(l-r) Silver Award Past Honorees Teri Hansen, Peg Welty, and Gary Firestone, 2023 Honoree Tim Hardy, Past Honorees Diann Cimring and Wendy Payton. PROVIDED

The American Advertising Federation of Southwest Florida held its annual American Advertising Awards on Feb. 18 at Silverspot Cinema in Naples.

The American Advertising Awards competition, home of the ADDY┇, recognizes and rewards the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. It is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries nationwide every year.

The winners of AAF-SWFL’s local American Advertising Awards will move on the second tier of competition, with the other 16 local clubs across Florida and Caribbean Islands in the AAF-Fourth District competition. District American Advertising Award winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards.

“This event is a showcase for the incredibly talented professionals we have here in Southwest Florida,” said Jenny Boyd, AAF-SWFL President.

There were 153 entries from agencies and organizations representing a broad range of industries. Experts in the advertising industry travel from outside the SWFL region to judge the entries. There were 16 Gold ADDYs and 24 Silver ADDYs announced during the event.

AAF-SWFL also announced the 2023 Silver Medal Award Honoree was Tim Hardy, the General Sales Manager for iHeart Media. The Silver Medal award is the American Advertising Federation’s Highest Honor. Established in 1959 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advertising. AAF- SWFL has now honored 25 honorees since its founding in 1981.

The Myra Janco Daniels Best of Show award went to Priority Marketing, Special Event Invitation Campaign, Conservancy of SWFL Magic Under the Mangroves Invite. Priority Marketing also won the People’s Choice Award.

This year’s Judge’s Choice award winners are: Studio+ for online/interactive/digital publication: The Charette, Summer 2022; Conservancy of SWFL, cross platform/local consumer/integrated advertising campaign, I Stand with the Conservancy; and Celsius Marketing, self-promotion/online/interactive for Fly with Us – Hippos Fly South Video.

In the categories of Best of, ADDY awards were presented for: Best of Cross Platform, Wilson Creative Group, Aura at Metropolitan Naples, LLC; Best of Online/Interactive, Studio+, The Charette, Summer 2022; Best of Elements of Advertising, Jesi Cason Photography, Love Your Rebellion – Riot; Best of Film, Video & Sound, Vectra Digital, Dungeon of Doom Slasher Night; Best of Sales & Marketing, Hoffmann Creative Agency, Book Design Goodwill Industries of SWFL; Best of Public Service, Priority Marketing, SWFL Climate Solutions logo; Best of Print Advertising, Hoffmann Creative Agency, Visit Augusta, MO; and Best of Self-Promotion, Rivet Brands, Rivet logo.

Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF, AAF-Fourth District and AAF-SWFL use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.

For more about the American Advertising Federation SWFL, visit AAFSWFL.com.

Source: The American Advertising Federation of Southwest Florida