AAF-RGV History
History of the Valley Advertising Federation
In 1981, dedicated advertising and media professionals formed the Valley Advertising Federation. In April of 1982, the organization was officially voted in as an American Advertising Federation affiliate member. The first club had 65 members and became known as the AAF Rio Grande Valley.
Since then, the club has continued to grow and expand to offer membership to individuals and corporations engaged in advertising, PR, and marketing.
In 1992, a college chapter was established at The University of Texas-Pan American (now UT Rio Grande Valley) to provide students with opportunities to connect with the industry during their college years, and in 1994, participated in the AAF National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC).
First Board of Directors - February, 1982
President Rick DeJulio, Texican Communications
1st Vice President David Lykes, KGBT-TV
2nd Vice President Chuck Fellers, KELT-FM (now KFRQ)
Treasurer Bernie Wheeler, Lamar Outdoor
Secretary Carolyn Patterson, Advertir
Membership Warren Kininmonth, WK & Associates, & Rod Hayes, The Monitor
Public Service Ray Alexander, KRGV-TV & Tom Sammons, Fiesta Magazine
Government Mike McPeak, RGP Printing
Education Sonia Perez, Southwestern Bell
Fundraising Joannie Harrison, C.R. Anthony's
Public Relations Bob Johnston, T.S.T. I.
Newsletter Mark Smith, Advertir
AAF Rio Grande Valley Board of Directors
1982-83
Founding President - Rick DeJulio
1983-84
President - Rick DeJulio
1984-85
President - David Lykes
1985-86
President - Warren Kininmonth
1986-87
President - Jerry Lee Berg
1987-88
President - Dan Wilson
1988-89
President - Herb Scobey
1989-90
President - Ben McCampbell
1990-91
President - Tom O'Connell
1991-92
President - Nancy Anderson
1992-93
President - Dave Ginsburg
1993-94
President - Roxanne Duncan
1994-95
President - Jeffrey Millar
1995-96
President - Chris Julian
1996-97
President - Chris Julian
1997-98
President - Debbie Nott
1998-99
President - Steve Patterson
1999-2000
President - Danny Fletcher/Steve Patterson
2000-2001
President - Sandy King
2001-2002
President - Sandy King (first half)/ Robin Bullard (second half)
2002-2003
President - Robin Bullard
2003-2004
President - Robin Bullard
2004-2005
President - Robin Bullard
2005-2006
President -Bernie Saenz
2006-2007
President - Robin Bullard
2007-2008
President - Chris Julian
2008-2009
President -Chris Julian
2009-2010
President -Chris Julian
2010-2011
President - Chris Julian
2011-2012
President - Danella Hughes
2012-2013
President - Danella Hughes
2013-2014
President - Jim Birschbach
1st Vice President - Janet Alvarado - Program Chair
2nd Vice President - Blanca Reyes - Membership Chair
Board Members:
Robin Bullard
Jeffrey Millar
Chris Julian
Steve Jennings
Rodrigo Rodriguez
2014 - 15
President - Jim Birschbach
1st Vice President - Janet Alvarado - Program Chair
2nd Vice President - Blanca Reyes - Membership Chair
Board Members:
Robin Bullard
Jeffrey Millar
Chris Julian
Steve Jennings
Rodrigo Rodriguez
2015 - 16
President - Edgar Chrnko
1st Vice President - Michelle Mann
2nd Vice President - Blanca Reyes
Secretary/Treasurer - Teri DeAna
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President - Jim Birschbach
Board:
Jeffrey Millar
Steve Jennings
Chris Julian
Bradley Lacher
Rodrigo Rodriguez
Jerry Sanchez
Gilberto Rocha
2016 - 17
President - Michelle Mann
1st Vice President - Blanca Reyes - Program Chair
2nd Vice President - Teri DeAnda - Membership Chair
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President - Edgar Chrnko
Board:
Jeffrey Millar - Legislative Chair
Steve Jennings - Public Service Chair
Bradley Lacher - Fundraising Chair
Nathan Cain - Communications Chair
A.B. Barrera - Public Relations Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair
Jim Birschback
2017 – 18
President -Blanca Reyes
1st Vice President - Teri De Anda - Program Chair
2nd Vice President - A.B. Barrera - Membership Chair
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President -Michelle Mann
Board:
Jeffrey Millar - Legislative Chair, Finance Chair
Steve Jennings - Public Service Chair
Bradley Lacher - Fundraising Chair
Nathan Cain - Communications Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair
Mike Holderle – Entravision
Bernice Lopez Smith – Rcommunication
Mayra Olivarez - Telemundo
2018 - 19
President - Teri De Anda
1st Vice President - A.B. Barrera - Program Chair
2nd Vice President - Mayra Olivarez - Membership Chair
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President - Blanca Reyes
Board:
Jeffrey Millar - Legislative Chair, Finance Chair
Steve Jennings - Public Service Chair
Bradley Lacher - Fundraising Chair
Nathan Cain - Communications Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair
Mike Holderle - Entravision
Michelle Mann - Fantich Media
Chris Von Wald - Digital AIM Media
Mayra Olivarez - Telemundo
2019-20
President - A.B. Barrera
1st Vice President - Dr. Kimberly Selber
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President -Teri De Anda
Board:
Steve Jennings - Finance Chair
Cyndee Galindo-Julian - Fundraising Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair & ADDY Chair
Mike Holderle - Entravision
Chris Von Wald - Digital AIM Media
Sally Fraustro Guerra – SOCIALIFE Magazine
Bernice Lopez Smith – Entravision
2020-21 (COVID-19 Pandemic)
President – Dr. Kimberly Selber
1st Vice President – Devin Smittkamp
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President -A.B. Barrera
Board:
Steve Jennings - Finance Chair
Cyndee Galindo-Julian - Fundraising Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair & ADDY Chair
Mike Holderle - Entravision
Chris Von Wald - Digital AIM Media
Christina Barrera – SOCIALIFE Magazine
Bernice Lopez Smith – Entravision
Lynda Lopez – Texas Southmost College
Teri DeAnda – Spectrum Reach
2021-22
President – Devin Smittkamp
1st Vice President – Maria Alvarez
2nd Vice President – Sally Fraustro Guerra
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President -Dr. Kimberly Selber
Board:
Steve Jennings - Finance Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair & ADDY Chair
A.B. Barrera – PMDG Marketing & Communications
Sally Fraustro Guerra – SOCIALIFE Magazine
Edna Peña – Glitch Creative Labs
Lynda Lopez – Texas Southmost College
2022-23 (Board votes to extend terms to two years)
President – Maria Alvarez
1st Vice President – Sally Fraustro Guerra
2nd Vice President – Dr. Kimberly Selber
Executive Director - Robin Bullard
Immediate Past President -Devin Smittcamp
Board:
Steve Jennings - Finance Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair & ADDY Chair
A.B. Barrera – PMDG Marketing & Communications
Sally Fraustro Guerra – SOCIALIFE Magazine
Lynda Lopez – South Texas College
Flower Guerrero – ColAir
Jeff Miller – Nexstar NBC/CBS
2023-24
President – Maria Alvarez
1st Vice President – Sally Fraustro Guerra
2nd Vice President – Dr. Kimberly Selber
Board:
Steve Jennings - Finance Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - Education Chair & ADDY Chair
Chris Von Wald - Digital AIM Media
A.B. Barrera – PMDG Marketing & Communications
Lynda Lopez – South Texas College
Flower Guerrero – ColAir
Jeff Miller – Nexstar NBC/CBS
Karla Castillo-Hurtado - UTRGV
2024-2026
President – Sally Fraustro Guerra - McAllen Chamber of Commerce/SOCIALIFE Magazine
Vice President – Dr. Kimberly Selber - UTRGV
Board:
Maria Alvarez - Radio United, Immediate Past President
A.B. Barrera – PMDG Marketing & Communications, D10 Governor
Karla Castillo-Hertado-UTRGV, Communications Chair
RC Cepeda - Sign Depot & Digital Uproar, Membership Chair
Jacqueline Folacci - Edible RGV
Flower Guerrero - ColAir
Steve Jennings -Benchmark Media
Arlina Larson - Food Bank RGV, Non-Profit Event Chair
Rosangela Mancillas - South Texas College, Social Media Chair
Dr. Kimberly Selber - UTRGV Education Chair & American Advertising Awards Chair
Colleen Willis - Nextar NBC/CBS, Programs Chair
Stephen Wingart - Digital AIM Media