This year, I walked away from the Voice Arts Awards without a win. And I can say this honestly and without hesitation. I have nothing to hang my head about.
Being nominated three times at the SOVAS Voice Arts Awards is something I will never take lightly. Not for a second.
From 2017 to Today
If Jerry from today could reach back to Jerry from 2017 and tell him where he would be standing years later, he would never believe it. Back then, the idea of being a three-time SOVAS nominee felt impossible. Not unlikely. Impossible.
At that point in my life, I was still figuring things out, still learning what was even possible in a voiceover career. Awards were not on the radar. Recognition like this was not something I could have imagined, let alone planned for.
That perspective matters.
Why the Nominations Mattered More Than a Win
Of course, a win would have been nice. I will never pretend otherwise. But standing in that room in Los Angeles, hearing my name called three times, was already more than enough.
To be recognized in front of an audience that included artists I have admired for years, people like Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Anika Noni Rose, and so many others, was surreal. That kind of acknowledgment carries weight. It told me something important. That the work is being seen. That it is landing. That it belongs in that conversation.
For me, that validation mattered deeply.
The People Who Made the Night Unforgettable
What meant even more than the nominations themselves was who I got to share the experience with. Being there with my wife, my kids, and my mom is something no trophy could ever replace. Those memories will outlast any award shelf.
Sharing that night alongside my accountability buddy in voiceover, Eryn Andrews, added another layer of meaning. This career can feel isolating at times, and moments like that are a reminder that none of this is meant to be done alone.
Gratitude Over Everything
I did not walk away feeling disappointed. I walked away feeling grateful.
Grateful for the journey.
Grateful for the recognition.
Grateful for the people who believed in me long before awards were even part of the conversation.
Grateful for the opportunity to stand in that room and know, without question, that I belong.
Three SOVAS nominations are not a consolation prize. They are a milestone.
And for me, they were more than enough to feel like a winner, simply for being there.
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