We've Got Seven Open Chairs and 45 Minutes to Tell You About Them

By Adrian Hyatt-Ward | President, AAF Inland Empire Chapter

The new chapter year started July 1. The Executive Committee is in place. The board retreat is in August. And between now and then, we have one question worth asking out loud:

Who wants to help run this thing?

I’m Adrian Hyatt-Ward, and I’m the new President of the Inland Empire Chapter of the American Advertising Federation. I’m joined by Bjorn Madrid as Vice President, Ken Alan as Treasurer, and Vanessa Boekenoogen as Secretary. Together, we make up the Executive Committee for the 2026–2027 term.

But the Executive Committee doesn’t run the chapter alone.

The real work — the programs, the communications, the awards, the outreach — happens through Committee Chairs. And right now, all seven of those chairs are open.

Before I get into what each one involves, a word about where we’re coming from.

The 2025–2026 chapter year started behind this door — at a speakeasy in Upland where the AAF Inland Empire banner went up for the first time. What's behind the next door is up to you.

What Last Year Looked Like

The 2025–2026 year, led by President John McCarthy, set a standard this chapter hadn’t seen before. The season opened at a speakeasy in Upland. The ADDY Awards Gala took over a decommissioned airport terminal at Ontario International Airport — the same Terminal 1 where Spielberg shot Catch Me If You Can — and drew over 200 attendees. The chapter brought in speakers on social media strategy, brand development, and customer engagement. It partnered with PRSA Inland Empire. It hosted webinars, in-person panels, and closed the year at a bowling alley in Rancho Cucamonga where, as John will happily tell you, the pins were attached to strings, and nobody could figure out why their strikes weren’t counting.

That year happened because people raised their hands and did the work. Not just the Executive Committee — the chairs, the volunteers, the members who showed up and made every event worth attending.

This year needs those people too. Maybe that’s you.

The Seven Chairs

Here’s what each role looks like in practice — not job descriptions, just honest sketches of the work.

Programs Chair

You help plan and coordinate the chapter’s events and speaker sessions. You’re the person figuring out who should present, what topics the membership wants to hear about, and how to put a room together that people actually want to be in. If you like booking speakers and organizing events, this is your chair.

Communications Chair

You help keep the chapter visible — email communications, blog content, social media coordination, making sure our members know what’s happening and when it’s happening. If you do this kind of work professionally and want to do it for a community you actually belong to, this is worth considering.

Education Chair

You build and maintain relationships with local colleges and universities — letting them know about the American Advertising Awards and helping students put together awards portfolios and resumes. The advertising programs at our local schools produce strong work, and someone needs to make sure those students know this competition exists and that entering it matters for their careers. If you have ties to the academic community, this chair needs you.

Awards Chair

You help coordinate the chapter’s American Advertising Awards competition — entry promotion, judging logistics, and the awards celebration itself. This past year, the Gala drew over 200 people to a venue that made news across the local ad community. That kind of event doesn’t happen on its own. The Awards Chair is at the center of it.

Government Chair

You build relationships with city and county governments across San Bernardino County, Eastern Los Angeles County, and Western Riverside County. The goal is straightforward: let them know the American Advertising Awards exist, and help recognize the creative and communications work being done by their employees. There are people inside local government doing strong work that nobody outside their department ever sees. This chair helps change that. If you’re comfortable making calls and building relationships with public-sector organizations, take a closer look.

Membership Chair

You help grow and keep the chapter’s membership — welcoming new members, checking in with lapsed ones, and making sure people feel like they belong to something between events. If you already know half the room at every chapter gathering and enjoy connecting people, this one has your name on it.

Sponsorship Chair

You help find and build relationships with businesses and organizations that want to support the chapter through sponsorships. Last year’s ADDY Awards Gala was presented by Crown Connect — that kind of partnership makes the difference between a good event and an unforgettable one. If you’re comfortable with outreach and know how to make a case for why a sponsorship is worth it, you can do real work here from day one.

Not Sure You’re Ready for a Chair? Two Other Options.

Co-chair it. Every one of these roles can be shared by two people. If taking on a chair solo feels like too much right now, find someone to split it with. You and a colleague, a classmate, or someone you meet at the info session can tag-team the work and cover for each other when schedules get tight. You don’t need to show up with a partner already picked — just know the option is on the table.

Help out without a title. We’re also looking for people who want to pitch in on a project-by-project basis. Help with one event. Assist a chair on a single initiative. Show up when your schedule allows. Not everyone is ready for a year-long role, and that’s fine — there’s real work to be done at every level, and none of it goes unnoticed.

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The Info Session

We’re hosting a short online session to walk through everything above and answer your questions.

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Time: Noon–12:45 PM

Format: Zoom (link provided upon RSVP)

Forty-five minutes over your lunch break. You’ll hear about the American Advertising Federation, our local chapter, the seven chair roles, and the co-chair and project-level options. No commitment required. No pressure. Just information.

To attend or to learn more, contact:

John McCarthy, Immediate Past President

(909) 263-0454

HelloJohnMcCarthy@gmail.com

What Happens Next

The board retreat is in August. That’s where the 2026–2027 year starts taking shape as a group. The info session on July 29 is the step before that — a chance to find out what’s available and decide if any of it is for you.

Last year’s chapter was built by the people who showed up. This year’s will be too.

I hope we hear from you.

Adrian Hyatt-Ward

President, AAF Inland Empire Chapter

2026–2027 Term