On May 24, 2026, the Hilton Aventura Miami welcomed some of South Florida’s most accomplished marketers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and business leaders for the American Marketing Awards 2026, hosted by the American Marketing Association South Florida Chapter. More than an awards ceremony, the evening became a celebration of innovation, professional excellence, and the enduring value of human connection in an increasingly technology driven world.
As guests from Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties gathered to recognize outstanding achievements in marketing, one central question emerged throughout the evening: in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, what truly makes a brand memorable?
The answer was introduced during a powerful keynote presentation by communication strategist and learning architect Dimitry Wolf. Speaking on the theme “From Attention to Trust Economy,” Wolf challenged attendees to evaluate their own professional credibility through what he called a Trust Audit. His message encouraged marketers to consider whether their expertise could withstand real time interaction, whether their communication could scale without losing authenticity, and whether they were building audiences or building trust. His presentation set the tone for the evening, emphasizing that while technology can amplify a message, trust remains the most valuable currency a brand can earn.
That philosophy resonated throughout the awards program, where excellence was measured not simply by visibility or engagement metrics, but by meaningful impact. The winners represented organizations that demonstrated creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the audiences they serve.
The Florida Panthers Hockey Club received Best Branding of the Year for its “Reign Red” campaign, recognized for strengthening the team’s identity through consistent visual storytelling and meaningful community engagement. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems earned Best Marketing Team of the Year for its “GDOTS Brand Guide,” a project praised for creating long term brand clarity and organizational alignment. The award for Best Marketing Campaign of the Year went to rbb Communications for “Hyatt Inclusive Collection: Time Here is Worth More,” a luxury travel campaign that redefined value by focusing on meaningful experiences and quality time.
TOML Collective captured the Digital and Social Media Campaign of the Year award for its work with Siebert Financial on the “Generation Wealth Marketing” campaign, demonstrating how thoughtful digital storytelling can inspire authentic participation and community building. Miami Beach received Best PR and Communications Campaign of the Year for “Miami Beach Made,” a strategic initiative that elevated the city’s reputation as a destination for culture, creativity, and innovation. Penta Experiential Marketing was honored with Best Experiential Marketing Campaign of the Year for creating memorable brand experiences that continued to resonate long after the events themselves concluded.
Behind the recognition stood an exceptional panel of 24 marketing leaders who evaluated submissions through a rigorous merit based process. The jury represented a remarkable cross section of the industry, bringing together executives, entrepreneurs, academics, AI specialists, brand strategists, and communications experts. Their collective expertise ensured that each campaign was assessed not only for creative excellence but also for strategic effectiveness and ethical leadership.
Among the distinguished judges were Alexander Serebriakoff, CEO and Founder of Learn Factory and President Elect of AMA South Florida; Darren McColl, former Chief Marketing Officer of Neiman Marcus and co author of the New York Times bestseller Storyscaping; Jessica Zuckier of Grant Cardone Enterprises; Frida Alsterhem of Palm Beach Atlantic University; Sol Naios; Ignacio Albornoz; Blake Makuuchi; Ekaterina Myrcha; Fabiola Rojas; Dr. Betty Carew; Konstantin Zhuchkov; Marcello Sasso; Julia Kolodkina; Valentina Simon De Ferrari; Mark Behar; Dimitry Wolf; Abdull Albeloushi; Maria Grineva; Caryne Say; Tatiana Páez; Catalina Chabur; Maggie Rivers; Natasha Tous; and Kristal Piccolo. Together, they reflected the depth and diversity of South Florida’s vibrant marketing ecosystem.
Throughout the evening, speakers reinforced the importance of relationships and community in professional growth. Jessica Zuckier, President of AMA South Florida, highlighted the organization’s global reach, connecting more than 1.3 million marketing professionals through over 65 professional chapters and 320 collegiate chapters worldwide. She emphasized that the South Florida chapter embodies the collaborative spirit and professional excellence that define the AMA network.
Ekaterina Myrcha encouraged attendees to continue investing in meaningful professional relationships, reminding the audience that many career defining opportunities begin with a simple conversation. Fabiola Rojas spoke about the responsibility marketers have to create positive impact through their work, not only for businesses but also for the communities they serve.
The evening concluded with remarks from Alexander Serebriakoff, whose leadership within AMA South Florida and contributions to the field of online education have positioned him as a respected voice at the intersection of marketing, entrepreneurship, and learning innovation. As founder of Learn Factory, an EdTech accelerator with more than 50 successful projects across the United States and international markets, Serebriakoff has developed a methodology that transforms professional expertise into scalable educational businesses. His work focuses on helping experts and entrepreneurs build sustainable platforms that deliver value through knowledge and community.
Serebriakoff also highlighted his latest venture, Peach.Talk, a platform designed to help professionals create and monetize engaged communities through structured conversations and meaningful interaction. In his closing remarks, he drew a connection between the evening’s winning campaigns and the principles that drive successful education initiatives. Both, he noted, depend on earning trust over time rather than chasing temporary attention. The most successful brands, like the most successful educators, build credibility by consistently delivering value and maintaining authentic relationships with their audiences.
As President Elect, Serebriakoff is preparing to assume the presidency of AMA South Florida for the 2026 to 2027 term, reflecting the organization’s confidence in his vision for the chapter’s future growth and influence.
What made the American Marketing Awards 2026 particularly memorable was not only the quality of the campaigns recognized but also the shared understanding that technology alone cannot create meaningful relationships. Data remains important, but understanding the people behind the data matters even more. Artificial intelligence continues to transform industries, yet creativity, empathy, authenticity, and trust remain uniquely human advantages.
As the evening came to a close and guests continued conversations throughout the venue, one message lingered above all others. The brands and leaders who will shape the future of marketing are not necessarily those who adopt new technologies first. They are the ones who use those technologies while remaining deeply committed to creativity, purpose, and genuine human connection.
The American Marketing Association South Florida Chapter also expressed gratitude to the sponsors and partners who helped make the evening possible, including Grant Cardone, Learn Factory, Svetmedia, AD Source, B2B Marketing Expo, Go Coding, Éclat, The Lime Agency, Novecento, Five Star Painting, Russian American Media, Regular Animal, StrataGuide, AMARNA, Circus Joshira, and Peach.Talk. Their support contributed to an evening that celebrated not only marketing excellence but also the relationships and values that continue to drive the industry forward.
