Driven by creativity. Powered by KC. Judged with integrity.

The Kansas City American Advertising Awards are only as strong as the professionals behind the judging. We’re deeply grateful to the industry leaders and educators who volunteer their time, expertise, and perspective to recognize creative excellence across Kansas City.

Explore the 2026 Kansas City American Advertising Award Judges Below

Meet the 2026

Professional Judges

  • Marketing Executive & Founder
    Lifeso Consulting
    Allentown, PA

    Erin Lifeso has 20 years of brand management experience building value as a marketing executive in consumer and food businesses. She recently started her own consulting company – Lifeso Consulting – to support founder-led and mid-sized companies with both strategic opportunity sizing and day-to-day operations. Prior to that, Erin led brands and portfolios for mid-sized global companies (Cadbury, B&G Foods, Hain Celestial), had a successful private equity backed brand turn-around for Balance Bar, and was an Operating Partner for an emerging brand accelerator before taking over as President of Factory Innovation, supporting clients with a full-service innovation to commercialization team. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Erin lives in Allentown, PA with her husband and two daughters and she enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing tennis.

  • Art Director & Graphic Designer
    Hemline Theory
    Memphis, TN

    Derikah Scott is an art director, graphic designer, and lettering artist with nearly a decade of experience in the advertising industry. A graduate of Memphis College of Art, she blends creativity and strategy to help tell stories that connect and inspire.

    As an Art Director at Hemline Theory, Derikah has contributed to Addy and VOX award-winning campaigns for a wide range of clients across industries including finance, hospitality, and nonprofit organizations. Her work spans brand development, digital and social media campaigns, and visual storytelling that emphasizes clarity and craft.

    Beyond client work, Derikah views creativity as a form of service and often volunteers her time and skills. She currently serves as a board member for AAF Memphis, leads the media team at her church, mentors emerging creatives and college students, and partners with local nonprofit organizations and community leaders.

  • Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer
    Third Street
    Chicago, IL

    DAVID T. JONES is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Third Street, an Attention Agency that has commanded attention for clients like KFC, Naturipe, Valspar, MillerCoors, Owens Corning and Optimum Nutrition. Previous to Third Street, David served as Interactive Executive Creative Director at FCB Chicago where he created advertising campaigns across all mediums for Coors, Kraft, Gatorade, Boeing, S.C. Johnson and Discover Card.
His work has resulted in numerous awards, including Art Director’s Club, D&AD, Addys, Effies and a fun springy Webby. His work has been featured in CA, The New York Times and USA Today. When not writing about himself for bios, David enjoys bad photography, good beer and life in the Chicago suburbs with his impossibly lovely wife Dawn and his alarmingly adorable twin daughters Eloise and Olivia.

Meet the 2026

Student Judges

  • President & Chief Strategist
    Cause
    Manhattan, KS

    Bruce is an executive brand strategist and writer who has helped Fortune 100s, national nonprofits and cultural institutions tell their stories in ways that create lasting impact. With 25 years in the Boston and New York City agency and nonprofit worlds, Bruce has led engagements with clients as diverse as Liberty Mutual, Stanley Black & Decker, Columbia Business School, NYU Steinhardt, NYC Dept. of Education, the Child Mind Institute, the Steve Fund, and Humanities Kansas. Raised in India, Israel and the US, Bruce brings a cross-cultural perspective to his work that inspires fresh thinking and inventive solutions. Bruce founded Cause after moving from Brooklyn NY to Manhattan KS to partner with purpose-driven organizations. He partners regularly with Imagemakers, and served previously as Director of Marketing and Communications at the Child Mind Institute, Managing Director of NYC’s innovative Suka Creative, and as a content strategist at Siegel+Gale.

  • Senior Designer
    AMC Theatres
    Olathe, KS

    As a Senior Designer at AMC Theatres on the Film Promotions Team, Eddie is responsible for creating print and digital campaigns for clients like Disney, Paramount, and Universal Studios. He has led the visual design for in theatre, web, and social media assets for titles such as Superman, Thunderbolts, and Wicked. Outside of work, you can catch Eddie working with Operation Breakthrough on annual fundraisers; or elbow deep in grease from turning a wrench on his classic motorcycle.

  • SVP, Creative Strategy
    Bernstein-Rein Advertising
    Kansas City, MO

    Jason Courtney is SVP, Creative Strategy at Bernstein-Rein Advertising in Kansas City: part strategist, part creative partner, part translator between what's measured and what's felt. He's helped teams across categories where care is the product, including healthcare players from Merck to ArchWell Health and peace-of-mind providers American National, plus iconic brands, from McDonald's to Planet Fitness. Jason's brand identity work with Brené Brown helped sharpen a simple belief he brings to every brief: empathy and conviction aren't "nice-to-haves." It's how brands, and teams, grow better.

With Gratitude to Every Judge

Judging the ADDYs is no small commitment. It requires time, focus, and care. It’s work done entirely in service of the creative community.

To every judge who has participated over the years:
thank you for your integrity, your insight, and your dedication to excellence. Your contributions elevate the work, honor the effort behind it, and help ensure the ADDYs remain a meaningful benchmark for creativity in Kansas City and beyond.

We are deeply grateful for the role you play in celebrating ideas, craftsmanship, and the people behind the work.

Interested in Judging the Kansas City ADDYs?

If you’re passionate about creativity, craftsmanship, and supporting the next generation of talent, we’d love to hear from you.

Each year, KC Ad Club seeks thoughtful, experienced professionals to serve as judges for:

  • Professional ADDYs

  • Student ADDYs

  • Other AAF-affiliated award shows

Judging is a chance to give back, connect with peers across the industry, and help shape the creative standards we all strive toward.

Apply to Be a Judge