The Chicago Advertising Federation will bestow its prestigious Silver Medal Award upon Bob Scarpelli for his 27 years of dedication to the Chicago advertising community.
Scarpelli, DDB Chicago chairman and DDB U.S. chief creative officer, will receive the award a June 1 dinner at the Cadillac Club at Soldier Field where at least 250 guests are expected.
He has been a longtime board member of the Chicago International Film Festival, and serves on the boards of the Chicago Creative Club, the Off the Street Club, the Virginia commonwealth University AdCenter and the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
Scarpelli, 51, joined Needham Harper & Steers in 1977 as a copywriter; promoted to creative director in 1980; named DDB Chicago chief creative officer in 1994; vice chairman in 1995. In 1998 he was elected to DDB Worldwide Board of Directors, named U.S. creative chief and 2000 and DDB Chicago chairman in 2001.
According to the CAF’s Jay McManus, the Silver Medal Award program was started in 1983 by the Chicago Advertising Club, CAF’s predecessor organization. The Awards lapsed in 1986 and were restrated in 1996 under CAF banner. Eighty local advertising companies are CAF members.
Previous recipients were: 1983, Keith Reinhard, Needham Harper & Steers/USA; 1984, Bill Ross, Tatham Laird & Kudner; 1985, Joe Sedelmaier, Sedelmaier Productions; 1996, George Lazarus, Chicago Tribune; 1997, Ralph Rydholm, Euro RSCG Tatham; 1998, Tom Burrell Burrell Communications Group; 1999, Bud Frankel, Frankel; 2000, Rick Fizdale, Leo Burnett; 2002, Ralph Campagna, Off The Street Club.
Its mission is to educate members and the community on advances in the profession and to increase diversity within the industry.
Scarpelli’s phone number is 312/552-6000; the CAF is at 847/375-4764. Stayed tuned for details about the June event.
