[ American Advertising Federation Montgomery ]
We are excited to announce the honorees of the 2026 Advertising & Marketing Industry Recognizing Excellence.
We are recognizing the crucial—and too often unsung—sales and service side of the industry with our AdMIRE (Advertising & Marketing Industry Recognizing Excellence) Awards. These awards recognize the best of the best in the agency, media, and corporate marketing arena. We’re excited for a new chance to recognize the efforts of our local industry for all they do, and from a different point of view. The honorees were chosen by a panel of judges in the advertising field located outside of Alabama.
2026 honorees
Advertising Agency of the Year
Script Marketing
Art Director of the Year
Claudia Hong
Southern Poverty Law Center
Copywriter of the Year
Jim Leonard
Stamp
Marketing Director of the Year
Christie Aitken
Alabama State Parks
Media Buyer of the Year
Roberta Pinkston
Stamp
Administrator of the Year
Honey Ernest
Stamp
Videographer of the Year
Stephen Poff
Stamp
Photographer of the Year
Courtney
Thornton
The Square Creative Hub
Educator of the Year
Alana Taylor
Alabama State University
Intern of the Year
Maggie Schaub
Alabama State Parks
Outdoor Sales Rep of the Year
Russ Bullard
Lamar
Printing Sales Rep of the Year
Jim Bradley
Alabama Graphics
Large Format Printing Vendor of the Year
Alabama Graphics
Outdoor Vendor of the Year
Lamar
Printing Vendor of the Year