The Love Blog is proud to also recognize “the man behind the scenes,” Mike Albrecht, Love’s Chief Development Officer, who served as Chair for the AAF gala and led a strong committee of advertising professionals to create a night to remember.

In addition to Mike representing the Love team, kudos go out to Love PR Account Executive RoShelle Salinas who assisted in producing the event and assured that everything ran smoothly.

Even the Love creative team joined in on the fun.  Jessica Willard and Garner McCulloch designed “Boot Shine,” for the art auction which brought in $175 towards the thousands of dollars the entire event’s proceeds will bring in to go to scholarships for advertising students and professors.

Check out more coverage of the event in today’s Houston Chronicle article,

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Rodeo-CEO-nets-kudos-for-blazing-ad-trails-2137971.php

The atrium of the Houston skyscraper was filled with excitement as executives from both Marathon Oil Corporation and the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen held a press conference to kick-off the festivities. This year’s race will be held Saturday, October 1 in Downtown Sam Houston Park at 7:45 a.m. and registration is now open on www.komen-houston.org.

Clarence Cazalot Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Marathon Oil Corporation, challenged everyone in attendance to Rock the Race this year and make it the most successful year yet, by raising five million dollars to be used in breast cancer research here in Southeast Texas. Cazalot’s message was received with enthusiasm by the hundreds of spectators adorned in pink clothing.

All attendants were encouraged to wear pink to the press conference in support of the new campaign initiative Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Wear Pink to Work Day. On September 30, the Friday before the largest footrace in Houston, everyone is encouraged to wear pink in an effort to raise awareness of the continual fight against breast cancer and to show Houstonians that the struggle is fought together and not alone.

Help spread the word on the new campaign by following the link and downloading collateral to send to your friends and family about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Wear Pink to Work Day and don’t forget to register for the race today!

Register today and make sure you tell us why you Race for the Cure®!

- Sara Miller

Thirty-two years ago this month, Brenda Love established what would become one of the most successful and respected businesses in Houston. Today, with annual billings of over $35 million, Love Advertising remains one of the top advertising agencies in Houston.

Love Advertising’s continued success is proof that with hard work and determination, great things are achieved.  Congratulations to Brenda on this amazing achievement and thanks to all of the Lovers over the years who made it possible!

Meet our latest Love team members:

Elise Wilson joined Love as an Assistant Account Executive. Prior to coming on board, Wilson entered the advertising field working on brand management at The Richards Group for clients like Orkin Pest Control and Advance Auto Parts. Here at Love, she will assist in the management and execution of clients’ marketing initiatives. Wilson grew up in Cypress, and graduated from Texas Christian University with her bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations.

Mike Albrecht joined Love as Chief Development Officer in March. Albrecht joins Love with more than 25 years of expertise in the field of marketing communications, significant experience in developing and implementing marketing programs for global brands such as American Rice, Stewart Stevenson, and ConocoPhillips. Albrecht previously led new business development as President of Freed Advertising and is a native Houstonian who received a degree in marketing at Texas A&M.

Ashlee Rohm, Assistant Media Planner and Buyer came to Love after nearly five years with Cox Media Group in Houston where she worked in marketing promotions. She will specialize in client promotions and evaluations. A native of Deer Park, Rohm received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a specialization in broadcast production at Sam Houston State University.

Charles Booth has joined Love as a Creative Editor and Videographer. Prior to Love, Booth was Senior Creative Video Editor for the Woodlands Church ministry where he worked on a multitude of creative projects from preconception to final execution. His responsibilities at Love include mastering commercials, building graphics, and editing. Hailing from the Heights, Booth graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in radio and television.

RoShelle Salinas was added to the Love team as a Pubic Relations Account Executive. With experience in crisis communications and event promotions from her three years at the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, Salinas will assist in expanding the department and fulfilling the client’s public relations needs. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in communications and is fluent in Spanish.

Michelle Roche most recently joined Love as an Assistant Account Executive. She will be working mainly with Home Service Plus and brings marketing experience to Love from her internship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She graduated this May with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M and grew up in Sugar Land, Texas.

Shannon Albritton was added to the Love team as an Assistant Media Buyer and Planner. Prior to working at Love, she worked as a Sales Assistant in Dallas for the Katz Media Group. She graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and grew up in Graham, Texas.

McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (MHI) through its signature brands Plantation Homes, Coventry Homes, Pioneer Homes and Carmel Builders, the first large Houston home builder to partner with the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, donated a part of the proceeds from the sale of its homes to the organization.

MHI donates to Komen Houston

To celebrate the successful raising of funds for the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the cure, MHI employees, executives, and Komen Affiliate team members celebrated the event with a small reception at the builder’s corporate office. It was also announced at the event that the company team “Built for the Cure” will participate in this year’s Komen Race for the Cure held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 in Downtown Houston.

Known for its award winning home designs, the builder has also become known for its successful efforts in giving back to the community.

Last year, in Houston the company made a significant commitment to support an organization dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer, announcing its partnership with the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This year, the builder has added to its commitment to the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a sponsor of its Impact Awards.

Plantation Homes is a platinum sponsor of this important event that was established to honor grant recipients and outstanding donors and volunteers. The event is also designed to inform the community of where and how money raised at Komen Houston events will be used.

The ‘Built for the Cure’ marketing campaign is a focal point of all of the company’s marketing efforts from signs in model homes to marketing in print and electronic media. In addition to increasing an awareness of the disease, buyers know that a portion of the proceeds from their new home will be donated to the organization known for bringing worldwide attention to breast cancer; with the money going directly to the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For more information about how you can support Komen Houston or register for the Race for the Cure visit www.komen-houston.org.

This week Love’s public relations team lent a helping hand to Sight into Sound, formally known as Taping for the Blind, by assisting in the promotion of its ribbon cutting and Radio Roll-out. As an organization that depends on over 200 volunteers, Sight into Sound is integral to the lives of children and adults with visual impairments.

Sight into Sound released the new digital radios to its current clients updating the antiquated analog radios that were previously used. The organization runs a 24-hour broadcast with programming that spans from history shows to daily readings of books and newspapers like the Houston Chronicle and The Wall Street Journal.

President of the Board, Mary Farish Johnston, presented the first radio yesterday to Nadine Saffell who was one of Sight into Sounds very first beneficiaries, nearly four decades ago.

Nadine receives the first digital radio.

The ribbon cutting and Radio Roll-out was a great success for the organization bringing in new volunteers and spreading the word about Sight into Sound’s mission.

President Mary Johnston unveils the digitals radios.

Check out local coverage from the Houston Chronicle’s Ken Hoffman and in Ultimate Montrose.

For more information on Sight into Sound visit www.tapingfortheblind.org.

Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin and Love Chief Development Officer Mike Albrecht

Chief Development Officer Mike Albrecht spent the day last Thursday on the main campus of Texas A&M University attending to his duties as President-Elect of the Center of Teaching Excellence (CTE) advisory board.  After their bi-annual meeting, the board hosted a reception for outstanding faculty members at President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin’s home on the university campus. After a few short speeches from the winding staircase in the home, Mike visited with Dr. Loftin.   Mike was recognized, along with the rest of the CTE board, for their contribution to the overall success of the University’s reputation for quality faculty and leadership in improving teaching skills.  Mike graduated from Texas A&M in 1982.

The Love Softball Season Starts April 26th!

Team Love has posted its 2011 Spring softball schedule and is looking forward to a successful season. The majority of last seasons players are returning to the field and a few new all stars are joining the team.   Games will be played in Memorial Park and fans are encouraged to come out and show us the Love…

http://www.loveadv.com/clients/Love/LoveSoftball2011Schedule.jpg