STANANDLOU MARKETING/ADVERTISING

The 2 MLS Trophies

The 2009 MLS season has begun, which doesn’t really seem like it should be a big deal in Texas, where football is king. Well, here at Stanandlou we are some excited about fútbol.

One of our new clients on the roster is the Houston Dynamo, Houston’s very own Major League Soccer team. I, for one, was very excited about the new addition, being that I am Dynamo-crazy.

Pat Onstad

My first experience with the Dynamo was their 2007 playoff game against F.C. Dallas. They went on after that game to win the 2007 MLS Championship. I was hooked. I never considered myself a soccer fan, but the atmosphere was amazing. The Texian Army and Batallon (imagine an entire section of fans, jumping, chanting, playing instruments, throwing streamers for 90 minutes) lifted the energy of the entire stadium. I knew that Dynamo games were going to become a regular part of my life here in Houston.

Last year I spent learning all the players names, brushing up on soccer penalties and rules, and toying with the idea of sneaking into the Batallon’s section. This year is going to be the best year yet. How could it not be? It started off with a bang: the Kickoff Luncheon.

Dynamo Diesel was there, hanging out with the players and Dynamo Girls. Brandy scored a hug. How cute, right?

The luncheon opened with a silent auction of all kinds of cool Dynamo gear – signed jerseys, signed soccer balls, T-shirts, etc. There were also things up for grabs like lunch with Stuart Holden or Oliver Luck.

They introduced the roster - there are a few new players this year – Julius James, Danny Cruz, and Tyler Deric. Each table had one of the guys sitting at it. We got to sit with the Assistant Coach, John Spencer, a veteran soccer player turned coach.

During the lunch, there was a Q&A section with the players. Questions ranged from strategy to “what is your favorite video game?” The players all were good sports about the whole thing. They seem like a great group of guys.

After the luncheon was coming to an end, I swallowed my pride and ran to get autographs. I managed to get pictures and autographs from some of my favorite players: Pat Onstad, Brian Ching, Stuart Holden, Chris Wondolowski and Corey Ashe. I even got pictures with them! I was so excited/nervous my face was bright pink!

I am looking forward to the rest of the season. The homeopener was a great success. Over 16,000 fans turned out March 21st, one of the larger attendances for a homeopener this year in the MLS.

I will be Forever Orange!

Brandy, Michelle, Kate, Rhea, and Jennifer excited to see Madonna!

Well, most of us anyway. She’s on almost all of my 56 mix tapes I made in middle school and now occupies a whole playlist on iPod. I own several CD’s and know the names of all her three children.  I am a Madonna fan. To my delight (to put it mildly), STANANDLOU’s account services and media team attended the sold-out, much anticipated Madonna “Sticky and Sweet” concert on Sunday, November 16 at Minute Maid Park.  Although she was a little late, Madonna’s performance was worth the wait. The production was extravagant, the dancers incredible, and the star lived up to her reputation as an amazing performer.  Best memory of the whole night besides being with the STANANDLOU crew? Singing my lungs out and dancing to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” – just like I did when I was 13.

STANANDLOU Marketing/Advertising just celebrated its 20th anniversary. This is what Brandy had to say about the whole affair.

For more information about one of Houston’s premier advertising agencies, go to http://www.stanandlou.com.

American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) awarded Brandy Castille, Media buyer/Planner of STANANDLOU advertising, with the BELL award for the South Central region.

The BELL Awards (Bringing Excellence to a Local Level) was established to recognize and award chapter excellence for outstanding contributions to AWRT in the areas of fundraising, membership, newsletters, diversity and individual achievement. “We applaud Brandy’s commitment to furthering our mission to promote and create change in the Houston Area,” said Maria Brennan , AWRT National President.

STANANDLOU advertising has been supportive in her taking on various other projects, such as serving as President elect for 2006/2007 AWRT Houston Chapter. “I am so very honored and reminded of my colleagues and peers in the industry who make it wonderful to be a part of both AWRT and the AWRT Houston chapter,” said Brandy Castille.

“It’s very exciting and truly fitting to see someone of Brandy’s calibre be recognized and rewarded by such a leading national organization as AWRT. Brandy inspires us all by her incredible work ethic, volunteerism and sincere community spirit. It would be quite appropriate to say that Brandy has made our agency and our industry a better place to work and grow,” said Lou Congelio, president and chief creative officer of STANANDLOU.

Brandy graduated with a BA in Journalism-Advertising from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She was in the student chapter of American Advertising Federation and was a Dean’s List recipient for academic achievement. She completed two internships: one in media at Fogarty Klein Monroe of Houston and one in business development at VT-2 of Houston. She joined LCI/McCann Erickson in 2002 as a market specialist/broadcast media buyer for national and retail clients, including: Popeye’s, Taco Cabana, IHOP, Subaru, General Motors, Nationwide Insurance, Lowe’s, Washington Mutual, Microsoft, Green Mountain Energy, Kohl’s, Bacardi, Fossil and California Milk Advisory Board. Brandy joined STANANDLOU Advertising in September 2005.

She is Vice President of the Houston Chapter of AWRT, a recipient of the 2002 Star Award for Best Support Staff, and was nominated for a national Bell Award for Rising Star in 2004.

About:
American Women in Radio and Television, Inc.
American Women in Radio and Television is the national, non-profit organization that extends membership to qualified professionals in the electronic media and allied fields. AWRT’s mission is to advance the impact of women in the electronic media and allied fields by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry. Founded in 1951, AWRT has worked to improve the quality of broadcast programming and the image of women as depicted in radio, television and cable.