Edward Estipona Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Reno has named Edward Estipona, founder, President and CEO of the Estipona Group, as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor recognizes Estipona’s decades of creative excellence, community leadership and unwavering commitment to elevating the advertising industry and the Reno community.

“This award reflects the work of many people, not just me. Achieving this level of recognition takes years of consistent effort, and that’s never the result of one person alone,” said Estipona, “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented employees, supportive partners and loyal clients who have all played a role in this journey."

Presented annually, the award celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to advertising while furthering industry standards and demonstrating a strong sense of community. Over his 30-year career, Estipona has embodied these values through his work, leadership and extensive community involvement.

Estipona made his mark early, earning Reno Advertising Person of the Year at just 25 years old, Marketer of the Year from the American Marketing Association of Northern Nevada, and a place among the Reno Gazette Journal’s Top 20 Under 40. In 2022, Estipona Group was named Western U.S. Advertising Agency of the Year (under $10MM).

Under Estipona’s leadership, the agency has received multiple honors, including the Governor’s Arts Award (2008), Outstanding Media Partner at the 2016 Silver Syringe Awards, and Nevada’s Center of Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET) Technology Advocate/Creative Services award the same year. In 2017, the agency was a finalist for the Governor’s Points of Light Awards for its volunteer service. 

Beyond agency success, Estipona’s impact is deeply felt in the community. He is Vice Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board and serves on the Travel Nevada Marketing Committee following his term as a Nevada Travel Commissioner. A founding member of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, Estipona became its Board President in 2024. He has served on the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada Board since 2014 and on its Board of Trustees for three years. He is also a member of the Truckee Meadows Community College Institutional Advisory Council. Over the years, three Nevada governors have appointed him to various boards, including two terms with the Nevada Arts Council.

Founded in 1993, Estipona Group is known for innovative campaigns, creative collaboration and a guiding philosophy of “doing the right thing” — whether for clients, team members or the community. Despite earning a “lifetime achievement” award, Estipona’s work is far from finished. “If I’m being honest, it feels a little awkward to accept this award—I’ve always thought of this as something given at the end of a career,” said Estipona, “but I feel like I’m just getting started on my third act, with plenty of gas still in the tank. So I’ll work hard to live up to the standard this award represents until the day I’m done."