Archive for the ‘Government’ Category

A. Bright Idea’s boutique approach wins with awards, new business, and new west coast office

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

From national Telly award to Best in Maryland, local agency delivers creative leading to growth

A. Bright Idea Advertising and Public Relations launches new business with The Wellwood Club restaurant of historic Charlestown, Md., and the opening of a second location in Sonoma, Calif., while celebrating industry recognition for its work in the television advertising, public relations, graphic design and interactive design arenas.

“As a boutique agency, we thrive on developing strong creative that gets results for our clients,” said President and Founder Anita Brightman. “More than just breaking through the clutter, we strive to reach our clients’ audiences and compel them to act. Our recent peer recognition provides additional confirmation of our continued growth and effectiveness in this market.”

Agency-of-Record

A. Bright Idea continues to add new retail and government clients to all areas of its full-service repertoire. The agency recently launched an advertising campaign for The Wellwood, a multi-restaurant, marina, crab house and event venue in historic Charlestown, Md., worked on environmental graphics for the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, and joined the General Services Administration AIMS schedule.

Awards and Recognitions

A. Bright Idea recently received recognition for a multitude of projects in the areas of television advertising, graphic design, public relations and interactive design.

The agency won two Bronze Telly Awards for the Bel Air Center for Addictions television campaign, “I’m Not an Addict,” which addresses the stigma of drug addiction that often prevents people from seeking treatment and encourages people struggling with addiction to embrace their true identity along with Bel Air Center for Addictions to overcome their addiction.

The agency also received recognition for a variety of projects at the Public Relations Society of America Maryland Chapter Best in Maryland Awards on June 17 including:

  • The John Carroll School – Kaleidoscope annual report design and interactive annual report companion
  • The Kelly Group – View from the Top, economic review event invitation (direct mail)
  • Jordan Thomas Salon and Spa – Highlights email newsletter
  • William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund – Sickle Cell Awareness Week community relations

http://www.abrightideaonline.com/portfolio

The Best in Maryland Awards judging considers all aspects of a campaign/project including research, planning, execution and results and this year’s entries were judged by the PRSA Pittsburgh chapter.

In addition to its contributions to Best in Maryland entries, A. Bright Idea Interactive, the agency’s interactive division, received recognition by the Graphic Design USA Magazine’s 2010 American Web Design Award for the Wirehead Business Technologies website design.

Finally, Anita Brightman received recognition in the public relations field with her appointment to the Baltimore Public Relations Council 2010-2011 Board of Directors.

Expansion

After falling in love with Sonoma Valley, the agency expanded its business to provide the same great service to the unique businesses and shops on the West Coast. To capture the experience, A. Bright Idea will be launching several cutting-edge initiatives in the coming months.

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BRAC and the Community

Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Sarah West
Sarah West serves as A. Bright Idea’s Government Public Affairs Specialist.

As a military brat in the mid 90’s, the word “BRAC” was scary. It meant we might have to move again and it clearly amped up the stress level in my house. We survived the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, round and moved on to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where I happily adjusted to weekends at the beach.

Now that I am on “the other side,” as a contractor, supporting a government client onsite at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), BRAC has taken on a different meaning for me. I am excited to watch outstanding science and technology Army missions relocate to APG, but tinged with concern when I sit in the new bumper-to-bumper traffic traveling off post at the end of each day. “This is just the beginning,” I’ve grumbled to myself lately.

Although BRAC is strictly a business decision, aimed at improving the efficiency of our national security structure, it is laced with great emotion – on both sides. I have seen the great communication and marketing efforts aimed at those coming to Maryland, focusing on our state’s appeal, but what does “Jane,” who lived in Harford County her whole life, think about BRAC impacts? Does she know what is going on and does she even care?

Sure, I might have to sit in traffic a few more minutes than I did last year, but because I attend many of the BRAC network meetings I know that APG turning into one of the nation’s most important science and security headquarters will bring a meaningful economic boom to our county and ultimately our state. Does Jane know that? Or does Jane just think BRAC means more traffic, an overpopulated classroom at her child’s school and a longer wait at the ER?

I challenge the military and the Harford County government to engage the current residents and businesses of the county.  Share BRAC news frequently—in the Aegis, on radio, billboards, blogs, tweets and events.  Let’s see BRAC information at the 4th of July parade, BBQ bash, the Farm Fair and even Harford Mall.  We need to make sure that our neighbors perceive BRAC as a positive economic AND lifestyle gain.  A robust community offers potential for better infrastructure, job opportunities, choices in our children’s education and excellent medical care.  Let’s motivate our cheerleaders before its too late and they put their pom poms down.

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