Aloysius Butler & Clark

Doing Our Part

At AB&C, we’re always looking for ways to give back to our communities. Every employee receives a bank of volunteer hours each year to support causes they care about, and as an agency, we regularly sponsor charitable events and organizations throughout the region. I also spend some time each semester reviewing senior capstone projects at Temple University to offer feedback to students preparing to enter the field.

The Power of Opportunity 

Much of that work tends to happen at the college level and beyond. But this opportunity addressed a bigger, long-standing question within our industry: How do we broaden advertising’s talent pipeline to include more diverse minds and life experiences—especially among students who may not yet know this industry exists? 

Supporting this event felt like a meaningful step toward that answer. It was an easy decision—and one we were excited to support in any way we could. 

Much of my own career success—from internships to now serving as a Group Creative Director— can be summed up in one word: opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to build the career I have largely because of the people I’ve met—and the mentors who’ve invested in me—since my college years. Paying that forward has always been a personal priority, and it’s a value my agency shares. 

Advertising is an industry built on creativity and cultural insight, yet historically it hasn’t always reflected the diversity of the audiences it speaks to. Many of the structures and pathways into our industry were built decades ago and often unintentionally exclude people who don’t already see themselves represented within it. 

The opportunity to change that exists today. The challenge is creating more entry points for people who may not yet realize that advertising is even an option. 

Underrepresented. Untapped Potential.

That’s why the Klein College Mock Pitch (KCMP) stood out as such a powerful initiative. It introduces students—many from underfunded public schools—to the real work of an agency. Strategy. Creative thinking. Presentation. Collaboration. The full process.

For many of these students, the advertising industry exists in a blind spot. Without visible role models or exposure to the field, it can feel like an industry meant for someone else. Programs like KCMP help remove that barrier. 

They show students that the industry isn’t just about making ads—it’s about ideas, insight and perspective. And those perspectives are stronger when they come from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints.

See the Spark

Earlier this month, Joanna Ford (Co-Owner/Chief Communications Officer) and I had the privilege of attending—and serving as judges for—the campaigns presented for the Philadelphia 76ers by the four competing schools. The students were evaluated across the same categories any agency would consider: research, strategy, PR, media planning, creative execution and overall thinking.

But the most rewarding part of the experience wasn’t evaluating the work. It was watching the students present it. 

Seeing them explain their thinking. Watching their confidence grow as they stood in front of a room full of professionals and competitors. You could actually see the spark of the industry taking hold. 

At one point, I asked a group what part of the process they enjoyed most. The responses were thoughtful—some mentioned the research, others the client work, others the opportunity to collaborate with their teammates. 

But one answer stood out. 

A young woman stood up and told the entire auditorium, “I was failing this class, but this project really inspired me and made me realize that I can do this.” 

That moment perfectly captured why initiatives like this matter. 

This wasn’t just a school assignment. It was a moment of discovery—one that showed a student a path she may not have previously considered. 

That’s the real impact of programs like the KCMP. They don’t just teach marketing skills—they expand what students believe is possible for themselves. 

Expanding the Circle. Building the Future.

I want to applaud Stacey and her peers at Temple University for creating such a meaningful program. And I’m equally grateful to the leadership at AB&C for recognizing that this wasn’t simply a sponsorship opportunity—it was a chance to invest in the future of our industry. 

If advertising wants to evolve—and continue to produce work that resonates with real audiences—we have to widen the circle of who gets to help shape it. 

That starts by creating more opportunities like this one. 

Because the next generation of great strategists, creatives and marketers might not be sitting in a college classroom yet. 

They might be sitting in a Philadelphia public high school—just waiting for someone to show them what’s possible. 

Stacey Harpster is an associate professor of instruction, Temple University; faculty director, Diamond Edge Communications; founder, Klein College Mock Pitch.