Christophersen, DeLuca and Ryan Enter the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame

Three well-known advertising industry professionals — two women and one man — are to be installed in the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame at ceremonies tonight before family members, friends and guests at Mayfair Farms in West Orange. The inductees are Elizabeth Christopherson, CEO and executive director of New Jersey Network (NJN) Public Television & Radio; Karen DeLuca, senior vice president/ creative director of Block Advertising & Marketing; and Robert Ryan, owner of Graphic Color printing company. “All members of the 2006 class have excellent credentials and are worthy additions to the Hall of Fame,” noted Gary Denburg, ADClub president and event chair. “They all received high scores from the judges in all the eight criteria required for induction — leadership, creativity, integrity, professional history, philanthropic activity, economic contributions, personal activity and achievements of national significance.”

Elizabeth Christopherson

Elizabeth Christopherson
Honored as one of 25 Women of Influence last year by NJBIZ magazine, Christoperson has been guiding the fortunes of NJN since 1994, when she joined the public broadcasting outlet as its first female executive. Twice elected a member of the Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS) board, she is a widely recognized leader in innovative programming and management of public radio and television both nationally and abroad, including significant growth in award-winning programs, services and increased financial support. She has positioned NJN as a national leader in innovative digital service that supports public safety and education. Christopherson has been invited to the White House and has appeared on national and international forums to share NJN’s pace-setting initiatives that other PBS stations are replicating. She represents NJN on the National Security (BENS) Policy Board, Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) Homeland Security Coalition Committee and served on the PBS Task force with prominent national/ international journalists to review and report on the PBS policy of editorial integrity. Armed with a degree from Wellesley College,with additional studies in television, film and radio at NYU and MIT, Christopherson is a mentor of young women seeking careers in journalism and the media. She is past president of Leadership America and the New Jersey Chapter of the International Women’s Forum. She has been keynote speaker at three Rutgers University graduations as well as at Centenary College. She successfully introduced policies at NJN regarding recruitment, management practices, performance measurement and professional development opportunities that encourage diversity. The lifelong New Jersey resident has contributed greatly to the vibrancy of communities across the state — from the Newark Boys and Girls Clubs and Newark Boys Chorus to the N.J. State Council on the Arts and the National Conference for Community and Justice/N.J. Chapter.

Karen DeLuca

Karen DeLuca
In her 23 years at Block Advertising & Marketing, DeLuca has helped develop the agency’s creative direction and expand its client base. Her efforts have earned more than 95 awards, including Andys, Addys and Jersey Awards, plus honors from Graphic Design USA, the Financial Advertising & Marketing Association, the National Healthcare Marketing Report, New Jersey Health Care Public Relations & Marketing Association and the Window Coverings Manufacturers Association. Her creativity and demonstrated ability to generate a large return on investment has helped the agency maintain consistency, growing annualized billings to $12-plus million. National and local clients — Pompeian Olive Oil, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, Medaglia D’Oro, Source Atlantique, Boiling Springs Savings Bank, Peapack Gladstone Bank, Palisades Atlantic and Stavola — have all prospered under her branding, design and creative skills. An ongoing supporter of American Heart Association and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she was actively involved with local Cub Scouts as an adult helper. A graphic design professor at Montclair State University, DeLuca has shared her design background and industry insights to evening classes for five years. She also provides students with on-the-job experience through her Summer College Internship Program at the agency. She has contributed “pro bono” design services to Board Member Institute, the Mental Health Association of Essex County, Montclair Public Library and the West Essex Rehabilitation Center. DeLuca dedicates her personal time and talent to the Art Directors Club of New Jersey and the New Jersey Advertising Club. As a longtime AdClub board member, she has helped produce the graphics communications literature and presentations as co-chair of the Career Day Committee. She attracts some of the top creative talent to evaluate students during the Career Day portfolio review and is a frequent guest speaker at the creative breakout sessions. DeLuca lives in Clifton with her husband. The couple has a grown son and a daughter-in-law.

Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan
A third-generation printer, Ryan has spent his entire professional life running a commercial printing operation — staying on top of design trends, software development and the evolution of equipment, as well as educating all those around him. He is active on various committees at the Art Directors Club of New Jersey, including the board of trustees, and is chairman of the Membership and the Awards Show committees. He is a board member of P3, Partnership in Print Production. Ryan sponsors the printing of newsletters, programs, brochures and announcements for the New Jersey AdClub, the Art Directors Club of N.J. and other charitable groups. He and Rick Bonelli won the 2004 Best of Show award at the ADCNJ’s annual competition for a four-color self-promotion brochure. Aware of the importance of educating students and taking the “mystery” out of printing, Ryan opens his company to graphic design students at area colleges. When they engage in their first printing endeavor, their own business cards, they tour Graphic Color and participate in their first press check. His multi-million-dollar company makes a significant contribution to the state’s economy. Moreover, when it become apparent that one of his clients had lost many employees in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Robert continued to serve the investment firm, which remains loyal to him. Robert is a graduate of Fordham University, where his daughter Erika earned an MBA. He is two degrees removed from Ed Sullivan (his mother was Ed’s cousin) and spent many Sundays backstage during the television broadcasts. In addition, Ryan has been a longtime supporter of Camp Venture in Rockland County, a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of the mentally disabled. He and his wife Fabienne have three grown daughters and live in Rockland County.

In addition to Denburg, members of the 2006 nominating committee were Kay Ritta, Ritta Associates; Ellen Wasserman, Wasserman Direct, Inc.; Michael Schumacher, The Newark Museum; and Ralph Gonzalez, Three Rivers Associates.

return to March 2006 Adtalk