13 locals honored in AAF Birmingham “Ten Awards”—see who won big

On Wednesday, November 5, local creatives and business leaders gathered at Trim Tab Brewing for drinks, conversation and most notably, AAF Birmingham’s annual Ten Awards.

We got the scoop on what these awards mean and who took home the gold and major bragging rights.

AAF Birmingham’s Ten Awards

Birmingham creatives deserve to be celebrated! AAF sees this, and created The Ten Awards to shine a spotlight on local excellence in sales, service and leadership.

It’s a community-driven night dedicated to celebrating individuals who “push the advertising industry forward”. This year, 13 awards were given to local creatives and business leaders.

See the 2025 winners

• The Ann Halpern Service Award: An individual who has demonstrated exceptional social service to the community and AAF-Birmingham.
  • Winner: DeeDee Mathis, WTVM 13

• Business Leader of the Year: VPs (or higher) who have significantly contributed to their company’s success
  • Winner: Carrie Rollwagen, Infomedia

• Sale Person of the Year: An individual who excels at communication, organization + keeping everyone happy
  • Winner: Grayson Hill, Infomedia

• Marketing Director of the Year: Someone who drives teams toward goals while navigating challenges with grace
  • Winner: Laine White, Uptick Marketing

• Junior of the Year: A junior or assistant staff member who has made the most impact for the least credit
  • Winner: Leland Vickery, Samford University

• Student of the Year: Recognizes a local college student studying an advertising-related field
  • Winner: Kiara Ordoñez, BIG Communications

• Web Developer of the Year: Their coding skills and dedication leave a lasting mark on web development.
  • Winner: Matt Cross, Infomedia

• Account Service Award: Experts at personal interaction, data translation + getting the job done
  • Winner: Gillian Lake, Lewis Communications

• Production Award: The ones who bring the client’s goals to life—whether it’s copywriters, designers, advertisers, producers or editors
  • Winner: Hannah Grimes, Uptick Marketing

• Social Media Marketer Award: The professional who has given their best social media expertise for clients, large + small
  • Winner: Bell Dugger, AMD Creative

• Event Marketer Award: Honors the “trailblazers” who redefine brand engagement through unforgettable experiences
  • Winner: Jarrod Stisher, Tech Birmingham

• Office Administrator Award: The unsung heroes of every office
  • Winner: Tina Vermillion, Telegraph Creative

• Media Planning Award: The ones who share their team’s creative work with the masses
  • Winner: Shaydah Schaff, BIG Communications

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