Striking Gold at the 49th MAME Awards

What a night it was at the BIA Bay Area MAME 49 Gold Rush Gala!

On April 24, the industry gathered at Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery for an evening that shimmered with celebration, connection and well-earned recognition. For the Gunn Jerkens team, it’s a night we look forward to every year. A moment to step back, raise a glass with our clients and honor the work that pushes this industry forward.

The MAME Awards—Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence—represent the very best in homebuilding. The builders, marketers, sales teams and trade partners who show up every day to elevate the craft. And every year, we’re proud to stand alongside our clients as they’re recognized among the best.

But this year, our role went beyond the audience.

Bringing the Gold Rush Gala to Life

When the BIA Bay Area Sales & Marketing Council (SMC) invited Gunn Jerkens to partner on the event’s marketing, we saw an opportunity to help shape the experience from the ground up. Working closely with the SMC team, we set out to create something that felt both timeless and transportive.

The theme began, as many Gold Rush stories do, with the idea of panning for gold. But we quickly refined the vision, trading rugged for refined. What emerged was the Gold Rush Gala: an elevated take on California’s golden era, where richness showed up not just in color, but in tone, texture and the details.

From early concepts to final execution, we worked closely with the BIA Bay Area Events Manager Evelyn Ragonton and MAME Chair Alexis Ashley of DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors to shape the creative direction across every touchpoint. Messaging. Visual identity. Environments. Together, we developed the look and feel, built out sponsorship materials and designed the stage, backdrops and stylescapes to ensure every moment felt cohesive.

And while the spotlight rightly belonged to the nominees and winners, this year carried an added sense of pride for our team. To help bring the night to life alongside such thoughtful partners—and then step into it alongside our clients—made the experience even more meaningful.

A Golden Moment Worth Celebrating

We were honored to see that shared work acknowledged throughout the evening as we brought home eight MAME Awards spanning brand, campaign and experience.

From Francis Ranch, which was recognized across multiple categories including Community of the Year, to Ellis earning top honors for its overall campaign, the night reflected the strength of ideas brought to life across very different expressions. Mountain House was also recognized for its digital experience, while standout events like Bloom & Explore at Tracy Hills and the reimagined PCBC were celebrated for creating memorable, meaningful moments.

Each recognition represents something slightly different, but they all point back to the same thing: thoughtful collaboration, clear vision and clients willing to push for something better.

At its core, the MAME Awards are about more than just recognition. They’re about momentum. About the collective effort it takes to move the industry forward, and the partnerships that make it possible.

This year, we didn’t just celebrate that progress. We helped shape the stage it stood on.

And that made it a truly golden night.