Kaleeta McDade, VML global chief experience officer, based in Atlanta, and Oved Valadez, executive creative director and founding partner at Industry in Portland, are the recipients of this year’s ADCOLOR | ONE CLUB Creative Award, presented at the annual ADCOLOR Awards ceremony on Friday (11/14) in Orlando.
Now in its 16th year, the ADCOLOR | One Club Creative Award is given to a professional in a creative field from a historically excluded community who has demonstrated extraordinary talent and achievement within the media, creative, digital, and traditional advertising disciplines.
The honor is presented jointly by The One Club for Creativity and ADCOLOR, an organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting professionals of color and diversity in the creative industries.
“Our work at The One Club–whether through ONE School, Creative Boot Camps, or annual Where Are All The Black people conference and career fair–is about nurturing creativity that reflects the world we live in,” said Adrienne Lucas, global head of strategic partnerships & DEI at The One Club for Creativity. “Kaleeta and Oved represent the creative excellence and leadership our industry needs. They are visionaries who remind us what’s possible when inclusion is built into innovation.”
At VML, McDade helps companies drive intimacy at scale while harnessing the power of innovation, design, data, and technology. Her 20 years of experience span numerous industries and geographies, holding notable leadership and creative roles with Google Brand Studio, Apple, Sapient Shanghai, Deloitte Digital, and Ogilvy.
McDade, who serves on The One Club Board of Directors, has a proven ability to drive impact for brands, helping them shape a creative vision that deepens customer relationships across every stage of the engagement lifecycle. Her influence and leadership shape how customers around the world experience some of the largest brands in retail, sports, beauty, and health.
Her work has been revered by major clients such as Costco, Nike, Apple, Google, WNBA, LA Rams, Verizon, AT&T, Wells Fargo, NY Life, and The Coca-Cola Company. McDade is bridging creative storytelling into storyliving across VML’s client portfolio.
Valadez is the co-founder and executive creative director of Industry, a creative agency working at the intersection of culture, innovation, and brand impact. He recently led the launch of Toma El Juego, Nike’s global youth-led street soccer platform, the debut of Almavé, the world’s first premium non-alcoholic agave spirit, and the rebrand of the Leagues Cup, uniting MLS and Liga MX through culture-driven storytelling.
With over 15 years of experience, Valadez has shaped culture for brands including Nike, YouTube, Timberland, Google Pixel, HP, and Converse, creating work that doesn’t just participate in culture, but moves it forward.
The ADCOLOR | One Club Creative Award was jointly established by the two organizations in 2009. It was first presented to Jimmy Smith, who now serves as chairman, CEO and chief creative officer at Amusement Park Entertainment in Los Angeles, and is a member of The One Club Board of Directors.
