Judging

 The SAMMY Awards are selected by our esteemed judging committee of leading social media and marketing experts, journalists, insiders, marketers, publishers, and social technology visionaries.

Can you explain how the campaigns are judged?
All entries are screened by our judging committee and then winnowed down to a list of 3 finalists. The campaign brief and any and all creative, web, and video entries will be viewed by the judges to make sure the entry is evaluated for the medium. The judges are sequestered prior to the event and select the winners during a round table session.

Meet The 2009 SAMMY Awards Judging Committee:

Scott Monty, Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager, Ford Motor Company

Scott Monty is currently the head of social media for Ford Motor Company, where he holds the title Global Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager. While his role is based in the Corporate Communications area, he is a strategic advisor on all social media activities across the company.

Don Steele, VP, Digital Marketing, MTVN (MTV Networks) Entertainment Group

Don Steele is the Vice President of Digital Marketing for the MTVN Entertainment group. There he is in charge of setting the strategy and implementing digital marketing initiatives for the websites and digital brands of Comedy Central, Spike and TV Land.

Shiv Singh, VP & Global Social Media Lead, Avenue A Razorfish

Shiv Singh advises Avenue A | Razorfish clients on how to leverage digital technologies to develop meaningful and value-driven customer and employee relationships. As vice president of social media and global strategic initiatives, he leads Avenue A | Razorfish’s foray into Social Influence Marketing™ the company’s approach for employing social media and virtual networks to achieve the marketing and business needs of an organization.

Michael Lazerow, CEO, Buddy Media

Michael Lazerow is currently the chairman and CEO of Buddy Media, Inc. Launched in 2007, Buddy Media develops and promotes social advertising campaigns that support interaction between people and brands. Buddy Media’s unique “Brand Advocate Process” is the only comprehensive approach to social media advertising that includes strategy, development, promotion and accountable monitoring of its branded apps.

Sarah Hofstetter, VP Emerging Media & Client Strategy, 360i

Sarah Hofstetter is VP of Emerging Media & Client Strategy at 360i, an award-winning independent digital agency. Since joining 360i, Sarah has built up the agency's Emerging Media practice, which specializes in integrating new and emerging digital media opportunities within a brand's digital marketing plan and now counts clients including NBC Universal, Scripps Networks and Red Roof Inn.

Tom Gerace, CEO, Gather.com

Tom Gerace is the founder and CEO of the social networking site Gather.com, where members share user-generated content online and earn a portion of the company’s advertising revenue. Tom Gerace is also the founding committee chair of SMAC, the Social Media Ad Consortium, and industry group launched in September 2008.

Elizabeth Pigg, Vice President, Media Strategy, Edelman Digital

Jon Gibs, VP of Insights, Nielsen Online

Jon Gibs is VP, Media Analytics for Nielsen Online. He specializes in research methodology design and development using their wide array of media measurement, social media and market research products. With more than 10 years of market research experience, Mr. Gibs previously managed the US based survey group for Nielsen Online.

Chris Cunningham, Founder, Appssavvy

Chris Cunningham, founder and CEO of appssavvy,  is at the forefront of social media and the applications that provide relevant marketing opportunities for consumers and advertisers whether they are on Facebook, MySpace, other social networks or the iPhone.

Paul Beck, Senior Partner, Worldwide Executive Director, Interactive Marketing, Advertising & Social Media, Ogilvy Worldwide

Paul Beck leads interactive marketing function and team with Ogilvy.  He also personally provides digital leadership on IBM, American Express, Cisco, Thomson Reuters, Xohm, Unilever/Dove, among many others.  His experience spans telecommunications, wireless, financial services and technology industries, in both B2C and B2B.

Matt Goddard, CEO, R2integrated

Matt Goddard leads R2i's strategic direction while providing valuable support to client digital marketing projects. Matt's understanding of social network theory is frequently called upon by R2i clients and partners as they develop their short and long term strategic plans.
 

 Rob Key, CEO/Founder, Converseon

Formerly head of the Innovations Group at a division of Young & Rubicam and member of the WPP.com board, Rob founded Converseon in 2001 to provide new, innovative communication solutions designed to help companies meet their business objectives in a digital environment.

Jeremy Arnon, Senior Director, Business Development, Quattro Wireless

Jeremy Arnon is currently Senior Director, Business Development at Quattro Wireless.  He is responsible for growing the Premier Ad Network’s mobile inventory through partnerships with major media companies and iPhone/ Android/ BlackBerry application developers including Men’s Health, Washington Post, Fandango, Edmunds.com, TheOnion and many others.