Our 2026 Pinnacle Awards gala was one for the books. Huge congratulations to all our winners for making 2026 the most glamorous year on record, and a massive thank you to everyone who came out to support. 
Omaha marketing has never looked so good! Check out the full winners list below.
Omaha marketing has never looked so good! Check out the full winners list below.Advertising, Broadcast – Large Business
- Pinnacle: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “Institutional Brand Commercial”
Advertising, OOH (Out-of-home) – Large Business
- Bronze: MediaSpark, “Tulsa Billboard Increases Awareness and Revenue”
- Silver: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “Campus Banner Refresh”
- Pinnacle: Ervin & Smith, “Bottomline Paymode campaign”
Advertising, Print Ad – Large Business
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “The Referral Effect: Growing Business Through Direct Mail”
Advertising, Streaming (OTT) – Large Business
- Silver: MediaSpark, “Circling the Drain of Streaming Video: Turning Awareness into High-impact Business Growth”
- Pinnacle: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “Institutional Brand Advertising on Streaming Platforms”
Branding/Corporate Identity – Large Business
- Bronze: Bailey Lauerman, “Sheldon Museum of Art – “Go Big Red” Exhibition Identity”
- Silver: First National Technology Solutions, “FNTS Cloud Rebrand: Transforming 30 Years of Excellence into One Powerful Brand”
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “Meet Denver’s Home Services Powerhouse: Turning Bold Expansion into a Profitability”
Branding/Corporate Identity – Small Business
- Pinnacle: Ervin & Smith, “Emily Moody Ergonomics branding and website”
Branding/Corporate Identity – Non-Profit
- Silver: SCORR Marketing, “Big Idea Buffalo County Logo”
- Pinnacle: Clarity Channels Communications, “What’s in a Name? Connected Roots Care Center”
Digital Advertising – Large Business
- Bronze: MediaSpark, “Move Over Google! Using Full-funnel Digital Branding to Drive Revenue”
- Silver: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence Digital Advertising Campaign”
- Pinnacle: Ervin & Smith, “THREE Insurance Level Up digital campaign”
Digital Advertising – Small Business
- Pinnacle: 1123, “Child Saving Institute Digital Advertising”
Digital Advertising – Non-Profit
- Silver: Children’s Nebraska, “Hiring Hope Campaign”
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “Bigger than African-elephant-big Results: Digital Retargeting Drives Record Black Friday Performance”
Direct Marketing – Large Business
- Silver: Constellation Collective, “PeopleService Consulting Services”
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “From Inbox to Impact: Turning Email into $3M in Influenced Revenue”
Direct Marketing – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: Clarity Channels Communications, “Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative Origin Story”
Guerilla Marketing – Large Business
- Pinnacle: Bailey Lauerman, “AMC Theatres Community Management”
Influencer Marketing – Large Business
- Pinnacle: Bailey Lauerman, “Why I Ride – Bosch eBikes 2025 Influencer Campaign”
Influencer Marketing – Small Business
- Pinnacle: 1123, “Hound HQ ‚ “Truck the Dog Sleepover‚” Influencer Campaign”
Integrated Marketing Campaign – Large Business
- Bronze: Hurrdat + Lukas Partners, “The Membership Exclusive Podcast Partners with Edwards Auto Group and Costco for Open Door Mission Turkey Drop”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “The Modern Media Shift: Creating Scalable, Profitable Growth”
- Pinnacle: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “March Madness Integrated Marketing Campaign”
Integrated Marketing Campaign – Small Business
- Bronze: 1123, “Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch – Ranch of Terror”
- Silver: Faad Digital Creative House, “The Unspoken Authorship, “Unveiling: Integrated Marketing as Enchanted Storytelling”
- Pinnacle: 1123, “Child Saving Institute Integrated Marketing Campaign”
Integrated Marketing Campaign – Non-Profit
- Bronze: MediaSpark, “Zoolightful: Holiday Magic Meets Marketing Precision”
- Silver: Clarity Channels Communications, “Protect Head Start Campaign”
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “From Votes to Victory: How Strategic Paid Media Delivered a Historic 10Best Win”
Marketing Research – Large Business
- Bronze: Ervin & Smith, “Nelnet Bank voice of the customer research”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “Competitive Analysis: Finding Opportunities to Unlock Brand-building Momentum”
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “Customer Journey Mapping: Building Long-term Loyalty Across Every Stage of the Customer Relationship”
Marketing Research – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “Brand & Creative Diagnostic Study: Overcoming Measurement Limitations in Healthcare Marketing for Boys Town Pediatrics”
Media Plans – Large Business
- Bronze: 1123, “Re-Bath Grand Rapids – Media Plans”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “Home Sweet Home Services Leads: Media Planning Drives Measurable Lead Growth”
- Pinnacle: Bailey Lauerman, “Cargill Branded Feed RAMP & Sweet Bran Media Plan”
Media Plans – Small Business
- Pinnacle: 1123, “Child Saving Institute Media Plans”
Media Plans – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: MediaSpark, “Just What the Doctor Ordered: Strategic Media Planning Expands Awareness and Builds Trust”
Organic Social Media – Large Business
- Silver: Scoular, “Category Insights Series”
- Pinnacle: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “UNO Alumna Samantha Pastorino Makes Omaha Her Newsroom”
Organic Social Media – Small Business
- Pinnacle: Hurrdat + Lukas Partners, “The Big Game Chain Presented by Borsheims”
Organic Social Media – Non-Profit
- Bronze: OBI Creative, “Goodwill Omaha Organic Social Media”
- Silver: Eleanor, “Old Market, New Organic Social”
- Pinnacle: Children’s Nebraska, “Merritt’s Story”
Paid Social Media – Large Business
- Bronze: MediaSpark, “The Whole Truth and Nothing But: How Nebraska College of Law Used Paid Social to Grow Applicants in 2025”
- Silver: Bailey Lauerman, “How Paid Social Reignited Subscriber Growth for Backyard Farmer”
- Pinnacle: Ervin & Smith, “biBerk industry campaign”
Paid Social Media – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: Say Hey There, “Foster Care Review Office Volunteer Recruitment Campaign”
Podcast – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: Constellation Collective, “Human Capital Lab Podcast”
Public Relations – Large Business
- Bronze: Bailey Lauerman, “WoodmenLife 2025 Public Relations Support”
- Silver: Hurrdat + Lukas Partners, “UScellular’s US Mode Provides World Record-Breaking Unplugged Experience”
- Pinnacle: Hurrdat + Lukas Partners, “Heartwood Preserve Becomes a Community Destination with Year-Round Engagement and National Recognition”
Public Relations – Non-Profit
- Silver: Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, “National Child Care Gap Assessment: Nebraska Analysis”
- Pinnacle: Children’s Nebraska, “Merritt’s Story”
Special Event – Large Business
- Bronze: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “Omaha x AI Conference”
- Silver: OBI Creative “Xperi Xscape”
- Pinnacle: Hurrdat + Lukas Partners, “The Ultimate Duck Tailgate at Edwards Auto Turns Grand Opening into Grand Impact”
Special Event – Non-Profit
- Bronze: planit inc., “Food Bank for the Heartland Celebrity Chef Culinary Cook-Off 2025”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “Creighton Women’s Athletics Leaders For Life: Elevating the Event Experience from First Impression to Final Applause”
- Pinnacle: Say Hey There, “Guns & Hoses Hockey Challenge Fundraiser”
Student Marketing
- Bronze: Joseph Jaworski of Bellevue University, “Mills County Fall Food Drive”
- Silver: Teresa Johnson of Bellevue University, “PawsSure Service Dog Training, Coverage Program”
- Pinnacle: Marissa Decker of Bellevue University, “Glow Recipe Social Media Campaign”
Trade Show – Large Business
- Bronze: Constellation Collective, “PeopleService Trade Show Campaign”
- Silver: SCORR Marketing, “Univo IRB SCOPE Everbright Booth”
- Pinnacle: SCORR Marketing, “SCORR SCOPE Meeting Room”
Video (5 min. Or Under) – Large Business
- Bronze: SCORR Marketing, “RDI Trials Diagnostica Video”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “No Regrets: Proving Value-driven Messaging Resonates and Drives Revenue”
- Pinnacle: University of Nebraska at Omaha, “The Kid, the Scientists, and the Walk That Changed Everything”
Video (5 min. Or Under) – Small Business
- Silver: 1123, “Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch – Ranch of Terror”
- Pinnacle: 1123, “Child Saving Institute Video”
Video (5 min. Or Under) – Non-Profit
- Bronze: MediaSpark, “MediaSpark & Boys Town Pediatrics: Using Video to Educate, Engage and Connect with Families”
- Silver: MediaSpark, “Merry and Brighter-than-bright Results: Video Increases Awareness and Conversations”
- Pinnacle: Children’s Nebraska, “People First Culture at Children’s Nebraska”
Video (5 min. +) – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, “Celebrating Campus and Community Partnerships with the University of Nebraska at Omaha”
Video (Series) – Large Business
- Silver: Scoular, “Scoular Harvest Video Series”
- Pinnacle: Bailey Lauerman, “OneTrak Video Series Refresh”
Video (Series) – Non-Profit
- Pinnacle: Children’s Nebraska, “My Behavioral Health & Wellness Story”
Website Design – Large Business
- Bronze: First National Technology Solutions, “Optimized FNTS Website Drives Organic Growth, Engagement and Technical Excellence”
- Silver: Ervin & Smith, “ManageAmerica website design”
- Pinnacle: Scoular, “Scoular Website Transformation”
Website Design – Non-Profit
- Silver: Vesper Concerts, “Sticking the Landing Page: Fundraising through Web Design”
- Pinnacle: Children’s Nebraska, “New Website, Same Mission”
Best of Show
- Children’s Nebraska, “My Behavioral Health & Wellness Story” video series entry
Agency of the Year
- MediaSpark
Student Marketer of the Year
- Joseph Jaworski, Bellevue University
Marketer of the Year
- Dana Nuzum, MediaSpark