WORKHOUSE Founder Adam Nelson Named “Marketing Executive of the Year” in 13th annual Best in Biz Awards

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Creativity: Workhouse Founder Honored for 25 Years of Industry Excellence

​WORKHOUSE Founder Adam Nelson has been named “Marketing Executive of the Year,” a Silver winner in the 2023 Best in Biz Awards, the only independent business awards program judged each year by prominent editors and reporters from top-tier publications in North America. This esteemed accolade acknowledges his creative journey and Workhouse's 25th anniversary, underscoring unparalleled contributions to the communications industry.
Adam Nelson's extensive career spans three decades, marked by unwavering creativity in media and storytelling. Known for his inventive thinking, his path from publicist to the helm of the award-winning agency Workhouse serves as a testament to his dedication to the field.
The 13th annual program saw intense competition among more than 600 entries from public and private companies, representing all industries and regions in the U.S. and Canada and ranging from some of the most iconic global brands to the most innovative start-ups and beloved local companies. This year’s judges highlighted the winning companies’ breadth and depth of innovation, their novel approaches to employing new technologies, impressive workplace benefits and employee diversity and inclusion programs, as well as continued community involvement and critical investments in environment and corporate social responsibility programs.
In gratitude, Nelson shared, "This year, Workhouse celebrates 25 years of being promotional provocateurs. I can't imagine a better way to honor this milestone – a heartfelt one for me personally and professionally – than to be honored with the “Marketing Executive of the Year” from Best in Biz, an organization whose work and influence I've long admired.” 

Over more than 30 years as a communications professional, Nelson's legacy has shown through his collaborations with iconic entertainment clients, as well as renowned luxury brands and impactful nonprofits. His creative prowess consistently shapes compelling narratives, earning him prestigious recognition and cementing his reputation as a marketing trailblazer who adeptly guides brands in effectively conveying their stories. As the CEO of Workhouse, and as a fractional creative consultant for THE BOARD, Nelson provides forward-thinking public relations, innovative social media strategies, brand promotion, creative consulting, and visionary experiential services across entertainment, culture, fashion, and lifestyle sectors.

Recognized for his originality and hands-on approach, Nelson's leadership has garnered numerous accolades, including the 2023 MarCom Career Achievement Award and the Netty Lifetime Achievement Award, which was bestowed upon his agency this year. Nelson's outstanding creativity has earned him the U.S. Commerce Association New York Award, the National Congressional Committee's National Leadership Award, Honorary Chairmanship of the Business Advisory Council, and the Clutch Leadership Award. His achievements also extend to selection by the International Who's Who of Executives and his induction into the New York Business Hall of Fame.

Before founding Workhouse, Nelson served as a senior publicist at Jason Weinberg & Associates, representing a cavalcade of celebrity clients. His career highlights include roles as the inaugural Communications Director for the Asbury Park Boardwalk, inaugural Publicity Director for Irving Plaza concert hall, Co-Founder and Executive Director of House of Independents, and senior publicist at the Peggy Siegal Company. Holding a BFA from the University of the Arts and certificate degrees from Yale and Oxford Universities, Nelson's unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence is undeniable.

Throughout his distinguished career, Nelson has meticulously cultivated an unparalleled body of award-winning work, solidifying his position as a creative force behind the sustained achievements of established and emerging global brands and businesses. As a “Marketing Executive of the Year,” silver winner in the Best in Biz Awards, the accolade serves to honor Nelson's enduring influence on the industry and his dedication to pioneering new paths forward.

​Since the program’s inception in 2011, winners in Best in Biz Awards have been determined by independent judging panels assembled each year from some of the most respected national and local newspapers, TV, and radio outlets, and business, consumer, technology, and trade publications in North America. Thanks to the unparalleled expertise and experience of the editors and reporters serving as judges and the impressive diversity of outlets they represent, Best in Biz Awards judging panels are uniquely suited to objectively determine the best of the best from among the hundreds of competitive entries. The 2023 judging panel included, among others, writers and contributors to Ad Age, Computerworld, Fast Company, Forbes, Inc., Portland Tribune, and the Washington Post.
“As in years past, determining winners in some categories was a matter of selecting the very best from among the very good and came down to the smallest details,” said Best in Biz Awards staff. “Each year, the judges are impressed by the innovations, growth, and change emanating from the winning companies and permeating across layers of society, from their employees through clients to local and global communities.”
Best in Biz Awards 2022 honors were conferred in 100 different categories, including Company of the Year, Fastest-Growing Company, Most Innovative Company, Best Place to Work, Customer Service Department, Executive of the Year, Marketing Executive, Most Innovative Service, Enterprise Product, Best New Product, App, CSR Program, Environmental Program, Website and Film/Video of the Year. For a full list of Marketing category winners in Best in Biz Awards 2023, visit https://www.bestinbizawards.com/2023-winners-executive/

About WORKHOUSE
Workhouse is one of the country’s leading public relations and integrated creative agencies. Celebrating 25 years of service this year, the agency provides forward-thinking public relations, social media, brand promotion, creative consulting, and modern-day marketing. Clients have included The Rolling Stones, The Charlie Chaplin Estate, Hugh Jackman, Francis Ford Coppola, Lou Reed, Matthew Modine, David LaChapelle, The Anthony Quinn Estate, CBGB, Max’s Kansas City, Interview Magazine, Galleries Lafayette, Porsche, Ford Motor Company, UnitedMasters, Virgin, Jazz at Lincoln Center, International Emmy Awards, Assouline Editions, Rizzoli International Publications, Moose Knuckles, Tony Shafrazi Gallery, Chase Contemporary, Versace, and Avroko. Workhouse offers untraditional services across a broad spectrum of entertainment, culture, fashion, and lifestyle spheres. Visit http://www.workhousepr.com

Read:
Los Angeles Magazine: "How Adam Nelson Became the Class Clown of Creative Communications” (July, 2023)
https://lamag.com/contributor-content/how-adam-nelson-became-the-class-clown-of-creative-communications

​About Best in Biz Awards
Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been the only independent business awards program judged by a who’s who of prominent reporters and editors from top-tier publications from North America and around the world. Over the years, judges in the prestigious awards program have ranged from the Associated Press to the Wall Street Journal, and winners have spanned the spectrum, from blue-chip companies that form the bedrock of the global economy to some of the world’s most innovative start-ups and nimble local companies. Each year, Best in Biz Awards honors are conferred in two separate programs, North America and International, and in 100 categories, including company, team, executive, product, and CSR, media, PR, and other categories. For more information, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com.