A Rock Star in Our Midst

Third from left: Jac Cornelius,
one of our ROCK STAR account managers

Although the bulk of our business is corporate B2B, often people hear the word CD and their mind turns immediately to music. At The ADS Group, we've long been proud partners to Cities 97 on their annual sampler album, which always features one or two local bands who are bursting into the scene.

We aren't a record label and we aren't primarily an audio house, but we do love our music - and our team. From time to time, we'll introduce you to musicians we know and love.

Meet Jac Cornelius. By day, he's an Account Manager at The ADS Group - but by night, he's the guitarist for The Union Suits, an alt-country band here in Minneapolis.

Their debut album will be out early next year and you can catch them every Sunday night at the Nomad pub. Check them out on Facebook to keep in the loop on upcoming gigs.

Maybe we'll see you at the Nomad?

And who knows? Maybe YOU'LL see Jac on the Sampler some year.

Why We Do What We Do

We've told you about IOCP - Interfaith Outreach Community Partners. We produced the Telly award-winning fundraising video they used to raise money to move into their new space.

They were so happy with the results of the fundraiser that they came back to us to develop another video - an identity video about their organization and the great work they do in our community.

The Telly was great. It's nice to have it to display on our awards wall. But you know what's even better?

Receiving letters of gratitude from happy clients. This is why we do what we do!

Babies: A True Story

Do you have small children asking where babies come from?

Are they suspicious about the stork?

Babies: A True Story, is the app for you. Author Tracy Karney turned to us to help her develop an interactive application that told her story - a story for parents to use to help explain pregnancy and childbirth in a way that children can understand.

This colorful story is available through the Apple store, and is competing right now as App of the Week - an honor that would offer exposure to so many of the parents who would benefit from this helpful tool.

Click here to LIKE this application, developed by Studio 120, and help us spread the word about where babies really come from.

When Author Tracy Karney needed a partner to help

 create her interactive application, she turned to Studio 120!

Sampler Volume 23 - On Sale Now!

Today's the day!

As the mercury dropped to 17 degrees last night, most of us were tucked snugly beneath our warm comforters. But 33,000 Minnesotans are braving the cold to wait in line at area Target stores for their copy of the Cities 97 Sampler, Volume 23.

For $25.97, they are getting bragging rights. It's COLD outside.

For $25.97, they are getting 19 exclusive tracks recorded specifically for the Sampler by artists around the world.

For $25.97, they are helping to support dozens of charities in our community. Perhaps these funds will buy comforters for those who don't have the luxury of being snuggled beneath their own on a cold November morning.

It's cold outside, but we Minnesotans have warm hearts.

Thank you to everyone for supporting this year's Sampler!

Cities 97 Sampler Party

 Lauren MacLeash of Cities 97 - the brains behind the Sampler!

 Lauren was presented with an award for her work

on the Sampler, which benefits dozens of MN charities

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The low temperature tonight in Minnesota will hover around 23 degrees. Cold as that might sound, in just a few short months, we'll be aching for the mercury to crack 20.
For upwards of ten thousand Minnesotans, a cold night doesn't mean an extra blanket or a cup of cocoa by the fire. It means survival.

One of our clients, IOCP, kicked off its annual sleepout event this past weekend. The event raises both awareness of and funds to fight homelessness. CLICK HERE for more information about how to support the 2011 Sleepout.

Peter Larson, an energetic local teenager, slept out 30 consecutive nights last year - that's a whole lot of chilly! See his tips on staying warm against the odds.

Whether it's warm enough or not, we'll take our hats off in honor of Peter and his enthusiasm for this cause that hits - well -  closer to home than most of us may ever realize.

What Can YOU Do With $25.97?

On November 17th, just one week away, you can purchase a Cities 97 Sampler. Volume 23 will be in Target stores across the Twin Cities beginning at 8 AM. (Tip: The Nicollet Mall Target location will open at 7 AM that day!)

For $25.97, what do you get?

You get a beautifully packaged copy of the exclusive Cities 97 Sampler, with tracks by Adele, David Gray, O.A.R. and more.

But have you wondered what the community gets?

Love.

Hope.

CRITICAL RESOURCES.

Cities 97 and their production partners have raised millions of dollars for MN charities. Take a look at the list of charities supported by last year's Sampler alone!

Angel Foundation - Link
Animal Humane Society - Link
Apple Tree Dental - Link
Blair's Tree of Hope - Link
Blue Star Mothers - Link
Brain Injury Association of MN - Link
Bridging Inc. - Link
Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation - Link
Children's Safety Centers - Link
CommonBond Communities - Link
ConKerr Cancer - A Case For Smiles - Link
Emergency Food Shelf Network - Link
Emma Norton Services - Link
Faith's Lodge - Link
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery - Link
Iris Remembers - Link
Junior League of Minneapolis - Back Pack Buddies - Link
Metro Meals on Wheels - Link
Minnesota Zoo Foundation - Dreamnight at the Zoo - Link
MS Cup Benefit for MS Society of MN - Link
Muscular Dystrophy Association - Camp Courage - Link
One Heartland - Link
Open Arms of Minnesota - Link
PACER Center - Link
Project Homeless Connect - Link
Rock The Cause - Link
Ronald McDonald House - MN - Link
Second Harvest Heartland - Link
Senior Community Services - H.O.M.E Program - Link
Sharing and Caring Hands - Link
Spare Key - Link
Special Olympics - MN - Link
Starlight Children's Foundation - Link
Susan G. Komen For The Cure - Link
The Liz Logelin Foundation - Link
Tubman Family Alliance - Link
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity - Link
University of Minnesota Pediatrics Foundation
Amplatz Hospital Adopt-A-Room - Link

For a list of participating Target stores, please click here. We'll see YOU at Target next Thursday!

Cities 97 Sampler Countdown

With only two weeks to go until the Cities 97 Sampler Volume 23 drops, we're staying buzzy and busy.

Today we've had press on site shooting footage of the manufacturing process. Stay tuned to Channel 12, WCCO 4 News, Kare 11 or Twin Cities Live for your sneak peek behind the scenes!

WCCO 4 News shooting footage of replication,

the process of molding a CD from raw materials

These discs have been replicated and printed and are ready
to head to the assembly area for packaging

One of the many smiling faces

behind the Cities 97 Sampler

FUN FACT:

Each of the 33,000 Samplers is packaged by hand

Mike Johnson, News Anchor for Channel 12

Connie Comeau, our COO, chatting with the press

about our involvement with this amazing project