Boca firm’s web page in line for ‘Webby’ award

Published April 15th, 2008

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Boca Raton-based Florida-House.org has been named an official honoree for a “Webby” Award, a distinction that recognizes work “exhibiting remarkable achievement.”

The web page was produced by an agency team led by Terry Hammes and Blaine Findlay of Hammes Advertising in Boca Raton.

The Webby Award is the leading international web recognition organization. They are given for excellence on the Internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video and mobile websites.

The awards are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization that includes David Bowie, Harvey Weinstein, Arianna Huffington, Matt Groening, Jamie Oliver, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.

The “Association Website category is one of the most competitive at the Webby Awards,” said Hammes, “and we are delighted to receive this award along side such powerhouses as Blue Cross Blue Shield, the New Zealand Automobile Association, the Economic Development Council of Northwest Nevada, TED Conferences and others in this category.”

The 12th Annual Webby Awards were announced at recent ceremonies held in London. The Webby received nearly 10,000 entries from more than 60 countries and all 50 states. Out of more than the 10,000 entries submitted, fewer than 15 percent received this honor and were deemed an official honoree.   

Florida-House.org Inc. is a new institution “seeking community support to be capitalized and positioned to bring hundreds of highly qualified mid-career professionals to the region for social and business introductions,” said Hammes.

Florida House.org will make the North Broward-South Palm Beach area centering around Boca Raton the nation’s 93rd location formed to host international business visitors through a successful U. S. governmental program. 

The umbrella not-for-profit organization is being formed locally to ensure that the Boca Raton area becomes the next location in the National Council for International Visitor (CIV) city network, she said.

Included in the group’s preliminary plans is a historic Boca Raton site (currently in negotiation) to house the new organization.

Nationally, the CIV, founded in 1961 under the Fulbright-Hays Act, brings in future leaders of their respective countries to the United States to promote free market enterprise, democracy and the “American Experience

Hammes, a Boca Raton advertising executive, said part of the local concept is to have the Boca Raton area as a center for professional shadowing (unpaid internships) to observe how U.S. companies operate. She said the concept has proven successful elsewhere in the country and has allowed local businesses to make foreign contacts as well.