SAN DIEGO, CA (June 14, 2023) – NewMark Merrill Companies, Inc. is proud to announce that two of its shopping centers in San Diego County won top 2023 Global MAXI Marketing Awards at the prestigious International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference in Las Vegas. The annual Global MAXI Awards, with thousands of U.S. and international entries, are presented to the best retail and marketplace industry programs.
“I am so incredibly proud of Cynthia and everything she and our shopping center teams have created and accomplished for our merchants and our community members,” commented Sandy Sigal, President and Chief Executive Officer of NewMark Merrill Companies. “Cynthia’s passion and commitment to building our shopping center communities is remarkable and these awards are a testament to how valuable our marketing programs are to support our merchants and help them thrive and to make our shopping centers places where our customers come and love to spend time.”
“Both winning programs are examples of NewMark Merrill’s corporate mission to enhance the neighborhoods where our shopping centers are located,” said John Hickman, Managing Director of NewMark Merrill Companies San Diego Division. He continued, “Cynthia Gonzalez has been our San Diego Division Senior Marketing Director since 2008, and these awards showcase her efforts working to build authentic relationships with the local communities through hands-on engagement with our retailers and shoppers.”
“Our company is unique in the shopping center industry for its creativity implementing local elements that our neighborhoods can enjoy and are happy to support,” commented Cynthia Gonzalez. “The NewMark Merrill vision inspires us to develop programs which build strong community relationships and sales for our tenants.”
The NewMark Merrill winning Global MAXI programs:
- GOLD MAXI Award for the Día de los Muertos event at Terra Nova Plaza, located at 394 East H Street in Chula Vista. The neighborhood shopping center showed its caring community brand with a Día de los Muertos event to honor the San Diego market’s Hispanic residents and educate the public about the beloved holiday. The event drew thousands of attendees and television coverage of the festival’s unique Altar contest displays, Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico, sugar skull face painting, and other activities including free Mexican pastries and hot chocolate.
- SILVER MAXI Award for the Jingle Bell Jump event at Mission Marketplace, located at 471 College Boulevard in Oceanside. Cynthia Gonzalez redesigned the shopping center’s annual Jingle Bell Jump into an inclusive, transformative event where both able-bodied and physically challenged children enjoyed holiday fun together. Ten children who use wheelchairs got a once-in-a-lifetime honor as Santa’s Official Elves to welcome him at his precise parachute landing in the shopping center parking lot. They also joined Santa in the first Jingle Bell Jump Parade led by the Oceanside, CA El Camino High School Band. The transformation of the able-bodied children’s comfort level while interacting with the physically disabled was heartwarming as they enjoyed the free holiday event together. Holiday Hoops allowed able-bodied children the experience of playing basketball while sitting in a wheelchair.
About NewMark Merrill Companies
NewMark Merrill Companies, Inc. owns or manages a portfolio of over 95 shopping centers valued at more than $2 billion. Since 1987 President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy Sigal has led the company of shopping centers representing over 2,000 tenants and 12 million square feet in California, Colorado, and Illinois. The Company has founded and invested heavily in BrightStreet Ventures, its technology company, which is working on leading edge solutions for landlords and tenants to succeed in today’s retail environment. For more information, please visit NewMarkMerrill.com.