Chris McMurry, last year’s Ad Person of the Year recipient, and Greg Swiszcz, Ad 2 Phoenix President, presented Fran Mallace, Vice President and General Manager, Cox Media with the Ad Person of the Year Award at this year's ADDYS Gala on March 14, 2009. Fran, a two-time Ad Club President, received seven nominations for this year’s award from business leaders throughout the Valley.
This coveted award is named after J. Terry Groener who was an exceptional role model in the Phoenix advertising community. And just as Terry was, the 2008 winner must be a contributor to the betterment of the advertising industry; an active participant in community service and presently active in advertising, marketing or communications.
Fran interned at KPNX (Channel 12) locally and upon graduation took a position at National Brands. She then moved on to the Boyd and Farmer Advertising Agency, Softsell Pollick and Associates and KUTP TV 45.
In 1992, she started her career at Cox Communications’ predecessor in Arizona, Times Mirror Cable as one of the cable industry’s first national sales managers. In 2009, Fran celebrates 17 years with Cox Communications – a rare achievement in today’s media world. During that time she has served the company in five different positions, most recently as VP/GM of Cox Media Arizona.
Fran and Michael have two daughters, Jordie and Sydney and reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. Several years ago, Fran went back to school and earned her Master’s Degree in International Business from the Thunderbird School of International Management.
When asked to list the most compelling reason this person should be selected to be this year’s award recipient on the nomination form, one of the nominators said,
"In the most trying times we in the industry have ever faced, it is rare to find someone of Fran's stature and history who still puts people first, who recognizes that there is nothing wrong with making work fun, and who sets the example that every aspiring advertising professional would do well to emulate. They don't come any better than Fran Mallace."
Fran Mallace now joins a long list of advertising visionaries who have won this conveted award since it's inception in 1959.
Previous Recipients include:
- 2008 Chris McMurry
- 2007 Roger Hurni
- 2006 Jos Anshell
- 2005 Tim Riester
- 2004 Karen Kallet
- 2002 David Anderson
- 2001 Barbara Lehman
- 2000 Brian Landauer
- 1999 Marty Laurel
- 1998 Dee Courtwright
- 1997 Louis Moses
- 1996 Carl Eller
- 1995 Ed Lane
- 1994 Ray Artigue
- 1993 Liz Topete-Stonefield
- 1992 Ron Bergamo
- 1991 Jim Taszarek, Sr.
- 1990 Walt Selover
- 1989 Bill Lavidge
- 1988 Rolf Normann
- 1987 Dan Pollick
- 1986 Jim Hutelmyer
- 1985 Win Holden
- 1984 Mary Morrison
- 1983 Karen Dewall
- 1982 Bill Owens
- 1980 Don Hildebrandt
- 1979 Bob Reade
- 1978 Ardelle Whitehead
- 1977 Kenneth Patton
- 1976 Marlene Klotz
- 1975 Daphne Dicino
- 1974 Pat Poulson
- 1973 Maurie Helle
- 1972 Bob Bulla
- 1971 Sherwin Block
- 1970 Lou Reynolds
- 1967 Duncan Jennings
- 1966 Charles Pine
- 1965 Hal Metcalf
- 1964 Bob Zacher
- 1963 Mary Simunich
- 1962 John Redfield
- 1961 Mildred May
- 1960 Avis Garland
- 1959 Andy Chuka, Sr.