Founder And CEO OF Somerville Ad Agency Honored As Icon

SOMERVILLE, N.J. —Joanne Obenauf, founder and CEO of Somerville-based advertising agency BNO, was honored today with a 2021 ICON Award by NJBIZ. The award was handed out at a virtual ceremony.

According to a press release, the ICON Award honors New Jersey business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable achievements and for demonstrating leadership within and outside of their chosen field.

BNO, which stands for Baldwin & Obenauf, celebrated 40 year in business last month, making the honor for its founder especially significant, according to the company.

According to the release, Obenauf said "authenticity" is the "secret sauce" for her business success. The company is a boutique agency that said it blends customer experience design expertise with award-winning brand creative design to influence consumers, businesses and employees.

BNO has office is Somerville, St. Petersburg, Florida and Philadelphia, and has worked with clients like Johnson & Johnson, Verizon and Bristol Myers Squibb.