Pinnacle Awards
WHY ENTER?
The SMPS Pinnacle Awards recognizes excellence in marketing communications produced by professional services firms in the design and building industry.
- Recognition for your outstanding efforts
- Showcase your work and a job well done
- Exposure for your firm
- Educate the industry about the critical role of marketing in successful firms
ELIGIBILITY
Anyone responsible for the creation of the items for a company involved in the built environment is encouraged to enter. Firm must have at least one SMPS Heartland chapter member to submit. Chapters are: Chicago, Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Indiana, Kentucky, West Michigan, Southeast Michigan, Northeast Ohio, Twin Cities, and Wisconsin.
ENTRY FEES
Payment is due at the time of submittal. Submissions are not official until payment is received.
There is no limit to the number of categories a firm can enter. Multiple entries receive a discount per entry off the regular entry fee.
First Entry: $75 Additional Entry $60
CATEGORIES
- Holiday Piece: A submission that leverages a specific holiday to creatively amplify brand awareness, engage audiences, or reinforce your firm’s identity. This could include holiday cards, themed campaigns, special greetings, or branded seasonal communications that demonstrate strategic intent and impact.
- Promotional Campaign: An integrated marketing effort that spans multiple platforms (digital, print, video, social media, etc.) to promote a service, event, program, or initiative. Submissions should show clear objectives, audience targeting, creative execution, and measurable results that demonstrate effectiveness.
- Special Event: Marketing materials created for a unique event your firm hosted, sponsored, or participated in. Examples include fundraisers, launches, educational series, client appreciation events, or industry gatherings. Entries should reflect how the marketing supported event goals and enhanced engagement.
- Digital Marketing & Online Presence: Digital initiatives that enhance your firm’s visibility and engagement online. This can include website campaigns, SEO, email marketing, social media strategy, paid digital advertising, or other online tools and tactics that drove measurable engagement and strengthened your digital footprint.
- Thought Leadership & Content Marketing: Submissions that showcase original content created to educate, influence, or position your firm as a leader in the industry. This might include whitepapers, blogs, articles, webinars, case studies, or research reports that highlight expertise and generate meaningful conversation.
- Community Impact & Outreach: Initiatives that demonstrate your firm’s commitment to community engagement, social responsibility, or meaningful outreach efforts. This could include pro bono work, partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community campaigns, or programs that generated positive impact and reinforced your brand’s values.
- Client Experience (CX) Initiatives: Projects or strategies focused on improving the client journey, satisfaction, or loyalty. Submissions should show how the initiative enhanced client interactions, streamlined processes, built stronger relationships, or contributed to retention and referrals. Results and feedback that demonstrate impact are especially valuable.
- Brand Development: Work that updates, modernizes, or expands your firm’s brand to reflect growth, market shifts, or new strategic direction. This may include logo design, visual systems, messaging frameworks, or full-scale brand refreshes. Entries should demonstrate strategic alignment, cohesive execution, and measurable impact on perception, market presence, or engagement.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Complete one application per entry.
- The form does not allow you to save your application progress. Please use this document to support the assembly of your 2026 Pinnacle Award application.
AWARDS
Jurors will determine award recipients (1st Place, 2nd Place, Honorable Mention), but are not required to fill each spot for each category.
Indicate how your company name should read if your firm is selected as a winner on the Entry Form. Additional trophies are $70 each; payable after winners have been announced.
For additional entries, click here.
DEADLINE
The award submission is July 17, 2026.
QUESTIONS
Email [email protected] for more information.
Pinnacle Awards - Co-Chair
Brandi Jones
[email protected]
502.326.3085
Pinnacle Awards - Co-Chair
Ashley O'Neal
[email protected]
317.634.4675
