MQ&C Advertising’s Cindy CK Carman Wins AWRT 2008 Trailblazer Award

Austin, TX – April 18, 2008 – American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. (AWRT) has announced that MQ&C’s co-founder, Cindy “CK” Carman, has won the 2008 Trailblazer Award. The Trailblazer Award is given annually to deserving recipients who have proven to be outstanding individuals in Austin media whose careers have spanned over 20 years and who demonstrated support of AWRT.

Carman was feted (and accepted the award graciously) at the Annual Trailblazer & Awards of Excellence Media Gala held in Austin on April 17 at the Renaissance Hotel. Her acceptance speech revealed important insights into just how far women have come in the field of electronic media. In her speech, she recounted how she began her career back in the 1970’s “when women and minorities didn’t exist in broadcasting.” She pointed out that it took the FCC-imposed affirmative action to give women and people of color an entry into the industry, and she confirmed that it was a factor in helping her land her first job as a radio DJ at KCSW-FM (now Bob 103.5). Carman’s career went on to include a string of firsts in radio, TV and journalism, including being the Austin NPR affiliate KUT’s first female jazz show producer and announcer.

Carman’s speech also contrasted the meager beginnings of MQ&C over 25 years ago with where the company is today. “Having no more than a box of business cards, a roll of quarters for payphones, and a makeshift recording studio in [co-founder Ben Morris’s] parent’s spare bedroom, we produced countless radio spots. We finally figured out that we got paid every time our spots ran instead of just the one time when we produced them,” explained Carman in her speech. The rest is history, as MQ&C is now celebrating its 25th anniversary with “the best staff we have ever had.”

The first Trailblazer Award was given in 1997. This year’s AWRT award recipients were determined by the votes of more than 300 media professionals. Past recipients include Ron Rogers, Cactus Pryor, Judy Trabulsi, Bob Cole, Gwyn David, Monica Davis, Neal Spelce, Danny Reed, Scott Gilmore, Dick Oppenheimer, Patti Smith, and CK’s business partner, Ben Morris.

About MQ&C Advertising
MQ&C Advertising, Marketing and Promotions was founded in 1982 as Morris & Carman, Inc., a Texas Corporation, by Cindy CK Carman and Ben Morris. It strategically combines advertising know-how, innovative market segmentation techniques, and deep experience in multiple types of media to sculpt a tailor-made solution for each of its valued clients.

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