AAF Baltimore Celebrates Achievement and Legacy at 2026 Hall of Fame Gala
Updated: 4 days ago
Photos by Kaylin Webster Photography
More than 100 members of Baltimore’s creative community gathered at The Engineers Club of Baltimore for a new standalone celebration honoring achievement today and the legacies that continue to shape our industry.
On September 2, AAF Baltimore brought together more than 100 members of the region’s advertising, marketing, communications, and creative community for the 2026 AAF Baltimore Hall of Fame Gala.
AAF Baltimore has long celebrated exceptional leaders through its Hall of Fame honors, traditionally presented as part of the American Advertising Awards, and this year marked a new chapter for that tradition, with a dedicated Gala and the introduction of the Hall of Achievement, an expanded recognition program created to celebrate the people and organizations making an extraordinary impact on Baltimore’s creative community right now.
Together, the evening celebrated both achievement and legacy.
Honoring Baltimore’s Creative Legacy
The evening culminated with three of AAF Baltimore’s most significant individual honors.
Lee Konen | Lifetime Achievement
Lee Konen, founder and CEO of Three Seas, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the evening’s highest honor. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, Konen has helped shape the region’s production and post-production community while building Three Seas into a collective of creative companies whose work spans production, editorial, visual effects, sound design, original music, branding, and creative strategy.
His impact extends well beyond the work itself. Konen and the Three Seas family have been longtime supporters of Baltimore’s creative community and AAF Baltimore, contributing their time, talent, resources, and expertise to the American Advertising Awards, student scholarships, and generations of emerging creative professionals. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes not one campaign, company, title, or moment, but the cumulative influence of a career. Konen’s legacy can be seen in the company he built, the creative community he continues to champion, and the many people whose careers he has supported along the way.
Todd Harvey | AAF Silver Medal
Todd Harvey, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Mission, received the AAF Silver Medal, one of the American Advertising Federation’s most respected individual honors. Harvey co-founded Mission more than 25 years ago and has spent his career building brands, developing award-winning creative, and helping grow one of Baltimore’s most enduring independent agencies.
A Baltimore School for the Arts alumnus who also studied at MICA and SACI Florence, Harvey has remained deeply connected to the city and its creative community throughout his career, including service on the Baltimore School for the Arts board. His influence can be found not only in the work he has created, but in the teams he has led, the talent he has mentored, and the creative culture he has helped strengthen. The Silver Medal recognizes that sustained combination of creative achievement, leadership, mentorship, and service to the advertising community.
Sarah Quackenbush | Katherine Mahool Iconoclast Award
Sarah Quackenbush, Co-Founder and President of Coven, received the Katherine Mahool Iconoclast Award, recognizing women who break barriers, challenge convention, and create opportunities for others.
A longtime leader in Baltimore’s advertising community and former President of AAF Baltimore from 2013–2015, Quackenbush has spent her career pushing for an industry that is not only creatively ambitious, but more equitable, human, and supportive of the people working within it.
That philosophy ultimately helped lead Quackenbush to co-found Coven, a women-founded and women-led strategic and creative studio built around curiosity, joy, equality, and compassion. Her willingness to question traditional agency models, advocate for women in advertising, and build a different kind of creative business embodies the spirit of an award named for Katherine Mahool, one of the pioneering women in AAF Baltimore’s history.
Quackenbush’s recognition celebrates both the path she has forged for herself and the doors she continues to open for others.
Introducing the Hall of Achievement
New for 2026, the Hall of Achievement recognizes the rising stars, changemakers, organizations, and creative businesses helping shape Baltimore’s industry today.
The first Hall of Achievement class included:
Tess Koerner, Devaney & Associates | NextGen Award: Recognizing an emerging professional showing exceptional promise early in her career.
Harry Hammel, Planit | Game Changer Award: Recognizing a career professional driving momentum and redefining excellence in the present moment.
morton.works | Bold Thinking Award: Recognizing fearless creativity and those willing to challenge convention and push beyond what is expected. Baltimore.
Antihero | Breakthrough Agency Award: Honoring a small but mighty agency with a distinct voice, standout work, and clear upward momentum.
Wide Angle Youth Media | Good Works Award: Celebrating creativity in service of the greater good and meaningful positive impact in Baltimore.
Special Club Recognition
The evening also created space to recognize an individual whose leadership and service have made a meaningful impact on AAF Baltimore and the broader advertising community.
Mark Gray, Vice President of Business Development at GKV, received the AAF District 2 Crystal Prism Award, recognizing outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to the advertising community.
Throughout his career, Gray has built a reputation as a connector, collaborator, and advocate for the people and organizations that make Baltimore’s creative industry thrive.
His involvement with AAF Baltimore reflects that same spirit of service. From supporting the organization’s programs and events to helping strengthen relationships across agencies, partners, and the broader community, Gray consistently brings energy, generosity, and a willingness to step up where he is needed. As he takes on an expanded leadership role with AAF Baltimore, the Crystal Prism honors both what he has already contributed and the continued impact he is poised to make across Baltimore and AAF District 2.
A New Chapter for an AAF Baltimore Tradition
The standalone Gala and expanded awards program were among the final major initiatives developed during Immediate Past President Kathe Flynn’s nearly four-year presidency. Flynn proposed the Hall of Achievement and dedicated Gala—serving as Executive Producer and leading the initiative from concept through launch alongside the AAF Baltimore Board of Directors and Awards & Creative Chairs.
Bringing an evening like this to life took a village.
AAF Baltimore extends its gratitude to our Board of Directors, Awards Chairs: Chuck Thompson, Wesley Stuckey, and Elizabeth Morgan, Creative Chair: Wesley Stuckey (STUCKEY Design), emcee: Ellen Lupton, speakers: Stacey Bollinger, Mia Regalado and Elizabeth Morgan, stage and award support: Michele Kimes, Tiffany Needer, Dean Alexander and Jordan Fong, social media manager: Madelynn Drew, photographer: Kaylin Webster Photography, videographer: Jason Herd, live music from The Lovely Herd and performances by Dee Dee Dereon, Ariel Von Quinn, and Jalah Nicole..
Thank You to Our Partners
Your support, expertise, and generosity helped make the evening possible.
Baltimore Sound Entertainment for production support
Peabody Schmitz for the invitation and event program
Advantage Signs for event signage
Meet Haus for locally made hand-poured candles
Old Line, Union Craft Brewing and Peabody Heights Brewery for beverage support
The Engineers Club of Baltimore for hosting and catering the evening
Most importantly, congratulations to all nine 2026 honorees.
The celebration is only getting started. Individual honoree stories, event photography, and more moments from the 2026 AAF Baltimore Hall of Fame Gala are coming soon.