DALLAS, TX — AT&T today announced that the Austin, Texas, office of Sanders/Wingo – the African-American agency of record for AT&T Operations, Inc – has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for its demonstrated innovative efforts in multicultural marketing and advertising.
Every year, AAF – the leading and oldest national advertising trade association representing thousands of professionals in the advertising industry – recognizes companies for their successful multicultural marketing and diversity efforts in various categories. This year, Sanders/Wingo was honored in the Multiethnic Advertising Campaign category for its AT&T campaign Not Just. This campaign represents the diversity of the local communities AT&T serves and it authentically portrays diverse individuals in positive roles.
AT&T has utilized diversity-owned advertising agencies for decades including Sanders/Wingo, which is the seventh largest African-American owned agency in the country. Supplier diversity is a critical initiative of AT&T’s business strategy and a key component of its plan to deliver the best products and services to its customers.
“AT&T has been at the forefront of initiatives to increase diversity contracting within the advertising industry for several years now,” said Joan Kerr, executive director, AT&T Global Supplier Diversity Programs. “I’m proud of the quality work that our diverse production companies and ad agencies deliver, which proves to be effective in reaching all consumer segments. AT&T is driving positive change by including more diverse businesses in its supply chain.”
AT&T is a nationally-recognized pioneer and leader in supply chain inclusion. In 2008, AT&T spent $6 billion dollars with minority, women and disabled veteran business enterprises. Each year, AT&T seeks to spend 21.5 percent of its total procurement with diversity owned companies.
In addition to AT&T’s efforts to communicate with multicultural consumers through relevant marketing and advertising campaigns, AT&T also sponsors events that enable consumers to be informed about its products and services by connecting with them through meaningful moments in a culturally relevant way. AT&T has been a proud sponsor of events such as San Antonio’s “Beyond the Dream,” the “Quilters of Gee’s Bend College Tour” and the United Negro College Fund’s “An Evening of Stars.”
AAF’s 2009 Diversity Achievement and Mosaic Awards will be presented in conjunction with AAF’s District Two Diversity Achievement Awards at a luncheon on Sept. 23, 2009, at the New York Athletic Club. The Diversity Achievement and Mosaic Awards have become the primary diversity and multicultural program during Advertising Week New York.
Sanders/Wingo was selected as the 2009 Advertising Agency of the Year by Black Enterprise Magazine. AT&T was also honored by Black Enterprise Magazine earlier this year for its strengths in the areas of human capital and supplier diversity. Black Enterprise Magazine selected AT&T as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity.