Samford University's branding campaign created by FitzMartin, Inc., in collaboration with Samford was recognized as Alabama's best-prepared and most effective work of the year in an annual American Marketing Association competition.

The campaign helped FitzMartin win the Forbes McKay Marketing Firm of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. The Birmingham firm also was recognized for a direct sales effort it designed for Compass Bank at the AMA awards luncheon in June.

"This is quite an honor for FitzMartin and Samford and truly recognizes the total team effort on this project," said Samford Executive Director of University Communications Philip Poole.

The comprehensive campaign features regional television, radio and print advertising to highlight Samford's core values.

"When Samford made the decision to begin this extensive branding campaign, we had no idea that the positive results would be so immediate and extensive," said Poole. "From the beginning, the staffs at Samford and FitzMartin have worked as a team to create messages that are positioning Samford University in the community as it has never been seen. Receiving the Forbes McKay Award is validation of what can happen when the partnership between client and agency works as it should."

FitzMartin Principal Sean Doyle agreed and added, "It is important to emphasize that it takes great clients to produce great marketing."