The San Diego County Fair emerged as the standout winner at the 2025 Sandie Awards, which were recently presented by the American Marketing Association’s San Diego chapter.
The fair secured a total of six awards, showcasing its excellence in various categories.
Among these accolades, the fair garnered two prestigious Gold awards in the Digital Marketing Campaign and Influencer Marketing categories.
It also received two Silver awards in Branding-In-House and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion categories, along with two Bronze awards in Integrated Campaign-In House and Public Relations-In House.
InnoVision Marketing Group also celebrated success at the awards ceremony, winning five awards in total.
The group took home two Gold awards in both Branding-Agency and Public Relations-Agency categories, as well as a Silver and a Bronze award in the Influencer Marketing category.
Highlighting InnoVision’s achievements, Alanna Markey, the senior VP and general manager, was honored as Marketer of the Year.
The American Marketing Association recognized Markey for her over 10 years of dedicated service to the agency, emphasizing her leadership qualities of heart, strategy, and purpose.
“I am privileged to have the opportunity to help lead our organization and encourage the career passions of each team member, which has been the secret weapon behind InnoVision’s continual growth as well as my own,” said Markey while accepting her award.
The inaugural Trailblazer accolade was awarded to SeaWorld San Diego’s sales and marketing team for their successful 60th anniversary campaign, underscoring their innovative approach to marketing.
Vuja de Digital, based in Solana Beach, was named Agency of the Year, recognized for their impactful work on the 2024 World Design Capital campaign, which focused on binational travel and tourism.
The agency’s accolades extend to 2024, where it also received MediaPost Planning & Buying and Drum awards for Marketing Americas.
Additionally, Vuja de Digital was highlighted in AdWeek as one of the Fastest Growing Agencies and acknowledged in Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces list.
The AMA expressed admiration for the agency’s co-founders, Kelly Maguire and Todd Juneau, lauding their efforts to create a nurturing environment that promotes professional growth and a performance-driven atmosphere.
Achieving a perfect score of 100 points from the judges, Manscaped, a San Diego-based lifestyle and grooming brand for men, received the Best of Show award for its integrated campaign titled “Meet the Boys.”
The San Diego Tourism Authority also made a strong showing, winning five awards, including four Gold awards for Content Marketing, Experiential Marketing, Social Media, and Public Relations categories, along with a Bronze award in Event Marketing.
The University of San Diego won three awards during the event, including a Gold in Integrated Campaign-In House, a Silver in Event Marketing, and a Bronze in the Cause Marketing Nonprofit category.
In addition, Belmont Park secured three awards, comprising two Gold awards in Branding-In House and Event Marketing categories, and a Silver in Content Marketing.
Soapy Joe’s Car Wash won three awards, with two Silver awards in Cause Marketing and Social Media categories, alongside a Bronze award in Digital Marketing Campaign.
Enlyte also received three awards, inclusive of a Silver in Marketing Innovation and two Bronze awards in Experiential Marketing categories.
Several firms were recognized with two awards, including Digitopia and University of California San Diego Extended Studies.
Among the single award winners were Buchanan Brand and Design, Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Cubic Orange, Ignite Visibility, Mission Federal Credit Union, Mixte Communications, Red Door Interactive, The Shipyard, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Students from the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University made an impressive mark, receiving 10 awards in student categories, reflecting the vibrant future of marketing talent.
AMA officials reported that a total of 81 awards were presented from a record-high 151 entries submitted by 55 companies, agencies, and four collegiate institutions.
This year’s panel of judges consisted of 30 marketing professionals from across the United States, hailing from regions outside San Diego and Orange County, which provided a comprehensive perspective on the entries.
The Sandie awards event, the second annual occurrence hosted by the San Diego chapter, attracted around 300 attendees and took place on May 22 at the Town & Country Resort Hotel in Mission Valley.
Zachary Senvisky, president of AMA San Diego, expressed gratitude towards every volunteer, participant, finalist, and winner, who contributed to making this event a true celebration of creativity and community.
He added, “It also marks the perfect punctuation on a standout board year, our highest membership since 2017, national recognition as an award-winning chapter, and momentum that sets the stage for an even bigger year ahead for our chapter.”
For a complete list of award winners, viewers can refer to the AMA’s official site.
In other news, the San Diego Seals lacrosse team has announced an exciting job opening for a public-address announcer for its home games at Pechanga Arena, formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena.
The team is now accepting audition tapes and applications for the position.
Steven Woods, who has been the public-address announcer since the team’s inception in 2018, has announced that he will step down following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
The Seals released a statement expressing gratitude for Woods’ contributions, detailing his role in energizing the audience during games.
“Professional box lacrosse has an energy and electricity that is unmatched in professional sports, and the Seals’ next P-A announcer will be tasked with continuing the legacy that was created by Woods,” the statement noted.
Woods co-hosts the weekday morning “Ben & Woods” sports talk show on KWFN 97.3-FM The Fan and anticipates a high number of applicants for the announcer role before the July 16 deadline.
Mike Grace, the Seals’ VP of game presentation, stated that they are looking to attract about 100 applicants for this role.
Grace mentioned, “We have heard from many interested individuals. The next P-A announcer for the team will need to be able to drive the energy in Pechanga Arena while also keeping our fans informed and entertained.”
Experience as a lacrosse player is not a prerequisite, according to Grace.
“Having a background in lacrosse or knowledge of the game is very helpful, but it’s not absolutely vital,” he explained further.
Ideal candidates should be sports fans who have a solid understanding of the flow of the game, and the organization is willing to educate them on the specifics of box lacrosse.
The Seals are one of 14 teams that compete in the National Lacrosse League, the only professional box lacrosse league worldwide, and they entered the league during the 2018-2019 season.
The team has seen notable success, winning the NLL West Conference regular-season title during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons.
During the 2024-2025 season, the Seals achieved a commendable record of 6-3 at home and boasted a total attendance exceeding 47,000 fans throughout the season.
Since the 2022-23 season began, the team has an impressive home record of 21-6 in regular-season games.
Candidates interested in applying should submit a one-minute audition video that includes 30 seconds articulating why they are the ideal candidate, along with 30 seconds demonstrating a game announcing sample, such as introducing a player or calling a goal.
Essential qualifications for this role comprise a strong voice, the ability to multi-task in high-pressure situations, prior public speaking or broadcasting experience, the capacity to stand for extended periods, and availability for work on nights, weekends, and holidays.
Starting pay for this position is set between $25 and $50 per hour, providing an attractive opportunity for aspiring sports announcers.
For more details, prospective candidates can refer to the team’s official announcements.
image source from：timesofsandiego
