Chicago Advertising Federation

🔥 Join us for an End-Of-Summer Sendoff!

Get your ticket for the GenNext Summer Social on Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 PM for an unforgettable night of career development and celebration.

To the recent graduates & early-career pros — this is where the future leaders get together.

🎟️ REGISTER now to join us at Punch Bowl Social: https://chicagoadfed.glueup.com/event/gennext-summer-mixer-188374/

🔥 THE Summer Event You Can’t Miss!
To the recent grads & early-career pros — this is where the future leaders will be.

Join GenNext’s Summer Social on Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 PM for an unforgettable night of connections, career glow-ups, and serious personal brand power.

This is NOT your average mixer — it’s where ambition meets opportunity.
🎟️ REGISTER NOW to join us at Punch Bowl Social: https://chicagoadfed.glueup.com/event/gennext-summer-mixer-188374/

We are excited to announce that the 2026 Silver Medal Award Nominations are now open!

The Silver Medal Award program recognizes a distinguished member of the Chicago advertising community for their contributions to the advertising profession, mentorship, and support for the broader community.

To learn more about the Silver Medal award and submit your nomination click here: https://chicagoadfed.org/events/silver-medal-award

Submissions will close on Aug 21.

Rounding out our countdown to the DTLC Summer Mixer with our moderator!

Laura Washington is a contributing columnist for the Chicago Tribune and political analyst at ABC7 Chicago with more than two decades of award-winning experience as a non-profit professional and multi-media journalist. She specializes in African American affairs, local and national politics, race and racism, and social justice.

We appreciate having Laura on our panel to guide such an important conversation!

Join us TOMORROW by visiting https://lnkd.in/gQqZZrxF

Meet the next panelist that will be joining us at the DTLC Summer Mixer!

Susan Betteridge is the Chief Creative Officer and a founding Partner at Dame Creative, a female-led advertising agency she helped launch in early 2020.

Passionate about mentorship and advocacy, Susan is an active leader in the advertising community. She has served in various roles with the American Advertising Federation, Chief, and was named a Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It in 2019. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ+ community center, and is an angel investor with The Josephine Collective, which supports startups led by women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

We are grateful to have Susan on our panel to celebrate what it means to live out loud!

Join us this Thursday https://lnkd.in/gQqZZrxF

The DTLC Summer Mixer is only a few days away, so let's meet our incredible panelists!

Precious Brady-Davis is a lifelong social justice advocate, communications professional, environmentalist, author of the memoir “I Have Always Been Me” and cares passionately about reaching the marginalized through her extensive career in nonprofit management and public speaking. Appointed to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023 and elected as Commissioner in 2024, she is the first Black openly trans woman appointed and elected to public office in Cook County history and the first to serve on a water reclamation district in the US.

We are honored to have Commissioner Brady-Davis on our panel to celebrate what it means to live out loud!

https://chicagoadfed.glueup.com/event/dtlc-summer-mixer-2026-181465/

We're sending a huge thank you to our Annual Bronze sponsor, Paramount!

We are beyond thrilled to have your support on this journey together into 2026.

The Chicago Advertising Federation is proud to announce our incoming Executive Committee officers as they begin their term!

These individuals have already made an incredible impact on our organization and community, and we are looking forward to their contributions in their new roles.
Please join us in congratulating each of them!

President - Veronica Appleton, PhD
Vice President - Lori Claps
Treasurer -John Grad
Secretary - Katie Nikolaus
Committee Liaison - Joan Colletta

Pride Month may be coming to a close, but the celebration of LGBTQIA+ joy and resilience continues on at the DTLC Summer Mixer!

On July 16th, Qadree Holmes will be joined by panelists Laura Washington, Precious Brady-Davis and Susan Betteridge as they explore what it means to live out front with authenticity, courage, and joy, while shaping culture across media, politics, advocacy, and journalism.

Join us at our annual party with a purpose: https://chicagoadfed.glueup.com/event/dtlc-summer-mixer-2026-181465/