2026 Honors | AAF Fresno

Nominations are open for the 2026 Honors Luncheon!

We need your submissions to honor the leaders in our advertising community. It’s easy—just select a category to view its nomination criteria and fill out the form to submit your selection.

Please complete this nomination form and feel free to encourage others to also submit an entry.

Entry Deadline: Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 11:59pm

Don’t forget to join us for the awards luncheon on September 23!

Please note: If your nominee is selected for the award, you will be contacted for additional nominee contact information if it is not provided during the nomination process.

All information provided will remain confidential.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Nominator’s Name (That’s You)(Required)

Nominator’s Phone Number(Required)

Nominator’s Email Address(Required)

Award Selection(Required)

AAF Silver Medal Award Nomination

Established in 1959, the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award recognizes American Advertising Federation members who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern. Annually, AAF’s local advertising federations bestow this honor upon outstanding community leaders for their life-long contributions to advertising and the community.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee has maintained a consistently high degree of creative and original thinking in their field.
The nominee has worked to raise and maintain high standards in the advertising profession.
The nominee is recognized for achieving success in media, marketing and or advertising.
The nominee has been a consistent contributor of their talents to improve some phase of social welfare.
The nominee has consistently maintained a position of role model in the advertising industry.
The nominee has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the local Ad Fed Club.

AAF Fresno Hall of Fame Award Nomination

Established in 1997, the American Advertising Federation of Fresno’s Hall of Fame recognizes the lifetime contributions of American Advertising Federation of Fresno’s members who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern. The Fresno Advertising Federation invites you to participate in this tradition of rewarding excellence by nominating an exceptional person you consider worthy of induction.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee has made exceptional contributions to the advertising industry, including involvement in charitable non-profit programs and community service organizations.
The nominee is involved in advertising related organizations, including committee leadership, and holding office.
The nominee is an individual who has shown exceptional advertising and marketing ability and has applied this ability to specific projects in the industry.
The nominee has exhibited outstanding personal qualities which have raised the standards of advertising.

AAF Fresno J. U. Berry Award Nomination

Established in 1979, the American Advertising Federation of Fresno’s J.U. Berry Award recognizes the career contributions of individuals associated with advertising and marketing, but not necessarily employed in the advertising industry. The award was named in honor of the Club’s first president, an employee of PG&E, who was devoted to the organization. The American Advertising Federation of Fresno invites you to participate in this tradition of rewarding excellence by nominating an exceptional person who you consider worthy of this award.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee has made exceptional contributions to the advertising industry, including involvement in charitable non-profit programs and community service organizations.
The nominee has been a consistent contributor of his/her talents to improving the quality of life in our community.
The nominee has consistently maintained a position of role model for those in the advertising and marketing industry.

AAF Fresno Nancy Thielen Award Nomination

Established in 1994, the Nancy Thielen Award recognizes dedicated younger professionals in the advertising industry. This award is named in honor of the late Nancy Thielen, who dedicated herself to mentoring the advertising and marketing careers of young people. The American Advertising Federation of Fresno invites you to participate in this tradition of rewarding excellence by nominating an exceptional young professional you consider worthy of this award.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee has been in the industry for a short period of time.
The nominee has demonstrated a consistently high degree of creative and original thinking in his/her field. Nancy Thielen was a pioneer in the advertising field in Fresno. How is this person setting leadership trends as a young professional in advertising, marketing and media?
The nominee has worked to raise and maintain high standards in the advertising profession.
The nominee is involved in advertising related organizations, including committee leadership, and holding office.
The nominee is an individual who has shown exceptional advertising and marketing ability and has applied this ability to specific projects in the industry.

AAF Fresno Professional of the Year Award Nomination

The Professional of the Year Award is presented to a member of our industry in recognition of their contribution to advertising and the community during the previous year. The Professional of the Year is recognized by their peers as a model for others, and as an exceptional professional and leader in the field of advertising and marketing. The American Advertising Federation of Fresno invites you to nominate a person you consider to be worthy of this award.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee has specifically made a professional contribution to advertising and marketing in the Fresno/Clovis region during the past year that was exceptional.
The nominee has worked to raise and maintain high standards in business.
The nominee is recognized for achieving success in business.
The nominee has been a consistent contributor of his/her talents to improve some phase of social welfare.
The nominee has consistently maintained a position of role model for those in business.

AAF Fresno Ralph E. Brown Award Nomination

The Ralph E. Brown Award recognizes a new business in the Advertising Industry for their entrepreneurship and innovative contributions. This award is named in honor of the late Ralph E. Brown for his entrepreneurship while maintaining the highest level of professionalism in the Advertising Industry. The American Advertising Federation of Fresno invites you to participate in rewarding excellence by nominating an exceptional new business worthy of this award.

Selection Criteria:

The nominee is a new business which has shown exceptional advertising and innovative marketing ability and has applied this ability to specific projects in the industry.
The nominee is a new business that has exhibited a high degree of creative excellence through their entrepreneurship.
The nominee is a new business that has exhibited outstanding professional qualities which have raised the standards of the Advertising Industry.
The nominee is a new business that has contributed to the community through their involvement in either non-profit programs or community service organizations.
The nominee is a new business that has been in operation less than five years.

AAF Fresno Star Award Category Nominations

This year the American Advertising Federation of Fresno is celebrating the people who make our advertising community shine. These are the people that are the backbone of our community and it’s about darn time they get the recognition they deserve.

Star Award Categories(Required)

Media Planner of the Year: Recognizing the industry’s strongest Media Planner. Nominees should be visionaries, strategic thinkers who have made a compelling contribution and provided measurable value to their clients.

Creative Talent of the Year: Recognizing the creative talent in the industry who are responsible for taking scribbles, thoughts, visions and all the in between stuff and turning them into a larger-than-life reality.

The Agency of the Year: Recognizing the advertising agency that during the last 12 months has demonstrated the greatest consistency in the innovation and effective use of communication channels to produce outstanding advertising ideas and significant results.

Outstanding Media Salesperson of the Year: Recognizing the industries dedicated salespeople who hit the pavement every day, hear the word NO more often than they would like, and still smile. These are the ones who bring the dollars in.

“Rising Star” Individual: Individuals in the advertising/marketing/creative field under the age of 30 who are taking an active role in the marketing/advertising/creative industry and its organizations.

“Rising Star” Company: An up-and-coming company that has just entered the market and has great potential. Must be in business for at least 1 year.

Nominee’s Name(Required)

Nominee’s Phone Number(Required)

Nominee’s Email Address(Required)

How has this person demonstrated excellence in the field of advertising and marketing?(Required)

What are their contributions to advertising education or the advertising community?(Required)

Brief summary as to why you feel that this nominee is deserving of this national award?(Required)

How has this nominee demonstrated excellence and leadership in their position?(Required)

How has this nominee demonstrated excellence and leadership?(Required)

How has this person demonstrated leadership and involvement in our community?(Required)

What is the nominee’s current role or involvement in the advertising community?(Required)

How has this person demonstrated excellence this year which is exceptional?(Required)

What is the nominee’s current role or involvement in the advertising industry and community in general?(Required)

What is the name of the nominated new business?(Required)

How has this new business demonstrated exceptional advertising and innovative marketing in our industry?(Required)

How has this new business exhibited creative excellence and outstanding professional quality in entrepreneurship?(Required)

Summarize why you feel that this nominee is deserving of this award.(Required)

Nominees should be part of the Advertising/Marketing/Creative Industry within the Central Valley. Nominees do not need to be members of the American Advertising Federation of Fresno. All nominations submitted become the property of the American Advertising Federation of Fresno. All nominations will be reviewed by a panel of experienced advertising/marketing and creative professionals.

Nominees will be notified of their standing by Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The American Advertising Federation of Fresno Honor Awards Luncheon will honor the award recipients on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

For any questions, please contact the AAF Fresno Honor Awards Co-Chairs: Shatera Sangster and Cody Medaris: Contact Us