The Marketing Awards for Excellence (MAX Awards) honor the very best in new products, new services and marketing innovations developed or launched by Georgia companies in 2009. The finalists of the 18th Annual MAX Awards were selected by the Georgia State University Marketing RoundTable, which is comprised of senior marketing executives from top Atlanta companies.

Finalists include:

Aflac – Color Carl’s Car for Pediatric Cancer Awareness

Bentley's Popcorn / Steem Creative – Gourmet Popcorn

Equifax – Debt Wise

Mother Nature Network – Environmental Web site

Nourish – Nourish Formula-ready Bottled Water

Southwire Company – Proof Positive Copper with Trace ID Technology

Stone Mountain Park – Snow Mountain

Zep – Biofilm Drain Purge

The MAX Awards are presented by the J. Mack Robinson College of Business Department of Marketing at Georgia State University and Atlanta Business Chronicle. Winners will be announced during the 18th Annual MAX Awards on Friday, Feb. 26th at 7:30 a.m. at the Georgia Aquarium. Additionally, the Best Marketing Innovation of the Decade will be announced at this year’s breakfast event. Former MAX Award winners were nominated automatically, and the winner was selected on degree of innovation, long-term success and impact within the industry.

Atlanta Mayor and former Georgia state Senator Kasim Reed will serve as the keynote speaker. Reed was inaugurated Jan. 4, 2010 as the City of Atlanta’s 59th mayor.

Seats for the breakfast are $75 each and tables for 10 may be purchased for $750. All proceeds benefit the Outstanding Minority Marketing Student Scholarship Fund.

For more information and to reserve your seat(s), visit www.maxawards.com.