Act Now: SB 5814 Is Impacting Your Business — Tell Lawmakers Before December 4, 2025
Washington’s new digital services tax, SB 5814, is already creating significant challenges for advertising and creative professionals across the state. With the House Finance Committee reviewing its implementation on December 4, now is the time for our community to speak up. Read how to contact lawmakers and share the real impact this bill is having on your work and your business.
Dear AAF Members & Community,
As you are likely already aware, SB 5814 took effect in October of this year. The revisions to Washington's tax law have profound and far-reaching adverse impacts on advertising, marketing, public relations, and communications firms across the state. This newly applied tax made Washington-based agencies and practitioners less competitive in an already tight market, and creates administrative challenges and confusion. The WA DOR, though attempting to provide guidance, is struggling to clarify administrative questions because of the law's confusing nature. This new tax could cost jobs and even force some small or boutique firms out of business or out of this state. Professionals in our community are not alone in the collateral damage of this shortsighted bill - event planners, commercial filming, and tourism are also struggling to mitigate the impact it has on their industries as well.
This THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025, at 1:30 PM, the House Finance Committee has an agenda item "Implementation of Senate Bill 5814."
YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
You are encouraged to reach out to the committee and original bill sponsors with comments and recommendations ahead of their meeting. Personal examples of how this bill is impacting you, your employees, your business, and your community of professionals work best. However, if you only have time for a phone call, you can ask them to repeal the law and rewrite one with the consultation and advice of the professionals it impacts.
Below is a list of committee members and their contact info, as well as the original bill sponsors who have an opportunity next session to bring this back to committee for repeal or modification. You will also find an email letter template that you are free to use to help craft your message. Make your voices heard by reaching out to each committee member with your concerns and recommendations. AAF Seattle will be doing the same on behalf of all our community and membership across Washington State.
Committee Members
| Member | District | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berg, April (D) Chair | 44 | 360-786-7892 | |
| Street, Chipalo (D) Vice Chair | 37 | 360-786-7838 | |
| Orcutt, Ed (R) Ranking Minority Member | 20 | 360-786-7990 | |
| Jacobsen, Cyndy (R) Assistant Ranking Minority Member | 25 | 360-786-7968 | |
| Abell, Hunter (R) | 7 | 360-786-7988 | |
| Chase, Rob (R) | 4 | 360-786-7984 | |
| Mena, Sharlett (D) | 29 | 360-786-7996 | |
| Parshley, Lisa (D) | 22 | 360-786-7992 | |
| Penner, Joshua (R) | 31 | 360-786-7866 | |
| Ramel, Alex (D) | 40 | 360-786-7970 | |
| Santos, Sharon Tomiko (D) | 37 | 360-786-7944 | |
| Scott, Shaun (D) | 43 | 360-786-7920 | |
| Springer, Larry (D) | 45 | 360-786-7822 | |
| Walen, Amy (D) | 48 | 360-786-7848 | |
| Wylie, Sharon (D) | 49 | 360-786-7924 |
Bill Sponsors
| Sponsor | District | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame, Noel (D) | 36 | 360-786-7670 | |
| Trudeau, Yasmin (D) | 27 | 360-786-7652 | |
| Alvarado, Emily (D) | 34 | 360-786-7667 | |
| Nobles, T'wana (D) | 28 | 360-786-7654 | |
| Pedersen, Jamie (D) | 43 | 360-786-7628 | |
| Valdez, Javier (D) | 46 | 360-786-7690 | |
| Wilson, Claire (D) | 30 | 360-786-7658 |
Take Part in the Work
If you want to help shape how Washington’s creative sector responds to SB 5814, we invite you to join AAF Seattle’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee, a group working year-round to support, protect, and elevate the region’s creative community.
Navigating the New Digital Services Tax Law — SB5814
Washington’s creative and advertising community came together once again on October 8 for AAF Seattle’s virtual forum, Navigating the New Digital Services Tax Law — SB 5814, a timely and urgently needed conversation about the state’s sweeping new tax requirements for advertising and digital services.
Washington’s creative and advertising community came together once again on October 8 for AAF Seattle’s virtual forum, Navigating the New Digital Services Tax Law — SB 5814, a timely and urgently needed conversation about the state’s sweeping new tax requirements for advertising and digital services.
Building on the momentum of August’s Founders Roundtable, this session broadened the audience, drawing agency leaders, production teams, freelancers, strategists, in-house marketers, and students. The turnout reflected a community still grappling with how to interpret and implement the law, and hungry for clarity, guidance, and a sense of solidarity.
What unfolded was an informative, candid, and at times sobering discussion featuring the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) and tax attorneys from Ballard Spahr, who together provided practical insights, examples, and warnings about what lies ahead for businesses navigating SB 5814.
A Community Seeking Answers
Before the program began, a series of live polls offered a snapshot of the room and painted a clear picture of where people stand.
When asked how prepared attendees felt for compliance, the majority said they had taken only “small steps,” others admitted they don’t know where to start, and only a handful said they felt fully ready. Several attendees reported that the law has already caused them to lose business, echoing the concerns expressed during the August roundtable.
One of the most striking responses came from the advocacy poll, where many participants said they would like to contact their legislators but don’t know how — and several admitted the thought hadn’t yet crossed their minds. This reinforced a theme that ran throughout the event: the need for collective action, shared resources, and clear on-ramps for civic engagement. By the final poll, every attendee asked for more forums like this one.
Setting the Stage
AAF Seattle President Valentina Gómez-Bravo opened the event by reinforcing the organization's mission: to educate, advocate, and unify the region’s creative industries. She grounded the conversation in both urgency and optimism, noting the community’s strong response to the first roundtable and previewing upcoming AAF Seattle events and advocacy efforts.
Government Affairs Director Thomas Ackels then framed the session: this was not simply an informational meeting, but an opportunity to understand, clarify, and prepare for the future. With the law now in effect, the focus had shifted from speculation to implementation — and to helping businesses of all sizes navigate the complexities ahead.
The panel featured representatives from the Washington State Department of Revenue, including Lalo Mendoza from the TPS Education & Outreach Team and tax law expert Darlene Warner, alongside Aaron Johnson and Brett Durbin, partners at Ballard Spahr LLP who co-lead the firm’s State and Local Tax team. Each panelist brought a unique perspective: the Department of Revenue provided insights focused on enforcement and interpretation of tax regulations, while Ballard Spahr contributed legal strategies and cautionary guidance, creating a well-rounded discussion on state and local tax issues.
What the Law Actually Does, and What It Means
The DOR led the group through an overview of the law, starting with the basics: as of October 1, 2025, many advertising and digital services are newly subject to retail sales tax and retail Business and Occupation (B&O) tax.
This includes digital advertising, agency services, creative and pre-production services, custom software, website development, and IT and digital services. Several longstanding exemptions were repealed, including the exemption for newspaper advertising, meaning that even legacy media categories will experience shifts in how they handle sales tax.
DOR repeated one theme throughout the session: They cannot change the law — they can only interpret and enforce it.
This reality shaped the tone of the morning: practical guidance within nonnegotiable constraints.
The Heart of the Confusion: Sourcing
The most complex part of the law — and the area that drew the most questions — is sourcing, or determining where the buyer “receives” the service.
DOR explained:
Pre-dissemination services (e.g., creative development) are received where the client first uses the deliverable.
Dissemination services (e.g., placing ads) are sourced where the advertisement appears to the intended audience.
Real-world examples underscored the complexities involved in sourcing decisions, particularly when national campaigns, multi-state companies, creative work produced in Seattle for nonlocal clients, and work distributed across digital platforms blur the lines of client location. This situation places the burden on businesses to justify, document, and allocate appropriately. The Department of Revenue (DOR) emphasized that reasonable methods for allocation are allowed, documentation is essential, and businesses may request binding rulings when interpretation is unclear. Additionally, a “grace period” exists for certain pre-existing contracts to provide some leeway during this transition.
Still, the overarching message was clear: the law is difficult to apply, and businesses must prepare for that.
Legal Perspectives and Warnings
Ballard Spahr attorneys expanded on the challenges businesses face by highlighting several critical issues, including the risks associated with incorrect sourcing, the steep penalties for misuse of reseller permits, and the complications arising from “bundled” transactions. They also addressed conflicting interpretations between statute and practice, potential First Amendment concerns, and the heightened risk of audits, particularly as the Department of Revenue responds to increased demand for rulings. Additionally, they noted the possibility that future regulations could extend into related digital areas. Their guidance was clear and practical: businesses must thoroughly document all transactions, avoid overly broad use of reseller permits, rely on well-crafted contracts to clarify sourcing, and ensure that taxable and nontaxable services are clearly separated.
A System That’s Straining Small Businesses
A recurring theme of both the DOR presentation and legal commentary was the disproportionate impact of the law on small- to mid-sized businesses. All participants voiced concerns about the administrative burden, loss of competitiveness with out-of-state firms, client confusion, rate increases that make Washington agencies appear 10% more expensive overnight, inconsistent application for digital campaigns, difficulty tracking service location, and the increased labor needed for accounting and documentation.
We closed the conversation by reinforcing that the community’s perspectives matter and that now is the moment to reach out to legislators, share real-world impact, and advocate for solutions that support Washington’s creative economy.
A Call for Ongoing Conversation
The strongest signal of the day came at the end when every attendee asked for more forums like this one. At AAF Seattle we are committed to:
Continuing educational events
Sharing updated resources as the DOR releases more guidance
Providing templates for outreach
Offering advocacy pathways for those unsure of where to begin
Keeping the conversation going as the law evolves
Take Part in the Work
If you want to help shape how Washington’s creative sector responds to SB 5814, we invite you to join AAF Seattle’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee, a group working year-round to support, protect, and elevate the region’s creative community.
Recap: Founders Roundtable on SB 5814
On August 28, AAF Seattle hosted the first Founders Roundtable of the year — a gathering of industry leaders from across Seattle’s advertising, communications, media, and creative industries. The focus: SB 5814, Washington’s new digital and tech services tax bill, and its far-reaching implications for how agencies operate, price, and invoice.
On August 28, AAF Seattle hosted the first Founders Roundtable of the year — a gathering of industry leaders from across Seattle’s advertising, communications, media, and creative industries. The focus: SB 5814, Washington’s new digital and tech services tax bill, and its far-reaching implications for how agencies operate, price, and invoice.
This event was more than a meeting — it was an opportunity for our community to come together, share perspectives, and begin to chart a collective path forward.
Key Themes from the Roundtable
1. Immediate impact on operations
Attendees voiced concerns about the practical challenges of implementing the tax: rebuilding invoicing systems, separating taxable vs. non-taxable services, training staff, and communicating changes to clients. Many anticipated higher overhead costs, disrupted contracts, and client confusion, with one group noting the likelihood that “clients pay more, get less, or leave.”
2. Competitiveness and long-term risks
A central theme was the uneven playing field this law creates between Washington-based firms and out-of-state agencies. Participants worried that local invoices will appear 10% higher, driving clients — especially cost-sensitive nonprofits and startups — to move their work elsewhere. The administrative burden of tracking where services are delivered and renegotiating contracts was seen as a significant risk for smaller agencies.
3. Advocacy and support needs
The group emphasized the importance of AAF Seattle’s role in supporting members through clear communication, advocacy templates, and ongoing forums for knowledge-sharing. Requests included legal/accounting guidance, model client communications, and coordinated messaging to legislators. Attendees agreed that a united front is essential to amplify the industry’s perspective in Olympia and beyond.
4. Collective ideas and solutions
Groups brainstormed both short- and long-term strategies:
Developing a shared fact sheet/FAQ and client-facing materials to reduce confusion.
Partnering with local chambers of commerce, civic organizations, and policy groups to broaden advocacy.
Collaborating with industries already mobilizing (e.g., Washington Filmworks).
Exploring collective compliance tools and shared resources to reduce cost burdens.
Focusing near-term efforts on shaping DOR guidance, seen as a quicker lever than legislative repeal.
Next Steps
Looking ahead, attendees outlined clear priorities:
Continue to press for clarity in DOR guidance (expected in early September).
Engage with AAF National’s Government Affairs team on litigation and legislative advocacy.
Mobilize through coordinated outreach to Washington State representatives.
Create ongoing opportunities for education, collaboration, and shared action.
Resources & Notes
We’ve compiled the full set of notes, questions, and group ideas from the roundtable into a resource deck:
👉 [View the deck from the Founders Roundtable]
Other resources
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5814, Laws of 2025, Chapter 422 (ESSB 5814)
Interim guidance statement regarding changes made by ESSB 5814 for Advertising Services
Thank You
Thank you to all the community members who joined us for this critical conversation. Your candor, ideas, and collaboration are shaping how Seattle’s creative community navigates this challenge together.
Special thanks to C+C for hosting us for this important event.
Join the next conversation.
Register for our follow-up session, Navigating the New Digital Services Tax Law — SB 5814, on October 8, 2025, where we’ll review the DOR’s official guidance, answer questions, and continue building momentum.
Want a seat at the table? Join our Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee and make your voice heard.
AAF Seattle Welcomes 2025–2026 Board of Directors: Igniting a New Era of Connection, Recognition, Service & Growth
We’re thrilled to introduce the 2025–2026 AAF Seattle Board of Directors, an inspiring group of creative professionals, educators, strategists, and entrepreneurs dedicated to advancing the local advertising and marketing community.
The American Advertising Federation Seattle (AAF Seattle) is proud to introduce its incoming Board of Directors for the 2025–2026 term. With a dynamic mix of returning leaders and new voices from across the region’s creative, media, higher education, and marketing industries, this board is set to champion a revitalized vision for the organization centered on connection, recognition, service, and growth.
Following a year of strategic reactivation, celebrated programming, and a surge in community engagement, AAF Seattle is entering a new chapter, one that invites the entire creative ecosystem to come together, get inspired, and shape the future of advertising in the Pacific Northwest.
“We are excited and energized,” said AAF Seattle Board President Valentina Gomez Bravo. “This new board is built on experience, passion, and a deep belief in the power of community. Together, we’re focused on elevating voices, sparking collaboration, and growing a space where creatives at every stage of their journey can thrive.”
Meet the 2025–2026 AAF Seattle Board of Directors
This year’s board reflects a remarkable mix of creative professionals, brand leaders, educators, strategists, and community builders, all committed to reimagining what AAF Seattle can be. From award-winning executive creative directors to fast-rising entrepreneurs and industry mentors, this group brings energy, heart, and a shared dedication to strengthening Seattle’s advertising and creative ecosystem.
Valentina Gomez Bravo – President
Executive Creative Director, University of Washington | Author | Speaker | Educator | Entrepreneur
An award-winning creative strategist and DEI champion, Valentina leads AAF Seattle with a vision rooted in empowerment, transformation, and community. With over 22 years of industry experience and eight ADDY Awards to her name, she believes in building conscious, purposeful brands and communities with intention and heart.
Lucas Rose – Treasurer
Sales Assistant, Pacific Outdoor Advertising
Lucas brings a grounded and joyful energy to the board, helping manage operations and finances. His experience spans national and local brand work in out-of-home advertising, and he’s a proud supporter of teamwork, softball, Seinfeld, and the 49ers.
Cindy Pennington – Executive Director / American Advertising Awards Co-Chair
Owner, Bayview Support
The longest-serving member of AAF Seattle, Cindy has led the organization’s operational backbone for over 25 years. In addition to serving as Executive Director, she co-chairs the ADDY Awards and represents District XI. Her institutional knowledge and steady hand continue to be essential to AAF Seattle’s success.
John Line – Membership Director
Managing Director, Copacino Fujikado
With a resume spanning top agencies like Ogilvy, VML, and 360i, John brings senior leadership and operations expertise to AAF Seattle’s membership strategy. He’s passionate about fostering connection, trust, and partnership within the local creative economy.
Dan Vanderhei – Advertising Education Director
Creative Director, Dvdh
Dan is a seasoned creative leader focused on clarity, storytelling, and mentorship. With 15+ years guiding major brands like Xbox and Acura, he’s revitalizing AAF Seattle’s education programs to support emerging talent and bridge generational knowledge gaps.
Maria Schnepf – Social Media Director
Social Strategist, GreenRubino
Maria brings a holistic, data-informed, and compassionate approach to social strategy. From early involvement with AAF as a student to now leading social campaigns for clients across sectors, she’s committed to building an inclusive, engaged creative community online and off.
Andy Farnum – Board Member / American Advertising Awards Co-Chair
Marketing Project Manager, Inviso Marketing – Microsoft
A Seattle-based tech marketing leader, Andy has spent 15+ years navigating global brand work at the intersection of business, cloud technology, and design. A Microsoft-certified AI engineer and RISD alum, he brings an interdisciplinary lens to every challenge.
Andres Rodriguez – Communications Director
VP of Strategy, C+C
Andres is a bilingual strategist focused on multicultural marketing, purpose-driven storytelling, and impactful campaign development. With deep expertise in public health and corporate narratives alike, he helps shape AAF Seattle’s messaging with nuance and intent.
Thomas Ackels – Government Affairs Director
CEO, Co-Founder & Producer, Offbeat Films
Thomas is an award-winning filmmaker and advocate who brings creative energy and civic focus to the board. As a storyteller, entrepreneur, and community connector, he leads AAF Seattle’s renewed engagement in local and national government affairs.
Heather Alabado – Brand & Marketing Director
Creative Director / Director, Heatshe.com
Heather is a multidisciplinary creative force, having led branding and post-production work for major brands like Microsoft, Amazon, and Pokémon. Her work has been featured by AdWeek and IDN Magazine, and she brings her artistic eye to AAF Seattle’s brand expression.
Kate Zavitnevich – Events Co-Director
Head of Client Services & Growth, HRVIST
Kate is a strategic connector and recruiting expert in the creative industry. Through HRVIST, she helps pair top talent with exciting opportunities, and through AAF Seattle, she’s crafting events that spark connection, magic, and momentum.
Kelly Lanes – Events Co-Director
Co-Founder, Fuze the Agency | Marketing Expert | Entrepreneur | Author | Podcaster
Kelly is a bold, purpose-driven marketing powerhouse. Known for helping brands break the mold and do “business unusual,” she leads with charisma, insight, and unapologetic creativity. She’s also a dynamic speaker, podcast host, and advocate for the next generation of creatives.
Join Us , We’re Building This Together
AAF Seattle is 100% volunteer-led and powered by people who believe in the future of our industry. And we want you to be part of it.
Whether you’re ready to take on a leadership role, lend your skills as a volunteer, serve on a committee, or simply show up to your first event, there’s a place for you in this community.
A Night to Remember: The 2025 American Advertising Awards Seattle
On Thursday, April 03 the Seattle advertising and creative community gathered for an unforgettable night of inspiration, recognition, and celebration, marking the triumphant return of AAF Seattle’s biggest annual event to a live, in-person format after five years online.
On Thursday, April 03 the Seattle advertising and creative community gathered for an unforgettable night of inspiration, recognition, and celebration at the 2025 American Advertising Awards Seattle Gala, marking the triumphant return of AAF Seattle’s biggest annual event to a live, in-person format after five years online.
Held at Kane Hall on the University of Washington campus, this nearly sold-out event welcomed hundreds of creative professionals, agency leaders, students, and supporters to honor the very best in advertising across the region. From bold integrated campaigns to powerful public service storytelling, the work celebrated this year reflected not just creative excellence but cultural impact, collaboration, and purpose.
A Triumphant Return to the Stage
The American Advertising Awards—affectionately known as the ADDYs—are part of the nation’s largest and most representative advertising competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries each year across three tiers: local, district, and national.
For the Seattle creative community, this year’s gala wasn’t just another awards show—it was a comeback story. After half a decade of virtual gatherings, the event marked a bold new chapter for AAF Seattle, a club that nearly closed its doors in mid-2024. But thanks to a revitalized board, a passionate volunteer base, and the support of industry leaders, the organization has entered what President Valentina Gomez Bravo calls “our comeback era.”
“Rebuilding AAF Seattle has been a labor of love,” said Gomez Bravo during her opening remarks. “This event mattered—not just for us as individuals, but for the entire community. It was a night to remember, and we hope it’s the first of many more to come.”
Honoring Legacy: The Silver Medal Award
One of the evening’s most anticipated moments was the presentation of the Silver Medal Award, the highest honor AAF Seattle bestows each year. This prestigious recognition celebrates those who have made significant contributions to advertising and demonstrated a consistent commitment to creative excellence and industry advancement.
Presented by advertising legend Tracy Wong, this year’s Silver Medal was awarded to two outstanding leaders: Matt McCain and Michael Boychuk, whose collaborative legacy has shaped some of the most celebrated work in the region and mentored a generation of creative professionals. Their tribute video, produced by their agency peers, was met with roaring applause and a standing ovation.
Learn more about the Silver Medal Award and the honorees.
The Judges, the Work, the Wins
The 2025 show was judged by a panel of nationally recognized creative leaders from outside the Seattle market. Their selections reflected the breadth and depth of talent across the region, with entries evaluated across traditional, digital, social, experiential, student, and public service categories.
For the first time ever, AAF Seattle introduced Bronze Local Awards into the winner’s circle, allowing more outstanding work to be recognized alongside Silver and Gold ADDY honorees.
Among this year’s most notable winners:
Herd of Shepherds and Smartsheet took home Best of Show for “Peak Fandom,” a campaign that blended creative craft and data-driven strategy with playful fan engagement.
PB& LLC and Visit Seattle received the Mosaic Award for “Unsettled Territory,” recognizing excellence in multicultural marketing and inclusive storytelling.
Judge’s Choice Awards were presented to:
VML Seattle for “The BOOM Inside You” with Washington’s Lottery & the Seahawks
DNA&STONE for “Scary Not Scary Question” with Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle Kraken for “Defend the Deep”
The show also highlighted student work from Seattle Central College and Western Washington University, underscoring the next generation of creative leaders.
A Look at SOME OF THE THE Winners
Here’s a simplified look at some of this year’s award recipients:
🏆 Best of Show
Herd of Shepherds – “Peak Fandom” for Smartsheet
🥇 Gold ADDYs (Selected Highlights)
VML Seattle – “The BOOM Inside You” for Washington’s Lottery / Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Kraken – “The Creature” and “Hoist the Colors”
Imaginary Friends – “This is Work” for Microsoft
DNA&STONE – “Aegis – Aging is Life”
🥈 Silver ADDYs (Selected Highlights)
Copacino + Fujikado – “Skip the Drama” for Sound Transit
PB& LLC – “Unsettled Territory” for Visit Seattle
Hydrogen – “Powering Generations” for Puget Sound Energy
C+C – “Salmon Warriors” for Salmon Defense
🥉 Bronze Awards (New in 2025)
FreshMade – “Dogs: The Ultimate Copilot” for Microsoft
Bread n Butter – “Dick’s Drive-In x Royal Family Farms”
Designit – “Packed with Joy” for Zipfizz
University of Washington – “Brand Anthem”
🎓 Student Winners
Jenny Katz, Seattle Central College – Quili Sustainable Packaging
Cam Gibb, Western Washington University – MODE Summit 2025
A complete list of winners and categories can be found here.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This year’s gala was made possible through the generous support of our event sponsors. AAF Seattle is deeply grateful to the following partners:
Associated Posters Inc. – Our go-to source for large and grand format printing. Their beautiful banners welcomed every guest at the door, and they offer exclusive discounts to AAF members!
Via Creatives – A powerhouse video production team that captured the night beautifully. We can’t wait to share their official recap.
Offbeat Films – The storytellers behind our stunning photo booth experience. Check out the photos—they’re as authentic as they are fun.
Weekend Photography (Jonathan Owens) – Candid moments, standing ovations, and all the sparkle in between—Jonathan captured it all live from the floor.
We’re proud to collaborate with sponsors who not only support the event but also uplift the creative community year-round.
View the Photo Album
📸 Relive the magic!
Our full photo gallery from the gala is now live.
Click here to view and download your favorite moments.
What’s Next for AAF Seattle?
The gala may be over, but AAF Seattle is just getting started.
With a revitalized board, a growing membership, and a renewed mission focused on Service, Growth, Recognition, and Connection, AAF Seattle is committed to building a more inclusive, accessible, and vibrant creative community.
“This isn’t just a comeback,” said Gomez Bravo. “It’s the beginning of a new chapter—and we want everyone to be a part of it.”
Want to get involved? Volunteer? Sponsor an upcoming event? Or just meet more people who get what you do?
👉 Contact us or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay connected.
About AAF Seattle
Founded in 1909, AAF Seattle is one of the oldest clubs in the American Advertising Federation, the nation’s only organization that brings together professionals across all disciplines and career levels in advertising. From students to CEOs, creatives to strategists, we’re here to champion the industry and the people who make it matter.
Want to help shape the future of AAF Seattle?
Join the movement. Be part of the momentum. And maybe… start working on your 2026 entry.
Recap: Trending Now (and Later): Social Media & Creator Economy Insights for 2025
AAF Seattle brought together an inspiring group of creatives, marketers, and innovators for “Trending Now (and Later): Social Media & Creator Economy Insights for 2025.” Held at the beautiful Copacino Fujikado office, the evening explored the ever-evolving world of digital storytelling, social strategy, and the future of the creator economy.
The night kicked off with energetic networking and community building, followed by a compelling panel moderated by Emmalynn Cortes Ellendt of The Creative Edition Podcast and Forbes. Panelists Kelley Myers (Autodesk), Sophia Pollock (TikTok Shop), and Rudy Willingham (Creative Director & Content Creator) shared timely insights into emerging trends, the evolution of e-commerce, and the power of authenticity in digital storytelling.
From brand innovation to creator-led commerce, attendees left with actionable takeaways and a deeper understanding of what’s next in the social and influencer space.
Special thanks to our generous event sponsors Creative People and Copacino Fujikado, and to our dedicated Events Director Bianca Urbina for leading the charge. We’re grateful for our all-volunteer board of directors — Valentina Gomez Bravo, Andy Farnum, John Line, Maria Schnepf, Laura Murdock, and Cindy Pennington — for making events like this possible.
If you missed it, stay tuned — we’ll be sharing all upcoming events soon. And as always, we invite you to join the conversation as we continue to build and support Seattle’s vibrant creative community.
Enjoy the event photos courtesy of Michael Patrick Hoyle, Bianca Urbina and Hannah Crossman.
Announcing the AAF Western Region's 2021 Best of the West Media Awards
The AAF Western Region has a new, alternate awards show…
We’re helping to promote a new awards series hosted by the AAF Western Region which recognizes exceptional work and service to community, happening six months away from the American Advertising Awards.
We’ve moved the rest of this story to a dedicated Best of the West page in our Awards section.
2018 National American Advertising Awards Results
Seattle agencies took home two Gold and four Silver ADDYs at the 2018 national competition!
The 2018 National American Advertising Awards were held June 8th in Chicago as part of the American Advertising Federation's AdMerica annual national conference.
We sent a few board members out to learn from their peers at the conference and to cheer on local entrants at the award show.
Entries begin their journey in local shows, with winners moving on to district competition, and those winners then compete at the national level. It's quite an accomplishment to be awarded at any level, but to get national recognition is truly significant.
Seattle made an impact again this year, winning multiple ADDYs including Golds for POSSIBLE and Indigo Slate, and a student Gold for Mariah Behrens.
Congratulations to all the 2018 winners from western Washington!
Gold: Cinematography
Indigo Slate • Bellevue
Microsoft - Microsoft Surface: Screen & Inking
Gold: Integrated Media Public Service Campaign
POSSIBLE • Seattle, WA
Lonely Whale Foundation - Strawless Ocean Campaign
Silver: Cinematography
Freeride Entertainment • Seattle
Samsung USA - Russell Westbrook: Driven
Silver: Public Service Ambient Media
POSSIBLE • Seattle
Lonely Whale Foundation - SuckerPunch
Silver: Movie Trailer
Freeride Entertainment • Seattle
Red Bull Media House - North of Nightfall Teaser Trailer
Silver: Voiceover
WONGDOODY • Seattle
Childhaven - The Extraordinary Normal
Student Gold: Magazine Design
Mariah Behrens, Seattle Central Creative Academy • Seattle
LOIS magazine
Student Silver: Website (Desktop or Mobile)
Alessia Pizzoccheri, Art Institute of Seattle • Seattle
Papier Machine Official Website
You can view the entire list of winners at the national American Advertising Awards site
Judging Las Vegas
Our Communications Director reports on what it's like to be an ADDY judge, and exemplifies how being involved in the AAF grows your network, your experiences, and your opportunties…
Our Communications Director, Luis Antezana, reports on what it's like to be an ADDY judge, and exemplifies how being involved in the AAF grows your network, your experiences, and your opportunties…
Vegas.
The American Advertising Awards.
Judging people’s creative work.
All things I really enjoy.
That’s what was in store when I agreed to serve as a judge for Las Vegas’s ADDY Awards last weekend.
The details that go along with the premise of such an experience just sweeten the deal:
Air travel. Meeting new people. Establishing a team dynamic. Experiencing creative in another market. Rewarding great work. Revisiting, respecting, and upholding professional standards.
Serving the American Advertising Federation.
Eating somewhere new on someone else’s dime.
It all started as strangers introducing themselves at the Western Region Conference at Snowbird resort last fall. As anyone who’s sat with the same people through a weekend of seminars knows, you develop a gut feeling for someone’s capacities. And whether you’d like to ever see them again.
While I’ve told myself their original choice must have backed out, I was honored to receive the call from AAF Las Vegas. Their hospitality was gracious and the process went amazingly smoothly. My fellow judges were true pros, and fun to hang out with, both during and after judging. (Enough said on that part).
Judges dinner with AAF Las Vegas crew kicks off the weekend
Winning an American Advertising Award can make a career, or cap one off, so agencies submit their very best work, hoping for that special recognition. Viewing others’ creative is always simultaneously humbling and inspiring. To judge it is truly a privilege.
Congratulations to the 2018 winners!
6:00 a.m. sunrise over Las Vegas as I depart
Seattle Interactive Conference 2017
SIC is back—and we've got a discount for our readers.
The Seattle Interactive Conference is back this October 17+18 for another series of amazing keynotes, sessions, workshops, and community, all focused around what's current in creative content and led by top minds from Seattle and beyond.
As a SIC partner, AAF Seattle is offering our community $100 off a conference gold pass when using code AAFANDSIC17. Buy tickets here.
Register early for our city's must-attend conference of the year!
2017 National American Advertising Awards Winners Announced
Seattle represented well at the national ADDY Awards gala in New Orleans. Click through to see the glory.
One of the coolest parts of entering the American Advertising Awards is that the winning doesn't stop at the local level. Gold and Silver winners are eligible to compete at the District level (this year's results here), and those winners can move on to the national level.
This year's national competition was judged June 1st in Washington D.C., with the winners announced and recognized June 10th at the American Advertising Awards gala at the ADmerica conference in New Orleans. And boy did Seattle represent! Not only did we send several agency and student winners, but we took home an armful of awards, including two Gold ADDYs:
World Famous - Gold - Cinematography - Odesza - It's Only (feat. Zyra)
Wunderman - Gold - Integrated Media Public Service Campaign - Mountain Safety Research - Community Chlorine Maker
POSSIBLE - Silver - Integrated Advertising Campaign - Local - Consumer - The Summit at Snoqualmie - Office Rescue
POSSIBLE - Silver - Online/Interactive Branded Content & Entertainment - AT&T - Santa Live
Publicis - SIlver - Out-Of-Home Multiple Installations - Visit Seattle - Little Free Libraries
Tacoma Rainiers - Silver - Book Design - Tacoma Rainiers - Our House Is Your House
Wunderman - Silver - Data Driven Media - Microsoft - GamerCrest
Wunderman - Silver - Innovative Use of Interactive/Technology - Microsoft - Gamercrest
See the entire winners list, including the work for Best of Show, Judges Choice, and all Gold winners.
A huge congratulations to all the competitors and winners!
It's not too early to starting thinking about the 2018 American Advertising Awards Seattle. We will announce a call for entries in the fall for judging in February, with our awards gala in March 2018. Keep up the great work!
2017 District XI American Advertising Awards Competition Results
Judging for the next stage of ADDY competition—District XI—took place April 1. We've got the results!
Judges met April 1 in Seattle to decide the AAF District XI ADDY winners from creative work submitted by the local chapter competition winners in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.
With the stakes even higher and the pressure on, AAF Seattle's local ADDY winners scored high marks.
Professional Best of Show honors went to Wunderman Seattle for their “GamerCrest” entry for Microsoft.
A Professional Judges Choice Award went to Publicis Seattle for “Been There, Made That” entry for Visit Seattle.
District Gold ADDY winners automatically advance to the final national round of judging, while District Silver ADDY winners are eligible to advance.
Nationals Are Next
Judging to determine National ADDY Award winners will take place in Washington DC in early May. The National ADDY Award winners will be announced at the American Advertising Awards national gala at ADmerica on June 10 in New Orleans.
District XI Judges
This year’s judges:
• Jeff Martin - Executive Creative Director, Karsh/Hagan, Denver
• Steffan Postaer - Executive Creative Director, JUMBOshrimp, San Francisco
• Ryan Mastalerz - Associate Creative Director, Intel/Agency Inside, San Francisco
District XI Winners List
Full results are available in PDF format and include both professional and student results.
ADDY 2017 Event Recap
The Society came together to celebrate the best creative work in Western Washington.
This entry essentially duplicates the content on our main ADDY page, which has more photos.
Now that was a gala!
The 2017 American Advertising Awards Seattle was held March 16th at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront.
Cynthia Hartwig (R) with the AAF Silver Medal Award, presented to her by Mary Knight (L)
The Winners
Congratulations to the all the winners!
Special applause for Cynthia Hartwig, this year's AAF Silver Medal Award winner.
The complete Seattle winners list with both professionals and students is available in PDF format, sorted by winner's name.
Fill up that trophy case, you show-off! Contact us to order extra ADDY trophies.
The Book
The show book, designed by Isaac LeFever, is available in for download in PDF format.
We also have some extra hard copies. Contact us to order one or arrange a pickup.
The Social
Even though our underground location had little to no internet availability (%^&$@^!) we still had plenty of social sharing using #SeattleADDYs and #SeattleADDYWinner.
See our all our pics from the evening—and be sure to tag yourselves—on Facebook.
The Society
The noble, the strange. This year's theme transformed the familiar into the abstract, with a notion of civility, an eye for the celestial, and a parlance of wit.
The Society represents our city’s top creative minds. Those adroit renegades who catch out mediocrity and drive it from this gritty metropolis entirely. Who dare to think bold. Be badass. Cloaked in secrecy, with a penchant for deviousness, we The Society are here. Behind every striking idea. Quiet as a raindrop on Jupiter. Fighting the fight for sublime creativity.
The Sponsors
Big time things only happen with the help of big time friends. We're grateful for these companies who helped make this evening possible.
Digital Summit Seattle
As a local sponsor of Digital Summit Seattle, we're hooking you up with a chance to win a conference pass. Or use our discount code for $50 off.
AAF Seattle: Local Sponsor
We live to help our community grow their skills and experience the top minds and concepts in our business, so when Digital Summit asked us to co-sponsor their upcoming conference, we jumped. And of course we have a discount for our peeps, too.
What Is Digital Summit Seattle?
Digital Summit is where ideas and inspiration are born. Thousands of professions work directly with industry leading brands learning practical, actionable solutions they can immediately apply back at the office.
Brilliant speakers bring phenomenal content on Marketing Strategies, UX & Design, Email, Search, Mobile, Video, SEO and so much more. Digital Summit is not only a place for keeping up with the trends, but also for being an active player in their creation.
Who Should Attend?
- Marketing and content leaders from companies of all sizes
- CMOs and CEOs looking to optimize their digital strategies
- UX and Design experts looking to level up their marketing knowledge
- Technology evangelists and entrepreneurs pushing the boundaries of content, analytics, mobile, and more
- Companies and professionals engaged in the mobile marketing and content ecosystem
- Practitioners of SEO, Social, and Brand Storytelling
- Creative professionals working in an agency setting
Win a Conference Pass or Get $50 Off
Yep, we have one pass to give away—a $295 value! Just cozy up to us digitally by signing up for our mailing list and tweeting about the conference using the tool below. We'll announce winners the morning of March 23rd*.
Even if you don't win we're offering $50 off using code AAF50. And feel free to share that code far and wide. That's a win-win.
We're verifying every entry before drawing our winner, so if you delete your tweet or unsubscribe it won't count.
*Our winner of the $295 conference pass is Anisa Ishida!
Do You AdSpeak?
Members of The Society converse in an evolved tongue called AdSpeak.
Do you relate? You just may be one of the noble…
Members of The Society converse in an evolved tongue called AdSpeak.
Do you relate? You just may be one of the noble…
The AdSpeak collection is also available for sharing with the masses on Pinterest.
Gallery Night 2017 Event Recap
Our evening presenting all the work submitted for the Seattle ADDYs inspired awe and appreciation. We've got the pics.
Our second annual Gallery Night was held February 23rd at AXIS Pioneer Square, and made good on our club's intent to establish a tradition of appreciation for all the entries submitted for the American Advertising Awards Seattle.
Seeing the breadth of fine work on display, the hours of effort involved, the extent of creativity, the quantity—heck, the beauty of it all—gives us incredible context for the immense challenge of this competition.
Photos (by Mordan McGrath)
See the entire collection in our Facebook album.
To those who didn't win this year, we honor and thank you for your work.
To those who did win, you've got a shiny new addition to your awards cabinet coming your way. And more could be coming as the competition moves on to District 11 and from there to national. Good luck!
Next up is our gala celebration on March 16th, featuring new reserved seating and seat selection. We hope to see everyone at the ADDYs!
Survey
If you attended there's still time to give feedback on our survey to help us improve our events.
ADDY Judging Weekend 2017
Five experienced judges convened in Seattle to judge Western Washington's best creative work. They left impressed.
The weekend of February 10-12, we were honored to welcome the critical eyes and analytical minds of this year's ADDY judges:
Mark Sarosi - Anomaly, New York
Paul Roberts - BSSP, San Francisco
École Weinstein - Havas, Chicago
Larry Olson - Studio Lo, Boulder
Brett Singer - TBWA\Chiat\Day, New York
Each year it's a big deal to have real pros from name agencies in big markets come judge our region's work. And each year, Seattle, you rise to the occasion. The judges left duly impressed.
Special thanks to SVC—an AAF Seattle Gold Sponsor—and all the volunteers who gave an entire weekend to make everything possible.
Chalk Talk 2017 Event Recap
This year's event brought a critical focus to each ad's creative motivations and business goals, with moderator, panel, and audience keeping the discussion highly involved. We've got pics and an embedded Storify of all the #AAFChalkTalk tweets.
Our annual Chalk Talk Super Bowl Ad review was held February 9th at 415 Westlake. This year's event brought a critical focus to each ad's creative motivations and business goals, with moderator, panel, and audience keeping the discussion highly involved.
Thanks to Chris Copacino for moderating, to panelists Emily Cushman, Nick Gesualdi, Patrick Mazzotta, Patrick McKay, and Adam Nowak for their astute observations, to our drink sponsor, Hand Crank Films, for keeping us well lubricated, and to everyone who attended and tweeted and voted for making this always such a unique and cool experience.
See and follow our panelists on Lanyrd
Photos
See our Facebook photo album for more, and don't forget to tag yourself.
Voting Results
Our first interactive voting form gave us some idea of how our own audience felt about the ads.
Best: GoDaddy, Old Spice, Wealthsimple
Most Liked: GoDaddy, Aflac "Ski Patrol"
Divided: Intel, Sprint, T-mobile "Unlimited Moves"
Worst and Least Liked: Alfa Romeo "Dear Predictable," American Petroleum Institute
Our full voting recap gives more detail.
Twitter
Chalk Talk is a special event because it involves the audience at every chance. Your #AAFChalkTalk tweets entertain us during the game and inform our panel's discussion at the event.
Check out the tweets from Super Bowl week, from game time all the way through our event.
Survey Request
If you attended the event there's still time to give us feedback in our event survey so next year will be even better.
Chalk Talk 2017 Ad Ratings Results
We can't help it. We like to judge. So we introduced a rating form this year. Here's what you thought of the ads of Super Bowl 51.
We can't help it. We like to judge. Especially when it comes to others' creative work. So for the biggest advertising stage of the year—Super Bowl 51— we produced an interactive rating form so you could give feedback on each ad and prep for our upcoming Chalk Talk ad review event.
Let's be transparent here: We only got 9 participants. But while not statistically significant, those results still tell an interesting story…
Highlights
We had some clear favorites, some divided opinions, and some clear losers. It's fascinating to see how the results shake out from all the competing spots.
Best
GoDaddy, Old Spice, and Wealthsimple were unanimously approved.
Most Liked
GoDaddy got 8 total Likes, more than any other ad. Special mention to Aflac "Ski Patrol," which got also got 8 Likes (and 1 Dislike). Technically a pre-game ad, it was made by local shop Wongdoody so we put it on the form. Glad we did.
Divided
Intel, Sprint, and T-Mobile's "Unlimited Moves" ads split opinions evenly (not all 9 participants voted on every ad).
Worst and also Least Liked
Alfa Romeo "Dear Predictable" and the American Petroleum Institute got the most Dislikes with 7 each.
Methodology
We kept things simple. For whatever reason, you either liked the ad or didn't, so we went with a Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down as the only voting choices.
The ads were listed alphabetically since we didn't know ahead of time in what order they'd appear. Each listing including a frame from the ad and an embedded video of the ad.
Technology
We used Google Forms to create and host the form. If anyone knows a better polling tool for next year let us know in the comments below, but it handled all the elements well enough, including mobile friendliness.
Prep for Reviewing Super Bowl 51 Ads
Our list of resources for watching the ads of Super Bowl 51, including #AAFChalkTalk Tagboard and - new for 2017 - our interactive voting form including videos of every ad.
The Super Bowl is a big deal for us advertisers, and that goes double for AAF Seattle, since we host Chalk Talk, our annual review of the Super Bowl ads.
To help everyone keep track of their favorites and flops of the day, we created a mobile-friendly interactive form. It's got every ad that will air during the broadcast, including embedded video links.
And once you've submitted your responses you can see how everyone else voted, too. We'll use the data to inform our Chalk Talk panel and in our event visuals.
Tweet using #AAFChalkTalk
Tweet your thoughts on the ads using #AAFChalkTalk to contribute to our conversation stream. We'll display all posts to our live event Tagboard, and use your sentiment to inform our Chalk Talk panel. It's also a great way to raise your social profile and to meet some great people to follow.
Join our group on LinkedIn
All the deeper conversation around the ads leading up to Chalk Talk takes place in our LinkedIn group. We're starting by crowdsourcing topics for the event, so let us know what you'd like our panelists to discuss.
We can't wait to read everyone has to say about the ads. Have a great Super Sunday!