The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards return for their fourth year, recognizing, promoting, and honoring excellence, professionalism, and outstanding achievements by Businesses/Organizations, Events, and Individuals in our State. Nominations are now being accepted for Businesses/Organizations, Events and Individuals to be a part of the nomination group for the 2026 Mississippi Pinnacle Awards.
Nominations are open on our website at: https://www.salesandmarketingprofessionals.org/2026mspinnacleawards. Nominees do not have to be a member of Sales & Marketing Professionals or hold a job title in Sales or Marketing. Nominate your local events, businesses/organizations and individuals that you believe have impacted your community or the entire state in 2025. Nominations close on January 16, 2026.
“For a decade, we celebrated these professionals on a regional level; in 2023, the awards expanded statewide. The last 4 years have honored truly impressive finalists and winners, who have made significant impacts in every corner of the state. I look forward to another amazing year of statewide recognition,” says Michael Marks, Pinnacle Event Chair. Nominees are tasked with completing an application, to be considered by an out- of- state panel of judges, for finalist status. All finalists will be recognized on stage at the 2026 gala and from those finalists, one winner will be announced in four categories: Business/Organization, Large Event, Small Town Event, and Individual. The overall Mississippi Pinnacle Award will be
selected from the entire group of finalists.
“The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards honor Mississippians in 2 facets: current nominees for their work in the year 2025 and those that have reached the Pinnacle of their work in the areas of Community impact, Women’s Leadership, Student Excellence, Community Engagement and Lifetime achievement,” said Katie Martin, SMP President. “Our first three statewide awards were a huge success, with sold-out seating. We look forward to seeing a new group of nominations and celebrating professionals from all over Mississippi at our 2026 awards gala on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6p.m. at the Lake Terrace Convention Center.”
Individuals and businesses statewide can sponsor the Pinnacle Awards and support this year’s recipients. Funds raised through the Pinnacle event provide financial awards through the Rising Star Student Achievement Program, which supports deserving high school and college students pursuing careers in sales, marketing, or community engagement. The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards are a 501(c)3 fund with The Pinebelt Foundation, all donations are tax deductible to the
extent that the law allows.
In 2025, the top 5 awards were given to:
Outstanding Business/Organization: Chevron, Pascagoula Plant, Pascagoula, MS
Outstanding Large Event: Double Decker Arts Festival, Visit Oxford, Oxford, MS
Outstanding Small Event: Lunch and Learn, Jefferson Davis Economic Development, Jefferson
Davis County
Outstanding Individual Achievement: Matt Rumph, CEO, The Family YMCA of Southeast
Mississippi, Hattiesburg and Petal
Overall 2025 Mississippi Pinnacle Award: FestivalSouth, Hattiesburg, MS.
Nominations will close on January 16. 2026. Don’t miss your chance to honor excellence in Mississippi!
For more information, visit www.salesandmarketingprofessionals.org or contact Sales & Marketing Professionals at info@salesandmarketingprofessionals.org .
