This is the time of year that we take inventory of our projects from 2007 and choose which ones to enter American Marketing Association’s Crystal Awards (Houston Chapter). In the wake of last year’s success, we are trying to pick the best of the best. In 2007, we submitted two projects - Logo Design and Individual Promotional Product. Both submissions received Crystals.

• Logo Design - We entered our redesign of St. Pius X High School’s panther logo. The original logo was outdated and plain. The new logo better reflected the school’s personality and received student buy-in before roll-out

• Individual Promotional Product - Our pen-turned-USB-drive project for AMA’s M.planet Conference was a big hit. The USB drive was pre-loaded with all conference materials and fit inside the cap of the pen. Marketers received the pen in a silver-and-black alloy case when they arrived at the conference.

Each entry must have a detailed work plan that outlines the challenges, strategies/tactics and results of the project. Entries are judged on their marketing effectiveness. As AMA says, “It’s not a beauty contest.”

Winners and contestants will be celebrated at the InterContinental Houston Hotel, Thursday, May 22, 2008 from 6p.m. - 9:30p.m.

Check out past Crystal Awards winners.