Marketer of the Year
Honoring the Best of the Best
AMA Chicago’s Marketer of the Year award recognizes a top Chicagoland marketer who is leading their brand forward. Our city is a hub for marketing’s creative and strategic minds promoting brands of all sizes.
The Marketer of the Year award honors the most outstanding professional in a competitive field.
< 2025 Marketer of the Year Tara Giuliano speaking at BrandSmart 2026
Nominate a colleague, friend, client or yourself!
Chicagoland is home to many top marketers, all contributing each day to their brand’s success. The AMA Chicago chapter’s annual award recognizes excellence and elevates each year’s winner through:
- Award presentation at the CMO Forum, October 2026
- LinkedIn Live interview
- Social media announcements
- Chicago area publication announcement
- Opportunity to be a panelist or speaker at an AMA Chicago event
Read more about the benefits of marketing awards and how to write an outstanding nomination in this blog post.
Submissions open Monday, June 1, 2026, and close Monday, August 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
- Nominees must reside in the greater Chicago area; their employer does not need to be local.
- A nominee’s current responsibilities must focus on branding, marketing and communications for their company’s brand.
- In-house marketers, agencies and service providers are eligible to enter for themselves or on behalf of clients/others who deserve this recognition.
- Self-nominations are welcome! Reference/s may be requested by AMA Chicago.
Read the terms & conditions.
The following questions are guidelines for the (300- to 1,000-word) narrative; they do not need to be answered individually.
STRATEGY
- How has the candidate achieved breakthroughs and advances in organizing and planning?
- How has the candidate developed unique methodologies?
- How has the candidate shown effective collaboration inside the organization as well as with outside partners?
- How has the candidate successfully implemented creative approaches to solving marketing and communication problems?
- How has the candidate progressed the face of the industry?
RESULTS
- How has the candidate employed effective methods of measurement?
- How has the candidate’s work helped their organization achieve both short- and long-term goals?
VISION & LEADERSHIP
- How has the candidate’s work helped advance or transform their organization or the field of marketing?
- How has the candidate shown thought leadership by speaking and writing on marketing?
- How has the candidate been recognized by others in the field for their work?
- How has the candidate given back to the Chicagoland community?
Submissions for 2026 Marketer of the Year open Monday, June 1.
Deadline: Monday, August 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT
Cost: $125 per submission
The importance of telling the story of marketing success
2024 Marketer of the Year Christine Buck explains the positive impact that the award has had on her career and her team at HIMSS. In this 3-min. video, she urges marketers to “not be shy” — take a moment to tell the story of the outcomes you or another marketer delivered.
Previous Marketers of the Year
2025: Tara Giuliano
Chief Marketing Officer of NuveenAs a member of the executive management team, Tara oversees a marketing team that develops and executes go-to-market plans aimed at acquiring, retaining and expanding client relationships while producing compelling investment stories that distinguish Nuveen from competitors.
2024: Christine Buck
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, HIMSSChristine leads a team that plays a critical role in growth and revenue generation through product marketing, brand management, market research, corporate communications and advertising. She collaborates with other senior leaders across the mission-driven organization to build a company-wide marketing philosophy characterized by agile decision-making and a focus on innovation, experimentation, data-driven accountability and diversity of thinking.
2023: Chris Duncan
VP of Consumer Insights & Digital Marketing, Claire’sWith over 20 years of executive-level experience in marketing, digital and agency operations, he has helped lead the brand’s transformation into a powerful, omnichannel organization delivering engaging content, experiences and programs globally.
2022: Meghan Hurley
VP of Marketing, Farmer’s FridgeAt Farmer’s Fridge, Meghan built their marketing department to address rapid expansion into new markets and channels. She launched performance marketing in 2020 paving the way for growth in e-commerce.