ADCOLOR Announces Winners and Honorees of the 19th Annual ADCOLOR Awards

Presented by Amazon, Disney and Meta, this year's ceremony celebrated Richelieu Dennis, Ryan Ford, KAYTRANADA, Carmen Smith, T.D. Jakes, Dani Monroe and more for driving progress in creativity, culture and inclusion

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADCOLOR, the premier organization dedicated to championing community and inclusion in the creative industries, unveiled the winners and honorees of its 19th Annual ADCOLOR Awards at its awards show held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Presented by Amazon, Disney and Meta, the prestigious event marked the culmination of ADCOLOR 2025, following three days of programming celebrating creativity, culture, and community. The ceremony, hosted by global speaker, author and journalist Mariana Atencio, honored individuals and organizations whose work embodies ADCOLOR's mission to "Rise Up, Reach Back."

"Those honored at this year's ceremony exemplify our mission by using their platforms to inspire, uplift, and create pathways for the next generation of changemakers," said Tiffany R. Warren, Founder and President of ADCOLOR. "They remind us that progress is powered by purpose, and they're proof that inclusion and creativity are not just ideals, but forces for lasting impact."

Among the evening's highest honors, Chairman T.D. Jakes, Carmen Smith, and Dani Monroe received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their transformative leadership across faith, storytelling, and inclusive innovation. Richelieu Dennis, Executive Chairman of Sundial Group of Companies, was honored with the ADCOLOR | ADWEEK Beacon Award, while Ryan Ford, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Currency Advisory Group, and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and DJ KAYTRANADA were recognized in the ADCOLOR in Music category for their contributions to creativity and representation in the music industry.

Other honorees included Kaleeta McDade and Oved Valadez (ADCOLOR | One Club Creative), Joe Hall (Advocate), Diversability, Mark Clennon, and Stephanie Nadi Olson (Catalyst), George Felix and Sofia Hernandez (Legend), and Umar Issa and Jochebed Fekadu, named Mr. and Ms. ADCOLOR 2025.

The evening concluded with a surprise performance presented by TikTok, featuring singer-songwriter Miles Caton, whose soulful set brought the audience to its feet and ended the celebration on an inspiring note.

"In a moment when showing up isn't always easy, our ADCOLOR partners continue to do so with heart, integrity, and intention," said Ana Alonso Leen, VP of Partnerships at ADCOLOR. "Their presence and partnership fuel this movement, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment. Together, we'll carry this momentum into next year as we continue to nurture, champion, and celebrate the people transforming the creative industries."

Since its founding in 2007, the ADCOLOR Awards have celebrated individuals and organizations that elevate marginalized voices, expand representation, and inspire future leaders across advertising, marketing, media, tech and entertainment. To explore partnership opportunities for ADCOLOR 2026, contact [email protected].

The full list of this year's winners and honorees can be found below and at adcolor.org/awards.

2025 ADCOLOR WINNERS

2025 ADCOLOR HONOREES

ABOUT ADCOLORADCOLOR® is a not-for-profit 501(c) (6) organization whose mission is to celebrate and champion inclusion and build community in the creative industries. Our process is twofold. First, we help individuals and organizations RISE UP, letting their accomplishments and ideas shine. Then we teach these new leaders and would-be-mentors how to REACH BACK and find others who deserve to be noticed and promoted. Our goal is to create a community of professionals who are here to support and uplift one another. Learn more by visiting www.adcolor.org.

ADCOLOR 2025 PartnersAmazon, Disney, Meta, Adweek, Apple, Droga5, Procter & Gamble, NBCUniversal, Pinterest, Spotify, Sony Music Group, Wieden+Kennedy, Anomaly, HP, JPMorgan Chase, LinkedIn, Microsoft Advertising, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, SiriusXM Media, TikTok, Deutsch, IPG | FCB, STAMP Event Co., Netflix, Airbnb, American Express, Basis Technologies, Havas, Johannes Leonardo, Ghetto Film School | Manhattan Neighborhood Network, McCann Worldgroup, Need Pastel, Nextdoor, Tabernacle, The Trade Desk, UTA, Yahoo, Cardinal Change, MSL, The Advertising Club of NY, The People + Culture Method

ADCOLOR Vendor Partners5WPR, DRKR PXLS Creative, Adrianne Lipscomb Graphic Design, Bravely, Debut Capital, dirty sugar, EGM Security Management, Mark Clennon Photography, Isa Beltre-Plush Merchandising Consultants, Squeaky, STAMP Event Co, the STUDIO NYC, Wendy Shanker

SOURCE ADCOLOR