Sosna, Sheldon B.

• 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)