WVIA Honored with Seven American Advertising Federation of NEPA Awards

WVIA, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s PBS and NPR station, is thrilled to announce a resounding win at the 2024 American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania (AAF NEPA) Awards. Taking home an impressive seven awards, WVIA’s content and creative teams were recognized for their exceptional work in crafting impactful messages that resonate with viewers.

“This recognition is a true testament to the dedication and talent of our entire production team,” said WVIA President & CEO, Carla McCabe. “At WVIA, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and make a difference. These awards validate our commitment to using that power to serve our community.”

WVIA’s award-winning entries spanned a diverse range of categories, showcasing their versatility and ability to deliver impactful messages across platforms. From promotional campaigns to documentaries, their work left a lasting impression on the AAF NEPA judges.

“We are incredibly proud of the stories we tell and the messages we share,” continued Ben Payavis II, WVIA Chief Content Officer. “These awards motivate us to keep pushing boundaries and finding new ways to connect with our audiences on a deeper level.”

This significant win at the AAF NEPA Awards further solidifies WVIA’s position as a leader in creative storytelling within the region and their dedication to using their platform for positive impact.

WVIA received the following seven awards:

  • GOLD (Single Spot)- ROAR Documentary Trailer. 
  • GOLD (Single Entry and Best of Show)- The Hooded Graves of Catawissa.
  • GOLD (Integrated Campaigns and Judge’s Choice)- Pizza!
  • SILVER (Television Advertising)- ROAR Documentary.
  • SILVER (Integrated Campaigns)- ROAR Documentary.

The award ceremony was held on Friday, March 8th at The FM Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. All winners and professional entries can be viewed here. 

AAF NEPA to Host AI Panel Discussion

On November 1st, 2023 from 7-9 PM, AAF NEPA is hosting an AI Panel Discussion regarding the use of AI in the Workplace. This event will be held at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center (7 S Main St, Wilkes-Barre). The AI Panel Discussion is free and open to all professionals and students. 

Panelists:
Brittany Watt, Market Share Consulting
Paul Capoccia, Posture Interactive
Kevin Jones, VizVibe
Dan Kimbrough, Park Multimedia
Jenny Hetro, Jennifer Lee Hetro, LLC

Moderator:
Bethany Staples, Market Share Consulting 

The link to RSVP or for more information is: https://aafnepa.org/events/monthly-event-rsvp/

Community Group Awards a University of Scranton Faculty Member

Stacy Smulowitz

The American Advertising Federation of NEPA recognized Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media at The University of Scranton, with the Silver Medal Award at a virtual ceremony on Mar. 12.

An Accredited Business Communicator (A.B.C.), Dr. Smulowitz is president of Smulowitz Communications, a strategic communication and leadership consulting firm. She also serves as executive director of the Eastern Communication Association and education chair of Boost Business NEPA.

At the University, Dr. Smulowitz teaches courses in advertising, leadership and organizational communication. She often includes community-based learning projects for students in her classes, which include developing and pitching marketing-based, integrated advertising campaigns to area organizations. Past clients for the classes have included Scranton Tomorrow, Cedar Bike & Paddle, East Scranton Business Association, Anthracite Heritage Museum and others. In addition, through her academic courses, University students also participate in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.

Dr. Smulowitz also serves as moderator for the University’s Advertising Club, through which students also work with area businesses to gain real-world experiences. Clients the student club has previously worked with include Sno Mountain, Café Sveda, Duffy’s Accessories, Coconut Summer, Stinky’s Chili and Anthracite Bicycle Coalition.

Dr. Smulowitz’s research focus is on theory and strategy for assessing and promoting excellence in organizational leadership. Her most recent book, The communication solution: Leading successful change in higher education, was published in 2021. Her work has also been featured in Leadership and Organization Development Journal, Journal of Intercultural Communication Studies, Measuring Business Excellence, Change Management: An International Journal, The International Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods and in several books, book chapters and training manuals.

Dr. Smulowitz also volunteers with the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania and serves as a troop leader.

A resident of Shavertown, Dr. Smulowitz earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilkes University, a master’s degree from Ithaca College and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University.