The Ad Pro of the Year award is presented to an AAF Nebraska member with a distinguished career in advertising, including professional achievement, community impact, and dedicated service to AAF Nebraska.
This year’s recipient Ann Woodford, Brand Strategist at NFM, and AAF Nebraska’s 2026 Ad Pro of the Year was honored during the American Advertising Awards on February 20, 2026 at 1316 Jones in Omaha.
Ann’s commitment to AAF Nebraska spans years of leadership and service.
She co-chaired the federation’s Communications and Public Service teams before moving into executive roles as 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President, and Chairwoman of the Board.
And when most people would take a well-earned break after that level of service, Ann came back to support the executive team and helped lead key initiatives, including our ON Brand Conference and our student AdVenture projects.
She’s back volunteering on the Meet the Pros committee – an AAF Nebraska program she has championed for many years.
She also played a crucial role in merging AAF Lincoln and AAF Omaha into one unified statewide organization, helping strengthen the presence and impact of AAF Nebraska.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ann’s leadership helped the federation pivot, innovate, and stay connected to our members during an incredibly challenging time.
Her impact didn’t stop at the state level. In 2022, Ann was honored nationally as the American Advertising Federation’s DIII President of the Year, recognizing her outstanding leadership and service to the organization and the industry.
Professionally, Ann has built a career rooted in purpose and community.
After graduating from The Art Institute of Las Vegas with her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, she held roles at Goodwill Industries and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha, combining creativity with meaningful impact.
Today, Ann continues that work as a Brand Strategist at NFM, bringing insight, versatility, and a deep understanding of people to everything she does.
A proud Nebraska native, Ann is often described as a “unicorn” in our industry—someone adaptable, curious, and capable of wearing many hats.
But more importantly, she brings heart, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the people around her.
When she’s not strategizing, designing, or volunteering with AAF Nebraska, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, their dogs, along with family and friends.
