Montreal's stately Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth hotel was the site of this year's ISES Esprit Awards, the gala final-night event of Eventworld 2007, the association's annual professional development conference. Eventworld ran Aug. 16-18.

In a special ceremony, Robert Sivek, CSEP, partner in Chicago-based Meetinghouse Companies, received the Klaus Inkamp, CSEP, Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The Espirt winners are:
Most Creative Solution
Timot McGonagle, TIMOTART, and Sue Werb, CSEP, Simply Elegant Events, for "The Orb"

Best Event with a Legacy
Cindy Y. Lo, Red Velvet Events, for "Chinatown Center Grand Opening"

Best Industry Contribution
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Events of Distinction, for "Weddings Planned to Perfection"

Best Industry Innovation
Michael McCulloch, Regal Tent Productions, for "3D AutoCAD Animation"

Marketing Design, Budget Under $10,000
Jayna Monroe, JCM Special Events, and Leanne Sutton, Orange Spot, Pink Nose, for "Krisam Group Treasure Chest"

Marketing Design, Budget $10,000 to $25,000
Ryan Hanson, MENTTIUM Corp., for "Launch 2006 Minneapolis-St. Paul"

Marketing Design, Budget Over $25,000
Rick Jobe, Jobe & Associates, for "TOP DOG Promotional Campaign"

Best Event Support Services, Budget Over $50,000 "
Valerie Braun, Chicago Party Rental, for "2006 Lexus Dealer Dinner"

Best Nonprofit Event, Budget Under $75,000
Ryan Hanson, independent, for "A WICKED Affair"

Best Nonprofit Event, Budget $75,000 to $200,000
Liz Glover Wilson, CSEP, IStar Financial, for "Annual Charity Basketball Shootout"

Best Nonprofit Event, Budget Over $200,000
Kathy Miller and Sarah Schnell, Total Event Resources, and Kathleen Esterquest, Kehoe Designs, for "Departure. Jet. Set. Go."

Best Meeting/Conference Program, Budget $75,000 to $200,000
Carolyn Luscombe, CSEM, CSEP, CMP, Eclectic Events International, for "Survivor Challenge"

Best Meeting/Conference Program, Budget Over $200,000
Kathy Miller, Total Event Resources, for "Build, Integrate, Grow"

Creme de la Creme On-Premise Catering Award
Harith Wickrema, Harith Productions Ltd., and Bill Coteron, Atlantis, for "Weddings of Mythical Proportions"

Creme de la Creme Off-Premise Catering Award
Meryl Snow, Feastivities Events, for "Back Stage"

Corporate Event Planning, Budget Under $50,000
Joella Hopkins, CSEP, CMP, Simply Mumtaz Events, for "Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Notto Commons"

Corporate Event Planning, Budget $50,000 to $200,000
Ryan Hanson, MENTTIUM Corp., for "Launch 2006 Minneapolis-St. Paul"

Corporate Event Planning, Budget Over $200,000
Gregory Jenkins, Bravo Productions, for "Games People Play"

Event Design/Decor, Budget Under $25,000
Tony Conway, CMP, A Legendary Event, for "A Decadent Chocolate Fantasy"

Event Design/Decor, Budget $25,000 to $75,000
David Merrell, An Original Occasion, for "Club Chelsea"

Event Design/Decor, Budget Over $75,000
Timot McGonagle, TIMOTART, for "The Orb"

Social Event Planning, Budget Under $50,000
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Events of Distinction, for "Celebrations of Dancing Butterflies"

Social Event Planning, Budget $50,000 to $200,000
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Events of Distinction, for "A Puzzling Surprise Party"

Social Event Planning, Budget Over $200,000
Patricia E. Weiner, Plan-it Parties, for "Butterfly Kisses"

Event Photography Geoffrey T. Chesman, MBK & Associates/ImageLink Photography, for "Air Force Memorial Dedication"

Technical Production
Vicki R. M. Morris, Technical Productions, for "2006 National Showcase Convention"

Entertainment Production, Budget Under $30,000
Chris Arredondo, Eclipse Entertainment, for "Six Flags Over Texas"

Entertainment Production, Budget $30,000 to $75,000
Debbie Meyers, CSEP, Bravo Productions Entertainment, for "Art in Motion"

Entertainment Production, Budget Over $75,000
Michael Caplan, Sensix Communications & Events, for "Team VacciNation"

ISES Team Effort, Budget Under $50,000
"Lost," by Phyllis Cambria, Party Plans Plus; David Cohn, SEEYOUATTHEPARTY.COM; Jeffrey Deen, Drumming for Wellness; Hayley Dix, Panache Party Rentals; Mark Grassini, Temporary Tropics; Adam J. Klein, J Entertainment & Productions; Richard Lauzier, Hollywood Promotion Corp.; and Stacy Stern, CSEP, The Special Events Group

ISES Team Effort, Budget $50,000 to $100,000
"ISES Star Awards 2006," by Jodi M. Collen, CSEP, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; Sheree Bochenek, Apres Party and Tent Rental; Ryan Hanson, MENTTIUM Corp.; Becky S. Harris, Event Lab; Marcia McKinney, D'Amico Catering; Craig Oliver, Aarcee Party & Tent Rental; Alice-Lynne Olson, The Late Bloomer Floral Design Studio; Jean A. Peine, Studio 6 Specialty Linen & Decor; Julie A. Slipka, Prom Catering; Chris Tahti, Freestyle Productions; Daniel R. Zunker, Heroic Productions

ISES Team Effort, Budget Over $100,000
"A Royal Sensation," by Kelley S. Gillespie, GEM Associates; Christine Cadima, Design Cuisine; Dave Edwards, CSEP, Dave Edwards Events; Matt D. Fisher, Nomad Event Systems; Dale Harmon, Plants Alive!; Alain Ikombo, Atlantic Valet; Anne M. Senatore, A Vista Events.

All figures US dollars

Eventworld 2008 takes place Aug. 21-23 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Photo at top by Special Events Magazine