Student Judges
Tim Connery
Producer, Dreamcatcher Productions
Tim graduated from Columbia College Chicago 2009, and has over a decade of experience working with agencies, marketing departments, and filmmakers all over the US, to produce high quality video content in the media industry, including hundreds of commercial/corporate projects in addition to two distributed feature films. He writes, produces, directs, and edits - handling the entire process from idea to finished product.
Brandon Corpstein
Graphic Designer, McCullough Creative
Brandon skills cover everything from conception and creative development of design projects to print, advertising, branding, packaging and digital mediums.
Mari Oates
Innovation and MakerSpace Coordinator, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Mari Oates has a BA in Anthropology and Graduate work in Museum Studies. At the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, she oversees the new MakerSpace and the development of programs and curriculum for the River of Innovation exhibit. Her role includes writing curriculum, training the staff, and managing the space.
Joe Wheeler
Director of Customer Experience, HTLF
Joe’s career spans 30+ years in senior management roles in banking including 18 years with Citibank, CEO/Pres of ReliaStar Bank and starting ING Direct in the US. He left banking, spending a few years with KPMG where he consulted large banks (Citi, Chase, Huntington, 5/3, US Bank). While doing this work, he saw an opportunity in the fact that the big four consulting firms weren’t willing to help community banks and credit unions. He filled this niche by starting Field Midwestern Consulting which was totally focused on helping these two groups with their strategic and marketing planning, board, and regulatory readiness as well as risk management. Most recently Joe spent 5 years with JD Power managing two of their national bank practices helping financial institutions with up to $300B in deposits.
Missing banking, his goal became to return to industry, and through that search he met HTLF. He is now SVP – Director of Customer Experience there.
Joe was born and raised in Chicago and has had the chance to move all over the country for work. He and his wife Anne now live in Dubuque.
Professional Judges
Andrew Caturano
Art Director, Arts & Letters Creative Co.
Richmond, VA
Andrew is an Art Director for Arts & Letters, Creative Co., a vertically integrated creative company that has combined the strategic rigor and conceptual ability of a traditional creative agency with the speed and craft of a modern production studio. The result is a creative company that can research, concept, prototype and deliver ideas from the abstraction of the strategic phase through the reality of production.
Andy Gosendi
Associate Creative Director, Dalton Agency
Jacksonville, FL
An art director with a clean desk and an organized plan of attack is somewhat alien in the creative world… and he speaks two languages fluently. But that’s only part of what makes Andy so unique. Spending the first few years of his life in Bogotá, Colombia gave Andy — and ultimately his clients — a point of view that’s off the beaten path. He uses his undeniable design talent to create award winning campaigns and the like that are aesthetically pleasing while always conveying something deeper. Maybe that’s why his 20-year career has garnered 40+ ADDY awards (local, district and national), 10+ American Graphic Design awards, a SXSW website finalist as well as being featured in publications such as the Logo Lounge and American Corporate Identity series. Andy’s worked on a diverse group of clients across several industries that includes creative work for the City of Jacksonville; Swisher; web.com; Alicia Keys; and the PGA Tour, to name a few. When he isn’t creating stunning designs, Andy enjoys teaching his young son about the finer things in life . . . travel, food, photography and “THE Ohio State” football..
Jennifer Hohn
Partner & CCO, Articulation
Denver, CO
Jennifer Hohn is a partner and Chief Creative Officer at Articulation – a full-service advertising agency in Colorado. Jen makes and leads category changing work that brings brands to life. She started her career at Monigle, the largest independent brand consultancy in the US. From there she moved to boutique design shops and then found her home in the advertising world. She quickly rose through the ranks at Vladimir Jones to lead and grow their creative department. In 2020, she and her strategic partner started Articulation. Throughout her career she’s worked on a wide range of brands like Intel, HP, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Rock Bottom Brewery, Snowmass Tourism, and US Figure Skating. Over the last decade she’s judged many district and regional shows for the American Advertising Federation (AAF) across the nation. Jen is also a former co-chair for The Fifty, Colorado’s AAF Award Show. She’s been President of Ad Club Colorado, an ambassador for 99U, and advisor for The One Club. Jen contributes articles and speaks on creative development for trade organizations around the globe. In her free time, she loves getting lost in great films and music, renovating her home with her husband, and hitting the mountain trails with her pup.
Jason Yates
Creative / Art Director & Video Editor, Front Porch
Buffalo, NY
Jason Yates is a co-founder of Front Porch, a newly launched Micro-Agency based in Buffalo, NY. He is a creative director, art director and video editor with over 15 years of agency and freelance experience. Working with a range of brands that includes The University at Buffalo, JDRF, Caterpillar, and Purolator, his work has won numerous awards at the local and national level. As a past board member, and active participant of AAF Buffalo, he has co-chaired the WNY ADDYs four times.