Baltimore’s community of advertisers, marketers and creatives gathered virtually for a livestream event on Thursday, February 24, to celebrate the 48th Annual American Advertising Awards Show, presented by the American Advertising Federation of Baltimore (AAFB).

The distinguished advertising industry event, which was produced by Jeremy Martin, Creative Director at Novak Birch, with the theme “The Great ADDY^®,” hearkened back to the Roaring Twenties as a nod to the current growth and social change occurring in the ad industry. Fifteen Gold ADDY®s and twenty-five Silver ADDY®s were awarded to top agencies, production houses and in-house marketing teams in the Baltimore region.

“This was another challenging year, so it was important to us that we pause and recognize the hard work of our local creative community,” said AAFB president Courtney Black. “The quality of the work speaks for itself and we were able to pull off a great virtual event to celebrate and have a roaring good time together.”

“Unprecedented times call for moxie, tenacity and sometimes an unprecedentedly strong drink,” added Martin. “We’re proud to have hosted a fun evening of celebration to toast the town’s innovative industry.”

In addition to awarding 45 ADDYs, the interactive “The Great ADDY” event included live piano bar emcee, Greg Offner, as well as trivia and prizes. A portion of the proceeds from this event were donated to the AAF Baltimore Foundation Student Scholarship Fund.

Top honors included:

• Best of Show – Overall: Fifteen4 Creative Agency for F5 Black Leaders in Tech – F5
• Best of Show – Print: MGH for SMBW Oktoberfest Can Design – Santa Monica Brew Works
• Best of Show – Broadcast: TBC, Inc. for The Index – Visit Baltimore
• Best of Show – Interactive: Planit for TORO Flex-Force Website – TORO
• Mosaic Award: Early Light Media for Meant to Do Great Things – Healthcare For The Homeless

Credits for the Fifteen4 Overall Best of Show winner: Sam Oddo, Creative Director & Editor; Tony Agliata, Animator; Justin Klugh, Copywriter; Colin Mason, Sound Design

At the ceremony, the AAFB announced the recipients of its prestigious individual achievement awards:

• AAF Silver Medal Award presented to Matt McDermott, president & CEO of Harvey Agency
• AAF District 2 Patricia Martin Crystal Prism Award presented to Ashlene Larson, director of public relations and social media at Planit
• Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Billy Twigg, president & owner of Alexander & Tom
• Katherine Mahool Fowke Iconoclast Award presented to Barbara Brotman Kaylor, founder & CEO of Rooftop Communications

A fixture in the regional advertising and marketing community for decades, McDermott served 13 years on the AAF Baltimore chapter’s board of directors, including a stint as president. “I feel like I’m not worthy,” McDermott said during an off-beat acceptance speech. “All I’ve done over the last 22 years is my best.”

The American Advertising Awards competition is the industry’s largest and most representative competition — attracting more than 35,000 entries every year in local competitions. Gold winners at the local level move on to the district competition, competing with agencies from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C. A win at the district level earns a spot in the National American Advertising Awards Competition. National winners will be announced at the AAF’s national conference, Admerica, taking place June 2-5, 2022 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

Complete list of winners: