To paraphrase the major daily, Concussion cleaned up with 82 Addys at this year’s AAF-Fort Worth Advertising Awards held Saturday, February 27th. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram added that “Concussion walked off with most of the hardware” –– an understatement given that one-third of all 231 awards given went to agents orange –– plus a Special Judges Award for its More Than a Bowl Game campaign created for the ESPN Armed Forces Bowl. “All in all it was a good night for our firm and our clients,” said CEO Allen Wallach. “We rocked the awards show, then tore up the after-party to boot.”

To read the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, click HERE.

Concussion has been chosen as agency of record for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) announced Dennis Mochon, DART Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Advertising.

Concussion is also agency of record for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA). When combined, Concussion’s transit clients make up one of the largest regional transit systems in the country.

Per the terms of the initial three-year contract, Concussion will provide a full range of marketing services including strategic planning, research, creative, media planning and placement, promotions development and interactive, among others.

According to Mochon, Concussion was selected during a rigorous agency review process based on the firm’s depth of transit industry experience and its unique approach to DART’s business. “Looking at their record with other transit properties and their plans for DART it’s clear Concussion understands us,” Mochon said. “They know how to talk to transit customers and how to engage potential riders.”

“This is not just another account win for us, it’s more of a mission” said Allen Wallach, CEO and partner of Concussion. “We believe in the power of mass transit to transform cities and make a positive impact on citizens” lives. As the agency of record for all three of North Texas’ transit systems we plan to lead a cultural shift in how mass transit is viewed and used, and to be a part of a model regional transit marketing program for the entire nation.”

Priority projects for Concussion include promoting DART’s recently opened light rail Green Line and its subsequent phases, the Blue Line extension, the Orange Line that will run parallel with the Green Line through Downtown Dallas to Bachman Station in Northwest Dallas, and increasing system-wide bus ridership.

With the first section of the Green Line now open, plans of connecting communities far and wide are transforming into reality. This 28-mile, $1.8 billion project will bring public transportation to more people in more places. It is a clean air solution for the citizens of Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton that is expected to reduce pollutant emissions by more than 320 tons per year.

DART’s Green Line is also providing a boost to the local economy. Looking at the big picture, the DART Rail System is responsible for $7 billion in current, planned and projected transit-oriented development. The Green Line expansion plays a part in this and includes large and visible projects such as Ambrose at Baylor University Medical Center Station and Cityville at Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station.

The American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth (AAF-Fort Worth) celebrated its monumental 100th birthday on Jan. 14 in a glamorous yet renegade style fitting of Cowtown’s oldest civic organization. Many thanks to AAF-Fort Worth for hosting An Evening with a Mad Man, an event featuring Matthew Weiner, the creator of Mad Men, the critically acclaimed drama set in an ad agency in the 1960s. Through their patronage, the event at Casa Manana Theatre provided numerous advertising practitioners (and those simply interested in advertising and/or Don Draper) with a night full of lively mingling and interesting discussion.

Following a cocktail reception with a bar that would be approved by 1960s Madison Avenue denizens, guests were ushered into the Casa Manana auditorium for a brief look at the history of AAF-Fort Worth. The audience was then treated to the main attraction—Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner’s look into the creative process. The successful writer/producer explained, through the help of anecdotes and clips from his show, his thoughts on creativity, an essential skill in the fields of both advertising and television production.

Weiner certainly produced the series Mad Men creatively. He emphasized that why his show seems so real is because many of the storylines come from real people. Some of the more dramatic and captivating lines and scenes derive from a story told by Weiner’s typist, an experience from his childhood or a comment from someone he sat next to on a flight. His inspired process of piecing together interesting storylines, characters and dialogue creates a masterful mosaic that portrays the complexity of real life.

Both Weiner and his advertising audience had a healthy respect for and interest in the other’s profession. Weiner was certainly knowledgeable about both current advertising and its history, while audience members gave him a more-than-warm welcome and praise at the concluding question-and-answer session. The creator of Mad Men and Fort Worth’s distinguished advertising community went together like gin and tonic.

As you may have noticed, Concussion has completed the campaign for the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl! Surely you’ve seen the arresting creative that features a familiar, now iconic image of a football emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes. If you haven’t, your wait is over.

The TV spot, outdoor boards and VIP mailer were just a few campaign elements created to generate excitement about the upcoming match up the University of Houston and the United States Air Force Academy at Amon G. Carter Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

For tickets, call the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl office at 817/810-0012, or visit www.ArmedForcesBowl.com for more information.

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The Dallas Morning News has named Concussion High Impact Communications as one of the “Top 100 Places To Work 2009.” Placing 74^th out of a total 100 companies, Concussion ranked among the top small companies to work for, with 60 employees.

“We are particularly proud of this award,” said Allen Wallach, CEO and partner of Concussion.  “This recognition is because of our employees and without our cadre of like-minded zealots, we wouldn’t be known for producing communications that peg the Richter scale.”

Concussion, a full-service advertising agency based in Fort Worth, is owned and operated by partners Allen Wallach and Andrew Yanez. Wallach and Yanez started Concussion in 2001 and continue operating the agency on the principles of nimbleness, collaboration, creativity and client access to agency decision makers.

“These D-FW companies – large, medium and small – are as good as it gets when it comes to creating workplace environments that nurture and respect employees, and, in the process, make those employees proud to be there,” said columnist Cheryl Hall, lead writer for the Top 100 project.

Employees, not the Dallas Morning News, chose the top workplaces. More than 33,000 employees from all different office settings were given surveys to grade their company’s performance regarding 22 statements. Their responses were compiled, weighted and ranked by the Dallas Morning News’ research partner, Workplace Dynamics LLC.

The winning companies were honored at a luncheon hosted by the Dallas Morning News on Thursday, October 29.  A complete list of winners will be published in the November 8^th edition of the publication as well as on www.dallasnews.com.

The 3^rd Annual Concussion Halloween Contest was a success! Never lacking in creativity, the Concussionites pulled out all the stops to win this year’s coveted costume contest. First Place, and $100 went to Nick Bendian and Charlie Howlett, who portrayed life-like Toy Soldiers, complete with poses. The winner of 2^nd Place and $75 was Celine Hubler, who hand-sewed her orange grenade costume, the Concussion mascot! Rodeo rider Courtney Crummel took 3^rd Place and $50, with the help of her “buckin’ bronco” Kit Kat.

Honorable mentions went to May Rashid for her Aunt Sam get-up, and Anna Routh as Nancy Kerrigan, who committed to the role with rollerblades and mascara stains down her face. Other costume favorites were Max from Where the Wild Things Are, a Boom Box, a Traffic Cop, Nurse, “As Seen on TV” complete with a Snuggie, and a Wal-Mart shopper. We can’t wait to see what next year will bring!

To coincide with their centennial celebration, the Fort Worth Zoo enlisted the help of Concussion to mark this milestone. The Concussion team of Andrew Yanez, Nick Bendian and Alex Arellano has launched a campaign including billboards, print ads, TV and radio commercials, and social media strategies that promote the sharing of memories made over the past century and to help drive traffic to the Zoo to make some new ones.

Each week will feature daily keeper chats, live Wild Wonders stage shows and animal enrichment activities to help the community learn more about the Zoo’s 100-year history as the oldest Zoo in Texas! The Zoo will focus on a different decade, you don’t want to miss this special time in Fort Worth.

Click here for more information on the Fort Worth Zoo’s 100-year celebration activities.

Derek Johnson, Nick Bendian and a slate of creative professionals from Los Angeles to London just wrapped up the new advertising campaign for the nationally-ranked TCU horned frog football team – including a series of three videos to be unleashed on Horned Frog Nation. The first video, featuring TCU’s consensus All-American defensive end, has blown-up since its launch. It’s achieved viral status as thousands have viewed it on YouTube and passed it through Twitter, Facebook and various blogs. The three spots highlight Reason #98, Reason #14 and Reason #85.

Working in collaboration with the TCU Athletics Marketing Department, Concussion recruited a production team that included Los Angeles-based photographer Moshe Brakha, London-based music composer Aaron Willis, Dallas-based director Robert Latorre and voice talent/actor John William Galt. Andrew Yanez, chief creative offer and partner, said, “When you hear John Galt describe TCU’s All-American as “an All-American wrecking crew” it sends shivers down your spine.

The latest innovation to unfold from the genius of Konami.

Concussion High Impact Communications has unveiled KonamiPodium.com, a flash-driven micro site supporting the launch of Konami Gaming’s latest innovation in gaming technology – the Konami Podium.

Known as a total solution provider for its state-of-the-art video slot titles played in casinos throughout the United States and technologically advanced casino management system called the Konami Casino Management System (KCMS) , Konami Gaming is a subsidiary of Konami Corporation (NYSE: KNM). Founded in Osaka, Japan, Konami Corporation has two subsidiaries in gaming, Konami Australia Pry Ltd in Australia and Konami Gaming, Inc. in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Concussion’s goal in designing the site for the Konami Podium was simple – blow Konami out of the water with our capabilities and reinforce Konami’s ‘Born from fun’ brand personality,” said Douglas Cox, interactive director at Concussion.

Konami Gaming’s new site for Podium can be described as an interactive commercial targeted to key slot purchasing decision makers in the casino industry. The site opens with a full-screen flash video, offering visitors a 360-degree view of a 3D rendering of the Podium. On the back end, viewers can click on highlighted parts of the Podium for details on features such as 360-degree lighting effects, a Bose sound system, 3-D displays, ergonomic game play and the smaller footprint. Visitors can even download podium specifications and origami templates, in keeping with Konami’s ‘Born from fun’ brand personality.

“This site is a great example of an effective use of Flash,” said Cox. “While Flash does take quite a bit of bandwidth, this particular use of full-screen Flash is for a very targeted audience who is well-versed in technology. Flash also gives the maximum impact at a point when we have one shot to impress and influence gaming decision makers. ”

And the influencing has already begun, as Konami Australia decided to leverage the site in their market as well. “Konami Australia was so pleased with the site, its contents, and functionality, that they chose to use the tool for their market as well,” said Ross O’Hanley, senior director of marketing for Konami Gaming.

“For a company such as Konami, known for being a technological leader, we can’t just walk in with a brochure,” said O’Hanley. “This site allows us to use innovative technology to reveal our product in an enticing manner that will help casino operators better understand the end benefit for their customers.”

For more information on the Konami Podium, visit www.konamipodium.com. For more information on the Konami Corporation, Konami Australia and Konami Gaming, visit www.konamigaming.com.