A Great Organization, Made Better
By Kathy Miller
As ISES’ outgoing president, I want to thank you all members of ISES for the privilege of allowing me to serve this past year. The opportunity to share my experience and express my ideas across the globe, while working with exceptional professionals to make a great organization even better, has been inspiring.
I have learned one thing this past 12 months: The International Special Events Society is well on its way to becoming the most highly respected events organization in the world.
I sought to make significant movement in five key areas this past year:
- Marketing and branding
- Technology
- Chapter efficiencies
- Information
- Education and member services
We have formed increased strategic partnerships within the industry and increased our visibility.
We accomplished a lot this year. We took a well-crafted, three-year strategic plan and condensed it into one year. When I reflect on our planning sessions, I have one word that stands out: WOW! We are now more than 5,500 members strong, representing more than 50 disciplines, including event producers, communication companies, event designers, entertainment producers, linen and decor experts, marketers and a host of other creative event disciplines. Our global footprint continues to expand.
I’m impressed by all that has been accomplished in such a short time. It would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication and passion of our international board and hundreds of volunteers who are incredibly passionate about ISES and about the live event industry. Thank you, ISES, for making this year such a great experience.
Make it another eventful year!
Name: Kathy Miller
Company: Total Event Resources
Address: 1920 N. Thoreau Drive, Suite 105
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847/397-2200
Web: www.total-event.com
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS (RVPs)
Northeast: Kelly Coronel (Hampton Roads)
Southeast: Kelly Smink (Atlanta)
Midwest: LaTonja Thomas (St. Louis)
West: Dawn Abbott (Denver)
CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE
Jennifer Poyer, CSEP (Los Angeles), Chair
Raye-Dawn Acheson, CSEP (Dallas)
Alex Gorriaran, CSEP (Rhode Island)
Karl Heitz, CSEP (Denver)
Ken Kristoffersen, CSEP (Calgary)
Tanya Posavatz, CSEP (Austin)
EDUCATION COUNCIL
Ryan Hanson, CSEP (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Chair
Sally Webb Berry, CSEP (Greater Triangle)
Debbie Bueckman, DMPC (St. Louis)
Marie Caci, CSEP, CMP, CPCE (New England)
Kristjan Gavin, CMP (Dallas)
Rosemary Prince, CPRP (At Large)
Sue Werb, CSEP (Philadelphia)
Keisha Wilson, CSEP (Atlanta)
ESPRIT AWARDS COMMITTEE
Kathy Newby (Napa-Sonoma), Chair
Victoria DeSilvio (South Florida)
Jenny Fustino (Rhode Island)
Sandy Sobczak (Chicago)
J.C. York (Orlando)
FINANCE and AUDIT COMMITTEE
Kevin White, CSEP (New York), Chair
Dave Buckley, CSEP (Philadelphia)
Jodi Collen, CSEP (Minneapolis--St. Paul)
Gwen Helbush, CWC (At Large)
Sara Hunt, CSEP (Northern California)
Terry Shields, CSEP (Dallas)
Steven Way (New England)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Jennifer Trethewey (Melbourne), Chair
Canada: Karen Eluck, CSEP (Toronto), Charlene Roth-Diddams (Calgary)
EMEA: Andy Callin (London-UK)
United States: Dawn Abbott (Denver), Kelly Coronel (Hampton Roads), Kelly Smink (Atlanta), LaTonja Thomas (St. Louis)
ISES PAGES EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Caroline Sewell (Greater Triangle N.C.), Editor
Christina Currie (Chicago)
Carol Roleder (Los Angeles)
MARCOM COMMITTEEE
Judy Brillhart, CSEP (New England), Chair
Joella Hopkins, CSEP (Los Angeles)
Rick Jobe (Columbus)
Kevin Kowalczyk (Denver)
Ruth Moyte (At Large)
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Morgan Connacher (New York), Chair
Shane Cochran (Atlanta)
James Riley (Columbus)
Craig Tolliver (Los Angeles)
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Terry Singleton, CSEP (Atlanta), Chair
Kate Cole (New England)
Morgan Doan, CSEP (Northern California)
Richard Foulkes (London)
Melissa Jurcan, CSEP (Seattle)
SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMMITTEE
Kimberly Crawley (Rhode Island), Chair
Jim Bailey, CSEP (Chicago)
Dana Macaulay (Napa-Sonoma)
Rachel Mangal (Toronto)
Cindy Scott (Pittsburgh)
Next Page: ISES Esprit Award Winners
2013 ISES Esprit Award Winners
Best Event Solution
Mattress Domino World Record
Paul Creighton, CSEP
T. Skorman Productions Inc.
AND
Raymond Ramsay
Raymond Ramsay & Associates Inc.
Best Event with a Legacy
Philanthropic Youth Awards
Leigh Anne Elliott
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Best Industry Innovation
Social Tables Pro
Dan Berger
Social Tables
Best Industry Contribution
Best Industry Contribution
Hala Bissada, CFRE
Hala Events & Communications Inc.
Best Entertainment Production Budget under $25,000 USD
A Texas-Sized Grand Opening
Kelly Smink
Amusement Masters
Best Entertainment Production Budget $25,000 - $75,000 USD
Jim Beam Global Innovation Night 2012
Patrick Peel
Hello Las Vegas
Best Entertainment Production Budget over $75,000 USD
The Night That Never Ends
Debbie Meyers-Shock, CSEP
BRAVO! Productions Entertainment Inc.
AND
Jocelyn Flanagan, CSEP
e=mc2 events
Best Technical Production
Swan and Dolphin Holiday Lighting
Jonathan Adcock
PTE Productions
Best Event Support Services
Grand Opening Celebration of the Topfer Theatre at ZACH Theatre
Damon Holditch, CSEP, CERP
Marquee Event Group
Best Catered Event
Olympic Hospitality Centre, London 2012
Laura Davis
Smart Hospitality
Best Event Design-Decor Budget under $25,000 USD
Urban Masquerade
Karin Hoogland
Site 6 Events Ltd.
Best Event Design-Decor Budget $25,000 - $75,000 USD
SMS Equipment Wine Auction 2012
Events with Vizability
Best Event Design-Decor Budget over $75,000 USD
JP Morgan Chase "Millionaire's Backyard"
Holly Steinebronn
Hello Florida Inc.
AND
Mark Wells
Hello Florida Inc.
Best Marketing/Design Budget under $25,000 USD
Inaugural Cleveland Police Foundation Gala
Deborah Hermann
Ghostlight Productions LLC
Best Marketing/Design Budget over $25,000 USD
Puerto Rican Pizzazz
Rick Jobe
Jobe & Associates
Best Event Photography
Indian Dream
Tiffany Stoner
Nathaniel Edmunds Photography
Best Event Filmmaking
A Love Story Shared through Videography
Ryan Kelley
Beyond
Best Public Event
UNVEILED
The Ultimate Wedding Planning Event
Matthew Trettel
The Wedding Guys®
Best Corporate Event Budget under $75,000 USD
Tag! You're It!
Lisa Marks, CSEP
POP Kollaborative Inc.
Best Corporate Event Budget $75,000 - $200,000 USD
Carnival
David Merrell
AOO Events Inc.
Best Corporate Event Budget over $200,000 USD
Evening with the Arts
Heather Phillips, CSEP
AlliedPRA Northern California
Best Meeting/Conference Program Budget under $250,000 USD
Designing Cities Conference: Leading the Way to World-Class Streets
Debra Eder
Debra L. Eder Consultants
Best Meeting/Conference Program Budget over $250,000 USD
Discovery 12
Rachel Gilmour, CSEP
aNd Logistix Inc.
Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization under $75,000 USD
The Future of Yesterday
Helen Apple
Sterling Events
Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization $75,000 - $200,000 USD
Dancing with the Stars Wood Buffalo 2012
Events with Vizability
Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization over $200,000 USD
The Book Lover's Ball
Hala Bissada, CFRE
Hala Events & Communications Inc.
Best Social Event Budget under $75,000 USD
Garden Art Birthday Party
Jeff Ware
Catering By Michaels
Best Social Event Budget over $75,000 USD
Paul Hardy Design 10th Anniversary Celebration
Derek MacDonald
Boom Goes the Drum
Best Wedding Budget under $75,000 USD
Railway Romance
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP
Events of Distinction/Cal State University--East Bay
Best Wedding Budget $75,000 - $200,000 USD
Love on the Lake
Gretchen Culver
Rocket Science Weddings & Events
Best Wedding Budget over $200,000 USD
Bling Exponential
Lynn Fletcher, CSEP
Lynn Fletcher Weddings Inc.
Best ISES Team Effort Budget under $75,000 USD
WOW Awards Program
Rick Jobe
Jobe & Associates
Julie Hill
Jobe & Associates
John Bibbo Jr.
Event Source
Tracy Moran, CSEP
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Bill Ferguson, CSEP, CERP
Event Source
Jim Riley
Ohio Historical Society
Amy Huggins, CMP
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Best ISES Team Effort Budget $75,000 - $200,000 USD
Age of Aquarius
Carolyn Luscombe, CSEM, CSEP, CMP
Eclectic Events International
Simon Rayment
Pandor Productions
Julie Brunjes
Stardust Events
Carol Mair
Balloon Corporate Events
Stacy Wyatt
CanadianSpecialEvents.com
Best ISES Team Effort Budget over $200,000 USD
Did you hear the news? Gala
Ashleigh Dorfman, CSEP
Posh Productions LLC
Dave Fritz
CORT Event Furnishings
Dave Edwards, CSEP
Dave Edwards Events Inc.
Mike Ostrow
Entertainment Exchange Inc.
Sheila Graham, CSEP
DatocWitten Group Inc.
Vincent DiGiorgio
Digital Lightning
Lois Finley
Event Digital Photography Inc.
Kevin Olivera
Olivera Music Entertainment
Ray Bialek
Bialek's Music Ltd.
Joann Chae
Atlantic Valet
Heidi Berger
AFR Event Furnishings
Holly Star
CPR MultiMedia Solutions
Next Page: New Look, New Programs
New Look, New Programs: ISES Is Evolving
By Brian Acheson, CSEP, 2013-2014 ISES President
I’m extremely honored to be selected as President of ISES. I made a commitment to ISES years ago when I pledged to serve on the ISES Dallas Board. My commitment at that time was to serve as vice president of membership, and I had no idea at that time where the initial assignment would lead.
As you can imagine over these 16 years, I’ve seen lots of changes with ISES. I became involved in the organization when it was a collection of local event planners and their related partners who had a vision for what could be. ISES has transitioned from a group of “party planners” to a true, defined profession with a significant economic impact. Now, beginning our 27th year, I look toward the future with enthusiasm and optimism.
Our profession is continuing to evolve. The special events profession is now more integrated with corporate marketing than ever before, and coming out of the recession, our social event businesses are more focused on outcomes and educating our buying publics. Our visibility within the hospitality industry is at an all-time high. We are now viewed as a critical component to a successful marketing campaign, a visible part of a fundraising effort and a much-appreciated component to a social milestone or celebration. This progress cannot be understated!
Along with our profession, ISES is changing as well. We have a new look, a new public face and new programs to offer our constituents. Our ISES brand characteristics of creativity, inspiration, teamwork, education and fellowship have never been more apparent than they are right now.
In the year ahead, I’ll be working with the ISES international leadership on a laundry list of project related to the five impact areas that the organization’s leadership identified a few years ago:
· Technology
· Chapter efficiencies
· Marketing and branding
· Information
· Education and member services
We have a full plate of work this coming year in each of these categories. I remain 100 percent committed to helping shape the future of ISES in a positive way—as president and beyond. As we grow, I will keep our focus on our first priority—our members.
Name: Brian Acheson, CSEP
Company: VIP Events
Address: 381 Casa Linda Plaza, Suite 153
Dallas, TX 75218
Phone: 972/203-8003
Web: vipevents.com
ISES Editorial Team and Staff
ISES Editorial Committee
Caroline Sewell
Volunteer Editor
Encore Events
Greater Triangle N.C.
[email protected]
Christina Currie
Christina Currie Events Inc
Chicago
Stacy Heit
America's Promise Alliance
Washington D.C.
Carol Roleder
Craig's Crew Inc.
Los Angeles
ISES Staff
Kelly Rehan
Managing Editor
[email protected]
Kevin Hacke
Executive Director
[email protected]
Kristin Prine
Operations Manager
[email protected]
Lauren Rini
Senior Coordinator of Specialty Programs
[email protected]
Tom McCurrie
Chapter Services Senior Associate
[email protected]
Caitlin Cusack
Membership Services Associate
[email protected]
Volun
