Originally debuting during the 2006 Olympics and also featured in a radio commercial this TV commercial features a young Charles Kettering (portrayed by a local actor) starting the first automobile with his life-changing invention, the self-starter (not to mention the first ignition system, spark plug, and storage battery electrical system). The clever and unique TV commercial comes full circle in just 30 seconds tying Kettering's inventiveness and spirit of innovation to the physicians, clinicians and researchers at the present day Kettering Medical Center Network symbolized in the commercial by the Kettering Medical Center building.

The radio commercial also links KMCN to its namesake in a more direct way by featuring Susan Kettering, the great grand daughter of Charles Kettering. We thank our ad agency, Penny, Ohlmann, Neiman, Inc for brilliant production work on this project.

Incidentally, the gracious fellow who owns the vintage automobile, a 1911 Drake, the stand-in for the car in which Charles F. Kettering installed the first self-starter, a 1912 Cadillac (only two are left and are in museums), actually drove his very rare car to both filming locations at Carillon Park and Kettering Medical Center from his house. He did this in intermittent snow and rain. The vintage cameras in the commercial (circa 1900) came from a collector.

This commercial won the International Aurora Best of Show Award among 5,000 entries, the Silver Aster Award, the Dayton Advertising Best of the Best - Broadcast Award and the MarCom Creative Award.