disbanded their publication and joined A&M Review with a four page newsletter. Today, DAF, BMA, RMDMA, American Marketing Association (AMA) and Colorado Film & Video Association (CFVA) all participate and their members receive the magazine as a benefit of membership.

In 1991, the design of the magazine was inhouse and looked like it. In 1994, Bobbi Benson of Benson Design became the Creative Director and the look was greatly improved. In September 1997, Teri Jones and staff and Jones CreativeWorks updated the design that is being used today.

Tom Mulvey and I spent many hours going through 25 years of magazines to prepare this anniversary issue. Organizations changed names, agencies came and went, accounts changed agencies and people moved from job to job. A lot of the folks, clients, agencies and organizations and people have disappeared, but it's amazing how many are still around. There is not enough room to cover everyone and everything in detail but we have tried to include some of the highlights and changes that have evolved to the industry as we know it today.

From an organization standpoint, the Denver Ad Club is now the Denver Advertising Federation and the B/PAA (Business/Professional Advertising Association) is now the Business Marketing Association. The Sales & Marketing Executives and Graphic Arts Production Club closed for lack of membership. The photographers changed to the American Society of Media Photographers to better describe their mission and Colorado Healthcare Communicators evolved from a name that was too long to remember. The International Television Association (ITVA) became the Media Communications Association (MCA).

The big changes occurred in the media. Television stations changed call letters and networks and radio stations were absorbed in local market operating agreements and ended up being owned by just a few companies. The daily newspaper fight ended in a joint operating agreement between the News and Post. Magazine titles, too numerous to count, have come and gone. Cable television has become an enormous factor in the media buyer's plan. And now the Internet is a major factor in any plan. The constants are, the media is more fragmented and the rates (cost per thousand) are always increasing.

Agencies and their principals have been in a constant shuffle with many of the key players still involved, their name is just on a different shingle. The Integer Group was an unknown until Coors closed the inhouse gaphics agency and Integer was formed. Now it is Colorado's largest agency with $300 million in billing. One of Denver's largest agency 25 years ago was Frye-Sills. After it was purchased by K&E, staff began to leave and form their own groups. The largest to come from that change is Karsh & Hagan, now one of the top three in Denver and part of Integer which is now part of Omnicom.

A little group in Boulder named Kuper-Finlon opened a Denver office and eventually became McClain Finlon. Terry Barnhart has been the most resiliant after building the original Barnhart Advertising, closing the doors because of someone elses problems and starting over to create Barnhart/CMI. More recent changes include the closing of Thomas & Perkins and the opening of several agencies by former employees including Thomas, Taber and Dresen.

On the supplier side, the video production business has gone through major changes as production technology advanced. The expensive post-production equipment evolved into inexpensive, anyone can buy equipment. The digital age required production houses to reinvent themselves and add multimedia capabilities and Internet services.

The addition of an entirely new business segment that has evolved is new media. Web development and hosting, HDVD and online commerce needs have created a multitude of new opportunities for business.

The economy ups and downs have effected the advertising and marketing business as much as technology. Things went to pot in the late 1980's into the 1990's. Then came the dot com boom followed by the dot com bust in the new millennium. Agencies added staff, cut staff, merged or folded. When times were good, organizations grew with membership. When time weren't so good, organizations struggled just like their members. The DAF alone has ranged from a high of 1100+ members to a low of 400 members over the last 25 years.

There is nowhere near enough room to give a year by year detail of what has happened the last 25 years. The following is an effort to recap the highlights. To those that didn't make the highlights, we apologize. Some of the names you will recognize, some are included because they were big at the time and are now gone. The dates and chronology may be a little off, as the news was not always reported in the same month it happened.

1977 - Jack Campbell closed his Denver and Colorado Springs agencies and joined Mefford Weir as VP. Sam Lusky was President of the DAF and Willa Brown had a monthly column in A&M Review titled "The Way I Heard It". Former Frye-Sills staffers, Karsh & Hagan got off to a good start with clients Majestic Savings, Len Lyall Chevrolet, Intermountain Rural Electric among other clients. The DAF named Frank Allabaugh as Silver Medalist and Gordon Yates, Tallant/Yates and Mary Brown, Frye-Sills as Ad Pros of the Year.

1978 - Bob Wolper joined Barnhart & Co. as an AE. Leonard Marsh left Channel 2 to be National Sales Manager at Channel 7. Some radio call letters of the time were KWBZ, KLIR, KAZY and KOAQ. Fourteen local advertising individuals put their respective fourtunes on the line as defendants in a lawsuit challenging their right to have an advertising review council. Included in the case that lasted four year and was resolved by the US Supreme Court were Willa Brown, Bob Jordan, Galen Broyles and Gordon Yates among others. A three agency merger included Prescott Company, Goddard, Purcell & People and Karsh & Hagan, creating a $3.5 million agency. Attending the DAF Alfie Awards cost $10 and the Regency Inn increased the DAF lunch price to $6.00. Mary Brown was elected DAF President.

1979 - Radio call letters included KERE, KTLK and KFML. Chuck Green, Executive City Editor of the Denver Post was named the 1978 Journaist of the Year. The anchors at Newswatch Four were Bob Palmer, John Lindsey, Brian Dees and Larry Green. Children were enjoying Captain Kangaroo and Noell & Andy on Channel 7. Christa Reich opened Reich Communications. Lusky and Hill & Knowlton joined forces. Accounts at McGuinness Brock & Co., included Kerr Ford, Aurora National Bank and Mission Viejo. Prescott, Purcell, Karsh & Hagan changed its name to Karsh & Hagan and on June 1, moved to the Tech Center. Dottie Roberts, 1963 Advertising Woman of the Year was awarded the DAF Silver Medal and Susie Hotz became DAF President for the 1979-80 club year.
1980 - Mary Brown departed Frye-Sills to become the Communications Coordinator for the Hart for Senate Campaign working with Arnie Grossman, Hart's Media Consultant. Terry Wickre left Rocky Mountain Bankcard to open a video shooting and editing company called WickerWorks. Clive Cussler, former Copywriter at Mefford-Wier, where he was fired, hit the big time with his novel, "Raise the Titanic". Former Frye-Sills Partner, Malcolm Sills was appointed VP of Advertising at the Best Western in-house agency in Phoenix. Ranck-Ross-Moore Advertising merged with Colle & McVoy Advertising. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Code Authority limited commercials on TV to only nine and a half minutes per hour during prime time. Ken Custer, Fox Sweeney & True Account Supervisor, became the DAF President for the 1980-81 year.

1981 - Leonard Ekberg retires as Western Manager of Colle McVoy and Ed Hunter was named as his replacement. KTLK and KADX-FM sold for $4.1 million. The American Society of Magazine Photographers formed a Denver Chapter and elected Allen Birnbach as President. John Grant and George Pollack formed Grant & Pollack Advertising. Bob Palmer, now KMGH-TV Anchor, was elected President of the Denver Press Club. Pocky Marranzino was appointed VP, Account Supervisor at Frye-Sills. Bill Stuart joined KOA-TV as News/Medical Specialist and weekend anchor. The DAF named Ginny Grant Suttles, VP - Media at Sam Lusky Assoc., as Ad Pro of the Year and named Al Ross, Penton/IPC, as the Silver Medal winner. Sheila Schaffer, Broyles, Allabaugh & Davis, took over as President of the DAF for 1981-82.

1982 - Vern Mallinen of the Rocky Mountain News became the 700th member of DAF. John Giesen was appointed President of DDB/Denver Division. Dick True left Manville Corp. to open Richard E. True & Assoc. Pocky Marranzino joined Karsh & Hagan as an Account Supervisor. Karsh & Hagan won the Colorado Lottery Account. Cathey Finlon, AE at Schenkein/Associates appointed to handle several new accounts at the agency and AE Brian Thomas named to handle several other accounts. Marcus Servoss and Terry Barnhart announced the formation of Servoss-Barnhart Public Relations. Doug Kinzley, AE and Mike Gaughan, Account Supervisor, handled new accounts at Entercom. Christa Reich, Reich Communications was named DAF Ad Pro of the Year, Ted Wren, Fox, Sweeney & True became the DAF President for the 1982-83 year and Robert Jordon, Mountain States Bank was given the DAF Silver Medal Award.

1983 - No January issue this year (think 1982 Christmas snow storm). One of the feature stories this year was USA Today making its local debut. Agencies gaining new accounts during the year included Tracy Locke/BBDO, Lundy/Waterman, Evans & Bartholomew, Brock & Associates, Neuwirth-Koller, Sander Communications and Henry-Gill. Servoss-Barnhart moved to new office at 455 Sherman. Tom Hagan was named the DAF Ad Pro of the Year. Schenkein/Associates celebrated a tenth anniversary and Broyles Allebaugh and Davis celebrated their 50th anniversary. John Eby, Eby Everson Advertising, merged his firm with Colle McVoy. Channel 31, KDVR, signed on in August. Chuck Bartholomew took the reins as DAF President for 1983-84. A DAF all day seminar tackled the thorny question, "The future of advertising on cable TV".

1984 - The Colorado Film Commission was established during the year with Karol Smith heading the efforts. PRSA elected Robert Burns as President. Larry Norman and George Pollack formed a new agency called Pollack Norman Advertising and set up office is the D&F Tower. Gene Amole was named Broadcaster of the Year by the CBA. KLZ Radio was named the voice of the Denver Gold US Football league team. Roger Ogden was named President of KCNC-TV. Willa Brown, DAF Executive Director was named the AAF District 12 Ad Woman of the Year. KIMN and KYGO moved to new facilities at 1095 S. Monaco Pkwy. In June, the 900 members of the DAF hosted the national AAF convention in Denver. Jerry Van Dyke Co-Chaired the event. The PRSA hosted 1200 PR Professionals at the organizations National Convention at the Hilton downtown. Barnhart & Co. celebrated its 10th anniversary and Servoss-Barnhart was named to promote the city's efforts to bring a major league baseball team to Denver. John Grant dissolved his agency, Grant & Pollack and joined Brock & Associates. Terry Wickre took over as DAF President for the 1984-85 club year.

1985
The February issue featured "How Software Will Change Agencies: The Computer Has Arrived." Quotes from the article detailed the early use of computers. "Computers work at three basic levels, word processing, management information systems and specific agency programming." "Many larger agencies such as Karsh & Hagen have acquired phone modums ... but ... with the cost of modum time at tens of dollars per hour, it may not be for small agencies." George Fowler took over as PRSA President and Christa Reich was the 1895-86 President of DAF. Eugene Pilz retired after 34 years and his primary account, Midland/Western Federal Savings went to Fox, Sweeney & True. Agencies not previously mentioned that gained new accounts included Hesdorfer Associates, Lodergan & Pariseau, Holbert/Roush and Griff Advertising. Chuck Bartholomew was named DAF Ad Pro and Gib Frye was given the Silver Medal Award. Laura Olds became the 1000 DAF member. Robert Wolper took over as President of Barnhart & Co. KHOW and KPKE-FM sold for a record $20 million.

1986 - The ADCD celebrated its 30th Anniversary. The DAF Alfie Awards had 1450 entries. Agencies gaining new accounts included Nagle Croce, Girodo Matson, Peter Hesse, Glen Owen, Snyder-Reade & Woodruff, Ahrens, Himes & Whitlock, Kinzley-Hughes, Thomas & Perkins, Christopherson & Co. and Schwing/Walsh. PRSA Elected Kyla Thompson as President, Cathey Filnon moved from Schenkein to become VP and Partner at Kuper Advertising. Terry Barnhart became the 1986-87 DAF President and Jerry Van Dyke and Christa Reich were name AAF District 12 Man and Woman of the Year. 300 meters were installed in Denver homes to test overnight TV ratings.

1987 - The DAF Ad Expo had 90 display booths and drew over 2000 people in spite of a heavy snow storm. Diane Croce bought out Diane Nagle's interest in Negle-Croce and renamed the agency Croce Advertising, Nagle took an equity position at Thomas & Perkins. Agencies adding clients included Darcy Communications, Evans/Bartholomew, Kuper Finlon, Aherns, Whitlock, Cherniack & Co. and Harrigan, Hagan Bartlett & Meyers. Writers Manor upped the DAF lunch price to $8.50. The DAF Alfies sold 750 tickets at $40 each. Deborah Radman was elected PRSA President and Ted Wrenn received the DAF Silver Medal Award. Bob Palmer, KCNC-TV and Starr Yelland, KMGH-TV, were named Broadcasters of the Year by the CBA. Girodo Matson Advertising and Booz Video Arts merged to create Colorado Producers Group. Bob Schenkein became DAF President. Woody Paige returned to the Denver Post. DAF membership reached 1,111 and Carey Conley of Chroma Copy was the 1,100 member. Kuper-Finlon Advertising of Boulder opened a Denver office in the Tabor Center. Disaster struck in August when Writers Manor raised the DAF lunch price to $10. Surely nobody would attend the meetings.

1988 - The DAF Board changed titles around with the Executive Director now the President and the President changed to Chairman. The Denver Zephyrs Baseball team selected Broyles, Allebaugh and Davis. Karsh & Hagan with $25 million in billing, acquired Charles Russell PR and formed Russell Karsh & Hagan PR. Bob Schenkein's April DAF column attacked the Denver city Council's plan to consider banning erection of new billboards and require removal without payment on all existing billboards within five years. His call to action brought results and the proposal was dropped. New accounts to The Exline Agency, The Heller Company, Young & Associates and Hamilton Tilton. ASMP named chuck Burggraf to a second term as President. Susn McEldoon, KCNC-TV took the gavel as DAF Chairman for 1998-89. Jim McCoy, Broyles, was named B/PAA Communicator of the Year. Tom Bothelho joined Thomas & Perkings as a Partner. Kathi Brock merged Brock & Assoc. with Cook & Assoc. to form Brock/Cook. On November 10, a group dubbed Vanguard was formed to fight the possibility of a sales tax on advertising being proposed to the Colorado legislature. Over 50 people volunteered to help represent the DAF, Colorado Retail Council and Colorado Broadcasters.

1989 - Jerry Van Dyke started the Centennial Committee in motion for the DAF in anticipation of celebrating the DAF's 100th birthday in 1991. For the fourth year in a row, the DAF was named Club of the Year by AAF. Pocky Marranzino took the reins as DAF Chairman. At this time the DAF had 1172 members. On May26, the Denver Post moved to new offices at One Civic Center Plaza. In May, Kuper-Finlon Advertising officially changed its name to McClain Finlon. Tallant/Yates and Robert LaPointe & Co of San Francisco merged to form Tallant/LaPointe & Partners. Henry-Gill announced the acquisition of the Denver operation of Minneapolis based Colle-McVoy. Colle-McVoy opened a Denver office in 1969 with the acquisition of Hunter, Ekberg & DeGroft. During the summer, 24 designers banded together to form the Denver Chapter of AIGA. B/PAA elected Vickey Swenson as President and the first B/PAA column appeared in A&M Review in the December issue. The December issue also announced that effective with the February 1990 issue, A&M Review will no longer carry the DAF Update and the DAF will publish their own magazine.

We were unable to locate any of the Westates Publishing issue of Rocky Mountain Advertising & Marketing Review from January 1990 through September 1991. We know that Paul Campbell and Cindy Adcock served as DAF Presidents for 1990-91 and 1991-92 respectively.

1991-1992 - The first issue under current ownership of CSC Publishing as detailed in the introduction. News included the retirement of Ed Sweeney, and the Denver Nuggets going to Barnhart. During 1992 Karsh & Hagan and the Denver office of DDB Needham merged. Jeffrey Julin was elected President and CEO of MGA Communications and Sharon Linhart was named Manager of Community Relations at Martin Marietta. In April, John Giesen and John Grant moved the Advertising Consortium to 1331 17th St. The DAF Alfies awarded Karsh & Hagan 36 awards, Morey/Jones 17, Miles Advertising and Thomas & Perkins 12 each and Barnhart 11. During the year, columns by local professionals were added including representatives from B/PAA, PRSA and RMDMA. During May Jane Baumhardt was named B/PAA Communicator of the Year, Kil O. Watt began his column reviewing the latest radio Arbitron Report and Lisa Herzlich was appointed Director of Marketing for the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. In June, DIA invited 18 agencies to compete for the new airport account. Brian Hawkins joined Heintz-Barton as Art Director, Kathi Brock was named President of Brolyes Allebaugh & Davis and Cindy Velasquez was named VP/Broadcast at KUSA-TV. In October, A&M Review teamed with KMGH-TV to air TV Update at 6:50AM Thursday mornings and the first A&M Review Services Directory was released. In November, Brown Radman Wolper opened its doors, Schenkein/Sherman PR won the Grand Gold Pick from PRSA and Evans Group and Broyles Allebaugh & Davis merged. The December issue announced McClain Finlon as winner of the DIA account. David Reece was named President of Reece Coad Schenkein, formerly RSA Advertising. Cathey Finlon was DAF President for the 1992-93 club year.

1993 - PR Agencies Johnston Group and Well Communications merge to form JohnstonWells. Gannett Outdoor named Mike Scherer President. PRSA elected Mary Pat Lucy as President and Leonard Marsh moved to Cable Media Corp. In March Walter Gill retired from Henry Gill Silverman and the battle to keep advertising projects in Colorado continued as CFVA President Dan Boyd took Barnhart to task for taking Colorado Rockies production out ofBarnhart's response refuted the charges. David Ariss was appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at G. A. Wright. Agencies acquiring accounts inlcude Waters Palmer Advertising, Doyle & Barnett, Corporate Marketing, MediaComm Marketing, I/O Communications, Burks, Romero & Esposito, G.E Moore Communications, and Baum Arensmeier. Don Johnson retires as President and GM of KRMA-TV and was replaced by James Morgese. 5280 magazine debuted in July, Stephen Straight was elected President of B/PAA, Dave Barry President of ASMP, Vicki Mivschek as AMA President and Greg Schriener President of GAPC. Tom Ratty received the B/PAA Communicator of the Year Award. Rosemary Hanratty was named a Principal of The Wharton Group. Kay Volkema became DAF Chairman, Deborah Williams, Design & Image, AIGA President and Debra Novara, Davis Design, ADCD President. Jim Morris was named RMDMA Direct Marketing of the Year. In June the B/PAA changed its name to BMA and in August started a two page newsletter in A&M Review. It was also announced that the DAF and RMDMA will both start with newsletters in the September issue. Data on DAF membership included 228 agencies, 289 media, 241 clients, 261 suppliers, 35 educators/student, 523 women and 531 men. Heintz Barton becomes Heintz Barton Pierson & Hawkins. KKYD "Kids Radio" signs on with Cindy Adcock as Station Manager.

1994 - More agencies gaining accounts include Gerestman-Reves, Rinehart Advertising, Heisley/LeGrand, and Morey Mahoney. The DAF and RMDMA combined to present the Marketing Expo in May. Pollack and Norman get together again to form Pollack Norman Advertising. Jeffrey Julin named PRSA President and Dan Boyd takes another term as CFVA President. Sharon Haley Linhart named Media Relations manager for Cellular One/Colorado. Tracy Broderick was promoted to VP Media Director at Karsh & Hagan. Rosemary Hanratty was hired as Marketing Director for the Denver Broncos. Michael Menaker named President of BMA and Bob Schaller honored with BMA Communicator of the Year. Tim Prunk was elected as President of RMDMA. In July, Sales & Marketing Executives added their newsletter to A&M Review. GAPC elected Sean Quinlan as President and Kathy Hagan was DAF Chairman, Tracy Emerson took the reins as ADCD President and Amy May became President of SM&E. In September, Garrison Lontine Advertising closed the doors. In October, IABC elected Darrel Moorhead, MGMA, as President and McClain Finlon purchased offices at 1440 Blake St. Fully painted RTD busses started rolling around town with Arby's ads. Swede Johnson was awarded the PRSA Lifetime Achievement Award, the award that soon would be named after him. In December, Heintz Barton Pierson Hawkins became Pierson Hawkins. Barnhart celebrated 20 years and was acquired by CONCORD, controlled by Oren L. Benton. Barnhart continued as COO with Mary Hacking as President and Tom Leydon as EVP/Creative. Not long after this Benton went bankrupt and Barnhart was forced overnight to close its doors. The entire staff went job hunting.

1995 - The PRSA name Linda Little as President. Steve Sander joined Karsh & Hagan as Executive VP. Robert Taylor Design created the DIA logo. Schenkein PR added Christen Crampton as Senior AE. KKFN "The Fan" begins broadcasting. In June, six week after launching his new firm, Terry Barnhart joined forces with Corporate Marketing Inc., and formed Barnhart/CMI. Jack Doak followed Kathy Hagan as DAF Chairman. Organization Presidents included John Scrabec, Cactus Communications, AIGA; Susan Moody Bayless, Captiol Color, GAPC; Laura Neslon, Rocky Mountain Health Care, AMA; Debbie Waller, Evolving Systems, BMA; and David Ariss, G.A. Wright, RMDMA. Stephen Straight was named BMA Communicator of the Year. The Colorado Film Commission selected CFVA to publish the Colorado Production Resource Guide. In August Reich Communications moved to Network Affiliates. Heisley LeGrande in Colorado Springs became The LeGrande Group. Roger Ogden left KCNC-TV to become President and Managing Director of the NBC Super Channel in London. Sales & Marketing Executives disaffiliated with the national organization and became Marketing & Sales Resources and elected Ray Higgins, Broken Hand Printing, as President. In September, everyone awaited the network shuffle as Denver stations all changed affiliation. ABC went to Channel 7, CBS to Channel 4 and NBC to Channel 9.

1996
Sharon Haley Linhart was elected PRSA President and launched Linhart McClain Finlon Public Relations. In February, the A&M Review Web site went online created by columnist Glen Morris. Steve Sander joined consulting group GBSM to form Sander/GBSM. In March, Karsh & Hagan moved to a downtown location. Hill & Knowlton closed the Denver office. Jim Braun was named RMDMA Direct Marketer of the Year and CFVA elected Chrisi Santucci President. In April Kathy Hagan opened Hagan Communications and Rip Ripley joined I/O Communications. In May VIP Global went under and took several printers, mail houses and service bureaus down. Also, Capitol Color closed their doors. Park Meadow Mall, scheduled to open in August selected Pierson & Hawkins for advertising and JohnstonWells for PR. On April 13, the Colorado Bar Association decided not to restrict legal advertising after a concerted effort by the ad community. Dan Diamond, KCNC, took the helm as DAF Chairman, Michelle Béchamps became AMA President, BMA elected Anthony Scafaro, Suzanne Richardson became Association for Women in Communications President and IABC elected Tricia MacHendrie. Neuwirth-Koller closed their doors after 29 years as the principals retired. In September, GAPC and Marketing & Sales Professionals disbanded due to lack of membership. Dan Igoe joined Barnhart/CMI as the agency moved to 1660 17th St. Tom Botelho and Betty Londergan, Thomas & Perkins partners, depart the agency, Botelho to the Denver Post. In December, Doug Kinzley, Chairman of Kinzley Hughes and staff join MGA Communications. Seitz/Welch Design is formed as a new graphic design firm and RKC Database and founder Ron Kahan, celebrate one year in business.

1997
Stephanie Moffett-Pence was named President of McClain Finlon. Veteran Air Traffic Reporter Dick Dillon retired after 24 years in the air. Thomas & Perkins now has a staff of 70 employees. Kyla Thompson and staff from Jefferson Group joined forces with Barnhart. Don Martin Denver's first traffic reporter, retired from KHOW. In August, Roger Ogden returned from London and became President and General Manager of KUSA-TV. After 26 years as Executive Director/President of DAF, Willa Brown stepped down and turned the organization over to Terri Belver. During Willa's watch, DAF was named club of the Year by AAF for six straight years. Willa continued as Ambassador with the organization. Mary Brown, Advertising Manager for the Colorado Lottery was awarded the DAF Silver Medal. Jay Marks, Medimetrix-Unison received the BMA Communicator of the Year honors. Debra Jason, The Write Direction, was elected RMDMA President. David Miles, Miles Advertising was elected as DAF Chairman.

1998
After 40 years in advertising, Phil Karsh, Co-founder of Karsh & Hagan announced his retirement. Cindy Velasquez succeeded John Proffitt as VP and General Manager of KMGH-TV. After 33 years in marketing, Art Mahoney, Morey Mahoney, retired. William Walsh was appointed President of The Hibbert Group. Schenkein/Sherman PR promoted Leanna Clark to VP. Jim Birschbach opened Media Sales & Marketing. Brozen Schaller and I/O Communications combined to become Brozena, Schaller, Menaker & Ripley. Michele Charney opened a new public relations firm, Charney Bergner Public Relations. Barnhart/CMI acquired EvansGroup/Denver. Christa Reich, Reich Communications was awarded the DAF Silver Medal, Brian Hawkins served as the 1998-99 DAF Chairman.

1999
Leanna Clark and Christin Crampton Day became Co-Owners of Schenkein/Sherman with Founder Bob Schenkein. Intermountain Partners and Russell Karsh & Hagan combined as InterMountain/RKH. The merger was made possible in part by the recent sale of Karsh & Hagan to the Integer Group. Brown Radman Wolper (BRW) and the La Grande Group agreed to merge. After 26 years in the local advertising business, Christa Reich announced her retirement. John Messner, The Direct Marketing Consulting Group, was named RMDMA Direct Marketer of the Year. Cathey Finlon received the DAF Silver Medal. John Wickre was elected CFVA President. Teri Grove was elected PRSA President and Doug Kinzley DAF Chairman.

2000
Bob Chernet joined Viewmark. Pierson & Hawkins merged with MGA Communications. Infinity Broadcasting brought Steve Keeney back to Denver as VP, General Manager of KXKL, KIMN and KDJM . Burks/Butler Advertising became Burks Communications. Morey Mahoney added Tom Evans as a Partner. MatchLogic hired Tim Prunk as President. Ron Zappolo left KUSA-TV to become a News Anchor at KDVR-TV. Photobition Group USA acquired Cies Sexton Visual. Marilee Yorchak was appointed Executive Director of BMA. Sandi Rhynard was named Executive Director of RMDMA. Ron Kahan, Ariss Kahan Database Marketing, and Lora Petcoff, Luna Communications, were named RMDMA Direct Marketers of the Year. Sandra Laws, LawsComm, was elected PRSA President. John Skrabec, Cactus Communcations, was elected Chairman of the DAF.

2001
Boulder-based Metzger Associates opened a Denver office. Brent Green was named RMDMA Marketer of the Year. Mark Severts moved from Public Service Co. to Thomas & Perkins. PRSA elected Molly Bowler as President. The DAF Silver Medal went to Pocky Marranzino. Ayers Communicatons joined BSM&R to form Ayers/BSM&R PR. Willa Brown resigned her position as Ambassador for DAF in late February to pursue other opportunities. G. A. Wright promoted Bill Roth from VP/General Manager to President, Donna Furman to VP Marketing and Thomas Vail to VP Sales. Susan Gurule took the helm as President of CFVA. Burks Communication merged with Youmans & Assoc. Bob Harris, UNC Marketing Department and instructor to many in Denver marketing, retired. Michael Klein resigned from the Colorado Film Commission and Stephanie Two Eagles took the reins as the department moved from Local Affairs to the Office of Economic Development. The Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado elected Fred & Fae, Ed Bowman, Jim Hawthorne and Starr Yelland into the 4th Annual Hall of Fame. Rip Ripley was named BMA Communicator of the Year. Fred Hobbs was named Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado President. Stacy Lewis took over as DAF Chairman. Randee Gunn Liles was elected BMA President. Patty Taylor, First Class Direct, was elected RMDMA President. BMA Colorado, for the 11th consecutive year, was named Chapter of the Year by the International organization. BMA Executive Director, Marilee Yorchak was named Association Professional of the Year by the Colorado Society of Association Executives. Bob Taber was elected as Western Region Chairman of AAF. Bill Pierson left MGA Communications and headed to Florida. Rusty Pallas closed Pallas Photo Imaging. Barnhart/CMI purchased the building at 1819 Wazee as new headquarters. Karsh & Hagan leased 24,712 square feet of space at 2399 Blake St. Reich Communications changed its name to The Media Team. AMA Colorado elected Christine Farber as President. MClain Finlon opened new offices at 2340 Blake St. During 2001, the Colorado Film Commission and CFVA started collecting matching funds to research the effects of the film and video business on the Colorado economy. CFVA matched the $15,000 from the state and the survey came to fruititon in 2003.

2002
AIGA elected Stuart Alden as President. Rosemary Hanratty was hired as the DAF President. RMDMA awarded George Heinrich the Gold Eagle (formerly the Direct Marketer of the Year Award). By February, many companies were reducing staff and cutting budgets as an after effect of September 11, 2001. In April, a wonderful birthday party took place, organized by the "I Can't Believes She Told Us Her Real Age" committee to honor Willa Brown on her 80th birthday. Morey Mahoney changed to Morey Evans Advertising. In May the DAF hosted the District 12 AAF meeting. Retired UNC Professor Bob Harris was awarded the DAF Silver Medal and Tonya Everist became DAF Chairman. The Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado inducted Merrie Lynn, Thomas Cook, Joe Tennessen and Beverly Martinez into the Broadcast Hall of Fame. Sue Hawk was named publisher of Denver TechBiz and AMA elected Kris Tomkins as President. Tonya Everest became the DAF Chairman. Mike Drazen joined Thomas & Taber and added his name to the shingle. New Media agency Malenke/Barnhart successfully opened for business.

2003
Jane Dvorak is the new PRSA President. Griff Advertising of Boulder and Strategic Medical Communications (SMC West) merge and become Griff/SMC. Michael Menaker retired from BSM&R. Christopherson & Co. moved offices to Old South Gaylord St. Lee Larsen, Clear Channel Regional VP, and Bob Call, Jefferson Pilot VP/General Manager were recognized as number 5 and 14 respectively on the Radio Inc., 50 Best Managers list. Fred von Pingle was named the DAF Unsung Hero. GD&A Advertising launched a subsidiary, Armada Medical Marketing. The state economic troubles took a toll on the film and video industry as the budget cuts closed the Colorado Film Commission. Stephanie Two Eagles continued to operate from the Colorado Department of Tourism. The DAF named Stacy Lewis, MGA, and Steve Koloskus, Extra Strength Advertising, as Ad Pros of the Year. In April, the American Marketing Association "Marketing Monthly", a two page newsletter was added to A&M Review. Bob Russo, Executive VP at Daniels & Associates moved in as President of The Cable Center. Dan Igoe departs from Barnhart/CMI. The Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado inducted Stormy Rottman, Bob Butz, Bob Shriver and Bette Bailly into the Broadcast Hall of Fame. Ten organizations band together to host the 1st Annual SummerToast networking party at Coors. Over 400 attended and this could become an annual event.