Birmingham, AL – June 30, 2023 – Strong Automotive Merchandising is thrilled to announce that two of its team members, Michele Alfano and Stan Long, have been honored with prestigious awards by the Birmingham Chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAFB). The awards were presented as part of the annual Ten Awards, recognizing excellence in sales and service within the advertising industry.
Michele Alfano, a seasoned Media Buyer at Strong Automotive Merchandising, was awarded the Media Planning award for her exceptional skills in negotiating, planning, and buying media. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Michele has mastered the art of delivering added value to her clients, consistently negotiating nearly $1,000,000 worth of added value each year. Her dedication to securing the lowest rates and her expertise in impressions-based buying have made her a true asset to the company. Michele’s commitment to her clients’ best interests has set a high standard for media planning, negotiation, and buying within the industry.
Stan Long, Vice President of Strong Automotive Merchandising, was honored as the Salesperson of the Year for his outstanding achievements in driving business growth and client satisfaction. Stan’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service has been pivotal in the company’s expansion and success. With an average yearly gross sales exceeding $4 million, Stan’s expertise in gaining new business and upselling current clients has proven to be a driving force behind Strong Automotive Merchandising’s accomplishments. Despite challenging market conditions, Stan’s resilience and dedication allowed him to recover an impressive 183% of his sales rate during the aftermath of the Covid-19 sales drop. He is an inspiration to all, particularly the junior salespeople he mentors at Strong.
In addition to Michele and Stan’s recognition, the Birmingham Chapter of the AAFB acknowledges the outstanding contributions of the following nominees:
- Kasandra Logan – Social Media Nominee: Produced over 103K engagements in 3 months from publishing 13K content pieces across social media.
- Holly Logan – Account Services Nominee: Executes 300+ jobs monthly, has prepared 75+ meeting decks so far this year, and leads monthly trainings to expand her team’s skillset.
- Abby Mauldin – Production Nominee: First-time manager whose leadership has supported a 22% YTD increase in spots for TV, radio, web, and OTT.
- Hannah Curran – Junior of the Year Nominee: Averages 100+ articles per month for 250+ clients, having produced over 500 pages since starting in Jan. 2023.
AAFB recognized these team members’ exceptional contributions during a ceremony held on June 28, 2023, at Vulcan Museum in Birmingham. Strong Automotive Merchandising is committed to delivering exceptional advertising services to the automotive industry, and the recognition of Michele and Stan, along with the aforementioned nominees, further solidifies the agency’s exceptional talent base.
