Janel Riegleman, Specialist, Agency Communications, GMR Marketing

• Winning Company: Xfinity – Gaming Brand of the Year
• Category name: Brand of the Year

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

Winning the 2023 Tempest Brand of the Year Award was an honor that we were proud to share with our client and promote on our own social channels. Tempest provided validation for the amazing work our StoryMakers created, both with and for Xfinity.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Our client portfolio with Tempest Brand of the Year winner, Xfinity, has expanded! As just one example: we were proud to be a part of Xfinity’s Black Experience that took place earlier this year. Cultural fluency is at the heart of our mission to deliver purposeful partnerships for brands, and back in January in Los Angeles, we worked with Xfinity to bring their Black Experience Channel mission and content to life through a screening and celebration of “In Our DNA: Hip House.” The original three-part docuseries examines the birth, evolution, and collision of Hip Hop and House Music, and the event brought out some of the biggest names in music to a red-carpet premiere event that included a panel discussion about the genre featuring Executive Producer Kevin Liles and Director Whitney Clinkscales. As part of Grammys Week, the Universal Hip Hop Museum hosted our event at its special traveling exhibition space, giving this moment an even more authentic vibe.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re excited about (if you’re allowed!):

At GMR Marketing, we’re always looking forward to the next big sporting event. Right now, we’re eager for the Olympic Games happening in Paris this summer and the unforgettable memories that will be made. The countdown is on!

Have you had any new opportunities come forth as a result of winning a Tempest Award?

 Yes

Taylor Sollazo, Director of Brands, Wasserman

• Winning Company: AT&T
• Category name: Best Endemic Brand Activation

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

The Tempest community allows for a continued health check on our performance alongside other brands within the ecosystem, identifying key metrics and trends that gamers/consumers focus on, and how we can improve upon their current experiences.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Continued growth in our gaming programming with increased exposure and interest from our executive leadership – leading to the continued support and excitement of our esports and gaming portfolio.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

As we head into our first year partnership with Riot Game’s NA LCS we are excited to bring the brand to life at Summer Fan Fest. We are eager to present tantalizing new ways for consumers to interact with our brand, connect with leagues and players they love with simplicity and expertise, shepherded by the AT&T brand.

Have you had any new opportunities come forth as a result of winning a Tempest Award?

Additional leadership and executive visibility within the esports/gaming sponsorship vertical post-Tempest Awards win/nomination has provided an extension of internal excitement and engagement.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

Authentically share the work you brought to life and why it matters for not only your client, but for the industry at large.

Justin Miclat, Chief Executive Officer

• Winning Company: The Kinetic Group
• Category name: Best Collegiate/Amateur/Semi-Pro Event

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

Since winning the Tempest Award for best Collegiate/Amateur event, we’ve been engaged by several properties in traditional sports to help them navigate gaming through the creators we manage.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

The Kinetic Group has since produced a live event at the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in partnership with the NBA 2K League and generated over $3M in new revenue for clients.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

The Kinetic Group is working on new media rights opportunities with a CONFIDENTIAL sports league to create new ways for streamers and audiences to engage with live sporting events.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

Invest time and resources into showing the broader impact of the event when submitting!

Wes Byrd, CEO, Skullz

• Winning Company: Skullz Gear
• Category name: Watch List

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

Having a Tempest Award is an honor that resonates with the esports community in a way that elevates the brand I build by association with this accolade.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Skullz Gear has grown tremendously after receiving the Tempest Award. We have gained many partners and followers over the past couple of years.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

We are launching Esports Pro Shop. This is a multi-brand e-commerce store for professional and semi-pro esports brands. We will heavily market the new store to become the go-to shop for all esports team merchandise.

Have you had any new opportunities come forth as a result of winning a Tempest Award?

 I was invited to be a guest on several podcasts including the Business of Esports podcast.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

Tempest Award winners are driven individuals who are passionate about esports and gaming and eager to make a difference in the community… and the world.

Matt Basta, Director, Sports

• Winning Company: DKC on behalf of CSMG
• Category name: Best Collegiate/Amateur/Semi-Pro Event

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

CSMG has included the award in its press releases promoting CECC Texas as well as brand partnership sales decks. They tout the award as a major achievement in our industry.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Since winning the award, CECC Texas has become the largest scholastic esports festival globally, which we will demonstrate in this year’s Tempest Award submission. The event has consistently grown year over year as colleges and universities now consider CECC the premier scholastic esports tournament.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

CSMG remains focused on continuing to grow CECC with the addition of the Collegiate Street Fighter Tour for the 2024-25 season in partnership with Capcom. CECC will return to Esports Stadium Arlington for the third straight year, so they are also focused on reimagining the event that illustrates its growth and ensures every student-athlete has a world-class experience.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

We recommend your submission include tangible results/data points that support why you should win. This will also set you apart. In addition, don’t forget about the supporting assets – the sizzle reel, the documents, the photos – they are vital to telling and showing your story (and should wow the judges).

Nick Moran, Senior Gaming & Esports PR Associate

• Winning Company: JSA+ Partners
• Category name: Best Mobile Gaming Event

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

Winning a Tempest Award has been a great way for our clients to not only tout their successes to their peers and competitors but most importantly, give internal teams another reason to celebrate their great work.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Our clients have continued to produce some really great work over the past year. Most recently, ESL FACEIT Group produced one of the most-watched Counter-Strike events of all time at IEM Dallas. We’ll be sure to celebrate this year with a Tempest Award entry!

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

Nothing I can share just yet! But we have some awesome LAN events coming up across clients that we’re super excited to talk about once they’re announced.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

Make sure to lean into the nuance of each question to best flex every aspect of your entry! It’s not just about KPIs – tell a complete story.

Ryan Chapman, Media & Communications Executive

• Winning Company: Blast
• Category name: Best New Event/League

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

Drive to enter more awards and go for more achievements in business. 

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

Hosted the biggest Esports event in Brazil in 2024, with 9,000 fans. 

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

Rocket League World Championships in Fort Worth Texas. 

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards? 

Get lots of supporting evidence to showcase your submission to the full.

Danyela Proteau, Chief of Staff & Strategy

• Winning Company: Collegiate Sports Management Group
• Category name: Best Collegiate/Amateur/Semi-Pro Event

If any, what impact has winning a Tempest Award had on you/your business?

The Tempest Award has given us the opportunity to show that we are the top esports tournament in collegiate sports.

Since you last won a Tempest Award, what are some of your/your teams/your company’s achievements?

We have run two more Collegiate Esports Commissioner Cup championship tournaments as well as a swath of smaller regional qualifiers and other side tournaments for the community.

Tell us about an upcoming project you’re really excited about (if you’re allowed!):

We are getting ready to launch our 24-25 season – all of our qualifiers and tournaments leading into our 2025 CECC that will be back in Arlington, TX.

Have you had any new opportunities come forth as a result of winning a Tempest Award?

We have been able to expand what we offer.

What suggestion(s) would you make to someone entering this year’s awards?

Give everything you have – it’s a great opportunity and if you are able to network and show all of the hard work you’ve put together it’s a great way to communicate to the gaming world what you have done to make this industry better!