The ADDY® Awards is the largest creative competition in the country, with nearly 55,000 entries competing in 200 cities coast to coast. Mad Genius will compete against 1,500 other national finalists for the National ADDY® awards.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in local, regional and cable TV commercials, and is one of the most sought-after awards in the arena of advertising and video production. Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards exist to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting the community. The 30th Annual Telly Awards, in 2009, received over 13,000 entries, from all 50 states and 5 continents.

9 - GETTING REAL WITH FARM BUREAU

We started the year off right: in January 2009, Mad Genius officially became the agency of record for ten Southern Farm Bureau Insurance states. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year; in that time, the Genius has developed an Toolkit utilized by Farm Bureau agents throughout the region, created an eye-catching series of webisodes called “New to the Crew” at Joe Gibbs Racing, produced commercials such as Phone Tree and Call Center, developed campaign and promotional materials… and this is only the beginning.

8 – AN EMMY, SOME ADDIES, AND BEST OF JACKSONS… OH MY!

In 2009, it seemed like you couldn’t swing a lab coat anywhere in this office without hitting another award. We’re proud of our animator Wade Acuff, whose work on Between the Lions earned our team another Emmy. Between the Lions is produced in Mississippi, and the Eyevox (now Mad Genius) animation department plays a critical role in bringing the show to life. Mad Genius was also well-represented at the American Advertising Federation of Jackson’s annual awards program, the Addies, bringing home multiple awards, including a Gold Addy in the Interactive category, for our work on the MMI Hotel Group website. Oh yeah, and the Jackson Free Press also honored our minions with several awards: Beth Kander won Best Jackson Writer, Opie Cooper won Best Jackson Filmmaker, and Eyevox was named one of the metro area’s top locally-owned businesses. Not too shabby, Team Genius.

7 – A PRESIDENCY COMPLETED

2009 marks the completion of Mad Genius Chief Operating Officer Chip Sarver’s term as President of the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is instrumental in keeping the Ridgeland business community strong, and Chip has been glad to serve… but the Genius knows the truth: Chip’s only completing his run as Chamber President so he can pursue his next title, President of Everything in This Universe and Six Others.

6 – COMING TOGETHER TO REMEMBER HEATHER

Some of the work we’re most proud of here at Mad Genius is when we partner with organizations working to make a difference. Heather’s T.R.E.E. was founded to honor the memory of Heather Spencer and eradicate domestic violence. Mad Genius designed the poster, VIP pass and press materials for the 2009 Heather’s T.R.E.E. “Soulshine” Memorial Concert, which was an important and touching tribute.

5 – DID YOU HEAR “Z” NEWS?

Z-Line Designs, one of the top five manufacturers of ready-to-assemble home office and entertainment furniture in the United States, selected Mad Genius to work on Z-Line brand strategy and interactive development. Z-Line Designs is based in San Ramon, California, and offers a broad range of furniture styles to suit a wide array of lifestyles. Z-Line Designs furniture is available through a number of online furniture retailers and major retail outlets, including Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Sears and Staples. Z-Line choosing Mad Genius is a win for Mississippi!

4 – IMAGINATION EDUCATION, INC.

Mad Genius has an arts and education initiative called Imagination Education, Inc. Though still brand-spankin’ new, Imagination Education took some giant steps this year. We were selected as a teaching artist group featured in the Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Roster, and were also chosen by Parents for Public Schools for inclusion in JumpstART. We’re working with Casey Elementary, we taught at Millsaps College for the second summer in a row, we served as instructors for the Canton Young Filmmakers Institute, and we’re working on launching several other projects, including Yeah, Write Whatever (a snarky project that tackles literacy through creative writing). We’re feeling the momentum – stay tuned for further ie developments!

3 – THE SHED GOES MAD!

Talk about rocking and rolling – Mad Genius recently became the agency of record for The Shed Barbeque and Blues Joint, a FamilyFoodDrinkery.™  Headquartered in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with franchises expanding throughout Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, The Shed serves a full-scale barbeque menu in their unique, fun-loving restaurant environment. Named one of the Top Forty Fastest Growing Businesses in the State of Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2008, The Shed is a regular award winner at the Memphis in May International Festival’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and has been featured on Live! with Regis and Kelly and Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on The Food Network. Now, The Shed’s gone Mad… and the Genius loves getting Saucy with The Shed!

2 – RICK MOORE NAMED SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

We were busting our buttons* when CEO Rick Moore was named Mississippi’s Small Businessperson of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Rick traveled to DC for Small Business Week, convening with other statewide SBA award winners. We think Rick himself put it best: “It’s both humbling and inspiring to represent my home state, and show the rest of the nation that even in this troubled economy, there is positive, innovative work happening right here in Mississippi.” Well said, Rick. We hereby name you Genius of the Year, too. For good measure.

1 – THE MERGER: EV f/v + MG a/c = Creative Fusion

And of course, the biggest event of 2009: Mad Genius’ merger with Eyevox Film and Video Production. In the summer of 2009, these two innovative companies became one media powerhouse, under the single name Mad Genius. Being able to offer start-to-finish creative and promotional services, as well as a signature style of outside-the-box-thinking, makes Mad Genius a regional standout. Since the merger, we’ve made great strides. We were excited to launch our swanky new logo, and also launched our all new website, complete with a virtual portfolio, client testimonials, an introduction to some of the Genius’ minions, and more.

So there you have it. It’s been quite a year. But we’re even more excited for what 2010 has in store. From all of us to all of you … have a Genius New Year!

David Gilliland will drive the #02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (September 30, 2009) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that David Gilliland will drive the No. 02 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota in three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races starting in Charlotte on October 17.

JGR also announces that Wally Brown, who currently serves as crew chief over the organization’s research and development and testing department, will serve as crew chief for each of the three races which also includes the Nov. 8 race at Texas Motor Speedway and the season’s finale at Homestead Speedway on Nov. 22.

It was announced earlier this year that Farm Bureau Insurance would sponsor six races in 2009 with Joe Gibbs Racing. Two of those races were already run in the No. 11 Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin in Darlington and at Atlanta earlier this month. In addition to sponsoring JGR’s fourth entry three times, Farm Bureau Insurance will also appear on the No. 20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano on October 25 in Martinsville.

“Thus far, it’s been an exhilarating partnership between Farm Bureau Insurance and Joe Gibbs Racing. We’re excited to welcome David Gilliland to our Farm Bureau Insurance family. David and Wally Brown are each talented and established in the sport of NASCAR and I know both will represent our agents and customers flawlessly the remainder of 2009,” said Bubby Trosclair, Vice President of Agency for Farm Bureau Insurance.

Gilliland is in his fourth year driving in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series having now accumulated over 100 starts in the sports premiere division. He has started 24 races this season driving primarily for TRG Motorsports.

Brown has been with JGR for three years and currently serves as the crew chief for JGR’s R&D/Test team. He served as crew chief last year for the No. 02 Home Depot Toyota in Texas, the site of Joey Logano’s first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and has filled in as crew chief for JGR’s Nationwide Series program.

“Farm Bureau Insurance is an outstanding partner with us and we think David (Gilliland) and Wally will represent them well in these three races” said Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs. “Denny did a good job for them earlier this year and we’re confident Joey will give them a good run in Martinsville as well. We want to make sure we provide their agents, members and customers a program they can be proud of.”