The Advertising Club of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. (DC Ad Club), in collaboration with the American Advertising Federation (AAF), will bestow the prestigious Silver Medal Award to Robert L. Whittle, president and CEO of Williams Whittle. Given annually, this award honors an exceptional person who has made outstanding contributions to advertising, and has been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence and responsibilities in areas of social concern.
A reception in Whittle’s honor will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at The Washington Post, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Whittle is a notable industry leader, at the helm of an agency ranked in the top five advertising agencies in Washington, DC. For each of the past two years, the agency was voted Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association-DC Chapter. Whittle began his advertising and marketing career after graduating from the University of Virginia, starting on the creative side as a copywriter. At the age of 27, he assumed the presidency of the agency that is now known as Williams Whittle and led the agency from a staff of six to one of the most substantial and respected agencies in the region, with regional and national clients in health care, automotive, real estate, publishing, sports and non-profit organizations. In the early 1980s, Whittle began providing integrated marketing services to clients by offering broad advertising and public relations services when such a combination of disciplines under one roof was rare. The company continues to offer integrated services today.
Under Whittle’s leadership, Williams Whittle acquired the clients and key personnel of longtime Washington, DC agency Goldberg Marchesano Partners in 2002, bringing in such accounts as National Geographic Magazine, Explorer’s Hall, Fair Oaks Mall and FlavorX. In 2009, the 32-year-old Bomstein Agency joined Williams Whittle at its Alexandria offices. Today, the Williams Whittle client list includes the USO, Virginia Railway Express, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, The Washington Capitals, The Washington Times, The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, WTOP Radio, Natelli Communities and others.
Whittle is a member of the DC Ad Club and the Washington Board of Trade. He has served as chair of the DC ADDY Awards and Advertising Week DC. His community involvement includes serving as chairman of the board of trustees of Goodwin House, Inc. and he is a past board member of the Alexandria Community Trust, the Alexandria Red Cross, and the Washington Area Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
“Rob’s longevity in this market, his commitment to creativity and innovation, and his continued support of the local advertising industry make him a very deserving recipient of this award,” said Karen Riordan, DC Ad Club president. “We are pleased to honor him for his contributions to his company, the industry, and the community.”
Past recipients of the Silver Medal Award include Donald Graham of The Washington Post, Michael Jack of NBC4, Alex Orfinger of The Washington Business Journal, Tom Curley of USA Today, Ted Leonsis of AOL, Robert Johnson of BET, and Katherine Graham of The Washington Post.
The Silver Medal Award reception will be held during Advertising Week DC. Registration is available at www.dcadclub.com. Event sponsorships are available by contacting the DC Ad Club at 703-683-5954 or info@dcadclub.com.