SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives (CNYSME) announced it has selected Jeff Knauss as the 48th recipient of its annual Crystal Ball Award. Knauss, 38, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor who lives in Skaneateles, is the youngest Crystal Ball Award recipient since its inception in 1977. CNYSME will present […]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives (CNYSME) announced it has selected Jeff Knauss as the 48th recipient of its annual Crystal Ball Award.
Knauss, 38, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor who lives in Skaneateles, is the youngest Crystal Ball Award recipient since its inception in 1977.
CNYSME will present the award to Knauss during the Crystal Ball and Sales & Marketing Excellence Awards event, which is set for Thursday, May 15, 2025 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
Described as an “enduring symbol of the organization’s mission,” the Crystal Ball is awarded annually by CNYSME to a CEO, president, or director of a Central New York business in recognition of their contributions to the sales and marketing profession and for their endeavors in the areas of community development and support.
Knauss started as the CEO and co-founder of Digital Hyve, a Syracuse–based digital-marketing firm. He is currently a partner and investor in 13 businesses ranging from various startups focused on medical research, professional networking, mobile-payment apps, commercial real estate, three restaurants (Hidden Fish, Clover’s, and XO Taco), diversity recruitment, and e-commerce.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Crystal Ball Award, which represents not just individual achievement but the power of a dedicated community and the importance of building something greater than yourself,” Knauss said in the CNYSME announcement. “Entrepreneurship isn’t just about growing businesses — it’s about uplifting those around you, fostering innovation, and giving back to the communities that support us. This award is a reflection of the collective effort of every team, mentor, and partner I’ve been lucky enough to have had along the way. I’m proud to be part of a region that embraces entrepreneurship and philanthropy so deeply, and I’m committed to using this recognition to further those ideals.”
“Jeff embodies everything the Crystal Ball Award represents. Not only his contributions to the sales and marketing community throughout Upstate New York, but to his relentless dedication to philanthropy and giving back,” Charles Harkola, president of CNYSME, said in the organization’s announcement. “He is a premier example of what leaders can and should aspire to and we’re excited to present him this year’s Crystal Ball.”
In addition to the Crystal Ball, local companies will award Sales and Marketing Excellence Awards to their top performing sales and marketing professionals within their organizations. Proceeds from the event will go toward Jeff Knauss’s charity of choice, South Side Community Growth Foundation, as well as scholarships to local students pursuing education in the sales and marketing fields, CNYSME said.
