The AMA DFW Marketer of the Year Awards Gala was the place to be for anyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth marketing scene. Held at Vouv Event Center, the night brought together the best in the business to celebrate breakthrough campaigns, career milestones, and the people making it all happen. The emcee was none other than Michael Pratt Founder of Digital Fight Club.
Here’s a look at who took home the top honors:
NOTE Time Code for each!
Shernay Wormley Irving -President AMA DFW | :16
AMA DFW President Shernay Wormley Irving, newly married and leading this year’s event, summed it up perfectly:
“We’re here to celebrate brilliance in motion—what it means to be excellent in marketing, especially here in DFW. It’s incredible to see so many talented marketers come together for a night like this.”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Marissa Solis | :47
Few names in marketing carry the weight—and warmth—of Marissa Solis. This year, Marissa was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with powerhouse brands like PepsiCo and the NFL, and for setting the bar high when it comes to leadership.
“Honestly, it’s a little surreal,” Marissa admitted. “Lifetime sounds… overwhelming. But I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by amazing people along the way.”
Her advice for young marketers?
“We get to tell stories for a living—and that’s a privilege. But it’s also a responsibility. Be bold, be authentic, and tell the stories that need to be heard.”
CMO of the Year: Luis Garcia, Naterra | 3:30
Luis Garcia from Naterra walked away with CMO of the Year, and to say he was excited would be an understatement.
“Oh my god, it’s amazing,” he said. “Such an honor. I’m incredibly thankful for the team that supports me every day.”
Agency of the Year: The Infinite Agency | 3:51
The crew from The Infinite Agency celebrated big after being named Agency of the Year. According to them, it all comes down to passion.
“We put our heart into every project, no matter the size,” they said. “We love what we do—and yeah, we have a lot of fun doing it.”
Campaign of the Year: BeautifulBeast Sticky Notes for DFW Airport | 4:30
One of the night’s most talked-about wins? The Sticky Notes campaign for DFW Airport, which earned Campaign of the Year for BeautifulBeast.
The playful April Fool’s Day stunt covered an entire Boeing 787 airplane in giant sticky notes—turning a simple office prank into a viral marketing moment.
“We love seeing the DFW name out there getting national attention,” said the team. “Huge shoutout to Republic Editorial for making it all happen.”
Marketing Mavericks: 10 Game-Changers Making Their Mark
The Marketing Mavericks awards spotlight the people shaking things up in the industry. Here’s who made the list this year:
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Diane Lee, Avocados from Mexico — Always raising the bar on creative campaigns. 5:53
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Heidi Elliott, Mouser Electronics — Leading the charge in making tech marketing anything but boring. 6:14
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Jennifer Onwumere, Gingerbread Marketing — Helping startups grow loyalty programs that drive real results. 6:48
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Jonathan Ogle, The Infinite Agency — Building a culture that wins awards and keeps employees happy. 7:27
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Jorge Almeida, AT&T — Balancing corporate marketing, nonprofit work, and teaching the next generation at SMU. 8:07
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Jessica Martinez, Avocados from Mexico — Giving credit to the mentors and team who helped her get here. 8:36
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Alexis Cook Simms, Level 1715 — A B2B agency turning complex marketing into measurable success. 8:57
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Nicole Paquette, Communities Foundation of Texas — Keeping heart and purpose front and center in nonprofit marketing. 9:47
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Vanessa Farris, The Coca-Cola Company — Building connections across the business and creating programs that deliver. 10:20
- Morgan Phillips, UT Southwestern – not present
Congrats to all the winners—and to everyone who’s moving the industry forward. The DFW marketing community showed up, showed out, and reminded us why this region continues to lead the way.
Watch the interviews…
Marissa Solis’s Lifetime Achievement Award Tribute video
