2025 Pinnacle Awards
Rising Stars

The Cincinnati Marketing Rising Stars Award is like a high-five for awesome young marketing professionals under 35. It’s all about celebrating their cool marketing skills, killer campaigns, and their impact on the industry. This year will mark the FIRST class of Cincinnati Marketing Rising Stars.

Read about our 2025 finalists (in alphabetical order) below.

RYAN NELTNER

Ryan Neltner is the Creative Director at Harris Media Co.

Ryan is a seasoned Creative Director and Designer with over a decade of experience shaping brands and building standout creative on both the global and local stage. With a BFA in Graphic Design and a career that spans scrappy startups to powerhouse agencies, Ryan brings a rare blend of sharp strategy, bold design, and just the right amount of humor to the table.

He’s all about taking ideas from sketch to screen—literally. His love for illustration and
storyboarding allows him to visualize concepts early and carry them through to polished,
high-impact deliverables. Fueled by an insatiable desire to learn and grow, Ryan is constantly evolving his skillset to meet new challenges and push creative boundaries.

Whether it’s a national campaign or a neighborhood initiative, his approach is rooted in
storytelling, problem-solving, and a drive to create work that connects. Known for his hands-on style and “Kentucky-can-do” attitude, he thrives on shaking things up, delivering unexpected solutions that not only meet but often exceed expectations, and making sure everyone has fun along the way. (And occasionally—just occasionally—he’ll try to sneak in a bad pun. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.)

SHANNEL HEATH

Vice President, Community Manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Shannel, a native of inner-city Cincinnati, is a dedicated leader and community advocate. With over eleven years of experience in the financial services industry, she currently serves as the Community & Business Development Community Manager for Greater Cincinnati.

In this role, Shannel spearheads the firm’s financial health strategy, focusing on building trust and fostering relationships in underserved local communities. Through her work, she aims to bridge gaps in community banking by nurturing connections with key leaders, nonprofit partners, and small businesses at the grassroots level. Beyond her professional endeavors, Shannel is deeply committed to giving back to the community that saved her.

She volunteers her time with local small businesses and provides essential financial literacy education to low to moderate-income communities. As a mentor, she shares her knowledge and experiences, guiding others towards success. Additionally, Shannel dedicates her free time to nurturing her four-year-old daughter, embodying the values of family and community in all aspects of her life.

Shannel’s journey is rooted in resilience and determination, driven by her personal experiences growing up in Cincinnati. Through her advocacy and leadership, she continues to make a meaningful impact, working tirelessly to close the opportunity gap and uplift those in need.

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Our sponsoring partners – both paid and in-kind – enable us to deliver more programming, better experiences, and greater community impact.

Download our prospectus to get some ideas for what’s possible.

Get Involved

Contact partnerships@amacincinnati.org or fill out the form linked below to discuss partnerships today!

We are an all-volunteer organization that works like it’s paying the bills. We depend on the participation of our fellow marketers and leading organizations across the region and beyond. Would you like to reach more marketers and related professionals for talent, visibility, and growth? We consider all sponsors to be partners, and we’ll find the right set of benefits to make the value exchange just right.

We thank you for attending tonight’s event and would like to congratulate our winners on their dedication to excellence. We look forward to seeing you next year!

If you have any questions or feedback regarding the event, please reach out to Pinnacle@AMACincinnati.org.