AD ALL-STARS| Award-winning Advertising program alumni

Fall 1999

Steve Chandler

Our first Ad All-Star is Steve Chandler. Steve is a 1995 graduate of the ad program and is now a Senior Account Executive at BBDO South in Atlanta, GA.

Steve Chandler (in his own words)

One of the biggest fears of most young adults in college is deciding on which major to declare. How do you know what opportunities are ahead for any given field? This may be one of the many strengths of Western Kentucky University. They gave me a thorough understanding of several degree options, and upon my decision, provided me with the proper curriculum that served as the foundation for an opportunistic career path.

As a graduate from Western Kentucky University's advertising program in 1995, I knew there were several career options in my field of study from which to choose. My specific interests were to be involved in all aspects of the understanding process, from the creative idea to choosing which advertising vehicle to use. In addition to this I had an extreme passion for teamwork and being around other people. This led me to pursue a job at an advertising agency.

I accepted a position as an Account Coordinator at The Buntin Group in the Spring of 1995, two months after graduation. This is the entry-level position into Account Management for most agencies. The value of my college education became quickly apparent. Immediately, I was able to immediately apply my classroom education into valuable real-world application. I became extremely knowledgeable in creative strategy, media planning, marketing research and other essential agency skills. All of these were the focus of Western's advertising program.

Soon I was promoted to an Account Executive and given more responsibility in managing the national and regional advertising for package goods brands such as Lava Hand Soap and Goody's Headache Powder. At this point I realized my passion for the agency business was due to the perfect balance between creativity and business management. Not only was I able to produce radio advertising with NASCAR legend Richard Petty, but also I was able to develop strategy and business plans for my clients.

In the Spring of 1998, I accepted an offer to work as a Senior Account Executive at BBDO South in Atlanta. BBDO is part of the largest network of advertising agencies in the world, with a client list most people are familiar with (Pepsi, Visa, HBO, Frito-Lay and M&M's to name a few).

At BBDO, I am currently working on another well-known packaged goods brand planning for a national introduction of several products into the lawn & garden industry in 2000. My focus remains to be on helping manage the strategic and creative direction of the account.

As I constantly strive to build my future in advertising with more experience, I also appreciate the advantage I was given coming out of Western. I honestly feel that no where else could I have received the attention and education necessary to prepare me for my current ride in the advertising field.

Timothy E. Earnhart

Our second Ad All-Star is Timothy E. Earnhart, Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations for Wendy’s of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Tim Earnhart (in his own words)

My Career

I joined Wendy’s of Bowling Green while finishing my studies at Western in August 1991 as a part-time employee in the marketing and advertising department. Soon after graduating from Western, my supervisor in the department left to pursue other career opportunities. A door had been opened and I assumed the role of Director of Marketing & Public Relations. In June of 1998, I was promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations. Wendy’s of Bowling Green, Inc. owns and operates 28 Wendy’s restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama. Currently five sites are being approved for immediate expansion.

As VP of Marketing, I am responsible for a $1,000,000+ budget and the department staff. I direct all aspects of marketing, advertising, and community relations for these 28 restaurants. I budget, plan and implement local store grass roots marketing and advertising programs for all market areas. Other responsibilities include planning and coordinating special events; organizing and obtaining research data assessing competitive intrusion and activity; managing relationships with all forms of media in all restaurant markets; maintaining working relationships with Wendy’s International corporate marketing department; and planning quarterly market visits to all restaurant locations.

I am also President & CEO of ProFairway Events, a division of Wendy’s of Bowling Green, Inc. which was created to serve as an event management and gold tournament service company. ProFairway Events currently oversees the management of two major golf tournaments that its parent company is title sponsor.

I also serve as a marketing and public relations consultant for BlueCotton Sportswear. I have developed corporate identity programs, client relations tactics and have established a textbook plan for new client business.

My Career Philosophy

As I look back on my short career, I am able to piece together key components that have propelled me to where I am today. Honesty, hard work, risk, and a love for what I do. I can clearly remember the day my supervisor told me he was leaving the company. I just assumed the partners would look outside the company to fill his position. Besides, I had just graduated from Western. After some deep thinking, I came to the conclusion that I was the best qualified person for the job. I had been with the company for over three years; I knew the business and I knew marketing and advertising. To make a long story short, I got on my knees and begged the partners to give me chance. I told them that in six months if they didn’t like what they saw, they could find someone else. Thankfully, things worked out. Over the years, I have experienced things that in another career or company I may not have experienced until I was forty.

My career philosophy is simple -- “Sometimes you have to get on your knees and sometimes you have to use them to jump over people who are in your path to success. Either way, you win!”

What Western Did for Me

My years at Western taught me a couple of things. The broad course topics that I tackled during my time on the Hill have come in handy in everyday life. My position at Wendy’s requires me to know a little bit about everything. It was the variety of classes that gave me some knowledge in areas I would have otherwise known nothing about. And secondly, the classroom friendships I made have led to moral support and business friendships today.

Western made me realize that gaining daily satisfaction from my career was much more important than gaining wealth or status that you hated every minute while attaining it.