Texas Advertising Group Members
TAG Exes
Check out some Q/A with some past TAG members. Email us for more info if you would like to submit your own.
Laura Willis Aguilar
Advertising & Spanish, May 2002
City of Residence: New York
Current Position: Media Supervisor
Current Company: Deutsch
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
I was the VP under the reign of Judson.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I work on the Tylenol account, managing the portfolio of Adult Analgesics products including Extra Strength Tylenol, Tylenol PM, Tylenol Arthritis and brand extensions thereof. In my role, we select media programs and partner that align with our clients’ needs, working from a business planning perspective first to develop breakthrough ideas that deliver on the business goals. This entails working closely with the client, and also developing relationships with vendors so that the programs are not all ‘spots and dots.’
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
TAG provided invaluable experience, both in my role as an officer, but also in the role it played for the 2 other years I was an active member. The UT advertising program is top rated, TAG provides insight into the advertising industry and also helps develop connections and networking opportunities. It was also a blast.
Sean Patrick
Advertising (Creative), May 1992 & Spanish, May 1993
City of Residence: Wilton, CT
Current Position: Senior Partner, Global Client Service Director
Current Company: Redworks at Ogilvy
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Social chair
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
RedWorks is Ogilvy's global, low-cost, high-volume idea extension and execution arm. In short: we extend Ogilvy's big ideas into new vehicles and channels and we also produce them. And we do it 41 offices in 32 countries.
My role is a mix of client service and business development (new business).
Client Service:
Since we are a part of Ogilvy, many of our clients are also Ogilvy clients. This means I service both our external and internal customers. My main client-facing responsibility is American Express International Proprietary business (i.e., Amex charge and credit cards). We do business in 14 countries and my role is ensuring that RedWorks is delivering Ogilvy-quality work at competitive rates, tracking spend and savings, and troubleshooting local-market issues.
New Business:
I develop relationships with potential clients in the international space. Latin America and the US are where I focus my energies.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Every and anything related to working helps prepare you in someway. TAG helped prep me for life as an 'account guy': Part team leader, part cheerleader, part horizon-chaser, part fire fighter, and part task-master. It also taught me to be careful about biting off more than I could chew. Managing expectations and commitments (including one's own) IS account management.
Jocelyn S. Lai
Advertising, December 2008
City of Residence: Dallas, TX
Current Position: Project Analyst for jcp.com
Current Company: JCPenney
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Member, 2005; VP of Special Events, 2006; President, 2007, 2008
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I am part of the digital marketing team for JCPenney’s online business, jcp.com, which immerses me in a great mélange of things: marketing, user experience, consumer behavior and research, publishing. The great thing about my job is that I can learn every side of the business and what constitutes success… beyond just advertising. A large part of my role is to look at how we can better serve our customers and create a positive shopping experience, whether it is by changing the site navigation and usability features, or by responding to product reviews, or by creating a new communication touch point. In short, I straddle two boats: product development and product marketing, the product being jcp.com.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Absolutely – 100%! TAG built up my confidence in terms of leading a vision from its inception to execution and, most importantly, to maintaining its success. Both TAG and the UT Advertising program played a large role in preparing me to work in a team environment, how to handle, react to and respect different working styles, and how to still have fun out of it all. However, the single most important thing I took away from my involvement with TAG and the UT Advertising department is: to be an agent of change, you must surround yourself with those who are open-minded, forward thinkers, who will inspire you, and challenge you to do the same.
If this sounds attractive to you, feel free to drop me a line to discuss a potential future with JCPenney! Email: jslai@jcpenney.com
Anthony Thomas
Advertising, May 2008
City of Residence: Chicago, IL
Current Position: Media Associate
Current Company: Starcom
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Chief Financial Officer
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I communicate a lot with vendors as well as with the client and my strategy team. I stewarded national television buys for Nintendo, United Airlines & Midas through billing, posting, & flight changes.
I analyzed upfront and scatter plan proposals and provided feedback to networks to ensure the best schedules and pricing possible for the client. I assisted in the creation and development of cross-platform communication initiatives including added value opportunities for Nintendo
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes, it taught me the value of networking and gave me lots of practice in doing so.
Erin Salazar
Advertising, May 2008
City of Residence: Chicago, IL
Current Position: Strategy Associate- Comcast account
Current Company: Starcom Worldwide
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Social Chair
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
Every day is different. My general responsibilities include trafficking creative for whatever print/tv/radio spots we are running, make sure spots run correctly on each station in each market, work with the Local Activation Team to craft a buy that meets client budget and TRP goals and hits the right target, recap buys for clients, make sure all promised added value is running correctly, supply radio/tv reps with any materials needed for added value components, update all internal and client spending trackers and flowcharts. Sometimes I get to Cubs games, since we buy a lot of sports for our clients. Recently I went to my first Bulls game with my ESPN radio rep and got to sit in the ESPN suite!
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes, networking plays a major role in succeeding in the advertising industry. Everyday work and success is based largely on relationships and your personal ability to keep a clear head, think on your toes, and make effective efficient decisions for your clients. (refers to Tag socials and meeting guest speakers) I would encourage Taggers to meet the guest speaker, obtain their business card and shake their hand, even if it means staying 10 minutes late. Not everyone remembers a name, but lots of people remember faces! You never know who you'll end up interviewing with in the (near!) future.
David Wen
Advertising, May 2006
City of Residence: Ft. Worth, TX
Current Position: Graphic/Web Designer
Current Company: Northwood Church
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
No.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I am in charge of all branding, marketing/advertising and design for the church internally and externally (The church has 3,000 members). I’ve interned before at a downtown Chicago ad agency and the non-profit world is a different culture. I work in an in-house creative team that does print design, environmental design, interactive design, motion graphics, and praise and worship.
I make sure that all marketing materials are cohesive and represent the three core values of the church: interactive relationship with God, transparent connections with each other, and a glocal (global + local) impact for God.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes, it did. By being in TAG, it helped me gain a deeper understanding of the advertising industry and the agency world. The guest speakers do an amazing job of enlightening students in to the real, and sometimes harsh, world outside of a fantasy-like college campus. I received professional help on my resume, networking with local executives, as well as informal portfolio critiques.
I am grateful for all the guidance I received and I can still tell you the names of the people who have helped!
David is the founder of The Ranch, a student-run advertising blog created to help UT-Austin advertising students.
David Rowe
Advertising, May 2004
City of Residence: Dallas, TX
Current Position: Brand Media
Current Company: The Richards Group
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
No.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I develop media plans for a variety of clients, including Chick-fil-A, Motel 6, and Stainmaster. My job is not to create the ads, but to determine the most effective and efficient vehicles through which to deliver our creative to the appropriate audience. Media planners have to be creative in their efforts to reach consumers, who generally avoid ads, but also have a good sense for numbers.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes. TAG helped bridge the gap between what we learned in school and how we can apply that to the real world. Listening to a media planner from GSD&M describe his typical work day for an hour was just as valuable, if not more so, than any class lecture.
Amanda Perez
Advertising Media, Business Foundations Certification, May 2007
City of Residence: Houston, TX
Current Position: Local Buyer (Media Associate)
Current Company: Tapestry
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
No.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I am a local buyer (meaning I buy spot TV & radio) for P&G, Suzuki, Disneyland, Best Buy, Walgreen’s, Allstate, and Nintendo in the markets LA, San Diego/Tijuana, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Phoenix, McAllen, El Paso, Tucson, Austin, Mexicali, Tampa, Corpus Christi, West Palm Beach, and Laredo.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
From a local buying perspective, TAG helped me become more familiar with advertising/media language and processes. From an advertising perspective, TAG introduced me to a lot of agencies, positions in advertising, fellow peers, and of course people who are doing amazing things in the industry today.
Colin Cooper
Advertising, December 2003
City of Residence: Austin, TX
Current Position: Jr. Art Director
Current Company: C3 Presents
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Assistant Webmaster and Publicity Officer
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I design/art direct all internal and external communications for C3 Presents and its clients and branded properties. Current branded properties include Austin City Limits Music Festival, Lollapalooza and Big State Festival; current clients include Robert Earl Keen, Jack Ingram, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Ben Kweller, and others. I most often work with merchandise, site enhancement, web design, print advertising, and posters.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes. TAG helped me learn how to design on incredibly tight deadlines (putting flyers together for speakers) as well as providing valuable industry contacts.
Zac Pritchett
Advertising, May 2007
City of Residence: Dallas, TX
Current Position: Brand Management
Current Company:The Richards Group
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Yes, Vice President Industry Relations.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I work on Reliant Energy and The Dallas Morning News. Put simply, I am an Account Executive. But at The Richards Group everything is about the brand. To reflect this concept, the job title “Brand Management” is used instead of an Account Executive. As Brand Management it is my job to ensure that every project stays on message, on budget, and on schedule. I am a communicator, a priority-setter, an organizer, a relationship manager, a futurist, and a brand advocate. I support, develop, and manage anything and everything that relates to my Client’s brand.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without TAG. My participation as an officer gave me the opportunity to meet many people in the Advertising world and gave me a better understanding of their role within the agency. Through organizing our speaker series I developed a strong level of confidence in speaking to professionals, which translated to my interviewing skills, which led to internships; and ultimately to my job. I do want to make it clear, however, that TAG was only helpful because I committed to it and stayed active throughout my membership. Just like anything else, TAG gives you what you put into it. Commit to it.
Stephanie Peterson
Advertising, December 2005
City of Residence: New York City, NY
Current Position: Print Negotiator
Current Company: Zenith Media
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Yes, President.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I work on the Nestle account and their many accounts from, for example, Lean Cuisine to Butterfinger. It's my job to negotiate rates and added value with all of our magazine partners. I also present my work to the client and play a liaison roll between the magazine community and our client, Nestle.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Sure it did. It's more about learning what is out there and understanding the big picture. I work with everyone in the process from brand managers to creative teams to get a campaign rolling and it really helps to understand their daily grind to work better as a team. So yes, going to TAG and hearing about all the areas of advertising has definitely helped me.
Judson Whigham
Advertising & Corporate Communications, May 2002
City of Residence: New York, NY
Current Position: Account Supervisor
Current Company: Wieden + Kennedy
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Yes, President (2001) and Social Chair (2000)
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I manage the advertising efforts for ESPN; specifically as it relates to their on-air support of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NCAA Sports. As an Account Supervisor I am smack dab in the middle of all the doing and thinking on the account. I work with all facets of the agency to produce the smartest and best work possible where we can achieve the goals set forth by the Client.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
TAG helped me gain knowledge of the industry outside of what I received from my classes. One does not necessarily need a degree in advertising to succeed in the business, but rather an understanding of the industry. TAG provides this above and beyond anything else one can receive in class alone.
Nancy Jeng
Advertising, May 2007
City of Residence: Austin, TX / Bay Area, CA
Current Position: Assistant Media Buyer, Out-of Home Department
Current Company: GSD&M
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Yes, President (2006) and Publicity Director (2005)
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I help buy media for anything that is not TV, print, radio or interactive. My work encompasses everything from billboards to coffee sleeves to street teams to subway posters. Next to interactive media, it is the most exciting and ever-changing type of medium.
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes. As a member of TAG, I was exposed to all facets of advertising which can only help when you are in the workplace because it is so easy to get caught up in your department or your corner of the office. TAG does a great job of exposing students to all of the departments within an agency. As a media person, it has helped me a great deal to appreciate what account people deal with and how creatives work.
In addition, TAG has taught me how to network and talk to people. Even if someone I meet doesn't work at the agency I want to work at or doesn't work in the same department, they always know someone who knows someone who... and I can't count the number of times I've seen that lead to a job in the end.
Katey Porter
Advertising, May 2006
City of Residence: Dallas, TX
Current Position: Brand Management
Current Company: The Richards Group
1) Were you a TAG Officer, if so what position(s) did you hold?
Yes, Assistant Webmaster and CFO.
2) Please describe what your work entails and tell us about your professional responsibilities?
I work on The Home Depot account and manage projects. In other words, I manage the advertising needs of the Client and coordinate those projects to my creative team here at the agency. I am involved in every step from the day the Client decides to advertise a particular product/service to the day it is on air. The best part is, I get to go on shoots!
3) Did your membership in the Texas Advertising Group at the University of Texas help prepare you for the work you are involved in today?
Yes. TAG enabled me to better understand the advertising opportunities available and the different personalities of each agency. The group also allowed me to form contacts and relationships with not only the agency's, but with my peers who I will no doubt be working with one day.