(Omaha, NE, October 31, 2017) The American Advertising Federation Omaha (AAF Omaha) announces the winners for Ad Pro and Ad Rookie of the Year. Sean Heisler will be recognized as Ad Pro of the Year and Cody Fenske will be awarded as Ad Rookie of the Year at AAF Omaha’s BOOM! Roasted Awards Dinner on November 16 at 6:00 p.m. at The Living Room. The event will also feature the roast of Michael Johnson, senior copywriter at Bailey Lauerman and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) 9th District governor.
The Ad Pro of the Year award is given to an AAF Omaha member who has a distinguished track record of service in advertising including professional and community service, with attention to AAF Omaha service. Sean Heisler began his career at Webster in 1996 and currently serves as senior art director.
Heisler has served AAF Omaha for more than five years as an active volunteer, committee member and board member. He currently co-leads AAF Omaha’s Special Events fundraising team. He has worked tirelessly orchestrating and executing AAF Omaha signature events and fundraisers. He has designed award-winning artwork for AAF Omaha’s Special Events, Public Service and Membership committees. His work done for AAF Omaha’s Public Service committee for the Collation on Human Trafficking won AAF national awards in 2016.
A graduate of Iowa State University, Heisler has garnered many local and national awards. His work has been featured in publications such as Print, Graphis, Communication Arts and Logo Lounge. Heisler has designed numerous high-profile brand identities, most notably, the TBS logo for Turner Networks in 2015.
In addition to AAF Omaha service, Heisler is an active volunteer working with community baseball, basketball, gymnastic and Tae Kwon Do teams. He serves on his neighborhood SID board and has provided pro bono design work for numerous non-profits.
The Ad Rookie of the Year award is given to an AAF Omaha member with five or fewer years in the advertising business who demonstrates outstanding work both professionally and in the community, with attention to AAF Omaha service. Cody Fenske currently serves as art director/designer at Clark Creative Group.
Fenske has served on AAF Omaha’s Meet the Pros conference planning team the past two years and currently serves on the committee as design chair. His involvement with AAF Omaha started as a student member and soon after his graduation from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) became a professional federation member. Fenske had the opportunity to collaborate with committee members and was instrumental in the Meet the Pros 2017 creative rebrand. He shared his talents creating new event promotional materials and is currently working to keep the Meet the Pros brand fresh for the federation’s 2018 student conference.
Fenske participated in Forge, a selective professional development program for young designers (students) hosted by the team at Emspace during the summer of 2015. He gained real life career experiences participating in Bozell’s select summer internship program in 2016. During his time at UNO, he was a member of AIGA – UNO and worked with other design student volunteers on many projects.
Fenske and Heisler come highly recommended by their peers and colleagues for demonstrating outstanding work ethic as well as dedication in advocacy to AAF Omaha. Join AAF Omaha on November 16 to congratulate these deserving recipients by registering on our site.
About AAF Omaha
For 111 years, the American Advertising Federation Omaha has served as a unifying voice for advertising in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area, advocating for the rights of advertisers by helping educate policymakers, the news media and public on the value advertising brings to the well-being of the community. AAF Omaha fosters the highest standards of practice and works to cultivate the industry’s present and future leaders. AAF Omaha has been honored on the district and national levels by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for its work in advertising education, communications, diversity, government relations, club management, programs, membership and public service.