Nov. 3, 2009 (Business Wire) -- The American Marketing Association Houston Chapter announced today that nominations are now open for AMA Houston’s 2009 Marketer of the Year, a program that recognizes exceptional marketing by Houston-area companies, organizations and institutions. Nominations, which continue through November 13 in 41 industry categories, can be submitted by going to www.amahouston.org and then selecting “Marketer of the Year” to access the nomination form. The 2009 Marketer of the Year event will be held on March 15, 2010, at the Alley Theatre, beginning with a cocktail reception at 5:30 pm.

Last year's program drew 300 top Houston marketing professionals who came to honor the 33 Best of Category winners and see Kelsey-Seybold Clinic revealed as AMA Houston's 2008 Marketer of the Year. Past Marketer of the Year winners include the Houston Zoo (2007), Weatherford International (2006) and the Houston Symphony (2005).

The presenting sponsor for AMA Houston’s Marketer of the Year is the Houston Business Journal. The Platinum Event Partner is the Greater Houston Partnership. The Gold Sponsor is CenterPoint Energy, and Silver Sponsors include Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Event partners to date include the Alley Theatre, Ventures Marketing Group, Business Wire, Equamark, ExactTarget, and Getty Images.

Information on sponsorships is available by contacting one of the event co-chairs, Matt Ross with Ventures Marketing Group, matt@venturesmarketing.com, or Gary Carson at Equamark, gcarson@equamark.com. Nominations for Marketer of the Year may also be submitted via email to the co-chairs. The person nominating is to include a 50-100 word description as to why the firm should be considered for Marketer of the Year. Event details, a sponsorship form, a list of the 2009 Marketer of the Year categories and a link to the official online nomination site can be accessed at www.amahouston.org

About AMA AMA Houston is the area’s premier professional marketing organization and the nation’s second largest chapter. AMA Houston provides marketers the ability to remain competitive in today's business environment through networking events, special interest groups and real-world educational programs. Named Chapter of the Year four times in the last six years by AMA’s international headquarters, AMA Houston serves more than 1,100 members with diverse marketing expertise from a variety of industries.