MCNY Honors Industry Leaders at Centennial Gala
News related to:Marketing Club of New York · 2 min read
NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Marketing Club of New York (MCNY) today announced its 42nd Annual Silver Apple Honorees, recognizing six marketing leaders and one corporation for their contributions to the industry. The gala, scheduled for Thursday evening, November 12, 2026, at New York’s Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, will also include a Centennial celebration. The event will take place from 5:30 to 10:00 pm EST.
This year’s honorees include JoAnne Monfradi Dunn, the founder and former CEO of Alliant, who is currently a board member of the company. Dunn is also a former president of the Direct Marketing Club of New York (MCNY’s previous name), a member of the Marketing EDGE Board, and the current chairman of the Data and Marketing Association, which was previously the Direct Marketing Association and was acquired by the Association of National Advertisers in 2018.
In addition to Dunn, the Silver Apple Award will be bestowed to five individuals who exemplify 25 or more years of outstanding leadership in the field. These honorees include Megan Conahan, Executive Vice President of Direct Agents in New York, Kent Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Highlights for Children in Columbus, Ohio, and New York, and Neil O’Keefe, Vice President of Retention and Lifecycle Marketing at Volo Sports in Baltimore, Maryland, and New York, New York.
The gala will also feature a Corporate Silver Apple honoree, Zeta Global, an intelligent AI infrastructure company based in New York, NY. In addition, two individuals will be recognized as “Apples of Excellence,” based on their contributions to industry advocacy and innovation. Jason Bier, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Adstra and Chairman and President of the Federation for Internet Alerts, will be honored for his advocacy, while Michael Cruz, Partner and Head of Content at Summer Friday, will be recognized for his innovative disruption.
Finally, the event will include a “Green Apple” award for a rising star in the field, Jamie Monaco, Senior Manager at the Digital Advertising Alliance in New York, NY.
The 2026 MCNY Silver Apple Awards Gala and Centennial Celebration will serve as the club’s leading fundraiser, with proceeds earmarked toward scholarships and programs for marketing students from local colleges and universities. The club is currently in the midst of a Centennial Honor Roll capital campaign to supplement these funds.
The gala will feature an online auction component leading up to and during the event. Group and individual ticket sales are now underway, with space limited to 10 full tables, with additional half tables available for smaller parties. Sponsorship Packages for the event, some of which include tables, are available here.
The Marketing Club of New York (marketingclubny.org), founded in 1926, encompasses all facets of integrated, data-driven marketing across all media categories and serves the Greater New York region through its luncheons, networking, and online resources. The club provides financial support in the form of scholarships to several New York City colleges and universities’ marketing programs.