PACO COLLECTIVE this week celebrated its 10th business anniversary, evolving from an Hispanic-focused multicultural marketing agency to a cross-cultural agency with such major clients as ComEd, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago White Sox and Blue Cross Blue Shield among others.
Founded in 2006 by marketing expert Ozzie Godinez, CEO and innovative creator Pablo Acosta, CCO, the agency is now one of the fastest-growing minority-owned agencies in the Midwest and employs more than 40.
The White Sox last month honored the agency with its Diversity Business Partner Award during its Jackie Robinson Day Celebration.
FCB CHICAGO promoted Kelly Graves to the newly-created position of chief marketing officer, from EVP/group management director, where she led multiple businesses throughout her tenure, including Kmart, Fiat Chrysler and BMO Harris.
In her new role, Graves will be responsible for developing new business and overseeing the agency’s communications and positioning.
OVER AT MARC USA Chicago office EVP/general manager Cari Bucci Hulings was named to the new position of EVP/general manager of the agency’s Chicago and Pittsburgh offices as part of a new streamlined leadership structure.
Jean McLaren continues as Chicago president and agency-wide CMO.
Prior to joining MARC USA in 2010, Hulings, the daughter of MARC USA chairman Tony Bucci, seven years at FCB, rising to SVP/group management director and was also a Leo Burnett account executive. In 2014, Direct Marketing News named her to its 40 Under 40 list in recognition of her impact on the growth of MARC USA’s Chicago office.
THE HISTORYMAKERS FOUNDER and executive director Julieanna Richardson will deliver the 65th Commencement to her alma mater, Brandeis University, Sunday, May 22. Richardson, who earned a law degree from Harvard, also will receive an Honorary Doctorate of the Human Letters.
In 1999, Richardson founded The HistoryMakers to record and digitally preserve the untold stories of noted and unknown African Americans. In 2014, the Library of Congress acquired the archives.
ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER LINDA MENSCH has joined the intellectual property law firm of Leavens Strand & Glover, moving across LaSalle Street from her previous firm, Brian Cave, after five years. Mensch is one of the city’s best known and respected music and film specialists, joining a firm that also enjoys that reputation. She can be reached at 312/488-4170.
O’KEEFE REINHARD & PAUL named Pat Durkin creative director, after three years as a freelance CD. Earlier, he’d spent seven years at DraftFCB as SVP/CD and the previous 15 years at FCB Chicago and San Francisco.
FRIDAY NIGHT May 20 the 23rd Chicago Underground Film Festival, June 1-5, holds a special screening of Ernest J. Ramon’s “Critical Paranois: The Aquarian Conspiracy” and fundraising party. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the evening starts off with raffle ticket sales, support programming and an exhibition of six short indie films by CUFF staff members.
At The Nightingale, 1084 N. Milwaukee; program starts at 8 p.m. CUFF, a presentation of the Independent Filmmakers Project, will be held at the Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee. You can buy tickets here.
We’ve got spring fever. Although we’re taking a May 30-June 7 hiatus, we’re looking forward to an inbox filled with your latest news and notes when we return. Don’t let us down. Send your emails to ruth@reelchicago.com.
