SLC Ad Executive Tom Love Receives AAF-Utah 2015 Silver Medal Award

–Love Communications’ Founding Partner Honored for Lifetime Achievement–

SALT LAKE CITY – Local political leaders, Utah advertising and media representatives and members of the Salt Lake business community were on hand today as Tom Love, President and Founding Partner of Salt Lake City-based advertising agency Love Communications, was honored by the American Advertising Federation of Utah (AAF-Utah) with its highest recognition, the 2015 Silver Medal Award.

This is the 50th anniversary of the award in Utah. The Silver Medal is the highest honor the advertising profession can award to a member. It represents a lifetime of achievement in the ad industry.

The Silver Medal Ceremony took place at The Grand America, where Love was toasted – and roasted – by a panel of local luminaries, including Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, RC Willey CEO Scott Hymas and United Way of Salt Lake President and CEO Deborah Bayle, among others. In addition, a special letter from Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox (who has worked with the Love firm over the past year in public service announcements promoting the website Vote.Utah.Gov) was read.

“I am pleased to congratulate you on your receiving the prestigious Silver Medal Award,” Lt. Gov. Cox wrote. “This honor is a tribute to your past achievements, outstanding contributions, creativity, standards of excellence and your continued success. You and your company have earned the admiration and gratitude of the advertising industry.”

A video presentation featuring some of Love’s friends and associates was one highlight of an afternoon of tributes, memories and images highlighting his career. Tom’s late father, Utah advertising professional Robert G. Love, was accorded the Silver Medal Award by what was then known as the Utah Advertising Federation some 30 years ago this spring – in 1985. The Loves are just the second father-son team to win the award in its 50-year history (the late Jack Gallivan and his son, Mickey, being the others).

“In my mind, it was never a question of if he was going to be honored, it was when,” said Rich Love, Tom Love’s brother and fellow partner of Love Communications. “And to have him win the Silver Medal Award exactly 30 years after our father was given the same honor – I know it comes with very special meaning for Tom. And it would have been maybe even more special for our dad.”

Tom Love, Rich Love, Preston Wood and Alan Reighard are the current partners of Love Communications, which employs more than 40 full-time Utah employees and reported capitalized billings of more than $45 million in 2014. The 2002 AAF-Utah Professional of the Year, Tom Love is also a former president of the organization, in 1993.

Prior to founding Love Communications in 1999, Love was General Sales Manager of KTVX-Channel 4 in Utah for more than a decade. He also has prior experience in sales for AT&T, KUTV-Channel 2 and TCI Cablevision. Love is a three-time former chairman of the Board of Directors for United Way of Salt Lake, one of a host of community interests he remains committed to and passionate about.

In addition to his work with the United Way board, Love currently serves on the boards for the University of Utah College of Fine Arts, Utah Symphony/Utah Opera and Utah Foundation. He’s also currently serving as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Communication at the University of Utah.

“I’m incredibly proud and incredibly humbled to be recognized by those in my industry and those in our community,” Tom Love said. “The years go by so quickly – and to even be mentioned in the same sentence as advertising legends like my father and others of his caliber can be fairly overwhelming. I’m touched and honored.”

For more information about AAF-Utah or the Silver Medal Award, visit aafutah.com. For more information on Tom Love or Love Communications, visit the agency on line at lovecomm.net

Contact: John Youngren