A luncheon Wednesday, November 15, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. will honor the 2006 Professional Development Awards of Excellence recipients. The Professional Development Awards of Excellence recognize NAMA members for achievement in the areas of Marketing Communications, Product/Species Management, Public Relations and Sales.

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s awards:

Marketing Communications
Steve Engle, Woodruff Sweitzer

As a copywriter and creative director at several of the country’s leading agribusiness agencies, Steve Engle has authored some of the most effective communications campaigns in the ag arena. His “Ol’ Buck” campaign for Buctril Herbicide still ranks as one of the most memorable campaigns in crop protection history. In recent years, Steve has lead the development of the highly successful “Ready to Rumble” launch campaign for AGCO brand tractors as well as the highly successful re-positioning of EVEREST Herbicide from Arysta LifeScience North America.

When Engle joined Woodruff & Company seven years ago, the agency had no agricultural clients. Today, the agency counts Arysta LifeScience North America, Kubota Tractor Corporation, Harris Moran Seed Company, Bayer Animal Health Canada, Meridian Industries/Wheatland Bins, the Canadian Hereford Association and Y-TEX Corporation as some of its key accounts.

Woodruff Sweitzer’s expansion into the agribusiness arena has fueled the agency’s growth from eight employees in one office in 1999 to nearly 50 in three offices (Columbia, Calgary and Kansas City) today. In addition, it has helped Woodruff Sweitzer attract top talent from throughout the country, including its new partner and chief creative officer, Steve Sweitzer.

During his career, Engle has been a significant contributor to the success of NAMA in various parts of the country. For three years, he chaired the Chicago chapter’s Best of NAMA competition. He has also served as president of the Chicago NAMA chapter, as a Region I Best of NAMA chair as well as a Region I Director. In addition, Engle has volunteered on numerous occasions for both regional and national Best of NAMA judging in his desire to recognize the best advertising and public relations in agri-marketing. Currently, he serves as Vice Chair of the national Best of NAMA Committee.

Public Relations
Barry Nelson, John Deere

As the public relations manager for John Deere, Barry Nelson is responsible for media relations, strategic integration of public relations with overall advertising/communications strategies, internal and special communications, managing the contributions/donations budget, and providing customer support with timely information about John Deere products and services.

Nelson has been with John Deere for 26 years. He has brought marketing, product knowledge, and customer and dealer relationship experience to the Ag Public Relations department at John Deere. Nelson sees the media as the number one customer, and has worked to improve relationships with the ag media as measured by surveys and special telephone interviews. He continues to work with a team that has helped John Deere grow overall ag equipment market share in the U.S. and Canada.

With his leadership, John Deere has won several Regional and National NAMA Awards and is active in participating and supporting NAMA local and national events. In the last 18 months, he has led the development of a complete Public Relations Strategic Planning and Implementation Cycle which includes goal setting, tactics and implementation, monitoring and measurement, and evaluations and improvements. This model was successfully used to help launch the new 8030 Series Tractors last year, as well as new products during August 2006.

Nelson currently serves as the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference Chair. A strong advocate for NAMA, Nelson has been quick to support sponsorships on local and national activities, including the “Leader/First-Timers Reception” at the Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show. In addition, Nelson has also served as a judge for the Student Marketing Competition at the Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show.

Sales
Anita Vanderwert, Brownfield Network

Anita Vanderwert, National Director of Ag Sales for Brownfield, has been involved in ag communication and ag sales and marketing for over 15 years. In that time, she has distinguished herself as an innovator and industry leader. Her involvement in NAMA, and other professional organizations, signifies the respect her peers have for her and the influence she has had in the field of ag sales.

Vanderwert has been the primary link to customers, and as a result, the primary driver of change and adaptation of new technology. Further, she has pushed for new offerings to serve ag customers pushing Brownfield beyond the borders of exclusively offering only radio solutions. By listening to her, as she has been listening to customers, Brownfield has improved web applications and web solutions, expanded email and daily electronic update services, created new “event marketing” opportunities in addition to blogging, podcasting, rss feeds and agricultural forums.

Vanderwert’s involvement in and leadership of Brownfield’s development of new technologies and other new media platforms has not only broadened the reach of Brownfield, but has contributed to the overall effectiveness of ag communications and sales. These improvements contribute to the betterment of the industry, creating growth, advancement and new career opportunities for college grads entering the marketplace.

Vanderwert has been a NAMA member since 1987 when she was a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was a member of the 1988 National NAMA Student Marketing Competition Team and has served on various NAMA committees while being a member of four different local chapters. She judged the national student competition and the Best of NAMA Awards competition several times. She has been the Rocky Mountain chapter liaison to the National Board of Directors and Chair of the Public Relations Committee of National NAMA.

To register for the Awards Luncheon visit, http://nama.org/forum/register.htm.