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Advertising Horror Stories
October 21 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Ever had a project that totally went off the rails? Or an idea that seemed brilliant… until it wasn’t? We’ve all been there.
On October 21 at Big Lick Brewing Company, we’re bringing together a panel of local advertising pros to share their scariest, funniest, and most cringe-worthy stories from the industry. From campaigns that flopped to budgets that vanished into thin air, these are the kinds of tales you’ll never hear in a case study or awards show speech.
It’s a night of good beer, good company, and some seriously spooky behind-the-scenes confessions just in time for Halloween.
Our Featured Storytellers
Meredith Carty
Meredith Carty is the Founder and Principal Designer of Jones Street Creative, a Roanoke-based “brand repair shop” known for sharp strategy and award-winning logo design. With experience on both the brand and agency sides across industries like healthcare, education, and the creative sector, she brings a unique perspective on how organizations connect with their audiences. Meredith’s work has been featured on Forbes.com, Dwell.com, and PBS’s Art21. A mom of two boys, she’s a master multitasker who knows a thing or two about creative problem-solving, perfect for a night of stories about when things don’t go according to plan.
Brian Yohn
Brian Yohn is a senior graphic designer at Virginia Tech with more than 20 years of experience spanning agency work, creative leadership at Virginia Tech, and a two-year remote stint with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A designer, educator, and tinkerer at heart, Brian balances big ideas with hands-on problem-solving. Outside of work, he wrangles two teenagers, a flock of chickens, and too many cats, a daily masterclass in patience and adaptability that makes him well-equipped to share a few design horror stories of his own.
Justin Combs
Justin Combs is currently an advertising professor of practice in the School of Communication at Virginia Tech. He has planned and executed multi-million-dollar media campaigns for hundreds of Arby’s restaurants across the country, led Bardstown Bourbon Company’s first national campaign, and contributed quiz content for two Chipotle IQ digital trivia games (both went viral). He’s weathered his fair share of advertising mishaps and dealt with more than a few monster clients along the way.
Tickets
🎟️ $20 per person
Your ticket includes:
- One drink to sip while you listen
- A Halloween goodie bag to take home
Members, non-members, friends—all are welcome.
Registration
Space is limited, so please register to save your spot!
Advertising Horror Stories
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