IA is excited to announce this year’s IAct Awards program winners. Once again, IAers proved that our professionals are a defining force for the firm, submitting a record-breaking 500 nominations for an internal award program that demonstrates the passion of IA’s community and the strength of our culture. As well as honoring our four core categories—Leadership, Innovation, Service, and Rising Star—we presented one professional with the “Spirit of IA” Award, first introduced in 2023. This special recognition celebrates an individual who personifies the full breadth of IA’s values: an enthusiastic, innovative, and dedicated team member who consistently elevates our project work, enriches our internal ethos, and contributes meaningfully to the broader community.
The 2025 IAct Award for Leadership was presented to Jamie Martin, a Project Director based in IA’s Seattle studio. Jamie’s dedication to excellence and track record of leadership are exemplified in her commitment to mentorship and her ability to remain positive and calm under pressure. Nominators praised Jamie for her ability to “lift up everyone around her, inspiring with her strength, compassion, and remarkable capacity to listen.” She was cited as “a natural mentor and collaborator, one that 'creates space for others to thrive while maintaining a positive, approachable, and open-minded presence.”
“A true leader in every sense of the word, Jamie has held a critical role in the firm’s largest client account. She has led significant project efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. She has a natural ability to care deeply about the project while also caring for each of the participating individuals. Internal teams, external teams, client teams alike – all seem to line up behind her.”
-David Kutsunai, Co-Managing Director, IA’s Seattle Studio
The 2025 IAct Award for Service was presented to Audrey Metzger, Contracts Administrator in IA’s Silicon Valley studio. Audrey embodies the spirit of care and excellence that is the hallmark of OneIA, our collaborative firmwide approach. In a category that had almost 100 nominations, Audrey stood out for the passionate testimonials of colleagues firmwide, calling her “the glue that keeps our team and projects together and organized, a trusted and reliable team member that is always ready to contribute to the success of projects...” and saying that “her contributions may not always be the most visible, but their impact is immeasurable. Audrey supports her teams with quiet strength and humility, always leaving ego at the door.”
“It has been an honor to see Audrey flourish since she joined IA in the Silicon Valley studio, progressively jumping into new and more challenging roles over the past five years. I am beyond grateful to have experienced both her personal career growth and benefited from her dedicated service to the studio, the firm, and its clients.”
-Colin O’Malley, Managing Director of IA’s NorCal studio
The 2025 IAct Award for Innovation was presented to Mary Lim, Senior Experiential Graphic Designer based in IA’s Seattle studio. Known for consistently pushing the envelope in experiential design and beyond to create countless value for our firm and clients alike, Mary was described as “fearless,” “an innovative storyteller,” and “endlessly creative.” One nominator shared that Mary is someone who is always “experimenting with new tools or reimagining how existing technologies can be stretched in unexpected ways.” Another shared that “what makes her exceptional is her willingness to fight for her ideas, advocate for their value, and see them through to successful implementation.”
“Mary is a visionary who reimagines how people connect with space, cutting through assumptions to create immersive, strategic, and deeply human experiences. By challenging the status quo and championing bold, boundaryless ideas, she pushes our work into the future and expands what we believe is possible. Her creativity, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of innovation inspire both clients and colleagues to think bigger and dream further.”
-Nancy Heywood, Co-Managing Director of IA’s Seattle studio
The 2025 IAct Rising Star Award was presented to Lane Felts, a Designer in IA’s Chicago Studio. Lane received a remarkable number of nominations, all praising and celebrating her for her fearless motivation, her passion, and her exceptional design talent. Lane consistently and proactively works across IA’s platform of committees and practice groups, eagerly diving in to test new tools and processes. One nominator said that she is “a rising star not just for her design talent, but for her fearless embrace of innovation and her willingness to jump in and try new things.” Another praised her as “a true design leader in the making, and her trajectory continues to inspire those around her.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate Lane, who truly represents the spirit of a rising star in our studio and firmwide. Her passion, mentorship, and spirit inspire us every day and continue to shape the future of our practice.”
Tom Kaznia, Managing Director, IA’s Chicago studio
We were thrilled to again award an IAer with the coveted Spirit of IA award. This year’s winner was Chris Goodworth, Community Manager based in IA’s London studio. Nominated for truly personifying the values of One IA, Chris proactively champions the firm and our professionals on a daily basis, both internally and externally, staying true to the core values and traits of the firm. He’s a naturally innovative leader and culture builder, known firmwide for his infectious positivity and collaborative energy. Nominators called Chris “an IA cheerleader” and “a beacon of positivity and hospitality,” as well as the “epitome of excellence in service.”
“Chris is always the first person you see when you come into our London studio and he embodies our identity through his welcoming, collaborative, enthusiastic nature. He’s an avid internal cheerleader, taking a keen interest in our work firmwide, paying special attention to our teams and always looking for opportunities to promote the firm. Without fail, he is the first to give encouragement and celebrate success, not just in our studio but across our entire firm. Without a doubt, Chris Goodworth is the Spirit of IA.”
-Tim Hardingham, Managing Director, IA’s London Studio
The awards were presented on Wednesday, December 10th during a live-streamed global event.
"The IAct awards program continually proves the strength and power of our IA community. We were blown away by the number and quality of nominations this year, and it’s always so moving to hear about the impact we have on each other and our clients. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, finalists, and nominees!"
Tom Powers & David Bourke
Co-Presidents/CEOs