Colombian campesino Juan Valdez had something to smile about this week, when it was announced that he had been awarded the status of America's Favorite Ad Icon during Advertising Week 2005 in New
York. Valdez shared the award with another habitué of his native Colombia, the gecko, it its incarnation as the mascot of the Geico insurance company. The top vote-getters in the Advertising
Week "America's Favorite Ad Slogan" competition went to "Imagination at work" from General Electric and "When you care enough to send the very best" from Hallmark.
--Michael Deibert
