The American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award, established in 1959, has honored exceptional members of the local advertising community since 1961. AAF West Michigan continues this tradition, recognizing those who have made a lasting impact on our industry.
Nominate West Michigan’s Next Silver Medal Award Winner!
Silver Medal recipients are selected by a panel of judges and must demonstrate:
Success in one or more areas: advertising or design agency, advertiser, media, creative, or advertising service.
A consistent and high level of original thinking in their field.
Efforts to elevate the standards and reputation of the advertising and design professions.
Involvement in civic, social or other groups committed to causes for the greater good and supporting local community wellbeing.
Do you know a professional who stands out in the advertising and marketing community? We want to hear about them! Nominate someone whose remarkable career, significant contributions, and creative achievements have advanced advertising and design in West Michigan.
Deadline to Submit Nominations is December 31, 2024
The Silver Medal is scheduled to be presented in late January 23, 2025 – Save the date, details to follow!
PAST RECIPIENTS:
Year/Name Agency When Awarded
1961 – Gordon Navan Norman Navan Moore & Baird
1962 – Wesley Aves Aves Advertising, Inc.
1963 – Wilfred Peterson The Jaqua Company
1964 – Robert E. Jaqua The Jaqua Company
1965 – Willard Schroeder Time Life Broadcasting (WOTV)
1966 – Eugene Broene Steelcase, Inc.
1967 – Kenneth Maatman Rapistan
1968 – Edward F. Davison Aves Advertising, Inc.
1969 – G. William Sefton Sefton Associates
1970 – Charles F. Johnson, Jr. Johnson & Dean, Inc.
1971 – Richard I. Kowalkowski The Jaqua Company
1972 – Guy E. Greene Sefton Associates
1973 – Willis R. Montgomery, Jr. The Grand Rapids Press
1974 – Charles H. Westra Meijer, Inc.
1975 – Richard D. Hansknecht Carpenter Paper Company
1976 – George U. Lyons W. Michigan Telecasters, Inc. (WZZM-TV)
1977 – James S. Alexander Alexander Marketing Services, Inc.
1978 – Ronald Nordstrom Nordstrom/Cox Marketing, Inc.
1979 – Thomas F. VanderMey Modern Imaging
1979 - Gordon Duncan Modern Imaging
1980 – Lynne Bradshaw Bradshaw Advertising
1981 – Robert Carpenter Bob Carpenter & Group, Inc.
1982 – James Markle Aves Advertising
1983 – Charles Doner Kent Skills Center
1984 – Brian Cox Nordstrom/Cox Marketing, Inc.
1985 – Gregg Hagley Rogers Department Store
1986 – David S. Kagan Johnson & Dean, Inc.
1987 – Ronald Dykstra Federated Media (WCUZ-AM/FM)
1988 – Joseph Stevens Stevens Graphics International
1989 – Gerald B. Cox The Cox Company
1990 – James Messner J.W. Messner, Inc.
1991 – Adrianna Snyder J.D. Thomas
1992 – Rob Pocock Nordstrom/Cox Marketing, Inc.
1993 – Donald H. Bratt, Sr. Stevens Advertising
1994 – Ted Etheridge The Etheridge Company
1995 – Gordon Ondersma Meijer, Inc.
1996 – Edward R. Kastelz, Jr. National Correct Color/National Printing
1997 – Tom Quinn J.W. Messner, Inc.
1998 – Stan Felder Felder Communications
1999 – Bill McKendry Hanon McKendry
2000 – Jim Hanon Hanon McKendry
2001 – Patrick Mullen Tribune Television/WXMI Fox 17
2002 – Bonnie Payne Norman Payne Advertising
2003 –Perry Ballard Perry Ballard Incorporated (PBI)
2004 – Jack Maynard Spectrum Graphics
2005 – Jann McKellar Spartan Stores
2006 – Ben Mendoza Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
2007 - Ward Veldman Stevens Advertising
2008 - Ron Davis Biggs|Gilmore
2009 – Steve Frykholm Herman Miller
2010 – Frank Blossom The Polishing Center
2011 – Yang Kim Peopledesign
2012 – Dr. Oliver Evans Kendall College of Art & Design
2013 – Mark Tanis The Image Group
2014 – Gregg Palazzolo Palazzolo Design
2015 – Christina Bivins KBO Group
2016 – Rob Jackson Extra Credit Projects
2017 – Chris Cook Fairly Painless Advertising
2018 – Rick Devon Grey Matter Group
2019 - Roger Bleiler Frederik Meijer Gardens
2020 - N/A N/A
2021 - John Barfuss Barfuss Creative Services
2022 - Pamela Patton Paragraph