SMPS Seattle members gathered on May 21 at SoDo Park to celebrate excellence in marketing and outstanding achievements of our regional A/E/C marketing professionals.

To honor Seattle’s role as one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this year’s emcees, Anna Glidden and Zoey Zemanek (both from the Marketing Department), donned referee attire and officiated the spirited event.

The annual event recognizes excellence in marketing communications and outstanding achievements of top marketing professionals. Communications awards were given to A/E/C firms whose materials and campaigns most compellingly achieved their marketing goals. Individual merit awards celebrated outstanding achievements within our industries, honoring exceptional individuals in categories, such as Rising Star, Marketing Advocate, Marketer of the Year, and the Andy Zinsmeyer Member of the Year.

SMPS Seattle is especially grateful to our event sponsors: UMC (Beverage Sponsor); Hansen Belyea (Dessert Sponsor); Manson, Middle of Six, and Transpo Group (Photobooth Sponsors); and 12Points, Mountains Out, Owen Weitzel, and Zera Photo (In-Kind Sponsors).

Project Awards

SMPS Seattle is grateful to our Project Awards judges: Julie Martinez (The Miller Hull Partnership), Luis Martinez (Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company), Melissa Qezada-Barker (WSP), Rusty George (Rusty George), and Sarah Katsikas (Altura).

Best Marketing Campaign 

Design West Engineering: “Amped Up for 25 Years: Design West Engineering Anniversary Campaign”

Design West Engineering’s 25th anniversary campaign sent a clear message that the firm is fun to work with, and that it is serious about delivering exceptional client experience. By rolling out the “DWE orange carpet” for clients and their team, Design West showcased its evolution from an emerging firm into a regional leader.

Best Digital Media Campaign 

Manson Construction Company: “Tradesman Month”

The Manson Construction Tradesmen Month campaign was designed to spotlight the skilled men and women who build, maintain, and protect America’s marine infrastructure. At the heart of the campaign was a flagship tribute video featuring operators, piledrivers, drag tenders, levermen, carpenters, deckhands, boatmen, and more — highlighting how their expertise keeps waterways open, safe, and functional. 

Best Brand Experience & Identity 

Middle of Six: “Earth Solutions NW Rebrand”

Following a successful leadership transition, Earth Solutions NW partnered with Middle of Six to refresh an outdated brand identity, logo, and website — and reimagine the company’s presentation. The project grew to encompass an entirely new brand, including logo, color usage, typography, taglines and brand messaging, website design, photography, business cards, letterhead, and bespoke brand personality elements.

Best One-Time Marketing Piece 

UMC: “Partnering for Progress: Overlake Medical Center’s Path to Energy Efficiency Case Study Video”

UMC produced a case study video to demonstrate how it helps healthcare organizations comply with Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standards while maintaining uninterrupted patient care. The primary objective was to translate a complex, technical project into a clear and engaging story, illustrating how UMC helps hospitals meet energy requirements, while improving overall building performance. 

Best Marketing Collateral 

Hermanson Company: “Building the Beehive”

The primary objective of this pursuit was to secure the UW Welcome Center project through a clear, compelling proposal that reflected the project’s purpose and the strength of its integrated Design-Build team. Inspired by a quote from Paul Rucker, University of Washington’s Vice President for Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement who likened the Welcome Center to a “beehive for community activity,” Hermanson’s marketing team developed a unifying beehive theme centered on collaboration, shared responsibility, and mutual success. 

Best Website 

Seattle Design Festival: “A New Website for Seattle Design Festival”

In collaboration with People People, the Seattle Design Festival developed a website that embodied its brand and ideals, while also serving as an informative, action-oriented hub for the community. The website engages visitors, shares the Festival’s mission and history, drives event attendance, and empowers the community, resulting in 71% increased engagement with the site and 80% more time on individual program pages.

Best Event 

Hermanson Company: “Innovate & Elevate: A Deep Dive into the Data Center Ecosystem”

The goal of Hermanson Company’s event was to strengthen relationships with senior leaders in the mission-critical and A/E/C space and to reinforce Hermanson’s role in the data center market. The event created a conversation-focused experience that encouraged open, peer level dialogue among owners, engineers, developers, and emerging technology leaders in an environment intentionally removed from sales pressure. 

Small Business Award 

Furtado: “It Starts with a Point”

Furtado’s campaign aimed to reposition surveying as a highly technical STEM-driven profession, while also demonstrating its real-world impact, from individual homes to regional infrastructure. The campaign humanizes STEM professions by spotlighting Furtado’s staff, emphasizing the demand for surveyors, and increased visibility among key audiences comprising clients, teaming partners, and future hires. 

Judges Choice Award 

DCI Engineers: “DCI Core Values”

In 2024, DCI’s Marketing and Corporate Management Team went through an internal brand audit to identify value words that best represented the firm’s attributes — providing a “north star” for strategy, decision making, and overall directional guidance for staying true to the organization. DCI intentionally selected experiential activities to support stronger recall, interpretation, and peer-to-peer discussion. Marketing worked closely with the CEO to create activities to provide personal meaning to those words, while creating opportunities for interpretation and engagement. 

People’s Choice Award 

Transpo Group: “50th Anniversary Throwback Campaign”

President Awards

Chosen by the chapter president, this year’s recipients show exceptional commitment, initiative, and collaboration to their committees and across SMPS Seattle. 

President’s Award (DEI) 

Kenani Brandon (Charter Construction) 

For facilitation with a human touch.

President’s Award (Education) 

Jasmyn Flores (Johnston Architects)

For unwavering commitment to learning and growth. 

President’s Award (Marketing) 

Jonathan Manfredonia (Hermanson Company)

For expanding our reach and visibility. 

President’s Award (Professional Development) 

Nolan Wilds, CPSM (Sellen Construction)

For proactive, cross-disciplinary support. 

President’s Award (Special Events)

Grace Takehara (Middle of Six)

For creative problem-solving and innovation.

President’s Award (Treasurer) 

Emily Brandesky (Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates)

For precision, consistency, and trusted support.

President’s Award (SMPS Board) 

Kayla Snider (FORMA Construction)

For impactful leadership and Board collaboration.

Merit Awards

SMPS Seattle is grateful to our Merit Award Judges: Angela Wild (President, SMPS Inland Empire), Beth Schwartz (Programs Committee, SMPS Las Vegas), Hoʻāno Au (President, SMPS Hawai’i), Marcella Garofalo (President, SMPS San Diego), Marilynn Stratton, CPSM (President, SMPS San Francisco Bay Area), and Steven V. Gallo, MAMC (President, SMPS North Florida). 

Andy Zinsmeyer Member of the Year 

Katie Berry, CPSM (HNTB)

In honor of the first SMPS member, Andy Zinsmeyer, this award is presented to an SMPS member who has been actively involved in SMPS Seattle and committed to our chapter’s growth and success over the past year.

BD/Communications/Marketer of the Year 

Hannah Ratzke (Lochner)

This award is presented to an SMPS member who has demonstrated outstanding marketing efforts and leadership in the A/E/C industries during the past year.

Marketing Advocate of the Year 

Steve Brooks (UMC)

The Marketing Advocate award honors a stellar supporter of marketing efforts who does not specifically work in marketing. This individual is committed to furthering and encouraging marketing efforts on a daily basis and goes the extra mile to understand the mission and efforts of marketing.

Rising Star 

Mckenzie Dalley (FSi Engineers)

This award is presented to an individual who has been an SMPS Seattle member for up to two years, has made positive contributions to our chapter’s growth, and has shown personal growth and development.