Celebrating What Makes Our Community So Special

Reflections on the Marketing Excellence Awards—and 20 Years of Evolve

There are numerous award shows. Most are well-produced, some even inspiring. But few feel like home the way the Oklahoma City American Marketing Association’s Marketing Excellence Awards do.

Every October, this event brings together our industry’s best—agencies, creatives, strategists, researchers, and marketers—into one room. And somehow, it manages to feel both professional and personal. There’s a sense of belonging and mutual respect that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been in the room. You feel it in the applause, in the high-fives, in the genuine joy of watching your friends and peers get recognized for the hard work they do every day.

For me, it’s one of the most energizing nights of the year.

It’s also a reminder of how special this market is. We’re a small but mighty community—and we lead with kindness. That’s not something you find everywhere, and it’s something I’ve grown to deeply appreciate.

At Evolve, this sense of community isn’t just something we admire from afar—it’s something we’ve actively invested in. For over 20 years, we’ve supported the American Marketing Association, both locally and nationally. Every year since we started, we’ve had at least one team member serve on an AMA board. It’s not a box we check—it’s a reflection of who we are.

Because we believe in being present. In showing up. In doing excellent work and lifting up others along the way.

These are the values we live by:

• Kindness, always.
• Excellence, in everything we do.
• Belonging, not just internally but with our peers, our clients, and our profession.
• Authenticity, in how we show up and how we connect.
• Trust, in each other, in our work, and in our partnerships

That’s what makes this event such a perfect fit. It’s not just a celebration of great marketing—it’s a reflection of the people who make our work worth doing.

This year also marks a big milestone for us: Evolve turns 20. And on October 30th, we’ll be gathering with friends, colleagues, and clients to reflect on the road behind—and look ahead to what’s next. There’s a lot to celebrate, but more importantly, there’s still so much to build.

To those who are being honored at the Awards this year: congratulations. Your work inspires us.

To those we’ve shared a table (or a deadline) with: thank you. You’ve helped shape who we are.

And to those just entering the space: welcome. There’s room here for you, and we can’t wait to cheer you on.

We’ll see you October 3rd, full hearts and all.