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AAF 2027 Silver Medal Winner

Cliff Schwandner, Jr.

AdClub Cincinnati is thrilled to announce that Cliff Schwandner, Jr. has been selected as the AAF Silver Medal Award recipient for 2027. The Silver Medal Award is the most prestigious advertising honor bestowed on an individual within a local market for outstanding contributions to company, community, and profession.

Across a storied career that has spanned decades and agencies, Cliff Schwandner, Jr. left an unmistakable and indelible mark – not just through brilliant work and enduring ideas, but through his mentorship, leadership, integrity, personal generosity, high standards, deeply-held values and his committed role in shaping the culture of our industry in Cincinnati. Cliff’s leadership helped build Cincinnati’s advertising industry from within, mentored future generations without ego or agenda, created opportunities for new talent outside the agency’s walls and helped to lead work that still resonates decades later.

Everywhere Cliff worked, he created and fostered a culture of kindness, imagination, fun and the joy that comes from doing the kind of work one believes in. This environment became an attractant for award-winning talent to come to our city from all over the country. Cliff mentored generations of creatives who came through AdClub of Cincinnati competitions and events – always cheering on and rooting for the success of others with humility. Cliff was and is a big believer in the AdClub. He consistently encouraged his departments to actively participate in and contribute to the AdClub’s many initiatives through judging, submitting work and volunteering.

Mini Marathon Posters

An art director and graphic designer by discipline and trade, Cliff’s work was consistently fresh, bold and memorable. He brought humanity, smart wit, resonance and relevance to his campaigns – anchoring big ideas in truth and authenticity. But perhaps one of his most enduring and far-reaching creative contributions was co-creating the now-legendary series of annual Heart Mini Marathon posters, illustrated by his renowned creative partner, John Maggard. Cliff’s involvement spanned over a decade’s worth of posters – now collectors’ items and a beloved part of Cincinnati’s visual identity. Cliff’s creative contributions helped to transform the Mini Marathon into a cultural institution and a populist movement for improving the heart health of our city. Each unique poster showcased Cliff’s innate ability to take what was local, tie it to the Heart Association’s mission and elevate it to something memorable and iconic. 

Be it agency creative director and executive, commercial film director or painter, as a creative force, Cliff has never stopped moving. Forever busy to this day, Cliff is still fascinated and fueled by the reward that comes from continuing to live and work in a self-imposed “maker culture.” Cliff is presently highly active and prolific as a modern abstract painter of renown – with many successful shows and commissions of his work to show for it – with more to come. Cliff’s paintings hang in collections from San Francisco to Naples, Florida to New York City to Boston. Still working at age 88, Cliff resides in Cincinnati with his wife Anne Chambers. They have four children Cliff, III (Trip) of Chicago, Kristin and Kara of Cincinnati and Annie of Miami, Florida – as well as six grandchildren who are scattered from Chicago to Cincinnati to The United Kingdom. 

In summary, Cliff’s many contributions to Cincinnati advertising and his ongoing commitment to meaningful creative craft, product and culture are woven into the very fabric of our city’s advertising community’s storied past, present and future.

And, to borrow the headline from Cliff's inaugural and perhaps most iconic Heart Mini Marathon poster: "The Beat Goes On."

Celebrate With Us

Cliff will be honored at the 2027 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs), planned for Friday, March 5. There are also plans for a separate, standalone event in the spring of 2027. More details will be shared later.