Twilio, the customer engagement platform powering real-time, personalized brand experiences, has announced the winners of its Excellence in Engagement Awards. Recognizing standout innovation across industries such as retail, real estate, financial services, and healthcare, the awards celebrate brands that are transforming customer engagement using contextual data and Twilio’s suite of solutions.

Amid a growing customer experience gap—where 84% of businesses believe they provide excellent engagement but only 54% of consumers agree—these honorees stand out by using Twilio’s tools to create scalable, personalized, and meaningful customer interactions.

Award Winners by Category

Excellence in Engagement: Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage is leading the way in client communication by integrating Twilio’s Programmable Voice, SMS, and Segment CDP into a cross-channel engagement system. The company uses two-way SMS, secure outbound voice calls from 3,000 agents, and is developing an inbound voice system. Segment enables Rocket to build 360-degree client profiles for tailored communication.

“Twilio’s APIs and CDP helped boost client response rates and conversion through personalized, automated workflows informed by our data,” said Papanii Okai, EVP of Product Engineering at Rocket Mortgage.

Excellence in Communication: Best Buy

Best Buy enhanced its digital support ecosystem by deploying Twilio Flex and Programmable Voice to improve customer and agent interactions across its Virtual Store and Customer Care channels. Voice, chat, and video are integrated into the customer journey on BestBuy.com and the Best Buy app, offering real-time support and assistance.

Excellence in Trust: CLEAR

CLEAR, the identity verification platform, utilizes Twilio Verify and Lookup APIs to bolster security while preserving user convenience. With SMS OTPs and identity match features, CLEAR enables users to prove their identity quickly and cost-effectively.

“Our Members can verify who they are instantly, whether going through airport security, renting a car, or signing up online,” said Nick Peddy, CTO at CLEAR.

Excellence in Data and AI: Vineyard Vines

Vineyard Vines deployed Twilio Segment with Databricks to supercharge its personalized marketing efforts. In just 60 days, the brand launched advanced customer journeys, email campaigns, and paid media strategies that reflected a unified customer view.

“Segment helped us personalize campaigns and improve engagement—delivering results within three months,” said Anthony Ciancio, VP of Data & Analytics at Vineyard Vines.

Excellence in Optimization: Zillow

Zillow uses Twilio’s communication tools, including SMS, voice, and TaskRouter, to fuel its “Connections” platform. This system allows real estate agents to efficiently engage prospective buyers and provides skills-based routing for optimized contact center operations.

“Our long-standing partnership with Twilio supports our mission to make home a reality for more people,” said Toby Roberts, SVP of Engineering & Technology at Zillow.

Twilio’s Vision for Customer Engagement

“These winners represent the best in customer experience within their industries,” said Chris Koehler, CMO of Twilio. “It’s inspiring to see how they’re leveraging Twilio to reimagine digital interactions—from shopping for electronics to simplifying mortgage approvals.”

Twilio’s award program highlights the transformative power of contextual data and communication APIs in creating customer journeys that are seamless, secure, and highly relevant. As brands increasingly turn to automation, personalization, and AI-driven insights, these winners exemplify what it means to close the customer experience gap at scale.

The 2025 Excellence in Engagement Awards spotlight how industry leaders are driving innovation with Twilio’s communications and data platforms. As customer expectations rise, these brands show how to meet them with agility, trust, and personalization—setting a new bar for real-time engagement across industries.

Clearpoint Agency, an award-winning public relations and marketing communications firm with offices in San Diego and Boston, has been announced as a key sponsor of the 2025 Sandie Awards, hosted by the American Marketing Association (AMA) San Diego Chapter. Taking place on May 22, this signature event will celebrate the creative and strategic achievements of the San Diego marketing community.

Known as the "Sandies", the awards honor exceptional work across a range of marketing disciplines—from branding and integrated campaigns to social media, video production, and more. The event promises a high-energy evening where hundreds of marketing professionals will gather to celebrate, connect, and spotlight the year’s most impactful campaigns.

Honoring San Diego’s Marketing Talent

The Sandies recognize excellence across multiple categories and provide a live platform for both agency and in-house marketers to showcase their standout work. This year’s ceremony is anticipated to draw a sold-out crowd, reflecting the increasing influence of San Diego’s marketing scene.

“AMA San Diego has developed an incredible annual awards program that highlights the tremendous work being done in the San Diego marketing community,” said Bonnie D. Shaw, President of Clearpoint Agency. “This event isn’t just about awards—it’s a chance to celebrate and connect with some of the brightest minds in our industry.”

A Night of Celebration and Connection

Organizers promise an engaging evening complete with:

• Cocktail reception

• Dinner and wine service

• Live awards ceremony

• Post-event after party

With hundreds of entries submitted by top-tier agencies and in-house teams, the event will be a showcase of marketing innovation and creativity.

“The support of local sponsors like Clearpoint ensures our event will continue to flourish,” said Summer Haines, VP of Special Events, AMA San Diego. “We’ve seen an incredible number of submissions from well-known brands and elite agencies. It’s sure to be an unforgettable night.”

Clearpoint Agency

With a track record of helping brands elevate their reputation through strategic PR and marketing communications, Clearpoint Agency has earned recognition for its deep industry knowledge and results-driven campaigns. Its continued partnership with AMA San Diego underscores the firm’s commitment to empowering marketing talent and nurturing community excellence.

As the 2025 Sandie Awards approach, Clearpoint Agency’s sponsorship affirms its leadership within the San Diego marketing ecosystem. More than just a celebration, the event symbolizes collaboration, creativity, and community—all core values championed by both AMA San Diego and Clearpoint Agency.

Nimble, the sales and marketing engagement platform purpose-built for small business success, has achieved widespread recognition from leading review platforms in 2025—including G2, GetApp, Capterra, SourceForge, and SoftwareReviews. These awards validate Nimble's commitment to providing an intuitive, powerful, and affordable CRM solution that helps small businesses build customer relationships, streamline workflows, and scale operations.

With its latest Nimble Email Marketing add-on, seamless integrations, and automation tools, Nimble continues to redefine CRM excellence for growing teams.

Nimble’s Continued Rise as a CRM Leader

Nimble’s growing list of accolades demonstrates its market momentum and relevance in a crowded CRM space, particularly for small businesses. Its platform is recognized for:

• Ease of use

• Customer support

• Affordability

• Scalability across industries

“Our mission has always been about simplifying how businesses build relationships that drive real growth,” said Jon Ferrara, CEO of Nimble. “This recognition validates our commitment to empowering professionals and teams—without the complexity or cost of traditional CRMs.”

2025 Industry Awards and Recognition

G2 Spring 2025 Grid® Report

• Leader in CRM and Sales Intelligence

• Leader in Small-Business CRM, Sales Intelligence, and Email Tracking

• High Performer in Mid-Market CRM, Enterprise Sales Intelligence, and more

SoftwareReviews Emotional Footprint Awards 2025

• Back-to-back winner (2024 & 2025)

• Recognized for customer satisfaction and ease of use

Capterra 2025 CRM Shortlist

• Named a Top CRM Solution for design, usability, and robust features

SourceForge Winter 2025

• Recognized as a Top Performer for Best CRM Software

GetApp 2025 Recognition

• Leader in Contact Management

• Top rankings in Real Estate CRM and Financial CRM categories

These honors reflect Nimble’s consistent delivery of value across a range of industries, business sizes, and use cases.

Real Feedback from the Partner Community

“Nimble has transformed the CRM landscape by prioritizing real relationships over rigid systems,” said Craig Jamieson, Founder of Adaptive Business Services and long-time Nimble partner. “It’s not just powerful and intuitive—it’s what my clients consistently prefer.”

Jamieson emphasizes that Nimble’s recognitions aren’t just about innovation—they are a result of deep user-centric design and real-world effectiveness.

As the CRM landscape grows more competitive, Nimble’s focus on simplicity, relationship-building, and adaptability has made it a go-to platform for small businesses around the world. The recent wave of industry recognition from G2, SoftwareReviews, Capterra, and others is a powerful endorsement of Nimble’s ability to help businesses thrive through scalable, user-friendly technology.

With continued investments in features like email marketing, AI-driven workflows, and industry-specific capabilities, Nimble is positioned to remain a front-runner in CRM innovation well into the future.

Olinger, formerly The Olinger Group, has announced a comprehensive rebranding initiative, including a new website and updated brand identity, designed to align with its innovative Live Well® methodology. This transformation reinforces Olinger’s commitment to helping brands build deeper, more human-centered connections with consumers through intelligent, actionable market research.

The rebrand also includes a new domain, olingermr.com, replacing olingergroup.com, symbolizing Olinger's forward-looking, research-focused mission.

A Refreshed Identity for a New Era of Insight

At the core of Olinger’s rebranding is a streamlined, horizontal logo design that better reflects its range of insight-driven services:

• Live Well® – Wellness-focused consumer insights

• Unheard Voices – Elevating marginalized perspectives

• OmniView – 360° multi-source data interpretation

• Qual+ and Quant+ – Enhanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies

A revamped color palette—featuring teal, yellow, navy, and the classic Olinger Orange—mirrors the brand’s energy and the diversity of the audiences it serves.

Introducing Olingermr.com: Designed for Exploration and Connection

The new website, olingermr.com, offers a visually engaging and user-friendly experience, including:

• Animated, interactive features

• Clear breakdown of Olinger's unique methodologies

• Simplified navigation for exploring services and case studies

• A platform tailored for both existing and prospective clients

This digital refresh ensures that brands can easily discover how Olinger helps them build research-driven strategies with lasting impact.

A Human-First Vision for Market Research

“Our rebrand and new website mark a pivotal evolution in our journey,” said Michael Vasquez, CEO of Olinger. “We are setting a new standard for market research by focusing on a human-first approach that resonates with brands across all industries and their consumers.”

Vasquez emphasized that Olinger’s mission is not just about data collection but about delivering insight that drives genuine, human-centered decision-making.

With its new identity, domain, and website, Olinger is doubling down on its mission to deliver authentic consumer understanding through human-first methodologies. The brand’s transformation underscores its commitment to empowering businesses with the tools to listen better, connect deeper, and act smarter in a complex consumer landscape.

By evolving its image and digital presence, Olinger is poised to lead the next chapter of market research—where insight begins with empathy and ends in action.

As Connected TV (CTV) ad spending continues to soar, Orange 142, a division of Direct Digital Holdings and a leader in digital marketing for destination-focused organizations, has released a new eBook titled “Best Practices Guide to CTV Advertising.” This timely resource is designed to empower marketers with the tools and strategies to harness the rapidly evolving CTV space.

The guide comes amid projections that CTV spending will hit $33.35 billion in 2025, creating new opportunities for marketers to engage audiences moving away from traditional linear television.

Bridging the Gap Between Potential and Strategy

With nearly all U.S. households now subscribed to one or more streaming services—and over half subscribing to four or more—marketers face both an immense opportunity and a growing need for strategic clarity.

“In this diverse digital environment, brands have an unprecedented opportunity to connect with consumers through data-driven, cost-efficient TV advertising,” said Lindsey Wilkes, SVP of Business Development and Head of the Emerging Channels Council at Orange 142. “Our guide bridges the knowledge gap for marketers who recognize CTV’s potential but require clear strategic direction to maximize its impact.”

What the Guide Covers

Orange 142’s Emerging Channels Council developed the guide as a foundational and tactical playbook for CTV success. It delivers digestible and practical advice across key themes, including:

• The CTV Opportunity and Market Growth
  Understand the rapid expansion of the CTV ecosystem and where investment is trending.

• Benefits and Challenges of CTV
  Explore the flexibility, addressability, and measurement advantages—alongside current hurdles marketers must navigate.

• Emerging Technologies and Trends in CTV Advertising
  Learn about developments in audience targeting, programmatic buying, AI-driven optimization, and cross-channel integration.

• Data and Privacy Considerations
  Stay informed on evolving consumer privacy expectations and how to remain compliant while personalizing campaigns.

• Measurement and Attribution Models
  Evaluate the performance of CTV campaigns with modern attribution frameworks that reflect streaming's dynamic environment.

Supporting Marketers in the Streaming-First Era

The guide not only aims to demystify CTV advertising but also ensures that brands—whether experienced in TV marketing or entirely new to the medium—can confidently engage audiences across streaming platforms. As streaming becomes a dominant media consumption habit, Orange 142 positions this guide as a strategic asset for brands adapting to a privacy-first, audience-fragmented digital world.

With the launch of the Best Practices Guide to CTV Advertising, Orange 142 cements its role as a trusted partner for marketers seeking to stay ahead in the streaming-first advertising landscape. From emerging technologies to performance measurement, the guide delivers actionable insights to turn CTV potential into real results.

In a bold move reshaping the marketing landscape, InnoVision Marketing Group of San Diego, CA, and Digital Marketing Group (DMG) of Portland, OR, have announced an expanded strategic partnership. The two agencies are combining their unique strengths under a unified brand—InnoVision Digital Marketing Group (iDMG)—to offer a seamless, end-to-end marketing solution for clients of all sizes, including global brands.

With a team of over 100 professionals, iDMG is poised to deliver creative excellence and performance precision across all platforms.

A Strategic Alliance Built for Scale and Impact

The formation of iDMG represents the best of both worlds: InnoVision’s creative and strategic brand expertise integrated with DMG’s data-driven digital performance capabilities. This alliance creates a streamlined agency experience where creativity, analytics, and execution converge to produce consistent, measurable outcomes.

What iDMG Brings to the Table:

• Creative Strategy + Digital Performance
  Integrated services that blend storytelling and design with data analytics and performance marketing.

• Omnichannel Media + Optimization
  Campaigns are developed, placed, and optimized across digital and traditional platforms with unified KPIs.

• Scalable Solutions for Any Brand Size
  Whether supporting a startup or a multinational, iDMG has the scale and flexibility to deliver tailored marketing outcomes.

Combining Deep Expertise Across Disciplines

InnoVision Marketing Group’s Core Strengths:

• Custom brand strategy development

• Creative storytelling and content creation

• Omnichannel media planning and buying

• Building high-impact brand engagement

Digital Marketing Group’s Key Competencies:

• Data analytics and campaign attribution

• Programmatic and targeted media buying

• Conversion rate optimization

• In-depth performance reporting

Together, iDMG delivers marketing campaigns that are as insightful as they are impactful, uniting left-brain logic with right-brain creativity.

Voices from the Leadership Team

“Some agencies specialize in data and others in creative, but it’s rare to find both under one roof,” said Stephen Hodges, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at DMG. “With iDMG, brands get first-party data insights and creative execution from one team, increasing ROI and eliminating disconnects.”

Ric Militi, CEO and Executive Creative Director of InnoVision, added, “This partnership is a game changer. With our combined teams and capabilities, we can serve larger clients with complex needs—without ever compromising our boutique-style attention to every client.”

A Seamless Experience, From Concept to Conversion

iDMG isn’t just a service provider—it’s a strategic partner focused on business outcomes. Clients benefit from:

• A single, integrated team with unified project management

• On-time, on-budget execution with enhanced cost control

• Around-the-clock support and clear, proactive communication

• Custom marketing strategies aligned with real business goals

With its holistic approach, iDMG is positioned to drive brand awareness, improve customer engagement, and deliver measurable performance in a rapidly evolving digital world.

With the launch of InnoVision Digital Marketing Group (iDMG), the combined power of InnoVision and DMG sets a new standard for agency collaboration. Through the fusion of creativity and data science, iDMG offers brands a smarter, faster, and more impactful way to connect with audiences—and win in today’s competitive market.

Beacons, the premier AI-driven platform for content creators, has announced the launch of Beacons for Brands, along with an integrated affiliate marketplace. This new offering is set to redefine influencer and affiliate marketing by enabling full transparency, real-time performance tracking, and streamlined partnerships between creators and brands.

With over 7 million creators already on the platform, Beacons is positioned to revolutionize how creators monetize their content and how marketers drive measurable results through authentic, performance-driven collaborations.

A New Era of Transparent Affiliate Marketing

Beacons' affiliate marketplace introduces a data-rich environment where brands and creators alike gain full visibility into impressions, clicks, and sales—empowering both sides to make informed, strategic decisions.

For Brands:

• Beacons for Brands Interface:
  A powerful dashboard where marketers can build, manage, and optimize influencer campaigns with real-time metrics.

• Audience and Creator Insights:
  Access to first-party engagement data, including creator activity across platforms and past brand mentions.

• Campaign Measurement Tools:
  Full-funnel reporting and per-creator performance insights to understand ROI and optimize spend.

• Direct Collaboration Tools:
  Discover and message high-performing creators, offer exclusive partnerships, set custom discount codes, and track conversions.

For Creators:

• Full Commission Transparency:
  Earn 100% commission on affiliate links (with select subscription plans) and manage all links from a single dashboard.

• Customizable Storefront:
  Easily build a sleek, branded storefront that showcases affiliate products—optimized for desktop and mobile.

• Integrated Tools:
  Affiliate links, commissions, email marketing, smart auto-DMs, and more—directly within Beacons' Link in Bio, eliminating third-party tools.

• Data-Driven Growth:
  Use performance metrics to surface in brand searches, understand which brands resonate with your audience, and negotiate better deals.

Enabling Authentic, Scalable Creator Partnerships

Beacons’ affiliate offering is more than just a commission tool—it’s a launchpad for long-term brand collaborations. With transparent reporting and first-party data access, creators are better positioned to approach their dream brand partners with performance metrics that matter.

Brands benefit from working with creators who not only reflect their values but also drive tangible conversions—all tracked within the Beacons ecosystem.

Industry Validation and Brand Testimonials

The new marketplace is already gaining traction with well-known brands:

• Yves Rocher, a pioneer in botanical beauty, is collaborating with Beacons to reach values-aligned creators who emphasize sustainability and self-care.

• Stanley, known for its drinkware and outdoor gear, praised Beacons’ creative network for helping bring their products to life in a genuine and engaging way.

These early partnerships underscore the platform’s versatility and appeal across industries—from beauty and lifestyle to tech and essentials.

Driving the Creator Economy Forward

“Creators and brands should have full insight into their funnel metrics and ROI to understand the impact of their partnerships,” said Neal Jean, co-founder and CEO of Beacons. “Helping creators and brands build better partnerships helps everyone in the creator economy succeed.”

By delivering full transparency, streamlined integrations, and actionable data insights, Beacons positions itself as a leading force in the next generation of creator monetization tools.

With the introduction of Beacons for Brands and its integrated affiliate marketplace, Beacons delivers a comprehensive solution that empowers creators to monetize smarter and enables brands to build more effective, transparent, and measurable influencer partnerships. In a space that’s rapidly evolving, Beacons is helping both sides thrive—one campaign at a time.

Transmission, the world’s largest independent B2B marketing agency, has launched a new capability Brand Storytelling to help businesses adapt to shifting buyer behaviors and build deeper emotional connections. The launch comes in response to a clear trend: B2B audiences are moving beyond transactional decisions, increasingly valuing brand narratives that offer meaning, human connection, and long-term engagement.

This new offering is further strengthened by Transmission's recent acquisition of Earnest, an award-winning B2B agency with offices in London and New York, enhancing its global reach and creative capabilities.

Addressing the Shift from Transactional to Emotional

Modern B2B buyers no longer engage solely based on product specs and pricing—they seek alignment with brand values and vision. Transmission’s Brand Storytelling capability is designed to bridge the gap between brand awareness and demand generation, making emotional resonance a driver of measurable business outcomes.

Objectives:

• Reinforce brand identity as a foundational business asset

• Connect emotionally with buyers through compelling narratives

• Seamlessly integrate storytelling across brand and demand motions

• Deliver scalable, high-impact creative formats that drive engagement

“Audience behaviors and the places buyers consume media are changing,” said Ricky Abbott, President of Transmission. “The rapid emergence of AI has increased brand importance. Now more than ever, intersecting brand to demand with human connection is paramount.”

A Fully Integrated Brand Storytelling Ecosystem

Transmission is building what it calls the first fully integrated B2B brand storytelling consortium, involving creative partners and storytelling experts to deliver a comprehensive suite of branded content experiences.

Scope of Offerings:

• Documentary-style brand films

• Podcasts and serialized content

• Editorial storytelling and long-form content

• Branded creator partnerships

• Integrated narrative development across all media\

“We’re embracing everything story can touch,” added David Reid, VP, Global Growth at Transmission. “There’s nothing else like it in B2B.”

To ensure excellence, Transmission is working with Story + Strategy and Sub Genre as advisory partners—specialists in narrative strategy and cinematic storytelling.

Backed by Strategic Growth Through Acquisition

The launch follows Transmission’s acquisition of Earnest, which significantly bolsters its storytelling and creative chops. With former Earnest CEO Chris Wilson now serving as EMEA Managing Director at Transmission, the unified agency now supports over 100 global B2B clients with full-service capabilities.

This move enhances Transmission’s ability to:

• Scale storytelling efforts globally

• Blend creative excellence with strategic execution

• Drive both top-of-funnel engagement and mid-to-bottom-funnel conversion

With the unveiling of Brand Storytelling, Transmission is solidifying its position as a forward-thinking, global leader in B2B marketing. By aligning emotional storytelling with measurable demand generation, the agency is setting a new standard for how B2B brands engage, influence, and inspire their audiences across platforms.

For B2B marketers navigating a noisy, rapidly evolving digital landscape, Transmission’s new capability offers a powerful way to stand out—not just to sell, but to connect.