We are thrilled to announce that R&J founder and Chief Executive Officer, John Lonsdorf, has been inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey. One of only four New Jersey professionals to be selected for the honor this year, Lonsdorf was recognized at the New Jersey Advertising Club’s Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey ceremony and dinner on November 7th for his industry leadership, dedication to important social causes and the continued positive impact that he has on his employees, his clients, and businesses throughout New Jersey.

Lonsdorf’s vision and leadership are best summed up in R&J Strategic Communication’s mission – To Make a Difference. Through this mission, R&J strives to make a difference for its clients, its team members, and for its communities. It’s this singular focus that has guided Lonsdorf in business over the past three decades and that makes him someone you that his colleagues enjoy working alongside and someone that countless business leaders across the state have come to trust.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with John for the past 20 years. During that time, he’s been an exceptional mentor, boss, business partner and friend,” said Scott Marioni, President, R&J Strategic Communications. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without John and I’m one of the many people in this industry for whom that’s true. His contributions to the industry, the business community and the lives of the people with whom he’s worked are too numerous to count. This is a well-deserved honor.”

Over the course of more than 30 years, Lonsdorf has led R&J Strategic Communications through several evolutionary changes, each of which positioned the firm ahead of the curve in a dynamic and ever-changing industry. Originally founded in 1986 as Roberts & John Advertising and Public Relations, the agency most recently been rebranded in 2015 as R&J Strategic Communications, with expanded digital and design offerings and capabilities to create a fully integrated communications agency. Through taking a broad look at the industry, Lonsdorf has been able to position R&J to proactively address changes in the marketing and public relations fields and continue to prosper, delivering results for clients amidst a shifting media landscape.

While many PR firms have yet to adapt to this new age of integrated communication, Lonsdorf’s foresight positions R&J and its clients for continued success by mixing traditional PR practices with exciting digital and social methodologies. Today, R&J Strategic Communications

represents many of the state’s most-successful prestigious healthcare, real estate, and professional services companies, as well as several of its most respected non-profit organizations.

“John has represented us for over 25 years. For John to achieve such an honor to be inducted into NJ Advertising Hall of Fame, it is a recognition of his creativity over decades helping clients to effectively communicate his clients’ value proposition to the market. For me, his recognition is that he combines this creativity with being one of the rare individuals that consistently conducts business with grace, dignity and care,” commented James E. Hanson II, CEO & President of The Hampshire Companies.

The success of his vision has been realized by not just the firm’s ongoing prosperity; under his leadership, R&J has also been recognized by NJBIZ as one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey six times, earning the number three spot for small and mid-sized business in 2017. The agency has also earned Top PR Firm rankings and Best Places to Work in PR from PR News and more than 100 awards for PR campaigns and design / creative work over the past 33 years.

Lonsdorf’s nomination also highlights his deep philanthropic work. He has generously donated his time and talent having held positions on several industry and not-for-profit boards including, the Board of Trustees of Integrity House in Newark as well as the Board of Trustees of the William Paterson University Foundation, the board of directors of the Advertising Club of New Jersey and the Advisory Council of The Ammon Foundation. Under his leadership R&J’s Make a Difference community service program has flourished with agency members donating time to causes such as Habitat for Humanity, Clean Ocean Action, Jersey Cares, and the American Cancer Society, among others.

Sponsored by the New Jersey Advertising Club, the Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey was founded in 1981 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the creative and economic values of the advertising industry in the state.

This year’s nominees were evaluated on eight criteria: leadership, creativity, professional integrity, professional history, philanthropic activity, economic contributions, achievement of national significance, and personal efforts to advance New Jersey’s position in the national advertising community.

For more information about the Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey, visit the NJ Ad Club website.