CAF Names Draftfcb’s Karen Sauder 2009 Advertising Woman of the Year

The Chicago Advertising Federation (CAF) has named Karen Sauder the 2009 Advertising Woman of the Year. As Managing Director of Draftfcb Chicago, Sauder is an integral part of the management team that leads the single largest concentration of ad talent in Chicago and the Midwest, and has helped to create unprecedented momentum for the agency that was formed in 2006 following the merger of Draft and Foote Cone & Belding.

For the past 52 years, the Women’s Ad Club of Chicago and the CAF have bestowed this prestigious award on outstanding Chicago women who have made significant contributions to the advertising and marketing fields. The selection criteria include: significant contributions to her company and to the greater advertising community, individual accomplishments both personally and professionally and noteworthy impact on the development of others.

The Advertising Woman of the Year Award will be presented at a CAF luncheon later this summer. Judges for the 2009 award included: Fay Ferguson, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Burrell Communications; Marty Kohr, Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University, Medill Integrated Marketing Communications; Kim Lundgren, Managing Partner at Hall & Partners; Betsy Owens, VP, General Manager, Kenmore at Sears; and Sue Reddel, Corporate Media Consultant at Reddel Media Consulting.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Sauder began her career in 1990 in the marketing creative services department at Anheuser-Busch. She then worked as a regional manager for Frito-Lay before joining the national advertising and promotions agency, Zipatoni, in 1998. Sauder quickly rose through the ranks from account director to partner to president.

“When Karen joined Draftfcb as managing director in 2007, she took charge of a huge, diverse office. She’s one of the strongest voices on our senior management team and looked to by our entire agency—especially women—as a strong and inspirational, yet humble leader,” said Mark Modesto, president of Draftfcb Chicago. “She’s a mentor to many within the agency and the greater community, and she’s played a significant role in the process that got us where we are today. a strong, vital and still growing agency serving some of the world’s greatest clients.”

Sauder is passionate about the holistic practice of advertising, and at Draftfcb has used her expertise in multiple disciplines to combine the heritage of two different Chicago agencies into one integrated organization that is enjoying growth and great momentum—not to mention repeated recognition as one of the best places to work in the city and state. Just this week, Draftfcb Chicago was named the “Best Large Company To Work For In Illinois” by The Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Managers and The Business Ledger.

“Karen Sauder personifies the many contributions women have made to the Chicago and global ad communities. She’s a woman with vision and business acumen that has brought new flair and valuable benefits to her agency and the advertising industry,” said Anne O’Malley, President of the CAF.

Karen joins an esteemed group of former winners who have made advertising history in Chicago. The first Advertising Woman of the Year Award was presented in 1958 by the Woman’s Advertising Club of Chicago (WACC), an organization founded in 1917 to recognize the achievements and leadership of women in the Chicago advertising community.

Women honored in recent years include: Lisa Cochrane, Vice President of Marketing at Allstate; Dolores Kunda, President and CEO, Lapiz; Fay Ferguson, Co-CEO, Burrell; Yvonne Furth, President and Chief Operating Officer, Draft; Marlena Peleo-Lazar, Chief Creative Officer, Vice President, McDonald’s; Carla Michelotti, Executive Vice President/General Counsel, Leo Burnett Worldwide; Renetta McCann, CEO, Starcom; and Dana Anderson, President and CEO, FCB. Founded in 1917, the WACC recognizes the achievements and leadership of women in the Chicago advertising community. The Advertising Woman of the Year Award was first presented in 1958.

About the CAF
The Chicago Advertising Federation, now celebrating its 104th year, is one of the country’s largest advertising organizations. The CAF is dedicated to the growth of the advertising industry in the Chicagoland area. Representing over 115 companies, the CAF works to increase diversity within the industry and to educate members and the community on advances in the profession. The CAF is affiliated with the AAF, which advocates for the nation’s advertising industry.

For more information about the Advertising Woman of the Year luncheon, contact the CAF at (847) 375-4728.

Primary Contact:
Heather Deja
Chicago Advertising Federation
(847) 375-3676
[email protected]

Secondary Contact:
Michelle McGowan
Draftfcb
(312) 425-6013
[email protected]