As award season sweeps through the creative industry, the Brandcenter proudly acknowledges the accomplishments of its students, alumni, faculty, and staff who have been recognized for their exceptional work and leadership in the various awards programs.
Closest to home, many from the Brandcenter community were recently honored at the Advertising Club of Richmond’s 62nd annual Richmond Show. The Richmond Show celebrates the talent in and among the Richmond creative community and Central Virginia, and each year, exceptional work from the previous year is awarded at the event and leaders are honored for their impact.
Brandcenter alumnus Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009), Founder and Executive Creative Director of Arts & Letters Creative Co., was named the 2022 Ad Person of the Year, an honor bestowed to an advertising professional who has made a significant impact on the community through their creative energy and inspirational leadership.
This is the third consecutive year a Brandcenter graduate has received this award; Marcel Jennings (Copywriting, 2000), Associate Director & Professor at VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture, was named the 2021 Ad Person of the Year, while Jess Collins (Strategy, 2010), Assistant Director, Advertising at VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture, received the 2020 Ad Person of the Year distinction.
Reflecting on this honor, Hodges says, “The other week I had the great honor of being invited to the stage by the Advertising Club of Richmond to accept the honor of Person of the Year. In an industry full of many awards, this was the greatest one I have ever received. But the truth is that I did not get there because of me.”
He continues, “I was able to be on that stage because of a place I started six years ago, a place that I thought would be a small studio that did a few projects a year. But the story of Arts & Letters is the story of the Richmond creative community believing and helping to build something different.”
In telling that story, Hodges acknowledges its many players—individuals, agencies, the Brandcenter—and the ways they’ve helped it to unfold.
Among those players Hodges mentions are the Brandcenter and several Brandcenter alumni, current and former faculty, staff, and board members, as well as local agencies either founded by Brandcenter alumni or with strong Brandcenter ties:
Founder of the Brandcenter Diane Cook-Tench; executive director Vann Graves; associate director Ashley Sommardahl (Strategy, 1998); retired professors Peter Coughter and Caley Cantrell; founder & CEO of The Mom Complex Katherine Wintsch (Strategy, 2001); Rich Weinstein, former managing partner at Arts & Letters Creative Co., current Associate Director for Extension Programs at the Brandcenter; Andy Grayson (Strategy, 2003), Director of Strategy at Arts & Letters Creative Co.; Rachel Scott Everett (Art Direction, 2001) and Brian Gibson (Art Direction, 2001), Founders of EVERGIB; Brand Federation, founded by former, longtime Brandcenter professor Kelly O’Keefe, with multiple Brandcenter alumni on the team; FABLE Branding + Advertising with Jess Collins (Strategy, 2010); Good Run Research & Recreation, founder and CEO Stacy Thomas (Strategy, 2001); Familiar Creatives, co-founded by Dustin Artz (Art Direction, 2005); and Mike Hughes, founding Chairman of the Brandcenter Board of Directors for whom the current Brandcenter building is named (Mike Hughes Hall).
“It’s a story that will never stop being written,” Hodges says. “It’s a stage that we all share. And it was the honor of a lifetime to share it for a night.”
The Brandcenter is proud to be part of the story of the Richmond creative community, and we congratulate Hodges on this well-deserved honor. Read his reflections below the awards list.
Below is the full list of Brandcenter students, alumni, faculty, and staff with award-winning work at the 2023 Richmond Show, organized by category for students and by agency for alumni, faculty, and staff.
Brandcenter Class of 2023 Winners
STUDENT SHOW / INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN
Integrated Campaign: Entries in this category are campaigns or series of ads, commercials or executions that utilize more than one medium.
GOLD / Oatology / Client: Oatly!
About the project: Rather than ask, “Does Oatly taste like the real thing?” Oatly would prefer you ask, “What is real?” View the work here.
- Andrew Krysinski (Creative Brand Management, 2023) / Brand Manager
- Allison Fitzgerald (Strategy, 2023) / Strategist
- Michael Shea (Copywriting, 2023) / Copywriter
- Morgan MacLachlan (Art Direction, 2023) / Art Director
- Meaghan McFarland (Experience Design, 2023) / Experience Designer
- Ethan McKay (Art Direction) / Art Director
- Caley Cantrell / Professor
SILVER / The Southeastern Conference — We Own Intense / Client: SEC
About the project: We created a new platform—We Own Intense—to celebrate the ardent fervor that elevates the SEC above every other college conference. View the work here.
- Lanie Vorwerk (Art Direction, 2023) / Art Director
- Ryan King (Copywriting, 2023) / Copywriter
- Holly Hessler / Professor
STUDENT SHOW / NON-TRADITIONAL
Non-Traditional: Unconventional way of performing advertising and/or promotional activities; any type of advertising that doesn’t fit into any other category.
BRONZE / The Day the Music Died / Client: Gibson
About the project: To make people truly appreciate music education, we had to take music away. View the work here.
- Kendall Boron (Art Direction, 2023) / Art Director
- Cameron Sharer (Copywriting, 2023) / Copywriter
- Thomas Scharpf / Professor
Brandcenter Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Winners
View the winner gallery here.
THE MARTIN AGENCY
The Dress / TIAA
- Accolades:
- Gold / Advertising Show, Non-Traditional
- Silver / Advertising Show, Public Service
- Silver / Production Show, Overall Production Quality
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Sara Kuhs (Copywriting, 2004) / Creative Director
- Ryan Waltz (Strategy, 2022) / Brand Strategist
LegalShield / Stupid Laws
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Broadcast TV
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Andrew Allen (Strategy, 2019) / Senior Strategist
- Tiffany Boggs (Creative Brand Management, 2022) / Account Executive
Geico / Bundling: Victorian
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Broadcast TV
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Kate Placentra (Art Direction, 2012) / Creative Director
- Matt Mattox (Strategy, 2005) / SVP, Group Account Director
Geico / Motorcycle: Zen Zach
- Accolades:
- Silver / Advertising Show, Broadcast TV
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Matt Mattox (Strategy, 2005) / SVP, Group Account Director
UPS / Trucks
- Accolades:
- Silver / Design Show, Promotional Design / Advertising
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Emilee Lampert (Creative Brand Management, 2021) / Senior Account Executive
Lil Ruby / Animated Trailer
- Accolades:
- Gold / Production Show, 3D Animation
- Brandcenter alumni, faculty:
- Jerry Hoak (Art Direction, 2005; Brandcenter faculty) / Executive Creative Director
ARTS & LETTERS CREATIVE CO.
Zola / For All the Days Along the Way
- Accolades:
- Gold / Advertising Show, Integrated Campaign
- Brandcenter alumni, current staff:
- Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009) / Founder, Executive Creative Director
- Andy Grayson (Strategy, 2003) / Director of Strategy
- Nick Kaplan (Copywriting, 2008) / Executive Creative Director
- Albert Song (Art Direction, 2015) / Creative
- Noel van Aartrijk (Strategy, 2016) / Strategy Director
- Rich Weinstein (Brandcenter Staff) / Managing Director
ESPN / The GameDay Cereal Collection
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Non-Traditional
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009) / Founder, Executive Creative Director
- Andy Grayson (Strategy, 2003) / Director of Strategy
- NJ Placentra (Art Direction, 2012) / Creative Director
- Andrew Kong (Copywriting, 2013) / Creative Director
- Molly Jamison (Art Direction, 2011) / Creative Director
- Joe Jones (Art Direction, 2019) / Creative
- Craig Gerringer (Copywriting, 2012) / Creative
- Martin Madriaga (Strategy, 2018) / Business Director
Zola / The Invitation
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Public Service
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009) / Founder, Executive Creative Director
- Andy Grayson (Strategy 2003) / Director of Strategy
- Nick Kaplan (Copywriting, 2008) / Executive Creative Director
- Noel van Aartrijk (Strategy, 2016) / Strategy Director
- Albert Song (Art Direction, 2015) / Creative
Tito’s Handmade Vodka / DIY January with Martha Stewart
- Accolades:
- Gold / Interactive Show, Social
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009) / Founder, Executive Creative Director
- Andy Grayson (Strategy, 2003) / Director of Strategy
- Joe Carr (Strategy, 2015) / Strategist
Fifty/50 / The Stories of Title IX.
- Accolades:
- Gold / Production Show, Editorial
- Brandcenter alumni, current staff:
- Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009) / Founder, Executive Creative Director
- Andy Grayson (Strategy, 2003) / Director of Strategy
- Molly Jamison (Art Direction, 2011) / Creative Director
- NJ Placentra (Art Direction, 2012) / Creative Director
- Nana Dadzie (Strategy, 2021) / Strategist
- Rich Weinstein (Current Staff) / Managing Director
FAMILIAR CREATURES
Duke’s Mayo / Mayo Mania
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Online Video and Film
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Dustin Artz (Art Direction, 2005) / Co-Founder, Creative Director
Duke’s Mayo / Duke’s Tattoos
- Accolades:
- Bronze / Advertising Show, Non-Traditional
- Brandcenter alumni:
- Dustin Artz (Art Direction, 2005) / Co-Founder, Creative Director
2022 AD PERSON OF THE YEAR
Recognizes an advertising professional who has made a significant impact on our community (Central Virginia) through their creative energy and inspirational leadership
2022 Ad Person of the Year: Charles Hodges (Copywriting, 2009), Founder and Executive Creative Director of Arts & Letters Creative Co.
Hodges reflects on receiving this award:
“The other week I had the great honor of being invited to the stage by the Advertising Club of Richmond to accept the honor of Person of the Year.
In an industry full of many awards, this was the greatest one I have ever received.
But the truth is that I did not get there because of me.
I was able to be on that stage because of a place I started six years ago, a place that I thought would be a small studio that did a few projects a year.
But the story of Arts & Letters is the story of the Richmond creative community believing and helping to build something different.
It’s the story of Katherine Wintsch and everyone at The Mom Complex opening their doors to help me understand the building blocks of creative entrepreneurship.
It’s the story of Joel Erb letting me rent a small desk in a warehouse that would eventually become our first office.
It’s the story of Ron Carey giving me sage advice on ways to think about things from a structural standpoint as he was starting his own journey at Tilt Creative + Production.
It’s the story of John Adams inviting me into his office and finding all the time in the world, when he could have been doing anything else in the world.
It’s the story of Kristen Cavallo asking me all the tough questions, but having even more inspiring answers and being an infinite inspiration ever since.
It’s the story of Rich Weinstein seeing something in a copywriter that they could never have seen in themselves.
It’s the story of Cabell Harris introducing me to Andy Grayson.
It’s the story of Marty Ritter seeing infinite potential in the people and places of this town.
It’s the story of people like Phil Williams and Danielle Flagg moving from across the country because of the magic that lives here.
It’s the story of places like EVERGIB, Brand Federation, Dotted Line Agency, FABLE Branding + Advertising, Alice Blue, BES Studios, WORK Labs, authentic digital agency, Mondial Creative Labs, Overcoast Music, Spang TV, Good Run Research & Recreation, The King Agency, Charles Ryan Associates, Familiar Creatures and many other places making this creative community what it is.
It’s the story of the VCU Brandcenter – the whole reason I even knew about RVA in the first place – started by Diane Cook-Tench, sustained by Vann Graves, and continuously nurtured by people like Ashley Sommardahl, Peter Coughter, Caley Cantrell and so many others over the years.
It’s the story of a once-regional company called The Martin Agency that, through the legacy of Mike Hughes and many others, showed the world that Richmond is a place that can change the world through the power of ideas, certainly through its ingenuity, but even more through its care for each other.
It’s a story that will never stop being written.
It’s a stage that we all share.
And it was the honor of a lifetime to share it for a night.
On behalf of everyone at Arts & Letters, thank you all so much.”