AAF West Michigan is proud to host the 2026 American Advertising Awards. Join us as we celebrate the creative spirit of excellence in our local community.
Dress to impress with a touch of Old Hollywood glitz and glamour, while reconnecting with industry colleagues and mingling amidst collective work on full display. Individual tickets are available for professionals and students, or reserve a VIP table for your entire crew! This year, join AAF after the show for an official ADDY Afterparty, where we'll have special bites and music following the event's program right outside the ballroom in the pre-function space. Full event agenda to follow.
Each professional ticket comes with two drink tickets, and appetizer stations from the esteemed JW Marriott culinary team will be provided for all attendees.
2026 Judges
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Carlos Flores
Founder, Creative Director
Forager TV x Whitepaper Studio
Carlos Flores is a Creative Director and filmmaker whose work spans film, advertising, and music videos. He is the co-founder of Forager, a New York–based creative studio and post-production collective recognized for film-forward work grounded in craft, narrative, and visual clarity.Carlos has led projects for global brands including Nike, Apple, HBO, and Vogue, as well as music and performance films for artists such as Selena Gomez and Sia. His work, along with projects produced by his companies, has received nominations and awards recognition across major industry platforms, including the VMAs, Emmys, and the Academy Awards.
With a career built hands-on through editing and color, Carlos brings a holistic perspective to creative leadership, guiding projects from early creative development through final execution. He is also a founding partner of Whitepaper, a filmmaker-led studio focused on rethinking film financing and supporting independent storytelling.
Carlos is an active member of the Television Academy and is driven by originality, collaboration, and elevating bold ideas through disciplined execution.
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Paige Bauman
Group Creative Director
Agency EA
Paige Bauman is a graphic designer and brand strategist based in Houston. She specializes in brand identities, presentation design, web design and environmental design/production.
Paige currently serves as Group Creative Director for Agency EA where she manages a group of inter-disciplined creatives. Prior to Agency EA, Paige developed her skills for large-scale print and digital advertising working with Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide.
She's produced work for prominent brands such as Hilton, Coca-Cola, ElevenLabs, McDonalds, Samsung and Intuit. -

Jason Levkulich
Fractional CMO, Creative Director
Contact
Jason Levkulich began his career as a photojournalist, with his first professional assignment capturing Frank Sinatra on stage in 1991. That early immersion in storytelling, composition, and cultural relevance shaped a career defined by creative discernment and strategic clarity.While continuing to photograph iconic artists including Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Soundgarden, and Jack White, Jason expanded his work into marketing. Over the past 28 years, he has served as a marketing leader and Fractional Chief Marketing Officer for startups, SaaS companies, professional services firms, and $100M technology brands—guiding brand strategy, messaging, and creative direction.
In addition to his executive marketing work, Jason supports select entertainment and artist‑driven projects, including ongoing marketing and creative collaboration with 80s pop legend Tiffany.
Jason has been named one of Middle Tennessee’s Top CMOs by the Nashville Business Journal and has led campaigns recognized with Gold and Silver ADDY Awards, PR Daily’s “Best Marketing Video,” and M‑Files’ “Best Marketing Program in North and Latin America.”
Known for evaluating creative work through both an artistic and strategic lens, Jason brings a disciplined eye for concept, craft, and effectiveness. At his core, he remains a storyteller—focused on work that is clear, intentional, and built to resonate.
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