Palisadian's Advertising Agency Honored for Zany Radio Spots
November 7, 2002
When Palisades resident Renee Miller began her career as a newspaper reporter, she never dreamed she would run a successful advertising agency, let alone one that received constant accolades for its work.
In September, Santa Monica-based The Miller Group was awarded "Best Spot Series of the Month" by the General Sales Managers Council of the Southern California Broadcasters Association.
The advertising agency's radio campaign for Wild Rivers Water Park, called "Troubled Moms," explores the parental guilt experienced by the mothers of such infamous characters as Ivan the Terrible, Imelda Marcos and Saddam Hussein, as they reflect on how things might have turned out if only they had sent their children to Wild Rivers Water Park.
According to Wild Rivers General Manager Mike Riedel, "We finished our season ahead of last year and much of the credit goes to The Miller Group and this zany series of radio spots. Because we are a seasonal park, it's important that we catch the listener's attention quickly and get them talking about us. We wanted to make an impact with this campaign and I think we really accomplished that."
In winning the SCBA's award, Wild Rivers joins an impressive list of creative award winners including Volkswagen, Jack in the Box and the California Milk Advisory Board.
"We enjoy doing humorous advertising because it really breaks through the clutter," said Renee Miller, president and creative director of The Miller Group. "We try to push the envelope without going over the edge, but it's always a fine line."
Miller also makes a point of working with non-profits as a way to give back to the community. Television commercials for the American Oceans Campaign, founded by actor Ted Danson, helped impact legislation in Washington in favor of preserving the nation's wetlands and estuaries.
Currently, Miller is working with the National Resources Defense Council to raise awareness of its new Southern California headquarters, which combines energy efficiency with renewable energy generation and features an Environmental Learning Center to help educate the community about critical environmental issues.
A native of Ohio, Miller graduated from Ohio State with a journalism degree and worked for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Arizona Republic before moving to Los Angeles and going into public relations. She founded The Miller Group in 1990.
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