GeorgiaCMO Honors Six Chief Marketing Officers
Six marketing executives received 2026 ORBIE Awards at a ceremony in Atlanta's Midtown district.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Marketing
GeorgiaCMO presented its 2026 ORBIE Awards to six chief marketing officers at The Starling Atlanta Midtown on November 6, 2026. The ceremony was attended by nearly 200 guests.
Why it matters
The ORBIE Awards recognize marketing leaders based on leadership effectiveness, business value created by marketing initiatives, and engagement in industry and community endeavors. The honors highlight the role of marketing executives in Atlanta's business community.
Award eligibility ranges from companies with $200 million in annual revenue (Large Corporate) to those with $1 billion or more (Global). The Inspire Leadership Network, which runs the program, has nearly 2,000 members across more than 50 chapters.
The players
GeorgiaCMO
GeorgiaCMO is the Georgia-based organization that presents the ORBIE Awards to marketing executives in the state.
Inspire Leadership Network
Inspire Leadership Network is the organization whose prior ORBIE recipients run the independent peer-adjudicated selection process.
The details
Heather Balsley of IHG Hotels & Resorts received the Leadership ORBIE, and Nicole O'Rourke of ZS received the Global ORBIE. Other honorees included Manish Shrivastava of PulteGroup, Ryan Mucatel of AMB Sports and Entertainment, Elaine Armstrong of Goodwill of North Georgia, and Diana Léon Brown of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Cary Bainbridge of ABM Industries delivered the keynote address.
Timeline
1998: ORBIE Awards began recognizing executive marketing leadership.
November 6, 2026: GeorgiaCMO ORBIE Awards ceremony held at The Starling Atlanta Midtown.
November 9, 2026: Press release announcing the winners was issued.
Industry Context
The ORBIE Awards, first presented in 1998, recognize marketing leaders through a peer-adjudicated process led by prior recipients. The 2026 GeorgiaCMO honorees extend that tradition to Atlanta-area chief marketing officers.
Atlanta-area consumers may see marketing campaigns from these honored companies, including hospitality, homebuilding, and airport services. The recognition itself does not change products or prices.
The takeaway
Recognition programs like the ORBIE Awards highlight that marketing leadership is measured by business outcomes as well as creative work. Readers interested in the field can follow marketing executives in their local business community.
Further reading
For more on marketing leadership in the region, see Marketing coverage across Atlanta.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
