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AAF Buffalo Inc

AAF Buffalo empowers the local advertising community through education, networking, and advocacy. We connect professionals and students to foster creativity and growth in Buffalo's vibrant advertising landscape.

Cheers to you, Buffalo creatives. 🎃🍻 Join us for a haunted pub crawl built just for AAF Buffalo members&mdash;no panels, no slides, just stories, spooky vibes, and drinks with the people who keep our &nbsp;community thriving. What to expect:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Free attendance for all current AAF Buffalo members</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chill, low‑pressure networking with ad, marketing, and art folks</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ghostly stops at local bars with plenty of time to actually talk. One free drink ticket!</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A simple thank‑you for showing up for WNY&rsquo;s creative scene all year</li></ul>Tour Stops:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">42 North (Theatre district)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Founding Fathers</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Banshee&nbsp; </li></ul>

AAF Buffalo - Membership Appreciation - Haunted Pub Crawl

The Big Tip Off is back! Come support your favorite guest bartender and WNY college students, August 26th at the new Chandler St. Breweries!&nbsp; Summer might be winding down, but the competition is heating up. The Big Tip Off is back, and you won&rsquo;t want to miss out on a night of good drinks and friendly rivalries&mdash;all for a good cause. Nominated and volunteered celebrity bartenders from advertising agencies across Western New York&nbsp;will face off to see who can earn the most tips by the end of the night. Want your company to win? It&rsquo;s simple: show up, enjoy some drinks and tip your favorite bartender. Bring some cash or tip digitally through our Venmo account. Every dollar raised is donated to AAF Buffalo&rsquo;s scholarship fund for WNY college students. Last year we raised over $2K, think we can top that? Your ticket gets you 2 hours of open bar, appetizers and the chance to help your agency earn year-long bragging rights. Want to bartend?&nbsp;Email vp-programming@aafbuffalo.com to register! One bartender per company. Dressing up, making a special drink and even posting a social media hype video to intimidate competitors is always encouraged. Tag @aaf_buffalo on Insta so we can share! See you there!

The Big Tip Off 2026

Join AAF Buffalo for the 2026 Pride Parade 🏳️&zwj;🌈 Join AAF Buffalo as we come together in celebration, unity, and support for the LGBTQ+ community by marching in the 2026 Buffalo Pride Parade!&nbsp; Event Details:<ul fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Line-Up Location: SUNY Buffalo State College (Lots R13 &amp; R14), 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Line-Up Begins at 8:00 a.m. Parade steps off promptly at 11:00 a.m. Please arrive at your assigned time for proper placement.</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Parking is limited &mdash; we strongly encourage using public transportation or ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft.</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Parade Route: Travels south on Elmwood Avenue and ends at Allen Street, with float/marcher disassembly between Allen and Virginia Streets.</li></ul>

Buffalo 2026 Pride Parade

ZOOM LINK: Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/274438158649505?p=pm3gnDajfWUDFt69eH Color as Strategy: How Emotion Drives Commercial Design A Virtual Spotlight Speaker Event with Amber Vittoria Join AAF Buffalo &mdash; in partnership with AAF Greater Lehigh Valley and AAF Capital Region &mdash; for a District 2 collaborative speaker event featuring illustrator, artist, and Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient Amber Vittoria. In this talk, Amber will explore how she translates her expressive visual language into commercial work &mdash; navigating brand partnerships, protecting her creative voice, and using emotion as a strategic tool. Whether you&#39;re a designer, art director, or creative professional, this session offers a rare look at building a sustainable creative practice without sacrificing artistic integrity. Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026Time: 5:00 &ndash; 6:15 PM ET&nbsp;Location: Virtual via Microsoft TeamsFormat: 60-minute talk + 15-minute Q&amp;A

Amber Vittoria Virtual Spotlight Speaker

AAF Buffalo&rsquo;s Copywriter Skillshop, &quot;Say It Like You Mean It&quot; brings professional copywriters (senior to entry-level) together for a conversation-driven session all about brand voice.You&rsquo;ll join Crowley Webb&rsquo;s Copy Supervisor, Rosalind Eaton, to discuss brand voice, explore brands that are doing voice well and participate in an activity to sharpen your own skills. Expect to meet other writers in the community and connect with like-minded pros who say what they mean. Attendees should be prepared to name one brand they think does voice right.&nbsp;The event will take place at Crowley Webb (268 Main Rd Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14202).We&rsquo;re keeping this one intimate, free and only an hour. The event is designed to feel personal, approachable, and genuinely helpful, so you walk away with clear next steps and new connections.More Details:<ul fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:'DM Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style='list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;'>This skillshop is for the copy crew, but all are welcome</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:'DM Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style='list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;'>The event is a professional-only event and free for AAF Buffalo Members&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:'DM Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style='list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;'>The session is 1 hour long (5:30&ndash;6:30 PM)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:'DM Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style='list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;'>The event will take place on the 4th Floor of Crowley Webb, AAF Board members will be on the ground level to guide you in</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:'DM Sans',sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style='list-style-type: disc; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;'>Dinner will be provided</li></ul>

AAF Buffalo: Brand Voice Skillshop

Looking to level up your portfolio? AAF Buffalo&rsquo;s annual Portfolio Review brings students and creative professionals together for one-on-one, in-person feedback sessions designed to help you grow. Whether your portfolio is printed, a PDF, or online, you&rsquo;ll have the chance to walk through your work, ask questions, and get real-world insights from designers currently working in the industry. You&rsquo;ll meet with a mix of designers and seasoned art directors, giving you perspectives that are both relatable and experienced. This year, the event will take place at Haberman Gacioch Center for Visual &amp; Performing Arts at Daemen University. With a small group of students and reviewers, the event is designed to feel personal, approachable, and genuinely helpful, so you walk away with clear next steps and new connections.🎨💼 Bonus: Top portfolios will receive a $300 cash prize. What to Expect:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">15, 10 minute, 1-on-1 sessions&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Students share their top 3 pieces and receive feedback from pros on their portfolio&rsquo;s design and each piece</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Following the presentation of their top 3 pieces and receiving feedback, students can walk through the rest of their portfolio.</li></ul>FAQs:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Web portfolios, PDFs or physical portfolios can be shown at this event</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">If students plan to share their work digitally they&rsquo;re required to bring their own device</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">If student plans to share a digital portfolio, they&rsquo;re encouraged to have an offline version in case internet connectivity issues occur</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Donuts and coffee will be provided before the event starts</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Students are encouraged to dress business casual</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Students are encouraged to bring business cards and notepad and pen to write down feedback received from pros</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Don&rsquo;t be afraid to bring a snack and a water bottle to keep focused</li></ul> Event Timeline<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">9:45AM-10AM: 15 minutes for check-in, name tag allocation, and finding a seat</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">10:AM-10:15AM: Intro</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">0:30AM-11:40PM: First session of reviews (7 sessions)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">11:40AM-11:50AM: Break</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">11:50AM-12:50PM: Second sessions of reviews (6 sessions)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">12:50-1:00: Pros Deliberate</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">1:00-1:15: Announce Don Nichols Winner + Portfolio Review Winners</li></ul>

AAF Buffalo: Portfolio Review 2026

2026 AAF Buffalo Galaaa

Reserve your ad in the 2026 AAF Buffalo AAA&#39;s Showbook! Showcase your work, your team, or your clients in front of Buffalo&rsquo;s creative community.&nbsp; Your support fuels our local advertising community 🎯 Revenue from Showbook ads helps AAF Buffalo provide education, networking, and advocacy for area professionals and students.&nbsp; Submission Details&nbsp;Send finished ad as a PDF to addyhelp@aafbuffalo.com by 11:59 PM, Saturday, January 31. No extensions.

Reserve your ad in the 2026 AAF Buffalo AAA's Showbook!Showcase your work, your team, or your clients in front of Buffalo’s creative community. Your support fuels our local advertising community 🎯Revenue from Showbook ads helps AAF Buffalo provide education, networking, and advocacy for area professionals and students. Submission Details Send finished ad as a PDF to addyhelp@aafbuffalo.com by 11:59 PM, Saturday, January 31. No extensions.

AAF Buffalo - 2026 Showbook Ads

Submit eligible Silver winners from the AAF Buffalo American Advertising Awards 🏆. All gold winners are automatically submitted to the D2 show.&nbsp;

Submit eligible Silver winners from the AAF Buffalo American Advertising Awards 🏆.All gold winners are automatically submitted to the D2 show.

Silver Forwarding to AAF District 2 Awards

Join AAF Buffalo&rsquo;s Content Creator Panel 🎥✨ Hear how local creators partner together to create work that actually connects with audiences. We&rsquo;ll dig into process, platforms, and the not-so-glam parts that rarely make it into a reel. Whether you&rsquo;re agency, in-house, freelance, or a student, this conversation is built for WNY&rsquo;s creative community. Come ready with questions, notes, and ideas you&rsquo;d like to bring to your next project. Our panelists include:Paige Lamparelli - Crowley WebbKelsey Sweet - Buffalo BillsCorrena Dolce - Labatt&nbsp;Stephanie Cain - Delaware NorthAbigail Lee - By Abigail Lee

AAF Buffalo - Content Creator Panel

The next generation of Buffalo&#39;s advertising talent is ready to make its pitch! Join AAF Buffalo and the University at Buffalo on Tuesday, October 27, for the inaugural Agency Pitch Competition Finals, where UB students will present original advertisements to a panel of professionals from Buffalo&#39;s advertising and creative industries. After weeks of creative development, students will take the stage to pitch their ideas to a panel of real-world advertising professionals and compete for top honors among their peers.&nbsp; Come see UB&rsquo;s emerging creative talent, network with industry professionals, and connect with students and colleagues across Buffalo&#39;s creative community. The details:Tuesday, October 27 | 6&ndash;8 PMKnox Hall, Room 20University at Buffalo, North Campus This event is free and open to the public!

AAF Buffalo Inc

Events

Events

AAF Buffalo - Content Creator Panel

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AAF Buffalo - Agency Pitch Competition

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More ways to support us

AAF Buffalo - 2026 Showbook Ads

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Silver Forwarding to AAF District 2 Awards

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