Roberta Asahina (center) is the Joe Levy Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the American Advertising Federation Fresno. She's pictured here (from left) with fellow Fresno State advertising professors Betsy Hays and Jan Edwards. AAF image

The American Advertising Federation Fresno gathered Wednesday to celebrate its 2025 honorees at the annual AAF Fresno Honors Awards Luncheon.

This year’s winners hail from a range of industries, from television and newspaper companies to individuals, marketing agencies and independent businesses.

This year also highlighted the Joe Levy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Roberta Asahina, a Fresno advertising industry veteran and Fresno State professor since 1984. She was inducted into the California State University, Media, Communications and Journalism Alumni and Friends Chapter Hall of Fame in 2009.

Past Joe Levy Lifetime Achievement Award winners include Blair Looney (2024) and Bruce and Wendy Batti (2023).

In 2023, The Business Journal’s Ashley Webster Rudolph was recognized by the organization, which has also honored local business leaders including Michael Carr, Jessie Irwin and Rebecca Barnes.

The full list of the 2025 American Advertising Awards winners:

Award Categories

Ralph E. Brown Award — Centered Marketing Group 

Nancy Thielen Award — Cody Medaris, Expo Party Rentals 

J.U. Berry Award — Matt Morse, Nextar, KSEE24, CBS47 

Professional of the Year Award — Anna Carrion, Community Health System 

Professional of the Year Award — Reggie Ellis, The Sun-Gazette 

AAF Silver Medal Award — Jessica Blanchfield, Archer & Hound Advertising 

Hall of Fame Award — Cat Figuera, Jeffery Scott Agency 

Star Award Categories

“Rising Star” Individual — Jordan Singh, Windsong Productions 

“Rising Star” Company — AMARQUEZ 

Outstanding Media Salesperson of the Year — Steven Barra, Cumulus Media 

Creative Talent of the Year — Ron Nikkel, Five Creative Group 

Media Planner of the Year — Kerry Sabbatini, Jeffrey Scott Agency

Agency of the Year — HYPHEN 

Special Category

Joe Levy Lifetime Achievement Award — Dr. Roberta Asahina