Each year since 1960, the Canton Ad Club has selected one outstanding member of the local advertising community to receive their highest recognition, the Ad Person of the Year and AAF Silver Medal. The recipient is selected by a judging panel of past and present Ad Club members based on accomplishments in four criteria: contributions to his/her company, creative ability, contribution to the advancement of advertising, and contributions to the community.

The winner is honored at an awards event, where he or she also receives the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) Silver Medal Award. Learn more about the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Silver Medal.

AD PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

2008 Jeff Monter
Innis Maggiore

2007 Sarah Ross Hayden
So Creative

2006 Vicky Sterling
Pinnacle Press

2005 Mark Spaner
Spaner Marketing

2004 Marianna Mitchell
The Letter Shop, Inc.
Awarded Posthumously

2003 M. Charles Innis
Innis Maggiore Group, Inc.

2002 Dave Day
PBS 45 & 49

2001 Marian Knipfer
WHBC AM & Mix 94.1 FM Radio

2000 Jeff Crowl
Crowl, Montgomery & Clark

1999 Dick Maggiore
Innis Maggiore Group, Inc.

1998 Paula Mastroianni
The Repository

1997 Rod A. Covey
Covey & Koons, Inc.

1996 Dick Elliott
WDPN/WZKL Radio

1995 Shelley A. Schweitzer
Creative Consortium of Canton

1994 Ray Hexamer
WHBC Radio

1993 Tony Gialluca
Wern Rausch Locke Advertising, Inc.

1992 Nanette DeMuesy
DeMuesy Advertising

1991 Jeanne M. Welsh
Commercial Artist

1990 G. David Rausch
Wern Rausch Locke Advertising, Inc.

1989 Goldie Smith
Life Member

1988 Rudy Amatangelo
Amatangelo Advertising Design

1987 Judy Rosenberry
BancOne Corp.

1986 Lana Lake
Lana Lake Advertising

1985 Donald E. Eagon, Jr.
The Timken Company

1984 Harold R. Thomas
Canton Art & Photo Service

1983 John Lauritzen
The Letter Shop, Inc.

1982 Charles Tom Locke
Wern Rausch Locke Advertising, Inc.

1981 Dick Koons
Covey & Koons, Inc.

1980 William T. Steffy
WHBC Radio
Awarded Posthumously

1979 James T. Harrington
The Central Trust Company

1978 Dennis Arnold
The Timken Company

1977 Ace Shaheen
WHLO Radio

1976 John Baker
Frease & Shorr Advertising

1975 Sal Butera
Sal Butera Associates Advertising

1974 Bob Alguire
Ohio Power Company

1973 Jean M. Nero
Diocese of Youngstown

1972 Bill Frease
Frease & Shorr Advertising

1971 George E. Wern
Wern Rausch Locke Advertising, Inc.

1970 Paul Gilmor
WHBC Radio

1969 Donald B. Moncrief
Caxton Press
Awarded Posthumously

1968 Edward V. Ferry
The Harter Bank & Trust Company

1967 Guy Huey
Guy Huey Promotions Inc.

1966 W. Roderic Covey
Covey & Koons, Inc.

1965 Gervis Brady
Stark County Historical Center

1964 Joe H. Shorr
Frease & Shorr Advertising

1963 David J. Lavin
Sugardale Foods, Inc.

1962 Robert H. Marriott
Family Weekly Magazine

1961 Robert C. Fehlman
Fehlman Advertising

1960 Ellsworth Smith
The Hoover Company