AAF Reno

AAF Reno AAF Reno is the local chapter of AAF. We strive to be the best resource for advertising professionals.

AAF Reno is Reno's ad club, a professional organization dedicated to serving as the ultimate resource for education, networking, and recognition within the marketing and advertising industries. AAF Reno is an affiliate of the American Advertising Federation. | Join AAF Reno today!

A extra special thank you to Reno Type for sponsoring our Ad People of the Year Awards and helping make this year's even...
06/19/2026

A extra special thank you to Reno Type for sponsoring our Ad People of the Year Awards and helping make this year's event possible!

If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, now is the time. Ticket sales close on June 23rd.

đź“… June 25, 2026
đź“Ť Atlantis Casino Resort Spa (Grand Ballrooms)
đź•’ 5:30pm-8:30pm
Join us for an incredible evening of connection, celebration, and community.
Get tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Meet our Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Laura Partridge Laura Partridge is the Founder and Presiden...
06/16/2026

Meet our Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Laura Partridge

Laura Partridge is the Founder and President of CCMedia, a woman-owned media buying agency she launched in 1991. With more than 40 years in the advertising industry, she has developed, planned, and negotiated over $200 million in media placements, helping brands of all sizes maximize their reach and results. She also owns CCMedia Publishing, which produces highly targeted community and homeowner association magazines.

A San Francisco native raised in Marin County, Laura began her career in radio before becoming an entrepreneur in Truckee/North Lake Tahoe more than three decades ago. Her company has since grown and evolved with the industry, also expanding into both media buying agency services and publishing. Today, CCMedia is recognized for its holistic, media-agnostic approach—creating strategic media plans that integrate traditional media, all types of digital media, and social platforms; buying media better; and delivering measurable results through strong client partnerships and creative negotiations. CCMedia Publishing now produces seven community magazines, including Truckee Magazine, Northstar Living, The Shire, Tahoe Donner News, IVGID Magazine, ArrowCreek View, and Damonte Ranch magazine, which provide exclusive content and highly effective advertising opportunities to reach residents and second-homeowners.

In addition to her Bachelor’s degree from UCSB, Laura has numerous other credentials in radio advertising, digital marketing, market research, ratings, and social media. She is an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), where she has held multiple leadership roles and continues to foster growth, learning, and connection among entrepreneurs. She has also served on several community boards, including the Truckee Donner Chamber.

Known for her strategic expertise, ability to integrate all types of media, and compassionate leadership, Laura is passionate about helping businesses succeed. Today, she is proud to lead a strong, dedicated team at CCMedia and is excited to continue expanding the agency’s impact through strategic partnerships and innovation.

Outside of work, she’s an avid traveler, skier, scuba diver, golfer, and outdoor enthusiast, enjoying adventures with her husband and three children.

Join us on June 25th from 5:30p-8:30p at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Laura and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.
Get your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Meet Ad Person of the Year: Kurt ThigpenKurt Thigpen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ace Studios, a Reno-based creative mar...
06/12/2026

Meet Ad Person of the Year: Kurt Thigpen

Kurt Thigpen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ace Studios, a Reno-based creative marketing and production agency built around one simple belief: creativity for good. Ace partners with purpose-driven organizations to tell sharper stories, spark connection, and create lasting impact through strategy, design, digital marketing, photography, and video.
Equal parts strategist, storyteller, and professional chaos wrangler, alongside his husband Chris, Kurt has helped grow Ace into an award-winning agency recognized as AAF Western Region’s 2024 Advertising Agency of the Year. His leadership is rooted in the idea that good work should actually do something—for clients, for communities, and for the people brave enough to build something that matters.

Kurt’s commitment to AAF runs deep. He has served as President of AAF Reno, Governor of District 14, Western Region Treasurer, and now serves nationally as Vice Chair of the AAF Council of Governors. In 2024, he was honored with AAF’s national Lee-Douthit-Levine Perseverance Award, recognizing his resilience, leadership, and ongoing service to the advertising community.

Beyond the industry, Kurt is also a dedicated public servant. A former elected school board trustee, he now serves as Chair of Nevada’s State Public Charter School Authority, continuing his advocacy for education, equity, and stronger communities.

Whether he’s leading an agency, supporting the grassroots AAF network, or serving the public, Kurt brings the same energy: strategic, unfiltered when necessary, deeply mission-driven, and always focused on leaving things better than he found them.

Join us on June 25th from 5:30p-8:30p at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Kurt and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Get your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Meet Ad Person of the Year: Danni WinterDanni Winter is a seasoned media leader with nearly 15 years of experience build...
06/10/2026

Meet Ad Person of the Year: Danni Winter

Danni Winter is a seasoned media leader with nearly 15 years of experience building and scaling high-performance paid media programs. Currently serving as the Director of Integrated Planning and Paid Media at Noble Studios, Danni specializes in the strategic management of multi-channel campaigns where data and financial accountability intersect. She is a powerhouse on the technical side of the industry, particularly in developing tracking and attribution frameworks that enable brands to see the full value of their media spend. Her client roster features a diverse mix of major players, including SiriusXM Media, Visit Lake Tahoe, Fremont Street Experience, and Yosemite Mariposa County.

Danni’s approach is uniquely informed by her background in finance, holding both a Marketing degree and an MBA in Finance from the University of Nevada, Reno. This analytical lens allows her to manage complex budgets and media allocations with a focus on bottom-line impact rather than just surface-level metrics. Beyond her work at Noble, Danni is a dedicated advocate for the industry. She is the immediate past President of AAF Reno and served on the boards of the Reno-Tahoe AMA and the Junior League of Reno, helping shape the local marketing and philanthropic landscape.

Join us on June 25th from 5:30p-8:30p at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Danni and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Get your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Just a friendly reminder that there is still time to submit your entries for the AAF Western Region's Best of the West M...
06/09/2026

Just a friendly reminder that there is still time to submit your entries for the AAF Western Region's Best of the West Media Awards!

Do you know a company or individual who might fit one of these categories?
-Advertising Agency of the Year: For agencies of all sizes making a mark.
-Public Service Campaign or Event of the Year: For work that truly made a difference.
-Young Achiever Award: For the rising stars under 32 who are changing the game.
-Agency Professional of the Year: For that indispensable team member who deserves the spotlight.

This is our chance to celebrate the people and the work that make our local media community so special. Submitting is easy, and it’s a powerful way to boost team morale and showcase your company’s values. We have 20 award categories open for nominations.

We are also rolling out the first ever Western Region Summit Award! This is the highest honor in the Western Region that celebrates someone who has dedicated years of service to AAF at the local, district, or regional level.

Nomination deadline is June 30th!

Nomination link: https://aafwesternregion.org/media-awards-home/

Meet our Young Professional of the Year Award presented by Ad 2 Reno Winner: Rowena Magbitang-Piñero Rowena Marie Magbit...
06/04/2026

Meet our Young Professional of the Year Award presented by Ad 2 Reno Winner: Rowena Magbitang-Piñero

Rowena Marie Magbitang-Piñero is a proud TMCC graduate who has been in the Reno advertising industry for four years. She is currently an illustrator, designer, and copywriter at Design on Edge who prides herself in being a self-proclaimed “Emotional Creative,” meaning whether she’s illustrating a rooster for a chicken shop or writing a blog on her most recent branding project, she feels deeply and strongly about the stories she is telling through her work. She is deeply committed to creating with a full heart and crafting meaningful work with lasting impact.

As a proud Filipino-American, Rowena values inclusivity, diversity, community, vulnerability, and faith and it’s evident in everything she does. She uses her heart and skills to craft with intention, disrupt narratives, and to center marginalized stories and experiences while also remaining committed to her values.

She believes in using design and illustration to thoughtfully challenge the way we think and care for our world, ourselves, and one another, and that good design points towards what is ultimately true, good, and beautiful in our world.

When she’s not at Design on Edge, she currently serves on the Ad 2 Reno board as their membership chair and freelances as an illustrator and handlettering artist under Good Fruit Creative Co. And beyond that, you can find Rowena cooking, weightlifting, spending time with her friends and family (and her dog Pickles), or rocking out at a concert (preferably at a Paramore one).

Join us on June 25th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Rowena and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Buy your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Meet our Community Contribution of the Year Award Winner: Kristen Saibini/Downtown Reno PartnershipAs the Assistant Exec...
06/02/2026

Meet our Community Contribution of the Year Award Winner: Kristen Saibini/Downtown Reno Partnership

As the Assistant Executive Director and Marketing Manager of the Downtown Reno Partnership, Kristen plays a vital role in shaping our community, driving the marketing efforts that showcase the improvements, energy and spirit of Downtown Reno. A Reno native, she has worked in a variety of industries in a marketing and public relations capacity including college athletics, healthcare, utilities and animal welfare and is a two-time graduate of the University of Nevada. In her spare time, Kristen fosters homeless dogs and creates fundraisers for animal welfare non-profits in conjunction with her rescue dog, Peanut, and his Instagram account .

The Downtown Reno Partnership is a 501c6 nonprofit business improvement district whose core purpose is to make downtown Reno a safer, cleaner, vibrant district for residents, visitors and students. The Downtown Reno Partnership is an entity funded by downtown-area property assessments. Those funds pay for operations, street maintenance administered by Reno Public Works, Block by Block-administered Ambassadors, marketing and economic development.

Join us on June 25th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Kristen and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Buy your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Please join us for our Ad People of the Year Awards gala on June 25th at the Atlantis! Cheers to our 2025 Ad People of t...
05/26/2026

Please join us for our Ad People of the Year Awards gala on June 25th at the Atlantis!

Cheers to our 2025 Ad People of the Year:
Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement: Laura Partridge
Ad Person of the Year: Danni Winter and Kurt Thigpen
Community Contribution of the Year: Kristen Saibini, Downtown Reno Partnership
Young Professional of the Year Award presented by Ad 2 Reno: Rowena Magbitang-Pinero

For full event information and to buy tickets, go to https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Why should you enter the AAF Western Region Best of the West Media Awards? It’s more than just a trophy.Winning a BOWMA:...
05/20/2026

Why should you enter the AAF Western Region Best of the West Media Awards? It’s more than just a trophy.

Winning a BOWMA:
âś… Boosts Team Morale: Recognizes the hard work your team puts in day after day.
✅ Showcases Your Values: Highlights your company’s commitment to community and industry leadership.
âś… Enhances Your Brand: Gives you a prestigious, third-party endorsement to share with clients and partners.
âś… Supports Our Industry: Every entry fee helps fund vital AAF Western Region programs.

Submitting your work is an investment in your team, your brand, and our entire advertising community. Get started on your entry today! aafwesternregion.org/media-awards-home

A big thank you to everyone who attended our The State of Media panel yesterday! From shifting media habits to emerging ...
05/20/2026

A big thank you to everyone who attended our The State of Media panel yesterday!

From shifting media habits to emerging trends and evolving strategies, the conversation was packed with valuable insights and perspectives from leaders across the industry.

We’re especially grateful to our panelists and moderator from CCMedia, KOLO 8 News Now, Noble Studios and Wilkins Media for sharing their knowledge and helping spark meaningful discussion within our community. And thank you to all who joined us, connected with fellow professionals, and made the event such a success.

We appreciate your continued support of AAF Reno and can’t wait to see you at a future event!

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