AAF Reno

Just a friendly reminder that there is still time to submit your entries for the AAF Western Region's Best of the West Media Awards!

Do you know a company or individual who might fit one of these categories?
-Advertising Agency of the Year: For agencies of all sizes making a mark.
-Public Service Campaign or Event of the Year: For work that truly made a difference.
-Young Achiever Award: For the rising stars under 32 who are changing the game.
-Agency Professional of the Year: For that indispensable team member who deserves the spotlight.

This is our chance to celebrate the people and the work that make our local media community so special. Submitting is easy, and it’s a powerful way to boost team morale and showcase your company’s values. We have 20 award categories open for nominations.

We are also rolling out the first ever Western Region Summit Award! This is the highest honor in the Western Region that celebrates someone who has dedicated years of service to AAF at the local, district, or regional level.

Nomination deadline is June 30th!

Nomination link: https://aafwesternregion.org/media-awards-home/

Meet our Young Professional of the Year Award presented by Ad 2 Reno Winner: Rowena Magbitang-Piñero

Rowena Marie Magbitang-Piñero is a proud TMCC graduate who has been in the Reno advertising industry for four years. She is currently an illustrator, designer, and copywriter at Design on Edge who prides herself in being a self-proclaimed “Emotional Creative,” meaning whether she’s illustrating a rooster for a chicken shop or writing a blog on her most recent branding project, she feels deeply and strongly about the stories she is telling through her work. She is deeply committed to creating with a full heart and crafting meaningful work with lasting impact.

As a proud Filipino-American, Rowena values inclusivity, diversity, community, vulnerability, and faith and it’s evident in everything she does. She uses her heart and skills to craft with intention, disrupt narratives, and to center marginalized stories and experiences while also remaining committed to her values.

She believes in using design and illustration to thoughtfully challenge the way we think and care for our world, ourselves, and one another, and that good design points towards what is ultimately true, good, and beautiful in our world.

When she’s not at Design on Edge, she currently serves on the Ad 2 Reno board as their membership chair and freelances as an illustrator and handlettering artist under Good Fruit Creative Co. And beyond that, you can find Rowena cooking, weightlifting, spending time with her friends and family (and her dog Pickles), or rocking out at a concert (preferably at a Paramore one).

Join us on June 25th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Rowena and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Buy your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Meet our Community Contribution of the Year Award Winner: Kristen Saibini/Downtown Reno Partnership

As the Assistant Executive Director and Marketing Manager of the Downtown Reno Partnership, Kristen plays a vital role in shaping our community, driving the marketing efforts that showcase the improvements, energy and spirit of Downtown Reno. A Reno native, she has worked in a variety of industries in a marketing and public relations capacity including college athletics, healthcare, utilities and animal welfare and is a two-time graduate of the University of Nevada. In her spare time, Kristen fosters homeless dogs and creates fundraisers for animal welfare non-profits in conjunction with her rescue dog, Peanut, and his Instagram account .

The Downtown Reno Partnership is a 501c6 nonprofit business improvement district whose core purpose is to make downtown Reno a safer, cleaner, vibrant district for residents, visitors and students. The Downtown Reno Partnership is an entity funded by downtown-area property assessments. Those funds pay for operations, street maintenance administered by Reno Public Works, Block by Block-administered Ambassadors, marketing and economic development.

Join us on June 25th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to celebrate Kristen and the rest of our honorees. Admission includes food and 1 drink.

Buy your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Please join us for our Ad People of the Year Awards gala on June 25th at the Atlantis!

Cheers to our 2025 Ad People of the Year:
Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement: Laura Partridge
Ad Person of the Year: Danni Winter and Kurt Thigpen
Community Contribution of the Year: Kristen Saibini, Downtown Reno Partnership
Young Professional of the Year Award presented by Ad 2 Reno: Rowena Magbitang-Pinero

For full event information and to buy tickets, go to https://aafreno.com/events/ad-people-of-the-year-2026/

Why should you enter the AAF Western Region Best of the West Media Awards? It’s more than just a trophy.

Winning a BOWMA:
✅ Boosts Team Morale: Recognizes the hard work your team puts in day after day.
✅ Showcases Your Values: Highlights your company’s commitment to community and industry leadership.
✅ Enhances Your Brand: Gives you a prestigious, third-party endorsement to share with clients and partners.
✅ Supports Our Industry: Every entry fee helps fund vital AAF Western Region programs.

Submitting your work is an investment in your team, your brand, and our entire advertising community. Get started on your entry today! aafwesternregion.org/media-awards-home

A big thank you to everyone who attended our The State of Media panel yesterday!

From shifting media habits to emerging trends and evolving strategies, the conversation was packed with valuable insights and perspectives from leaders across the industry.

We’re especially grateful to our panelists and moderator from CCMedia, KOLO 8 News Now, Noble Studios and Wilkins Media for sharing their knowledge and helping spark meaningful discussion within our community. And thank you to all who joined us, connected with fellow professionals, and made the event such a success.

We appreciate your continued support of AAF Reno and can’t wait to see you at a future event!

Meet our State of Media Panel moderator: Lindsey Brown

Lindsey Brown has spent 16 years in media sales with experience in Out-of-Home, Broadcast and Digital Media. As Director, Client Partnerships at Wilkins Media, Lindsey serves her clients and partners with strategic planning and ex*****on of integrated media plans across all media formats including traditional, digital media, and experiential activations.

Lindsey’s time out of the office over the years is spent volunteering for various non-profit organizations such as Ad2 Reno, Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network, STEP2 Reno, and her current role of Vice President of AAF Reno.

Join us on May 19th at The Discovery for The State of Media: What Changed, What Actually Matters. Networking starts at 11:30 with the panel starting at noon.
Get your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/the-state-of-media/

Meet our next State of Media Panelist: Kelly Buda

Kelly Buda is a respected media and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience driving growth, building audiences, and developing strategic partnerships across some of the country’s most competitive markets. Her career includes leadership roles with premier network affiliates including CBS/KFMB San Diego, CBS/KIRO Seattle, ABC/WSOC Charlotte, FOX/KRXI Reno, NBC/KRNV Reno, and ABC/KOLO Reno. With a career spanning major media brands and diverse markets, Kelly brings a deep understanding of the evolving relationship between advertisers, agencies, broadcasters, and the communities they serve — along with a strong appreciation for the unique opportunities and challenges of the Reno market.

Join us on May 19th at The Discovery for The State of Media: What Changed, What Actually Matters. Networking starts at 11:30 with the panel starting at noon.
Get your tickets now at https://aafreno.com/events/the-state-of-media/

AAF Reno is powered by volunteers who care deeply about the future of advertising, marketing, media, and creativity in Northern Nevada.

Now, we’re looking for new board members to join our team! As a board member, you’ll help create meaningful industry events, support local students through scholarships, grow professional connections, and contribute to a community that has supported the region’s advertising industry for decades.

Open board positions:
• Marketing Operations
• Special Events

Ready to get involved? DM us or email us at [email protected] to apply!