AAF-Akron

Join our friends at Akron Life for one of the area’s most anticipated local events as they celebrate the very best food, businesses, entertainment, experiences, and people that make the 330 unique.

Any members interested in a discount code to this year's festivities? Message us!

See you at Best of the City!

📍 House Three Thirty
📅 September 23, 2026
6-9pm

Learn more and register:
Akron Life's Best of the City 2026

Member Monday Spotlight. Meet Kaylie Yaceczko. AAF-Akron President elect.

Q: Tell us about your history with AAF and when you got involved. What chairs have you held? Why is AAF important to you?

KY: I first joined AAF in 2021 when I started as a marketing coordinator for Red Point, and I wanted to make my mark in the local advertising community and get to know the folks in the industry better. I heard how amazing the American Advertising Awards were, so curiosity got the better of me and I went to their other events. I was hooked. After a while, I was asked if I wanted to sit in on a board meeting and get more involved. The rest is history.

Since being a part of the board, I've served as the Communications Co-Chair, Communications Chair, Membership Chair, Vice President, and now President!

I've met so many talented and intelligent individuals through AAF-Akron. As president, it's my goal to serve our members by helping them achieve their goals and be a professional resource for students because I believe the talent and innovation of the Greater Akron Ad community could truly change the world.

Q: What's your favorite color and why?

KY: My favorite color is pink! Growing up, I always had my bedroom painted pink and light blue. Reconnecting with my love for the color pink makes me feel powerful and reminds me that everything I do is to make younger me proud.

Q: How has AAF helped you grow professionally?

KY: AAF has helped me grow as a professional tremendously. I'm naturally more introverted, but being involved with AAF has helped me step out of my comfort zone and put myself out there to make a difference in the community. I feel more comfortable in my public speaking, introducing myself to folks when I don't know anyone in the room, and offering my ideas with confidence.

I want our members to have that same experience. I wouldn't be who I am today without AAF-Akron, and my goal as president is to help our members achieve their professional goals as I have through our club.

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Thank you for what you do, Kaylie. AAF-Akron is proud to call you our President.

AI is moving FAST.

Now organizations have to catch up. That’s why we’re partnering with MAICON '26.

The pressure is shifting from “What can we do with AI?” to harder questions:

What should we scale?
How do we prove value?
How do we prepare our people?
How do we build AI into the way the business actually works?

From October 13-15 in Cleveland, marketers, AI leaders and business leaders will come together to tackle what comes after experimentation: building smarter strategies, scaling what works, preparing teams and creating real business impact.

If your organization is under pressure to make AI deliver, this is a conversation worth being part of.

Members save $150. Contact us for your discount code.

We will always love you, Dolly! RIP sweet butterfly. 💙💚

On Mondays we like to feature our members. This Monday meet AAF-Akron Executive Director, Cecilia Sveda.

Cecilia stumbled into an AAF-Akron meeting by chance and what started out as simple curiosity has developed into 19 years of memories while creating professional and personal relationships along the way.

Q: Tell us about your history with AAF - When did you first get involved with AAF? What chairs you have held - why is AAF important to you?

CS: I've been involved with AAF since 2007. Over the years, I was challenged with new roles. Each time, I nervously questioned myself: can I do this? And each time, my confidence rose with what I could achieve through guidance and encouragement.

I was on the AAF-Akron board for 8 years and served as Secretary, American Advertising Awards co-chair and chair for 4 years, VP, President and Chair of the Board. 11 years ago, I was invited to become Executive Director.

I stay for the people and I continue to learn from them every day. I’m so grateful to our board, teams, members and partners for giving back year after year. We would not exist without each other.

Q: What is your favorite color and do you have a memory as to why you chose it?
CS: I LOVE ALL THE COLORS! I'm drawn to bright bold colors all working together. One by itself, is just not enough. LOL.

Q: How has AAF helped you professionally and why do you recommend joining AAF?
CS: For me, AAF is all about building relationships for life, not just for work. I have a big mental rolodex of people I know all across the country. If I need something, I know who to call and can often find them through my AAF network.

I started out as a wallflower and the person least likely to be president of a board. AAF helped me get outside of myself and be comfortable in my own skin. The beauty of AAF is that it is for everyone. It's a place to grow, meet people and develop skills. Plus it's just fun. I mean, who else is going to let me dress up as an ice cream eating Elvis to promote Scoops for Scholars?!

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We are so lucky to have Cecilia serve as AAF-Akron Executive Director. Congratulations on being a member of AAF for 19 years and counting!

JOIN AAF-AKRON FOR THE AKRON PRIDE EQUITY MARCH

WHEN: Equity March meet-up - Saturday, August 22nd at 930am - March kick-off: 10am - After Party: Noon-4P

WHO: All AAF- Akron members! Come out and support PRIDE, equal rights, and inclusion for all! *** MEMBERS ONLY: Win a limited edition PRIDE AAF t-shirt designed by AAF-Akron member JANAE with a $25 or more donation when you register. ***

WHERE: Meet in the former Spaghetti Warehouse lot. Ask info booth at lot entrance for AAF-Akron location OR we will be posting an update as soon as we get our exact spot in line.

WHAT TO WEAR: BE ECCENTRIC or BE SIMPLE but most importantly BE YOU! Donate $25 when you register to march for your chance to receive one of our exclusive PRIDE AAF t-shirts designed by AAF-Akron member, JANAE DRODER. All donations benefit Susan B. Kosich Endowed Scholarship for Marketing Communications of Akron.

AFTER MARCH PARTY: Can’t make it to the march? ALL ARE INVITED to PRIDE AFTER PARTY! Come for a while or just for a little. Either way, your AAF-AKRON FAMILY will greet you with open arms.

At the conclusion of the marching party we will take a GROUP PHOTO. We will then head to CIRCLE OF 5THS (same door as Blu Jazz) at 45 E. MARKET ST.

AAF-Akron member DJ ESQUE aka SPLBND will be DJ’ing noon-4ish. Food & Beverage will be available for sell, patio will be open and air conditioning will be flowing. If you haven’t tried Co5ths yet you are in for a real treat.

IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE GREAT PEOPLE DOING GREAT THINGS!

Nominate the awesome people who keep things going at your workplace day after day.

AAF-Akron wants to recognize those behind the scenes who deserve recognition and show appreciation for them.

Take a moment to nominate that special colleague, vendor, intern or other pro who goes above and beyond.

Nominations close Aug. 21 at midnight.

Learn more and nominate:Penny & High Five Nominations - AAF-Akron

It’s time to celebrate great people doing great work!

Nominate the awesome people who keep things going at your workplace day after day.

AAF-Akron wants to recognize those behind the scenes who deserve recognition and show appreciation.

Take a moment to nominate that special colleague, vendor, intern or other pro who goes above and beyond.

Nominations close Aug. 21 at midnight.

Learn more and nominate: https://www.aafakron.com/events/penny-high-five-nominations/

We held our first board training session for our new AAF-Akron board members! We will be introducing them one at a time in the weeks to come.

A very special THANK YOU to Bethany Beaman, Secretary-Treasurer of the Council of Governors, Board Chair of District 5 and past President of AAF-Columbus!

We felt incredibly lucky to have such an AAF Rock Star to learn from.
We can't wait to share more of what we learned from Bethany at our session in future posts ands events.

Thank you to TRIAD for generously hosting us!

And lastly, many thanks to our dedicated and passionate board for spending the afternoon with us!

AAF District 5 American Advertising Federation