OMAHA, Neb. (Feb. 1, 2018) Barb Ruser, senior vice president of creative services at SKAR Advertising Inc., will receive the American Advertising Federation Omaha’s top honor, the Silver Medal. The award will be presented during the annual American Advertising Awards-Nebraska Banquet and Show, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Omaha.
The Silver Medal is given to an AAF Omaha member who has achieved success in his or her career; has shown a consistently high degree of creative and original thinking in work endeavors; has strived to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession; and has been active in civic groups, including AAF Omaha itself.
“There is no more generous collaborator, no creative partner more stubbornly committed to excellence and none more open-minded or relentlessly curious than Barb Ruser. She makes the difficult seem easy and the seemingly impossible appear only slightly more difficult – and she does it with grace and humility,” said SKAR President Joleen David. “Barb is one of SKAR’s greatest assets, personally and professionally, and we are delighted to see her honored with the Silver Medal.”
An AAF member since 1986 and recipient of its 2004 Ad Pro award, Ruser worked in fashion merchandising and advertising in Denver before returning to Omaha in 1985 to work in the advertising department of Richman Gordman’s ½ Price Store division, where she was promoted to advertising director in 1992 and added broadcast producer to her title in 1994. Since joining SKAR in 1997, Ruser has served as writer/producer on brands including Nebraska Methodist Health System, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Omaha Public Power District, Sue Bee Honey, Fremont Area Medical Center and Great Plains Health in North Platte, Nebraska. On SKAR’s behalf, Ruser has also lent her talents to nonprofit organizations including The Salvation Army, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Fontenelle Forest and Brownell Talbot. Her work has won local, regional and national recognition.
Ruser’s community involvement includes Lutheran Family Services (2000 Outstanding Volunteer) and service on the Youth Emergency Services board of directors and the Downtown YMCA board of directors (2009 Volunteer of the Year). She currently serves on The Salvation Army Omaha public relations committee.
About SKAR
SKAR is a full-service brand communications agency, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1962. SKAR offers expertise and services in creative design, media research and buying, event marketing, brand planning, account management and public relations, with experience in specialized software development and in all digital platforms, including web, mobile and social. SKAR also is a full-service research facility with on-site focus group capabilities. For more information, visit skar.com.
