The Richmond Ad Club doled out its coveted Cannonball Awards at the Richmond Show on April 16, honoring the best work of 2009 in the city’s bustling creative community. Now in its 41st year, the Show honors agencies from across five categories: Advertising, Design, Interactive, Production and Student work.

Elevation was pleased to win four Silver Cannonballs:

- One for our television commercial for Butterflies LIVE! at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
- One for our television commercial for La Difference’s Perfect Seat Sale
- One for our television commercial for La Difference’s Sleep Sale
- One for our print advertising campaign for UsedCameras.com

In addition to these awards for our creative work, Elevation’s founders, Frank Gilliam and Aaron Dotson, were recognized as “Advertising Persons of the Year” by the Richmond Ad Club. Click here to read the associated article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. To view the tribute video that was played at The Richmond Show, click here. (Requires a Quicktime plug-in)

Elevation took home the top award for advertising in the GRADE Awards on March 20th. Sponsored by the Richmond chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Artists, GRADE (Greater Richmond Awards for Design Excellence) recognize the best creative work created in central Virginia over the last two years.

Elementary School Musical—a commercial Elevation created for the Virginia College Savings Plan—took the Best of Advertising award. Judges noted that the strength of the overall concept, saying “the lighting, the schoolroom piano and the smart editing make for an entertaining but eye opening spot.”

This is third major recognition for the commercial, which also took the Gold in the 2008 Richmond Show, as well as a Telly. The award marks the third time Elevation has won the best of advertising category in the GRADE Awards’ five-show history.

TOP: I have a passion for SPCA Pets, as pictured in Elevation’s 2009 desk calendar. Original artwork by Elevation’s Dana Craig Zirkle. BOTTOM: I have a passion for WORDS, as pictured in Elevation’s 2009 desk calendar. Original artwork by Elevation’s Amy Favreau.

[Click images to view artwork at a larger size]

TOP: I have a passion for DESIGN, as pictured in Elevation’s 2009 desk calendar. Original artwork by Elevation’s Frank Gilliam. BOTTOM: I have a passion for MAKING HOME IMPROVEMENTS, as pictured in Elevation’s 2009 desk calendar. Original artwork by Elevation’s C.J. Hawn.

[Click images to view artwork at a larger size]

Elevation is pleased to welcome Kim Moore to our family. As many of our clients have already had the pleasure to discover, Kim is a talented and thorough Account Coordinator with very strong marketing and project management skills.

Kim comes to us by way of Phoenix, Arizona, where she most recently served on the client side as a Marketing Project Manager.

Hollywood Cemetery: one of the 12 things we love about Richmond, as pictured in Elevation’s 2008 desk calendar.

Original artwork by Elevation’s C.J Hawn. [Click image to view artwork at a larger size]

Ukrop’s Super Markets: one of the 12 things we love about Richmond, as pictured in Elevation’s 2008 desk calendar.

Original artwork by Elevation’s Dana Craig Zirkle. [Click image to view artwork at a larger size]

Congratulations to our friends at SMASH Direct. Their company was named one of Greater Richmond’s “Companies to Watch” at the Venture Forum. SMASH Direct is the company behind usedcamerabuyer.com, one of the world’s top websites for buying and selling used camera gear. We’re proud to be their marketing partner, and are pleased that others in the region are recognizing their great success. Congrats!

The Advertising Club of Richmond’s annual Richmond Show recognizes creative work from the region’s top firms. Competition is always stiff, particularly given the amazing work that’s always submitted by our friends at The Martin Agency and others.

That’s why we were so thrilled that our “Elementary School Musical” spot took home the gold cannonball for best television commercial this year. It’s a testament to great teamwork, both within Elevation and between our staff and the marketing team at Virginia College Savings Plan. 

We were excited to hear the news that our television campaign for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network took home regional Gold Awards and Best of Show honors in the Advertising Association of Baltimore’s 2008 ADDY awards, as well as an Emmy award from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. It’s great recognition for one of our favorite campaigns.