Agency Celebrates Multiple ADDY Wins for Work with Top Mississippi Tourism Brands
Maris, West & Baker (MWB) is proud to announce an outstanding showing at the Mississippi Gulf Coast 2025 American Advertising Awards, bringing home multiple Gold and Silver ADDYs for creative excellence in tourism marketing. The agency was recognized for its work on behalf of Coastal Mississippi, Visit Jackson, and Visit Hattiesburg, as well as its own imaginative, tongue-in-cheek tourism campaign, created for fun.
In collaboration with Coastal Mississippi, MWB earned top honors across several television and campaign categories, including:
- Gold ADDY – Regional/National Television: “Play Coastal – Guys Trip”
- Silver ADDY – Regional/National TV: “Play Coastal – Teacher”, “Play Coastal – Family”, and “Gulf to Your Table Seafood”
- Silver ADDY – Integrated Campaign: “Play Coastal Mississippi”
- Mosaic Award – Recognizing excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion for the “Play Coastal Mississippi” campaign
- Visit Jackson’s “This Little Light” campaign, produced by MWB, earned:
- Gold ADDY – Integrated Advertising Campaign
- Silver ADDY – Brochure: “This Little Light-JXN Tour Guide”
Visit Hattiesburg, and MWB also took home Addy Gold for the “Geocaching” TV spot and a Silver for the charming “Sloth Adventure” internet commercial, both of which bring to life the city’s unique personality through playful storytelling.
MWB’s tourism spoof, “Montropica”, won Gold in the Self-Promotion category. The campaign playfully positioned the agency itself as a travel destination, complete with whimsical branding and a full suite of promotional assets.
“Our team is honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Tim Mask, CEO of Maris, West & Baker. “It’s a privilege to work with visionary partners like Coastal Mississippi, Visit Jackson, and
Visit Hattiesburg, who share our passion for bold ideas and authentic storytelling. These awards celebrate not just the work, but the collaborative spirit that fuels it.”
Creative Director Marc Leffler was also named Creative Director of the Year, while MWB Copywriter Bryan Matthews received the Copywriter of the Year honor, underscoring the agency’s deep bench of creative talent.