They have built agencies and sold them, run campaigns for hospitals and colleges, raised millions for veterans and spoken for the American Stock Exchange. One of them even helped oversee the Meadowlands.
Now all six — Beverly Barnes, Steve Guberman, Karen Kessler, Nicholas Kraus, Darren Magarro and John Martorana — are headed to the Hall of Fame.
The NJ Ad Club will induct its 2026 class into the Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey on Nov. 11 at a dinner and ceremony at The Highlawn in West Orange.
Clayton Pollard, president of the NJ Ad Club, said the honorees have plenty in common.
“Honorees for the Hall of Fame all share similar traits of leadership, creativity, longevity, and impact on the industry,” he said. “They have shown these traits throughout their careers, truly highlighting what it means to be a Hall of Famer.”
The 2026 inductees:
Beverly Barnes (SGW Integrated Marketing): She is CEO of the agency, which works across health care and pharmaceuticals, financial services, higher education and manufacturing.
Steve Guberman (Agency Outsight): He is an agency growth coach and mergers and acquisitions adviser who built and sold Fifth Room Creative. He also hosts the Agency Bytes podcast.
Karen Kessler (Kessler PR Group): She is founder and CEO of the firm and has more than 30 years in business, legal, regulatory and reputational communications. She was a senior communications leader at the American Stock Exchange and the first female commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
Nicholas Kraus (Kraus Marketing): He founded the agency in 2008 and serves as CEO. A 2016 NJ Ad Club 40 Under 40 honoree, he has led it to Inc. 5000 recognition and NJBIZ Best Places to Work honors.
Darren Magarro (The DSM Group): He founded the firm in 2007. An EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and Backpacks for Life board member, he has helped raise more than $2.5 million for veterans, children and families.
John Martorana (Oxford Communications): He has 30 years in marketing and communications. NJBIZ has named his agency one of the state’s fastest-growing businesses and a Top 10 agency.
For more information and tickets, click here.
