The DallasCMO ORBIE Awards recognized leading marketing executives for their leadership and business impact. The 2026 ceremony took place on August 27, 2026. The event was held at the Dallas Marriott Downtown. DallasCMO hosted the ceremony with support from the Inspire Leadership Network.
The awards honored CMOs who drive business transformation and make significant industry contributions. This year’s program featured six award categories. Executives and industry leaders have come together to recognize the leadership in marketing from North Texas.
The Leadership ORBIE went to Kellyn Smith Kenny, who is the Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at AT&T. Wanda Gierhart Fearing, EVP and Chief Marketing & Content Officer at Cinemark, received the Global ORBIE. Famous Rhodes, CMO at Apex Partner Services, received the Large Enterprise ORBIE. Patricia Harris, CMO at Blue Yonder, received the Enterprise ORBIE. Katy Hanson, CMO at Eyemart Express, received the Large Corporate ORBIE. Kristen Lollar, CMO at Whitley Penn, received the Corporate ORBIE.
“Today’s chief marketing officers do far more than build brands. They shape business strategy, accelerate growth, and help organizations navigate constant change,” said Derek Thomas, DallasCMO Chair. “The ORBIE Awards recognize the leaders whose vision, innovation, and measurable impact are advancing both the marketing profession and the organizations they serve.”
The program creates connections between corporate executives and their business partners. Besides, the program creates opportunities for the development of the leaders of tomorrow. The previous winners of the ORBIE Award take responsibility for leading the independent, peer-selected selection process. The judges evaluate the nominees based on three core aspects. Those include leadership performance, business value of the marketing campaigns, and industry participation.
DallasCMO ORBIE Awards Bring Marketing Leaders Together
The Keynote Speaker for the event was Kellyn Smith Kenny at the Dallas CMO ORBIE Awards ceremony. The former Chief Strategy and Development Officer at AT&T, Thaddeus Arroyo, interviewed Kellyn. The audience at the ceremony comprised around 150 individuals. They belonged to companies based in North Texas and their marketing partners.
Several companies have partnered in the DallasCMO ORBIE Awards in 2026. Concord was the underwriter, and iProspect and npn360 were the Gold Partners. Brodeur Partners and Freeman+Leonard were the Silver Partners. Between Pixels and BrainLabs provided support for the award ceremony as the Bronze Partners. The Dallas Business Journal was the Media Partner, while Year Up United was the National Partner. DallasCMO is a North Texas peer network for chief marketing officers and one of over 50 Inspire Leadership Network chapters.
Members include C-level executives from public and private corporations, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations across various sectors. The CMO Advisory Board oversees DallasCMO, which is assisted by an executive director and staff members. There are also underwriting executives who assist DallasCMO in carrying out its activities.
Want more marketing excellence stories? Visit MarTech News for insights, trends, and expert updates.
News Source: GlobeNewswire.com
