Sold-out Event Recognizes 40 Companies for Marketing with Proven Results; Helps Fund Non-Profits
HOUSTON – Nearly 600 people packed the sold-out American Marketing Association’s 24th Annual Crystal Awards event last Thursday to watch 40 Houston-area companies win over 60 awards for Houston’s best marketing work. The event drew the who’s who of Houston companies including Shell Lubricants, Texas Children’s Hospital, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Hewlett-Packard, Coca Cola North America, the Houston Texans, Schlumberger, BP and Chevron Phillips.
Marketers from more than 150 companies watched as BrandExtract took the lead winning six awards, while three companies, Axiom, Texas Children’s Hospital and Weatherford International, each brought home five. Baker Hughes’ LeakGuard Services campaign won the Maverick award while Pierpont Communications walked away with the coveted Judges Favorite award for the ’A Generation of Forgotten Vietnam Veterans’ public relations campaign.
“It’s a tremendous honor to win a Crystal Award because it embodies what great marketing is all about – delivering measurable results against a strategic objective,” said Lauren Fisher, vice president and chief marketing officer at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Our entire team is privileged to be recognized this past year among some of Houston’s best marketers.”
In addition to an audience full of Houston’s leading marketers, the Crystal Awards was attended by American Marketing Association CEO, Dennis Dunlap. “I am proud of AMA Houston’s leadership in the marketing community. The quality of its programs and offerings enhances the careers of the region’s marketing professionals,” he said. “The Crystal Awards is an example of that. It was an impressive success on many levels.”
Record-breaking year for AMA Houston
AMA Houston’s continued focus on quality programming resulted in this year’s Crystals Awards breaking records. The Hyatt Regency venue, originally configured to hold 500 people, had to be rearranged to accommodate 600. This year, 80 companies submitted a total of over 200 entries. Plus, 78 of those companies were named finalists.
Crystal Awards helps non-profits
A portion of the proceeds from the Crystal Awards is dedicated to assist local non-profit organizations with costs associated with their marketing efforts. Four organizations received funds during the Crystal Awards including SEARCH Homeless Services, The Friendship Center, Pup Squad Animal Rescue and Executive Service Corps of Houston.
“Overall funding has decreased for non-profits due to the economic recession,” said Dr. Jane T. Harding, Executive Director of ESCH. “This gift from AMA Houston is both wonderful and timely as it allows us to continue our important marketing efforts.”
The event, which is the largest marketing awards show in Texas, was chaired by Colin Hageney, past AMA Houston president and president of Bullpen Marketing, and Stacey Eddington, marketing manager with Transwestern. “It’s not only the best but the most fun awards show in Houston,” said Eddington. “Plus AMA Houston launched its new iPhone app during the event. I must have seen half the crowd pull out their iPhones to check it out!”
For a list of Crystal Awards winners and to view the Webcast and photographs from the event, go to www.crystalawards.org.
AMA Houston is the area’s premier professional marketing organization and the nation’s second largest chapter. AMA Houston provides marketers the ability to remain competitive in today’s business environment through networking events, special interest groups and real-world educational programs. Named Chapter of the Year four times in the last six years by AMA’s international headquarters, AMA Houston serves more than 1,100 members with diverse marketing expertise from a variety of industries.
