Recognize talent, celebrate excellence.

The IMCA board elects an individual whose long-term commitment, leadership, innovation, and strategies have impacted the insurance marketing and communications industry. 

Icon Eligibility & Requirements

While our eligibility and requirements are pretty simple, we want to ensure we’re honoring the best-of-the-best leaders. That’s why we’re looking for individuals who:

• Hold the title of chief marketing officer, vice president of marketing, senior marketing director, or equivalent for their current organization.
• Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in their current role.
• Have a minimum of 20 years in the marketing/communications industry, with 10 of those years within insurance.

Selection Criteria

The recipient is selected by the IMCA Board of Directors. They consider the recipient’s contributions to their current role, past roles, the industry and their community. The below criteria are used to select the recipient. 

Current Role and Past Insurance Marketing and Communications Role(s): 

• Demonstrates a transformation and improvement of marketing and communications efforts for their current organization
• Responsible for game-changing outcomes and improved metrics
• Inspires team to reach marketing and communications goals
• Provides leadership in driving successful strategies that positively impact the customer experience and the client acquisition process
• Creates an innovative environment that delivers break-through marketing and communications work

Insurance and Marketing Industry Contributions:

• Recognition by peers in the field
• Leadership roles held within industry networks or associations
• Demonstrated industry thought leadership

Past Experiences Outside of Industry Contributions:

• Notable marketing and communications experience and leadership outside of the insurance industry

Community and Charity Involvement:

• Noteworthy community and charity involvement
• Using their marketing and communication skills to positively impact community or charity initiatives

Recognition & Benefits

The IMCA Icon Award will be announced and honored at that year’s IMCA Ignite Conference. The recipient of the IMCA Icon Award will receive:

• A one-year paid individual membership to IMCA
• Complimentary registration to the following year’s IMCA Ignite
• Recognition via a news release and social media channels

The IMCA Trailblazer Award recognizes insurance marketers and communicators who are pioneers and innovators in our industry. Professionals of all ages and experience levels are eligible – from communications specialists and writers to designers and team leaders and senior-level managers. 

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!  

NOMINATE A TRAILBLAZER

Nominee Eligibility & Requirements

You can nominate individuals who have one to 100 years of experience (and everything in between). Nominees should hold a communications or marketing role in the insurance industry, and show a few extra qualities, too:

• Demonstrated success in strategic thinking, insights-based decision making and creativity
• Interest in innovations that advance insurance marketing and communications  

Application Process

• Nominations can be made by anyone (self-nominations are accepted)
• Nomination details:
  • Answer five questions about the nominee. Include any valuable metrics that support efforts (ROI, improved customer retention, improved client acquisition, technology deployments, cultural impact etc.):
    1. How does the nominee embody the characteristics of leadership in the insurance marketing and communications industry?
    2. How do the nominee’s efforts contribute to the marketing and communications success at their current organization (and any past organizations, if applicable)?
    3. How has the nominee positively impacted their organization and/or clients
    4. Describe the personal and professional characteristics that you believe make this person deserving of the IMCA Trailblazer Award.
    5. Describe any notable experience or community/charity involvement.

• Submit a PDF containing the nominee’s biography and/or resume (maximum of 2 pages).
• There is no fee associated with making a nomination.
• The nominee does not need to be a member of IMCA to qualify for the award.

Selection & Judging Criteria

The winner is selected by a panel of senior insurance marketing and communications professionals who evaluate the nominees’ contributions to their current role, past roles, the industry and their community. The below criteria will be used to score the nominees.  

• Makes valuable contributions to the overall excellence/effectiveness of their organization(s)
• Demonstrates leadership qualities, insights-based decision making, strategic thinking, innovation, creativity and accountability in executing their responsibilities
• Has a positive influence on their team and overall company
• Has a strong marketing and communications skill set

Recognition and Benefits

Based on submissions, the IMCA Trailblazer Award may be given to one or multiple individuals, who will be announced and honored at the IMCA Ignite Conference.

The recipient(s) of the IMCA Trailblazer Award(s) will receive:

• A one-year paid individual membership to IMCA
• Complimentary registration to the following year’s IMCA Ignite
• Recognition via a news release and social media channels

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!  

NOMINATE A TRAILBLAZER