After nearly five decades in the advertising industry, Chicago-based Midwest rep David Wagner has retired. He has been responsible for contributing to the careers of assorted directors and is credited on some of the most successful campaigns in the region since the 1980s. Among the many colleagues he mentored is Sam Sloma who grew up in the small town of Fremont, Ohio, and at a young age met Wagner. Sloma recalled that Wagner would come into town every so often from Chicago, along with his wife, a childhood friend of Slomaโs mom. Sloma said that Wagner was โengaging, curious, energetic, smart; he became my standard for success in the big world outside of Fremont. He guided me into film and communications, and throughout college sent me DVDs of commercials and short films to review–ALWAYS asking questions and explaining why he found something interesting. Upon graduation, I moved to Chicago the following day to begin interning for David. We would go on to spend the next 12 years working together, eventually forming David&Sam in 2019 where we worked as partners until his retirement. I never became David Wagner, but David Wagner made me the professional I am today,โ affirmed Sloma. โProud to call him my mentor, my partner, and my friend.โ In the wake of Wagnerโs retirement, Sloma has founded Known Associates, which handles Midwest representation for RESET, ProdCo, Supply&Demand, Farm League, World War Seven, Exile, and Mosaic. In an online post, Wagner related, โI am so immensely proud to have Sam Sloma carry things forward and start his own new chapter as Known Associates. It is well deserved and overdue.โ Looking back on his career, Wagner shared, โThank you to all the incredible directors that I have been able to represent! And the EPs and company owners that gave me the opportunity to represent their production companies.โ Wagner added, โI was so lucky to have been given a book early in life, โThe Success System that Never Failsโ by W. Clement Stone. I carried that book in my backpack, and then briefcase for 20 years. I still think of it often as a path to create character and strength in the most difficult of times. As I gratefully sail off into the sunset (quite literally) I am off to new adventures and challenges!โ…
Nvidia replaces Intel on the Dow index in AI-driven shift for semiconductor industry
Nvidia is replacing Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, ending a 25-year-run for a pioneering semiconductor company that has fallen behind as Nvidia cornered the market for chips that run artificial intelligence systems.
Paint-maker Sherwin-Williams will also replace chemical company Dow Inc. among the companies that make up the 30-stock average.
S&P Dow Jones Indices said Friday that the changes that take effect Nov. 7 "were initiated to ensure a more representative exposure to the semiconductors industry and the materials sector respectively."
It added that because the Dow is price-weighted, "persistently lower priced stocks have a minimal impact."
Dow Inc., a major producer of chemicals and plastics and unrelated to the similarly named company behind the index, has also been the smallest company on the Dow in terms of market capitalization.
In another index, the Dow Jones Utility Average, Texas-based energy company Vistra will replace Virginia-based AES Corp.
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