This article originally appeared on SMPS Boston’s website.
by Jennifer Tulipani
On June 25, 85 SMPS Boston members and other AEC professionals attended the first-ever SMPS Boston Virtual Awards Gala. Some people said that the 2020 Gala should be postponed until we could all meet again in person and others said we should cancel the event entirely. The Special Events Committee responded with “not on my watch” and made sure to Make it Happen.
Led by director of special events, Britt-Anya Bursell of HMMH, and supported by co-chairs, Kelly Brolin of CDM Smith, and Lindsay Accardi of Smithgroup and eight other committee volunteers, the virtual event was fun, festive and full of a few surprises.
This year we asked all attendees to submit their red carpet look and their signature event cocktail at the beginning of the cocktail hour. We then asked everyone to vote for their personal favorite. The winner for Best Red Carpet Look went to Kelly Auld of DBVW Architects. The winner for Best Event Cocktail went to Brittany Sampson of New England Lab.
The annual awards gala traditionally celebrates the marketing accomplishments of Boston area firms and individuals who represent the best and the brightest marketing initiatives. 2020 was no different, only that we came together on-line instead of in-person.
SMPS Boston was fortunate to have the talented Anastasia Barnes of High-Profile, serve as the master of ceremonies. This year SMPS Boston recognized local AEC firms in the categories of Brand Awareness Campaign, Corporate Identity, Holiday Piece, Internal Communications, Marketing Collateral, Special Event Marketing, Video, and Website. The chapter also recognized the Volunteer of the Year, New Member of the Year and the Marketing Professional of the Year.
Award submissions were also exhibited virtually during the cocktail hour reception hour and guests voted for the People’s Choice award. And the 2020 winners are:
BRAND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN 1ST PLACE / CDM Smith – Environmental Edge
CORPORATE IDENTITY 2ND PLACE / Columbia
CORPORATE IDENTITY 1ST PLACE / Environmental Partners & Clockwork Design Group
HOLIDAY PIECE 2ND PLACE / Margulies Perruzzi – NETFLIX HOLIDAY BINGE
HOLIDAY PIECE 1ST PLACE / VHB – How do you Holiday? 2019
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS 2ND PLACE / VHB – We Are VHB Brand Book
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS 1st PLACE / CDM Smith – Ignite the Brand
MARKETING COLLATERAL 2ND PLACE / Erland Construction – Stronger Together
MARKETING COLLATERAL 1ST PLACE / GPI – Under Canvas Qualifications
SPECIAL EVENT MARKETING 1ST PLACE / IBI Placemaking – 60th Anniversary Mailer
VIDEO 2ND PLACE / Columbia
VIDEO 1ST PLACE / CDM Smith – Troubled Waters: The Fight Against PFAS
WEBSITE 2ND PLACE / Environmental Partners & Clockwork Design Group
WEBSITE 1ST PLACE / Sanborn Head & Clockwork Design Group
BEST IN-HOUSE DESIGN / IBI Placemaking – 60th Anniversary Mailer
BEST IN SHOW / IBI Placemaking – 60th Anniversary Mailer
BEST IN SHOW- Small Firm / Geocomp Corporation – Website Design
NEW MEMBER OF THE YEAR, Amanda Alcamo / Marketing & Communications Specialist, Acentech, Inc.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, Shannon Koop / Senior Market Researcher, GEI Consultants, Inc.
MARKETING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR, Chuck Raymond / Senior Marketing and Business Development Communications Manager, Weston & Sampson
Jennifer Tulipani is a senior marketing specialist at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger and a member of the SMPS Boston Special Events Committee.