Meet our Judges for 2023
Ben Branch
Founder and Editor of Silodrome, Ben founded Silodrome in 2010 and over the intervening 13 years it’s grown to become one of the most popular alternative automotive and motorcycle publications online. Silodrome stories have been featured by CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, and many more.
Founder and Editor of Silodrome, Ben founded Silodrome in 2010 and over the intervening 13 years it’s grown to become one of the most popular alternative automotive and motorcycle publications online. Silodrome stories have been featured by CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, and many more.
Dutch Mandel
Longest serving Editor and publisher of Autoweek as part of 40+ years experience in the automotive industry. His bylines have appeared in Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Sports Car Graphic, and Automotive News. Current role as Executive Producer for Cars & Culture with Jason Stein on SiriusXM.
Longest serving Editor and publisher of Autoweek as part of 40+ years experience in the automotive industry. His bylines have appeared in Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Sports Car Graphic, and Automotive News. Current role as Executive Producer for Cars & Culture with Jason Stein on SiriusXM.
Jay Ward
Creative Director, Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios. Jay consults on all Cars-related projects around the world, providing guidance for Consumer Products, Interactive, Marketing, Publishing, and Theme Park activations. He was the automotive and later franchise creative consultant on all three ‘Cars’ film
Creative Director, Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios. Jay consults on all Cars-related projects around the world, providing guidance for Consumer Products, Interactive, Marketing, Publishing, and Theme Park activations. He was the automotive and later franchise creative consultant on all three ‘Cars’ film
Simone Griffeth
Professional actress and drama coach, star of the motoring films like Death Race 2000 (inspired by the Cannonball race across the country) and television series including Magnum, P.I., Hawaii Five-O, and CHiPs. In addition Simone is an experienced film festival juror.
Professional actress and drama coach, star of the motoring films like Death Race 2000 (inspired by the Cannonball race across the country) and television series including Magnum, P.I., Hawaii Five-O, and CHiPs. In addition Simone is an experienced film festival juror.
Tara Klein
Creative Director at Hearst Autos whose 14 years in automotive media have given her a front-row seat to the transformation of the automotive landscape. An artist who is also a lover of rat rods!
Creative Director at Hearst Autos whose 14 years in automotive media have given her a front-row seat to the transformation of the automotive landscape. An artist who is also a lover of rat rods!
Michael Harley
VP of Marketing & Communications at Hennessey Performance, and an automotive industry veteran, Michael has held key roles at Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power and Associates, Autoblog, Autotrader, and Autobytel.
VP of Marketing & Communications at Hennessey Performance, and an automotive industry veteran, Michael has held key roles at Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power and Associates, Autoblog, Autotrader, and Autobytel.
Steve Chavez
30+ year creative veteran of the advertising industry, currently the US CCO for Bastion, an independent agency network overseeing brands like Mazda, GMC, Buick and Toyota
30+ year creative veteran of the advertising industry, currently the US CCO for Bastion, an independent agency network overseeing brands like Mazda, GMC, Buick and Toyota
Ian Jones
SVP, Managing Director Qualfon, Ian has led creative campaigns and consumer experiences in the automotive industry with key roles at Autoweek, BBDO, and Leo Burnett for brands including GMC, Buick, Dodge, and more.
SVP, Managing Director Qualfon, Ian has led creative campaigns and consumer experiences in the automotive industry with key roles at Autoweek, BBDO, and Leo Burnett for brands including GMC, Buick, Dodge, and more.
