Sosna, Sheldon B.

Biographical notes:

1922 June 14 Born in Chicago 1942 Enlisted in the United States Army 1943 1946 Served three years in U.S. Army, Pacific Theater; achieved rank of Captain 1944 Married Relma B. Blevins 1946 Received BA from Northwestern University (originally class of 1944, degree delayed by war) Received MA from University of Chicago 1946 1948 Self-employed Established sales firm, worked as manufacturers' sales representative 1948 1953 Joined Gershuny Associates, a Chicago-based advertising firm, as Partner and Executive Vice-President; directed Gershuny's subsidiary companies DriJuice Corporation, Texto Products Corporation and Lewis & Clark Films 1953 1958 Joined the Leo Burnett Company as Senior Copywriter, promoted to Copy Supervisor. Supervised major accounts (Brown Shoe Company, Crane Plumbing, Hoover Company, Kellogg's, Pabst Beer, Pillsbury, Procter & Gamble, Pure Oil); worked as speechwriter for Mr. Burnett 1958 1960 Joined Grant Advertising, Chicago, as Creative Director. Supervised foreign operations and creative work within Grant's domestic offices, served as agency spokesman; supervised Grant's television production facilities in Chicago and Los Angeles, produced and directed several commercials (Archway Cookies, Comet Rice, Dr Pepper, Old Milwaukee Beer) 1960 Received American Television Festival Award for Best Commercial: Health and Beauty Aid (Bristol-Myers Ipana toothpaste commercial) 1960 1963 Joined Doherty, Clifford, Steers & Shenfield, a New York City advertising firm, as Vice-President and Creative Supervisor; responsible for Bristol-Myers account 1961 1963 Developed and supervised first two years of Peace Corps advertising and recruiting campaign 1963 1965 Joined Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles as Vice-President and Copy Supervisor; responsible for American Tobacco Company, Bache & Company Brokerage, Bulova accounts 1965 1968 Joined Norman, Craig & Kummel; served as Vice-President and Management Supervisor; responsible for American Tobacco Company, Hertz, Revlon accounts 1968 1971 Joined J.M. Mathes, Inc. as Executive Vice-President 1972 Became Vice President of Marketing for the supermarket chain Food Fair/Pantry Pride, based in Philadelphia 1978 Founder and President of The Sosna Company, consulting firm specializing in supermarket advertising and marketing; pioneered frozen food advertising for Keystone Foods 1979 1988 Contributed regular column to Grocery Marketing Magazine,Sosna on Advertising 1981 2000 Founder, editor, and publisher of monthly Supermarket Advertising Newsletter; established Sosna as a leading voice in the supermarket advertising industry Sponsored annual Supermarket Ad Expo at venues across the country 2000 Retired after over fifty years in advertising 2001 Published Dodge #9: How To Never Make a Mistake: Achieving Success in a World That Is Always Looking for Someone to Blame

From the guide to the Sheldon B. Sosna Papers, 1922-2005 and undated, bulk 1948-1991, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)

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