AdFolk

SIGMA GROUP, Oradell, has hired BOB SANTANGELO as Executive Creative Director. In this position, he will oversee all client program concepts and strategic initiatives, direct all new business creative and manage the agency’s staff of copywriters, art directors, interactive designers and related project teams. Most recently, Santangelo was Executive Creative Director at Ryan Partnership. Prior to that he was group Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson. He has also been associated with such NYC-based agencies as Foote Cone and Belding, Saatchi & Saatchi and Griffin Bacal. The Sigma Group has added two new accounts to its client roster, Synergy Bank and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Nichole Irby

S3, Boonton, has announced the addition of NICHOLE IRBY as Assistant Account Executive. She will be assisting with the agency’s West Coast clients, primarily on the Aston Martin account. Prior to joining S3, Irby was the Associate Marketing Manager for Entrepreneur Media Inc.

Graphic Design: USA has named BLOCK ADVERTISING & MARKETING, Verona, a winner in the 24th annual American Graphic Design Awards. Block’s entry was a campaign series of testimonial ads for Medaglia D’Oro Espresso, themed “Some traditions stay fresh for generations.” The series features nostalgic photographs of a wedding, a family gathering and a child’s birthday, along with the role that Medaglia D’Oro Espresso played in these family traditions.

MASTERMINDS ADVERTISING, Egg Harbor Township, has announced the appointment of LINDA VALENTE-ROSE to the position of Account Coordinator. She will serve on the AtlantiCare account, one of the agency’s most prominent clients. Most recently, Valente-Rose worked as a Communications Specialist for the Showboat Casino Hotel. Prior to that she held the same position at Harrah’s Atlantic City.

Author Lisa Cyr recently cited HARVEY HIRSCH of Lyndhurst-based MEDIA CONSULTANTS for his breakthrough direct marketing mailers in Rockport Publishing’s new book, The Art of Promotions. The hardbound book features self-promotion projects from studios all over the world. Cyr’s chapter on direct mail includes Hirsch’s award-winning origami fish mailer. A pioneer in multi-dimension, direct marketing programs, he developed a process of merging data to personalize mailing products and was recently issued a U.S. Utility Patent for his technology.

HERB BARRY, formerly of Bytes & Ink, has joined NEXT MEDIA, Union, as an Account Executive.

DEIRDRE BREAKENRIDGE has been named President of PFS MARKETWYSE, Totowa. Breakenridge steps up from her role as Chief Operating Officer and succeeds former PFS President, Dennis Chominsky, who leaves the agency to pursue other opportunities. LOUIS CAFIERO, former executive at Avis Rent A Car, American Home products, Hill & Knowlton and one-time aide to NYC Mayor Ed Koch, has joined the agency as Vice President of Communications. PFS has been selected as the creative agency for Malibu, California-based S Spirits, LCC, to help launch S GUARO, a new premium white spirit, in the Los Angeles market. The agency worked in conjunction with The Marketing Dept. Inc. in creating a new campaign supporting the first new spirit to be introduced into the U.S. market since tequila over 35 years ago.

AGCD, Montclair, has been honored with five American Graphic Design Awards for excellence in communication and graphic design from Graphic Design:USA magazine.

ADP Small Business Service has selected Bluebell, Pennsylvania-based MAYOSEITZ MEDIA as its Media Agency. MayoSeitz is the second largest and fastest growing media agency in the Greater Philadelphia area. In addition to ADP, key clients include WaWa, Inc., AAMCO Transmissions, Comcast SportsNet, Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.

AMY C. LEAR has been promoted to director of the NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION, the advertising placement service and marketing arm of the New Jersey Press Association, based in West Trenton. Lear, who has been NJNN’s assistant director/sales development manager since 1995, succeeds GEORGE WHITE, who has been named executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, based in Crofton, Maryland.

MICHAEL GRAY, President of the Ridgewood-based MARKETING & PROMOTIONS, and his staff celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the company this year. Founded in 1993, MPG provides advertising and marketing services materials, promotional merchandise and creative custom produced products, including screen-printed and embroidered apparel.

DKB AND PARTNERS, Inc., Morristown, has been tapped to handle public relations for Verizon’s Access New Jersey Program. DKB will provide strategic public relations counsel and event management capabilities for the project. Access New Jersey is an educational initiative for New Jersey K-12 schools and public libraries that provides discounted state-of-the-art technology in the classroom.

George McGuire

GIANETTINO & MEREDITH, Short Hills, has hired GEORGE McGUIRE as a graphic designer. McGuire, who holds a BA in graphic design and photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, comes to the agency from his own company, GEOgraphics in New York City.

NEW YORK MARKET RADIO (NYMRAD), the marketing voice of the metropolitan New York radio industry, has awarded a $3,000.00 scholarship to a minority college junior for the 2003-2004 academic year. The recipient is CHERRECE GLOVER, a Communication major at William Paterson University.

DEBORAH RIVERA, Art Director of ALEXANDER & RICHARDSON, Warren, has been elected president of the Art Directors Club of New Jersey. Its mission is to promote outstanding work in visual communications. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.adcnj.org.

MARK PREISER, Senior Vice President and Principal of Walter F. Cameron Advertising, was elected to a one-year term as chairman of the Long Island Advertising Club’s Advertising Agency Committee.

THE MARRA GROUP, Pluckemin, has teamed up with Household International, Inc., to develop new creative for the financial giant’s credit and insurance businesses. TMG will be called upon to create original POP, DM and marketing collateral.