2026 WINNERS

CATEGORY: MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

2026 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Congratulations to the Merit Awards Winners

Merit Awards, an independent awards program recognizing global industries and the markets they serve, today announced the winners of the 2026 Marketing & Communications Merit Awards. These awards honor excellence, innovation, and measurable success across the marketing and communications landscape.



Communications:

Community Engagement

🥇 Gold:   Pac/West Strategies

🥈 Silver:  Hyundai Motor America

Communications Team of the Year

🥇 Gold: FLOLIVE®

Corporate Responsibility

🥇 Gold: Hyundai Motor America

Internal Communications

🥇 Gold: First Advantage

New Product or Service Launch

🥇 Gold: Adventure PR launch

Non-Profit / Charity

🥇 Gold: Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)

Public Relations

🥇 Gold:  Hitachi Vantara

🥈 Silver: Rick Havacko/Toshiba

Social Media Based Communications

🥇 Gold: Asensus Surgical

Marketing:

  Agency (Large - More than 50)

Visual Storytelling

🥇 Gold: Holocaust Museum Boston

 Agency (Mid-Size - More than 15 people, less than 50)

Media Relations

🥇 Gold: SVM PR & Marketing Communications 

Brand Activation and Excellence

Community Relations

🥇 Gold: Genesis Motor America

Public Relations

🥇 Gold: AviaGames, Inc.

Change Communications

Corporate Responsibility

🥇 Gold: Charmin

Content Marketing

🥇 Gold:   IDI Billing Solutions

🥈 Silver:   Alkami

🥉 Bronze: Laura McDaniel 

Influencer Marketing

Social Media Base Communications

🥇 Gold: Hyundai Hope on Wheels

Marketing & Communications Technology Innovation

🥇 Gold: VGS

Marketing & Sales Alignment

🥇 Gold: Robert Catalano - Toshiba America Business Solutions

🥈 Silver: Authenticom, Inc.

Marketing Research

🥇 Gold: Alkami Technology, Inc.

Multichannel Customer Engagement Innovation

🥇 Gold: Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority

Reputation & Thought Leadership Management

🥇 Gold: Alkami

Communications Research

🥇 Gold:  Haven Tower Group

Small Idea, Big Impact 

🥇 Gold: Salinas Valley Health

Community Engagement

🥇 Gold: AviaGames, Inc.

Non-Profit / Charity

🥇 Gold: Genesis Inspiration Foundation

Social Media Based Communications

🥇 Gold: Odine