Hope you can join us to celebrate this year’s inductees.
The Hall of Fame of New Jersey recognizes and celebrate those who have demonstrated leadership, creativity, and professional integrity in their careers.
2026 Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey Inductees
Beverly E. Barnes
SGW Integrated Marketing
Beverly E. Barnes is President & CEO of SGW Integrated Marketing, a New Jersey-based agency providing insight-driven marketing solutions across healthcare and pharmaceutical, financial services, higher education, and manufacturing. Her leadership is grounded in authentic collaboration, disciplined execution, and a commitment to innovative, results-driven marketing.
Steve Guberman
Agency Outsight
Steve Guberman is an agency growth coach and M&A advisor who helps independent agency owners build stronger businesses, plan for the future, and successfully navigate a sale when the time is right. Having built, grown, and sold his own award-winning agency, Fifth Room Creative, Steve brings firsthand experience to his work and hosts Agency Bytes, a podcast offering practical insights on leadership, profitability, succession planning, and agency operations.
Karen J. Kessler
Kessler PR Group
Karen is the founding President and CEO of Kessler PR Group and a recognized public relations leader with more than 30 years of experience managing complex business, legal, regulatory, and reputational issues. Her distinguished career includes serving as Vice President of Corporate Communications for the American Stock Exchange, Director of Transition for Governor-Elect Jim Florio, and the first female Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. She currently serves as a Commissioner of the NJ Film and Television Commission, a position to which she was appointed in 2023.
Kraus Marketing
Nicholas Kraus
Nick Kraus is the Founder and CEO of Kraus Marketing, which he launched in 2008 and built into an award-winning, nationally recognized agency. A 2016 NJ Ad Club 40 Under 40 honoree, Nick has led Kraus through significant growth, earning Inc. 5000 recognition, multiple NJBIZ Best Places to Work honors, and numerous NJ Ad Club and national design awards. As a writer, speaker, and thought leader, Nick shares his expertise on entrepreneurship, marketing, AI, and emerging technology.
Darren Magarro
The DSM Group
Darren founded DSM in 2007 and has led the company for 18 years, driving new business, client growth, and a strong community-focused culture. His leadership has earned numerous honors, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, NJBIZ 40 Under 40, and four Inc. 5000 awards. Deeply committed to giving back, Darren serves on the board of Backpacks for Life and has helped raise more than $2.5 million for veterans, children, and families through various charitable initiatives.
John Martorana
Oxford Communications
John Martorana is a 30-year industry veteran whose expertise lies in growing businesses through bold marketing and communications programs. His agency, Oxford Communications is a full-service digital marketing communications agency that has been recognized by NJBIZ as one of the state’s fastest-growing businesses and Top 10 agencies.
Rich Faul
Innovare Media
George Jackus Baldwin & Obenauf, Inc.
Robin Landa Kean University
Debra Rizzi Rizco
Tamara Robb Robb Digital
Thanks to all who came out to celebrate. In case you missed it, click below for photo gallery and highlight reel:
2025 Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey Inductees
Debra Rizzi
Rizco
Debra Rizzi is President and Partner of Rizco, a woman-owned, brand-led marketing agency she co-founded in 2000. In that time, she has grown a two-person startup into a nationally recognized, award-winning firm serving clients across healthcare, education, finance, and the nonprofit sectors. A visionary strategist and creative leader, she champions wellness, mentorship, and female leadership in New Jersey’s marketing and design community.
Rich Faul
Innovare Medical Media
Rich is a seasoned advertising sales professional with over four decades of experience driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams, and pioneering innovative advertising strategies across media, healthcare, and technology sectors. Known for his strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and engaging public speaking, Rich continues to shape the future of sales and media with integrity, innovation, and impact.
Robin Landa
Kean University
Robin is a distinguished professor at Kean University and is a globally acclaimed authority on creativity, branding, and design education. The author of twenty-five books, she has been honored by the Carnegie Foundation and The One Club for her contributions to the field and continues to inspire and mentor future innovators through her teaching, writing, and thought leadership.
George Jackus
Baldwin & Obenauf
In his 32-year career at Baldwin & Obenauf, George has helped to shape the creative direction and cultural identity of one of New Jersey’s most respected agencies. Through his visionary leadership, he has established BNO as a trusted partner for global brands including Nike, Johnson & Johnson, Mastercard, Verizon, and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Tamara Robb
Robb Digital
Tamara began her career at Cooper Katz, learning from industry leaders Andy Cooper and Ralph Katz, where she honed her entrepreneurial and digital skills, including building her first website. She has decades of experience helping clients in healthcare, pharma, legal, and finance navigate the digital landscape, working with brands such as Novartis, Celgene, and Merck. Since founding Robb Digital in 2011, she has led her team in creating innovative, targeted digital strategies that strengthen brands and drive results.
2024 Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey Inductees
Peter Bordes, Jr.
Collective Audience
Edward Burns.
NJ Advance Media
Burns has enjoyed a long and illustrious career in media and publishing. Prior to serving in his current position as Associate Vice President, Healthcare Marketing at New Jersey Advance Media, he was group publisher at Wainscot Media, where he launched numerous regional magazines throughout New Jersey and New York.
Michelle Lazzarotti
Saint Peter’s Healthcare System
The Sr. Director of Marketing and Media Relations for Saint Peter’s University Hospital has led the hospital’s marketing and media relations department for 20+ years. She was instrumental in Saint Peter’s adoption of new technology to build the business and set appointments for hospital-owned practices. Under Lazzarotti’s guidance, Saint Peter’s has won more than 160 national and global marketing and creative awards
Ken Lombardo
SGW Integrated Marketing
As a creative director in New Jersey-based agencies for over 25 years and New York-based agencies for 11 years, Lombardo has an uncanny ability to create concepts that tell the most engaging stories and connect with audiences. Currently, VP, Creative Director for SGW Integrated Marketing, Lombardo has worked on countless global brands during his 40+ year career
Tom Sullivan
Princeton Partners
The Princeton Partners CEO is an accomplished business leader and brand marketing professional who has brought together business, government, and non-profit experience to accelerate growth and advance positive change. He has led brand transformations and go-to-market initiatives for Fortune 1000 companies, financial institutions, hospitals, government entities, non-profits, and start-ups.
Congratulations to the 2022 inductees
Gerard (Jerry) Artz
Frank P. Giarratano
Lawrence H. Krampf
Larry M. Weiner
Robert J. Wislocky
HALL OF FAME REUNION AND COCKTAIL RECEPTION
History
Launched over a quarter of a century ago with a mission to recognize the contributions of communications professionals from every walk of life had made to the industry, the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame has inducted such legends as John B. Gambling, Leonard Dreyfuss, Emanuel London and George H. Gallup.
Other past recipients have come from a wide variety of disciplines including the media, advertising agencies, market research, public relations, out-of-home, and marketing. Sponsored by the New Jersey Advertising Club, the Hall of Fame was founded in 1981 by then president, Arden Davis Melick, a public relations practitioner formerly with Brooklyn Union Gas.
2019
Patrick Brightman, 3E Public Relations
Gary Denburg, GarDen Printing
Jerry Kaulius, JK Design
John Lonsdorf, R&J Strategic Communications
2018
Donna Bonavita – Bonavita Design LLC
Larry Durst – MarketSmith, Inc.
Collette Liantonio – Concepts TV Productions
Barry Schiro – CBA Industries, Inc.
Angelo Valente – Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
2017
David H. Fink – The David Henry Agency
Sean and Debra Looney – Looney Advertising
Steve Ratti – The Ratti Report
Ken Musto – Brand Kitchen
2016
Sally Glick – Sobel & Co., Inc.
Tom Marguccio – SCG Advertising & Public Relations
Ed Kessel – Sound Imagination, Inc.
Jessica Levin – Seven Degrees Communication, Inc.
Monica Smith – Marketsmith, Inc.
2015
Don Christensen – Christensen Tamburri Communications
Karen Gozzi – Wakefern Food Corp
Amy Lear – New Jersey Newspaper Network
Sandra Schler – American Cancer Society
2014
Dennis Kane – Amboy Bank
Jan Talamo – The Star Group
Simon Kaplan – Crest Furniture
William Carlos – AVOW Communications
2013
Dennis Bone – Montclair State University
Jay Petrie – Star-Ledger
Peter Connolly – St. Peter’s Healthcare
Steve Kalafer – Flemington Car & Truck Country Family of Dealerships
2012
Allan Grant – Words & Music
Allegra Sandelli – TD Bank
Brian Ganton – Brian J. Ganton & Associates
David Scelba – SGW
2011
Adam Schnitzler – The S3 Agency
Len Muscarella – imedia, inc.
Richard Vezza – The Star-Ledger
Shannon Morris – Sigma Group
Veronica “Nikki” Fielding – Digital Brand Expressions
2010
AJ Khubani – TeleBrands
Caryl Linett – Linett & Harrison
Robert C. Provost – The Star-Ledger
2009
Denise Blasevick- – The S3 Agency
James Smith – Smith Design
Laura Johnson – News12 New Jersey
2008
Curt Fissel – Voices & Visions
Daryl Rand – Harrison/Rand Advertising
Ileene Greene – MarketShare Communications
2007
Allan Gorman – AGCD
Grace DePaola – Verizon Wireless
Karen DeLuca – Block DeCorso
Rick Bonelli – Sunspots Creative
Wendy Flanagan – MurrayMedia
2006
Debra Taeschler – Grafica
Elizabeth Christopherson – New Jersey Network
Linda Rosanio – The Star Group
Patricia Tesman – Gianettino & Meredith
Robert Ryan – CMYK Printing
2005
Deb DiGregorio – Camares
Edward J. Efchak – The Record
John P. Manos
Karl G. Dentino
Phillip H. Roberts – NJ Broadcasters Association
2004
Arden D. Melick – Brooklyn Union Gas
Milton Lewis – Lewis Advertising
Suzanne Poor – Miller/Poor Associates
2003
Leonard Brown – Keyes Martin
Lewis Kraut – Union Hill Printing
2002
John Leonardi – BRUSHfire
Kay Ritta – Ritta & Associates
Ralph Gonzalez – Miller/Poor Associates
1995
Joseph Goryeb – Champion Mortgage
Richard J. Gillespie – Gillespie Advertising
Walter Guarino – SGW
1994
John J. Murphy – PSE&G
Owen M. O’Sullivan – O’Sullivan Advertising Agency
1993
Richard A. Cross – PSEG
Thomas J. Ferguson – Thomas G. Ferguson Associates Inc.
1991
Dana Dowd Williams – Fidelity Union Bank
Don Johnson – Johnson & Simpson
Milton Simpson – Johnson & Simpson
Shirlee Wenzel – Wenzel & Co. Inc.
1990
Edward J. Schwartz – Bell Atlantic
Joseph M. Deitz – CBC J.M. Kesslinger & Associates
Ward H. Nessen – Arrow Typographers
1989
Hyman Levy – Reichenstein Advertising
Mary Lou Wallace – Cablemedia
Ron R. Vrba – Bozell/Jacobs
William N. Scheer – Willian N. Scheer Advertising Agency Inc.
1988
Dan Gaby – Keyes Martin Gaby Linett
Douglas Turner – Turner Agency
William Falcone, Jr. – Falcone & Associates
1987
George Black – Black Russell Morris / Bozell/Jacobs
George D. Meredith – Gianettino & Meredith
Ron Gianettino – Gianettino & Meredith
1986
Harold L. Harrison – Harrison Advertising
Martin Steinhardt – Keyes Martin Gaby Linett
1985
Henry E. Arnsdorf – Prudential
Jack Poppele – WOR
1984
Harry O’Mealia – Trust Company
Lawrence Herbert – Pantone, Inc.
Zal Venet – Venet Advertising
1983
George H. Gallup – The Gallup Organization
Harry Devlin
Jean Geiger
John B. Gambling – WWOR
Leonard Dreyfuss
1982
Calvin Louderback
Charles Dallas Reach – Charles Dallas Reach Company
Emanuel London – Williams & London Advertising