Social Event!

Details coming soon

Schedule:

Details to come.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: FREE

This event will not be available virtually.

Location & Parking:

This event will be hosted at TBD

Parking TBD.

Games Can Come From Anywhere

In this Lunch & Learn keynote Midwest Games founder, Ben Kvalo will share about this mission and how he and his team are shifting the perspective in the video game industry — Great video games can come from anywhere, including right here in Northeast Wisconsin and the greater Midwest.

Schedule:

The 1-hour keynote presentation with time for Q&A is planned to start at 12:00 pm with the opportunity for networking before and after.

Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $35

• Virtual Only: $20

• At The Door: $40 

Prefer virtual?

This event will be available via Livestream or limited-time replay to all attendees. AAF Members receive extended access to replays via their membership dashboard.

Location & Parking:

Urban Hub (visit website)
340 N Broadway #200
Green Bay, WI 54303

Parking is available at the venue location.

About Our Keynote Speaker:

Ben Kvalo, Founder & CEO, Midwest Games

Ben is an entertainment and video games industry leader, most recently supporting the build-out of films and games at Netflix. Prior to Netflix, Ben has worked at two of the largest global video game companies, 2K and Blizzard, working across various roles in the publishing, marketing, and technology end of games and Esports. Ben has worked on some of entertainment's biggest brands across video games and film. He's led film campaigns for Bird Box, Extraction, Army of the Dead, and over 50 other titles. He has also worked on major game franchises like NBA2K, Borderlands, BioShock, Civilization, Mafia, and all of Blizzard’s Esports brands, having helped to publish over 100 titles. Ben is originally from Wisconsin, having graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

About Midwest Games:

Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Midwest Games is a video game publisher focused on creating opportunities for the abundant talent across the Midwest and other underrepresented regions. Led by industry veterans and entertainment enthusiasts, Midwest Games believes that great games can come from anywhere. For more information, please visit www.midwestgames.com. To follow us on our socials, visit us on LinkedIn, @midwestgames_co on Instagram, @midwestgamesco on Twitter, on Discord, and @midwest_games on YouTube.

Visit Midwest Games' website

What happens when you bring two marketing + advertising groups together for a little friendly competition?

Not sure — but we are about to find out! What we DO KNOW is there will be belly busting laughter as we play in a rousing game Wash-a-Pig. 

Made for advertising enthusiasts, writers, designers, and anyone who’s ever faced the dreaded “creative block,” this game promises a fun-filled escape from the mundane. More fun than real work. More productive than ping pong.

And while there may not be any real live farm animals involved there will indeed be one golden pig up for grabs! Get ready for the who – the what – and the how.

Food and drink will be provided to fuel the minds and keep you sharp.

This event is a collaboration with the Northeast Wisconsin American Marketing Association.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $15

• At the Door $20

This event will not be available virtually.

Location & Parking:

Green Bay Botanical Garden
2600 Larsen Rd
Green Bay, WI 54303

Parking is available at the venue location.

Join us for the return of Studio After Hours!

Studio After Hours is a casual gathering with other advertising, marketing, and design professionals for an evening of networking at a local studio, agency, or in-house team.

Catch up with friends, talk about the industry... or not, and make new connections.

Drinks and light appetizers will be provided.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $5

• At The Door: $10

Location & Parking:

Image Studios
1100 S Lynndale Drive
Appleton, WI 54914

Parking is available at the venue location.

What does it take to host an NFL Draft? 

Bringing the NFL Draft to Titletown has been a project years in the making. Nick Meisner, VP of Digital Marketing & Communications at Discover Green Bay will give us a behind-the-scenes look at all things NFL Draft.

• What had to happen to bring the draft to Green Bay?

• What impact will the draft have on the Green Bay community?

• Dos and Don'ts for draft time-related marketing 

• And more... 

This event is a collaboration with the Northeast Wisconsin American Marketing Association.

Schedule:

The 1-hour keynote presentation with time for Q&A is planned to start at 5:30 pm with the opportunity for networking before. Light appetizers will be provided for in-person attendees.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $40

• Virtual Only: $20

• At The Door: $45 (if available)

Due to the venue, we are limited to 40 in-person tickets for this event. Thank you to NorthCoast for providing our virtual video to allow more guests to attend virtually.

Prefer virtual?

This event will be available via Livestream or limited-time replay to all attendees. AAF Members receive extended access to replays via their membership dashboard.

Location & Parking:

Discover Green Bay (visit website)
1945 Argonne Street
Green Bay, WI 54304

Parking is available at the venue location.

About Discover Green Bay:

Discover Green Bay is the regional destination marketing organization invested in spreading joy and building memories that deliver unforgettable experiences to our visitors increasing the economic impact of tourism on our communities. Discover Green Bay is the recognized destination leader in the development and marketing of the Green Bay brand. We are community proud.

Visit Discover Green Bay's website

About Our Keynote Speaker:

Nick Meisner, Vice President of Digital Marketing & Communications

Speaker bio coming.

The 2024-25 AAF Fox River Season begins NOW!

Celebrate the start of the new season with us at our free kickoff event. We can't wait to see you soon.

The deets:

Join us to:

• Hear about the season’s upcoming events,
• Hangout and network with advertising, marketing, & design peers
• Live screenprint a poster with Green Bay Print Shop*
• and a surprise or two more!

We look forward to using the outdoor space and games at Cocoon Brewing, and we also have indoor space reserved to use as needed.

A limited quantity of T-shirts will also be available to screenprint for $10. To reserve your shirt and size in advance you may purchase your shirt on our website.

Drinks and food are available for purchase at Cocoon Brewing. (View menu)

*Available for the first 75 guests

Tickets:

As a celebration of the upcoming season, this event will be free to attend for both members and guests. We do ask that you RSVP to help us plan and prepare. Our hope is you will join us as a member for the upcoming season!

Location & Parking:

Cocoon Brewing (visit website)
2233 Kaftan Way
De Pere, Wisconsin 54115

Parking is available at the venue location.

Share your voice on the future of AAF Fox River

Open for current AAF Fox River members in good standing only. This annual meeting will take place before our kickoff event for the season at the same venue — join us in person if you can for an evening with other members and peers!

We are reintroducing our annual member meeting before the kickoff event this year. We will review where our club is at, seek your feedback for the future of our club, discuss club needs, and vote on key decisions. To make sure your voice is heard as a member please plan to join us if you are able.

Join us for our very first Studio After Hours!

We are excited to introduce a new event series for our members and friends. As a bonus, it is also our 2023-24 season-end party. Studio After Hours is a casual gathering with other advertising, marketing, and design professionals for an evening of networking at a local studio, agency, or in-house team.

Catch up with friends, talk about the industry... or not, and make new connections.

The deets:

This very first Studio After Hours will be hosted at Shift Visuals in downtown Green Bay. Drinks and light appetizers will be available.

Tickets:

As a celebration of our first After Hours and the season-end party, this event will be free to attend for both members and guests. We do ask that you RSVP to help us plan and prepare.

Want to become a member to attend all AAF Fox River events for free? Join today at aaffoxriver.org.

Location & Parking:

163 N Broadway, Green Bay, WI

2-hour parking is available on the west side of the building.

Want outside-the-classroom feedback on your portfolio in a casual, conversational setting? Looking for insights into the creative industry from local insiders?

The deets:

Local advertising and design professionals are paired with college students for a portfolio review. College students interested in a creative career in graphic design, illustration, photography, etc. are encouraged to attend this event!

Students: You’ll be able to select areas of interest, like illustration or art direction, so we can match you with professionals with that experience.

Professionals: If you are interested in being a reviewer and/or have any questions, please contact Diane Le at dianehle01@gmail.com.

Tickets:

• AAF Members - Free

• Students - $20

• Professionals - $20

Location & parking:

C04 Workspace in Kaukauna. Parking is available on-site.

Who will win an ADDY?

Join us for an evening celebration of our local talents in marketing, advertising, and design. With 130+ entries we are excited to see who will be winning an ADDY for work created during the year 2023!

This year's theme: Nostalgia through the decades

It's always fun to play on a theme and see how our community dresses up for the occasion. This year’s theme is Nostalgia through the decades. We often see past trends and styles cycle their way back through. It feels especially present today with many TV shows reprising or being remade, past toys and games making a comeback (we see you Barbie - one of the biggest marketing campaigns of 2023), past fashions inspiring looks today, and more. We invite you to pick the decade you’re most inspired by and show off your take.

Schedule:

• 5:30pm: doors open

• 6:30pm: buffet line opens

• 7:00pm: award ceremony begins

Tickets:

• AAF Members: $25

• Earlybird Guests: $60 until February 20

• Student: $20

• Guest: $70

• At The Door: $75

This event will not be streamed virtually.

Location & Parking:

This year’s award show will be in Appleton, WI at Poplar Hall
(141 Riverheath Way, Appleton, WI 54915)
Free parking is available onsite. If the parking lot is full, several nearby parking lots are available.

About the American Advertising Awards

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) American Advertising Awards is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year through local club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in advertising.

AI in the workplace today

During this panel, you will hear from five professionals using AI in their day-to-day. How are they using it? What impact do they see from AI?

This event is co-hosted with the Northeast Wisconsin and NWTC American Marketing Association chapters.

Schedule:

The panel discussion will begin at 8:15 am followed by breakfast & networking at 9:15 am. Breakfast is included for in-person attendees.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $20

• Virtual Only: $15

Prefer virtual?

This event will be available via Livestream or limited-time replay to all attendees. AAF Members receive extended access to replays via their membership dashboard.

Location & Parking:

This event will be hosted at NWTC's Green Bay Campus. Room TBD.

Free parking is available onsite.

About Our Panelists:

Dave Razor
Dave Razor, a professional 2D and 3D animator, installation artist, and experiential designer, seamlessly integrates AI technology into every facet of his creative work. Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Razor's deep connection to both nature and technology is a hallmark of his art. As a philosophy graduate with existentialist and Buddhist leanings, he finds a harmonious balance between digital fluidity and the ephemeral beauty of nature. In his exploration of existential questions through digital art, particularly in augmented and virtual reality, Razor leverages AI to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences. As BOY + BOT (his ai music moniker), his music further embodies this synergy, merging punk rock's raw energy with the expansive possibilities of electronic music, all enriched by AI-driven ambient sounds and complex rhythms. Razor's art embodies the coexistence of the modern and traditional, AI and human, inviting audiences to engage with digital realms in a space of wonder and introspective reflection. Dave Razor currently works as a full-time 2d/3d animator at Epic Creative.

Emmett Gordon
Emmett is the Senior Data Scientist at WebMD Ignite where he leverages AI to build models that integrate and analyze diverse data sets to develop deep market insights, audience targeting, and business intelligence.

Jason Cardinal
With nearly a decade of experience in AI, Jason Cardinal excels in blending his expertise in generative AI with an artistic approach. His EGO Project is a prime example, artistically leveraging generative AI to transform individual responses into unique visual art. This combination of extensive experience and creative application endows Jason with a unique lens in marketing, highlighting the importance of storytelling and audience connection.

Matt Day
Details soon

Jeff Coon
Details soon

Door County Candle Company owner Christiana Trapani has made Candles Creating Change™ part of the core of her business, raising over 1 million dollars of impact since beginning in early 2022.

During our November keynote Christiana will be sharing her story: why she decided to begin offering candles to raise funds for Ukraine and later additional efforts, how she was able to engage Door County Candle Company's audience and community to create such a successful effort, and experience a bit of virality that led to being seen on national platforms, and ultimately how it has impacted Door County Candle Company today.

Schedule:

The 1-hour keynote presentation is planned to start at 8:30am with an opportunity for networking before and after.

Coffee, tea, and an assortment of breakfast items will be available for in-person attendees.

Tickets:

• AAF Members: FREE

• Guest: $35

• Virtual Only: $20

• At The Door: $40

Prefer virtual?

This event will be available via Livestream or limited-time replay to all attendees. AAF Members receive extended access to replays via their membership dashboard.

Location & Parking:

The Daily Buzz (124 E. Walnut Street Green Bay).

Metered parking is available on S. Washington Street directly outside (limit 2 hours) or on the caddy corner from the cafe in the Cherry Street Ramp.

About Our Keynote Speaker:

Door County Candle Company is located in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin! Founded in 1993 by Mike and his late wife Nancy, Door County Candle has been a tradition for generations of families for over 25 years. In 2021, Christiana, a Door County native, took over as owner of the candle company. 

With a heart dedicated to philanthropy and giving back, Christiana's philanthropic journey began with a single candle: the Ukraine Candle. Inspired by her experiences and a desire to make a difference, she embarked on a mission to create change through candles.

Now, with Candles Creating Change, every scented wax product from Door County Candle Company carries the torch of philanthropy, spreading warmth, hope, and making a positive impact.

Want outside-the-classroom feedback on your portfolio in a casual, conversational setting? Looking for insights into the creative industry from local insiders?

The deets:

Local advertising and design professionals are paired with college students for a portfolio review. College students interested in a creative career in graphic design, illustration, photography, etc. are encouraged to attend this event!

Students: You’ll be able to select areas of interest, like illustration or art direction, so we can match you with professionals with that experience.

Professionals: If you are interested in being a reviewer and/or have any questions, please contact Diane Le at dianehle01@gmail.com.

Tickets:

• AAF Members - Free

• Students - $20

• Student + Membership - $50 (Save $20)

• Professionals - $20

Location & parking:

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College - College of Business (BT Entrance). Parking is available on-site.

Who will win an ADDY?

Join us for an evening celebration of our local talents in marketing, advertising, and design. With 130+ entries we are excited to see who will be winning an ADDY for work created during the year 2022!

This year's theme: black & white

It's always fun to play on a theme and see how our community dresses up for the occasion. We're leaving black & white open to interpretation. We look forward to seeing a room filled with creative black & white attire.

Schedule:

• 5:30pm: doors open

• 6:00pm: buffet line opens

• 6:30pm: award ceremony begins

Tickets:

• AAF Members: $35

• Earlybird Guests: $65 until February 23

• Student: $25

• Guest: $70

• At The Door: $75

This event will not be streamed virtually. We have a limit of 200 spots available.

Thank you to the following businesses for their in-kind donations to make this event special.

Location & Parking:

This year's American Advertising Awards will be held inside the Barrel Haus at Badger State Brewing. Parking is available onsite and you can enter through the Barrel Haus doors.

About the American Advertising Awards

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) American Advertising Awards is one of the industry’s largest creative competitions, attracting nearly 35,000 professional and student entries each year through local club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in advertising.

The art of video storytelling: a start to finish look into the process of telling brand stories that captivate audiences

Schedule:

The 1-hour keynote presentation is planned to start at noon.

WINTER WEATHER UPDATE:

With today's winter weather conditions and after a discussion with today's keynote speaker our AAF Fox River board has decided to move today's keynote to be entirely virtual.

Please join us LIVE for our January keynote with Dan Hagenow via Zoom at 12:00 PM Central Time to be present for our speaker and the opportunity for Q&A

About Dan Hagenow Video Creation:

DH Video specializes in branding & promotional videos for businesses of all sizes across multiple industries.  Anyone who has a story to tell, DH Video will tell it in the form of a video.

Visit Dan Hagenow Video Creation's website

About Our Keynote Speaker:

Dan Hagenow, Owner

Dan Hagenow is the Founder & Owner of Dan Hagenow Video Creation, LLC.  Dan founded his business in 2015, which was originally started as a hobby in the wedding industry.  One year later, Dan took the dive and launched his business full-time focusing all of his efforts to grow his business.  Today, DH Video is a full-service production company creating over 200 videos a year for businesses across the state. 

Dan grew up on a small dairy farm just north of Reedsville, WI and recently got married this past summer in July.  He operates his business from home with future plans to build his own studio on his property.