Honorees named for 2012 Marketing to African Americans with Excellence Awards

(May 16, 2012) Target Market News today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Marketing to African Americans with Excellence [MAAX] Awards. The awards program annually recognizes the contributions, innovations and exceptional performance of African American professionals in the fields of marketing, advertising, media, public relations and consumer research. The 2012 recipients are:

Advertising Executives of the Year
Sherman Wright, Co-Founder
Ahmad Islam, Co-Founder
Commonground

Media Executive of the Year
Amy DuBois Barnett
Editor in Chief
Ebony Magazine

Marketing Executive of the Year
Craig Gilmore
Director of Multicultural Markets
State Farm Insurance

Public Relations Executive of the Year
Cheryl Pearson McNeil
Senior Vice President
Government and Public Relations
The Nielsen Company

Research Executive of the Year
Marc Bland
R.L. Polk & Co.
Head of Diversity & Inclusion

Lifetime Achievement Award
Heide Gardner
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Interpublic Group

Lifetime Achievement Award
Byron Lewis
Founder & CEO
UniWorld Group, Inc.

The honorees were selected from candidates recommended by the editors, writers and contributors of Target Market News. Each was considered on the basis of the longevity of their careers, their advocacy of African American marketing and media, and the professional accomplishments that distinguish them within the industry.

"As the African American consumer market approaches more than one trillion dollars in buying power, the expertise of these honorees becomes the difference between success or failure for businesses," said Ken Smikle, president of Target Market News. "They are in the vanguard of those who are re-shaping business practices and creating opportunities for companies and consumers alike. We encourage the entire industry to celebrate their unique accomplishments in elevating the fields of African American marketing and media."

Candidates were considered for recognition on the basis of being African American executives with distinctive careers, and who, throughout the course of their professional careers, have endeavored to promote greater understanding of, growth of, and sensitivity toward, the African American consumer market.

The honorees for the seventh annual MAAX Awards will be feted on Monday, July 2nd at an awards dinner during the 13th Annual MAAX Summit. The event, hosted by Target Market News at the Chicago Wyndham Hotel, is the industry's largest yearly gathering of African American marketing, media and research professionals.

The MAAX Summit presents the latest strategies, trends and findings in black consumer advertising, marketing and research. The two-day Summit will feature ten new research presentations and panels discussions from the leading companies and professionals in the industry.

For further information on the MAAX Summit click here or call Target Market News at 312-408-1881.

To view a gallery of previous MAAX Award winners click here: MAAX Awards Honorees Gallery.


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