NOVA Awards

Welcome to "Shining Under the Iowa Sun," where the warmth of summer meets the brilliance of marketing excellence with our 19th annual NOVAs Awards celebration! We gather to experience the radiance in the marketing industry. Join us for an unforgettable evening of summer elegance, where we honor the ingenuity, creativity, and innovation that have blossomed in the marketing landscape. Against the backdrop of Iowa's vibrant summer landscape, we unveil the achievements of visionary minds and extraordinary campaigns. Let us gaze in awe at the brilliance of "Shining Under the Iowa Sun" for all the award-winning marketing excellence!

Awards Celebration

Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Krause Gateway Center - 1459 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Event registration is now CLOSED. Thank you to all who attended!

2024 NOVA Award Winners

These past twelve months you’ve met challenges, developed and executed marketing strategies, and delivered out of this world results. Let the rising sun shed light upon the NOVA Awards recognition.

Project Awards

Marketing Achievement Awards

Awards Application Guide

Past NOVA Award Results

**Please note: Marketing is about embracing change, and the NOVA Awards is no exception! Based on feedback there are new and revised categories, submission guidelines and updated deadlines. Please review the award application site for details.

Project Award Entries

Award Categories Entry Fees How to Enter Requirements Judging Criteria Finalist Notification

Ready to illuminate us with your marketing brilliance? Submit your marketing projects, campaigns, and efforts from the past year for NOVA Awards.

Entry submission is now CLOSED. Thank you for submitting entries and we look forward to seeing you July 17th at Krause Gateway Center!!

NOVA Project Award Categories

Branding
Recognizes clear implementation of a client’s voice in logo development, brand guidelines, messaging, persona development — even audio branding! If you were bold with branding last year, we want to see it.

Data Analytics & Marketing Research
Recognizes exceptional transformation of data used to drive leads and produce results. Also includes qualitative and quantitative research programs – planning, execution and results – that have provided new insights used to develop strategies and achieve goals. Entries can include internal and external audience research.

Digital Marketing
Recognizes effective use of digital technologies and social platforms to reach audiences and influence and drive action. Entries can include email, ads, social platforms, blogs, podcasts and more.

Direct Marketing
Recognizes marketing communications sent directly to prospects focused on driving a specific call-to-action. Entries can be campaigns or single initiatives. This category includes both B2B and B2C direct marketing.

Events Marketing
Recognizes the role of events (conference, trade show, workshop, customer program or member program) in meeting marketing goals.

Integrated Marketing Campaign
Recognizes a continuum in a marketing campaign. Entries should include a complete strategy utilizing at least three motifs in a marketing tactic.

Marketing Communications
Recognizes communications developed to support sales and/or increase awareness of a product, service or idea. Entries can include white papers, presentations, annual reports, brochures, magazines, newsletters, videos, podcasts and more.

Non-Profit Marketing
Recognizes exemplary marketing programs intended to change behavior, grow membership, increase awareness, raise funds or generate support. Eligible entries include individual components or comprehensive programs which benefit 501(c)3 organizations.

Social Media
Recognizes the role social media plays in all marketing efforts, this includes research, strategy, target audience and specific tactics (think influencer or boosts). How did this move the needle on your marketing efforts?

Video
Recognizes cutting-edge videos that make use of eye-catching visuals, testimonials, compelling voiceover, you name it! Entries may include product videos, tutorials, case studies, commercials, 360° video and more.

Website
Recognizes innovative use of the web, including website development and design, app development, landing pages, killer SEO, etc. — from strategy to execution.

DEI (*NEW*)
Recognizes outstanding achievements in the realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within marketing campaigns. Whether through innovative messaging, inclusive representation, or impactful community engagement, this category is for marketing initiatives that created a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive marketing landscape.

Entry Fees

Entry fees must be paid in full using a credit card. Each Entry will need to be submitted separately. Timing of entry submission begins May 2, 2024 and ends June 3, 2024 (NEW EXTENSION DATE FROM MAY 31). Please note there will be no early-bird pricing this year.

Member: $55
Non-Member: $70

How to Enter

Entry submission is now CLOSED. Thank you for submitting entries and we look forward to seeing you July 17th at Krause Gateway Center!!

Requirements

Each entry must be presented as it was originally created and must have been produced, implemented or executed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 by a firm or individual located in Iowa in order to be eligible.
If the entry was directed by a company or a branch office of a company and produced by another entity (agency, production firm, etc.), at least one entity must be located in Iowa.
Work is acceptable if it was created for another geographic market, as long as the entrant clarifies that an Iowa location was involved in its direction or production.
The firm or individual submitting the entry must have been involved in the direction, development, production, and/or implementation of the submitted entry.
You may enter under multiple categories, but you must submit a separate entry form and entry fee for each entry.
There is no limit on number of entries per category per organization. However, only the highest scored entries will be awarded in the case of multiple organization submissions. In short, this rule eliminates the "clean sweep" of any category winnings and creates a greater opportunity to showcase other award winning entries from other organizations.
Any entry that fails to follow these guidelines and the digital requirements is subject to disqualification.

Questions? Email [email protected].

NOVA Award Judging Criteria

The 2024 NOVA Awards committee sets all judging criteria and validates the finalists and winners selected by the award judges. A panel of marketing professionals from an AMA chapter outside of Iowa will serve as the judges. The judges make all decisions regarding eligibility, finalists, and winners.

Judges score Objectives, Strategy, Tactics and Results on a 1-10 scale, with results weighted the most. The entry with the highest number of points is the winner in that category. The judging committee may move an entry to a different category and/or divide or merge categories as it deems appropriate.

Entries become the property of AMA Iowa and will not be returned. No entry fee will be refunded due to an entry’s disqualification nor after the entries are judged.

Finalist Notification

Up to three award winners will be chosen in each of the categories at the discretion of the award judges. If no entries meet the set minimum requirements in a category, no award will be given. The decisions of the judges are final.

Finalists will be notified prior to the NOVA Awards event. Winners from each category will be announced during the event!

Questions? Email [email protected].

Marketing Achievement Award Entries

Award Categories Entry Fees How to Enter Requirements Judging Criteria Finalist Notification

The marketers and agencies recognized in these categories inspire, lead, and transform the community through their excellence.

NOVA Marketing Achievement Award Categories

Marketing Executive of the Year
Do you want to recognize a mentor, or showcase the work of an amazing manager? The Marketing Executive of the Year should be someone who inspires, leads and achieves excellence in the field of marketing and has helped to build and transform their marketing community.

Nominees should be in a director level position or above.

Marketer of the Year
Which of your marketing cohorts made their mark on the marketing scene last year? Whether they pulled off an outlandish pitch to leadership, went above and beyond on volunteering in the marketing field or traveled last-minute across the state for a client, we want to hear about it! Marketer of the Year recognizes those who do the most every single day to meet goals and make waves in the industry.

Nominees should be non-executive level marketers.

Agency of the Year
What makes your agency the apple of your eye? Is it the kick-butt culture? The super talented staff? The award-winning work? Psh, all of the above! Nominate your agency for Agency of the Year and celebrate what makes your team the top. Open to all marketing, advertising, digital and PR agencies in Iowa. Freelancers, too!

Marketing Department of the Year
Do you work in the best corporate marketing department in the state? From crafty campaigns to killer customer communications, how did your team leverage your brand this year? Tell us all about it! Open to all in-house marketing departments in Iowa.

Entry Fees

There is no entry fee for the Marketing Achievement Awards.

How to Enter

Entry submission is now CLOSED. Thank you for submitting entries and we look forward to seeing you July 17th at Krause Gateway Center!!

REQUIREMENTS

Marketing Executive of the Year/Marketer of the Year
Nominees must live in Iowa or be employed by a company located in Iowa. It is not required to be an AMA Iowa member to be nominated.

Include the following with your nomination:

Letter of support (maximum 650 words) describing how the nominee has gone above and beyond in his or her career, stood out in the marketing field and why this person should be chosen over other qualified candidates. If applicable, include any past awards, recognitions and milestones.
- Marketing Executive of the Year only: Highlight contributions the nominee has made to his or her company, how the nominee has achieved career success in marketing and include any contributions he or she has made to increase the stature of the profession.
(3) work samples that showcase the talent and impact of the nominee’s work
Resume
(2) reference letters
Company logo

Agency of the Year/Marketing Department of the Year
Companies must be located in Iowa. It is not required to have AMA Iowa members employed at your company to be nominated.

Include the following with your nomination:

Letter of support (maximum 650 words) describing how the agency or marketing department has achieved amazing marketing results, worked together as a team and met client/internal goals. If applicable, include any past awards, recognitions and milestones.
(3) work samples that showcase the agency’s or marketing department’s best work
Company logo

Any entry that fails to follow these guidelines and the digital requirements is subject to disqualification.

Questions? Email [email protected].

NOVA Award Judging Criteria

The 2024 NOVA Awards committee sets all judging criteria and verifies the winners selected by the award judges. A panel of marketing professionals from an AMA chapter outside of Iowa will serve as the judges. Exception is the Volunteer of the Year award which will be judged by members of the AMA Iowa Board of Directors. The judges make all decisions regarding eligibility, finalists and winners.

Entries become the property of AMA Iowa and will not be returned. No entry fee will be refunded due to an entry’s disqualification nor after the entries are judged.

Finalist Notification

One award winner will be chosen in each of the categories, at the discretion of the award judges. If no entries meet the set minimum requirements in a category, no award will be made. The decisions of the judges are final.

All individuals and companies nominated will be notified prior to the NOVA Awards event as well as the winning individuals and companies. Winner of each category will be announced and recognized during the event!

Questions? Email [email protected].

You can also download the AMA’s W-9 Form here.