A small ad agency just won some big kudos. Vancouver-based integrated communications agency Hot Tomali has been named International Small Agency of the Year by Advertising Age.

Given on July 15 in a city that’s hot in its own right, New Orleans, the award recognizes small to mid-sized agencies with a staff numbering less than 75. During the submission stage Hot Tomali boasted a staff of 10, which secured for them runner-up in the Agency of the Year 1-10-employee-category as well. Now it’s 12 and they’re expecting to add several more to that total soon.

The judging panel for the award included Lee Clow, chairman, global director, TBWAWorldwide; Dan Wieden, executive CD, co-founder, Wieden + Kennedy; Mark Waites, CD, co-founder, Mother; and Jyce King Thomas, CCO, McCann Erickson.

‘This is a prestigious international award and we were up against some amazing agencies from around the world,’ said Thomas Stringham, president, CD, Hot Tomali, in a release. ‘Having Hot Tomali chosen as International Small Agency of the Year by Advertising Age is huge.’

Clients of the agency, which has been open for 12 years, include 7-11′s Slurpee, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Chevron and the B.C. Cancer Agency.