Honorees announced for Marketing to African Americans with Excellence Awards
May 21, 2007
Target Market News today announced the recipients of the second annual Marketing to African Americans with Excellence (MAAX) Awards®. The awards program annually recognizes the contributions, innovations and exceptional performance of African American professionals in the fields of marketing, advertising, media and consumer research. The 2007 recipients are:
- Advertising Executive of the Year: EUGENE MORRIS, Chairman and CEO, E. Morris Communications
- Media Executives of the Year: CATHERINE L. HUGHES, Chairperson and Founder, Radio One; and ALFRED C. LIGGINS III, Chief Executive Officer and President, Radio One
- Marketing Executive of the Year: GWEN KELLY, Senior Marketing Manager, African American Initiatives, Wal-Mart
- Research Executive of the Year: PEPPER MILLER. President, Hunter-Miller Group
- Public Relations Executive of the Year: MICHELLE FLOWERS, President and CEO, Flowers Communications Group
- Lifetime Achievement Award: CAROL H. WILLIAMS, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Carol H. Williams Advertising
The honorees were selected by the editors, writers and contributors of Target Market News, and are considered on the basis of the longevity of their careers, their advocacy of American American marketing, and the professional accomplishments that distinguish them within the industry.
"We are especially honored to give well-deserved recognition to these professionals for being champions for the African American consumer market" said Target Market News president and publisher, Ken Smikle.
"Through their persistent pursuit of excellence, they have been influential in setting benchmarks for all those doing business with African American consumers," said Smikle "We encourage the entire industry to join us in celebrating our honorees for their unique accomplishments in elevating the field of African American marketing and media."
Candidates were considered for recognition on the basis of being African American executives with distinctive careers, and who, throughout the course of their professional careers, have endeavored to promote greater understanding of, growth of, and sensitivity toward, the African American consumer market.
The honorees for the second annual MAAX Awards will be feted on July 2, 2007 at an awards dinner during the Eighth Annual Black Consumer Research and Advertising Summit. The event, hosted by Target Market News at the Chicago Wyndham Hotel, is the nation's largest annual gathering of African American marketing, media and research professionals.
Target Market News is the nation's leading authority on African American marketing, media and consumer research. The company was founded in 1988 by Ken Smikle, who is considered to be one of the nation's leading experts on African American marketing and media. Target Market News distributes news and information on the latest developments in marketing and media through its website, http://www.targetmarketnews.com. The company publishes "The Buying Power of Black America," and also annually hosts the Black Consumer Research and Advertising Summit and the African American Magazine Summit.