Fort Bragg, CA / March 10, 2025 – For the second year in a row, Marinela Miclea, founder and principal at Mendo Digital, has been honored as Local Business Person of the Year by Alignable. This repeat recognition underscores not only her marketing expertise but also her unwavering dedication to fostering community growth and collaboration.
Record-Breaking Contest
Alignable’s 2025 edition of the Local Business Person of the Year contest was its most participatory to date. With 333,272 total votes cast, a sharp rise from last year’s 309,000, North America saw 4,750 local business leaders recognized in this year’s event. Unique to 2025 was the introduction of an interactive leaderboard that tracked top performers throughout the contest, creating buzz, friendly competition, and motivation to rally support for nominees.
As Alignable CEO and cofounder Eric Groves stated, “The competition not only recognizes individual excellence but also fuels a supportive ecosystem where every referral and connection matters.”Repeat winners prove that it’s about more than effective business practices; it showcases generosity, trust, and leadership that uplift entire ecosystems. Repeat winners like Marinela set the bar for what local business leaders can achieve through engagement and mentorship.
Local Business Success
At Mendo Digital, Marinela offers tailored marketing support that empowers clients to clarify their messaging, connect authentically with their audiences, and grow their reach in multiple marketing channels. Peers repeatedly praise her for being accessible, proactive, and committed to collaborative success—even off the clock.
While Marinela’s impact is deeply felt especially in northern California, her profile has also grown within Alignable’s broader network. The interactive leaderboard experience, along with new tools like Alignable 360, have helped her forge valuable national connections, opening doors for both referrals and partnerships.
Looking Ahead with Mendo Digital
In addition to a a special badge on her Alignable profile, Marinela’s win brings increased visibility and credibility. Prospective clients—regionally and beyond—see that she not only delivers results but also builds networks and nurtures lasting relationships. Those qualities resonate in today’s market, where authenticity and community carry weight.
More than an award-winning marketing expert, Marinela is a trusted advisor, an effective connector, and a leading voice for local economic resilience. Two years in a row, she’s shown what happens when passion meets purpose and inspired others to follow her lead.
As Mendo Digital progesses through 2025, Marinela’s vision remains steady: empower entrepreneurs through clarity, connection, and purposeful growth. Her approach is grounded in the belief that success is collaborative, and that when one business flourishes, the whole community benefits.
About Alignable
The largest online business networking platform for business owners in the U.S. and Canada, Alignable has 8.7 million members across over 35,000 communities. It’s the network where business owners come together to connect locally, meet peers in their industries, or get referrals for business services they need.
About Mendo Digital
Mendo Digital serves clients in a variety of industries throughout North America with a focus on effective, ethical, and strategic marketing best practices. Our 2025 local business recognition underscores how small business owners can lead by example, supporting both our clients and their communities.
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