In a night that celebrated the achievements of those working to champion diversity in the advertising, marketing, PR, media and entertainment industries, ADCOLOR® recognized some of the best and brightest at their annual ADCOLOR® Awards ceremony. The event, hosted by CNN’s Don Lemon, was filled with rousing moments from its honorees including real life Olivia Pope, Judy Smith, William Morris Endeavor icon Charles King, andEssence founder and former CEO Edward Lewis. Actors, executives, media personalities, and more were in attendance- including actors Michael B. Jordan, Jay Ellis, and Allen Maldonado, Entertainment Tonight‘s newest co-host Kevin Frazier, Diegeo VP Marc Stephenson Strachan, and GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. Later, guests toasted the winners at the official after party presented by BET Networks and Beats Music.
Each year, the ADCOLOR® Award nominees and honorees are selected based on criteria such as ADCOLOR®’s motto “Rise Up and Reach Back.” Those recognized work not only to go above and beyond in their own careers, but also go out of their way to help others and make an impact on their peers.
Twelve awards were distributed throughout the night, including two brand new categories – Rockstar and Ad of the Year. The full list of this year’s winners is as follows:
ROCK STARÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
A new category to this year’s Award Ceremony, Rockstar is someone who, whether through their primary role or extracurricular activities, stands out as a leader and visionary in the industry.
WINNER:  Bozoma Saint John, SVP, Head of Global Marketing, Beats Music
AD OF THE YEARÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
New to this year’s event, the Ad of the Year awards a campaign or single execution that pushes boundaries, promotes conversation and highlights the lives of multicultural, LGBT and/or other under-represented Americans in the mass media.
WINNER:  Duracell, “Trust Your Power”, Saatchi & Saatchi
RISING STARÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
A Rising Star is an up-and-coming young gun with less than seven years of experience. A Rising Star is someone who stands out among their peers as someone who is raising the bar of excellence as they move forward in their career.
WINNER:Â Â Danielle Skeen, Account Executive, Kirshenbaum, Bond, Senecal + Partners (kbs+)
INNOVATORÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Established in 2007, an Innovator is an employee who embodies progress and imagination. Someone who stands out among peers as a game changer and pioneer in their role, creating breakthrough developments and/or improvements, whether tangible or intangible.
WINNER:Â Â B. Bonin Bough, Vice President of Global Media and Consumer Engagement, Mondelez International
CHANGE AGENTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
A Change Agent is the individual within a company who is using their talents and position to enhance the corporate culture and create a more inclusive environment. This can be part of or beyond the scope of that person’s primary role.
WINNER:Â Â Robert Camilleri, VP, Global Operations Director, Publicis Kaplan Thaler
MOST VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
This award is presented to two people/companies that work together to provide exceptional and highly effective diversity solutions within their organizations and industries. They may be an agency, marketer, media company or diverse supplier with NMSDC or WBENC certification that teams up for a short or long-term project that furthers diversity and inclusion.
HONOREE: Marvel & BBDO New York
ONE CLUB | ADCOLOR CREATIVE AWARDÂ
The One Club | ADCOLOR Creative Award recipients are creative professional of multicultural background who have demonstrated noteworthy talent and achievement within the media, creative, digital and traditional advertising disciplines. These recipients are chosen by The One Club and will be announced at ADCOLOR Live!
HONOREES: Rei Inamoto, Chief Creative Officer / VP, AKQA
                    Feh Tarty, Creative Partner, Stay In School
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are inductees of the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. Their inspiring stories of professional and personal success exemplify Rising Up and Reaching Back. Recipients will be announced at ADCOLOR Live!
HONOREE: Edward Lewis, Co-Founder and former CEO, Chairman & Publisher, Essence Magazine; Co-Founder of Latina Magazine; Chairman of LMV; Senior Advisor for Solera Capital
CATALYSTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
This is presented to an individual who uses his or her platform to serve as the voice of a cause or community – educating and inspiring current and future generations of advertising, marketing, media, PR and entertainment professionals. Each one’s provocative courage, professional brilliance and selfless community outreach have sparked change and propelled progress within their respective industries and the world. The Catalysts are chosen by the ADCOLOR Board of Directors and recipients will be announced at ADCOLOR Live!
HONOREES:Â Charles D. King, Partner/Motion Picture Agent, William Morris Endeavor
                    Judy Smith, Founder and President of Smith & Company
ADVOCATE Award Presented by GLAADÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
An Advocate is an LGBT advertising, marketing or media professional who increases awareness of LGBT causes within and outside of the communications industry. The Advocate recipient is chosen by GLAAD and the ADCOLOR Board of Directors and recipients will be announced at ADCOLOR Live!
HONOREE:Â Anthony Watson, Global Chief Information Office, NIKE