ISES members gathered Saturday night for a gala evening celebrating the Esprit Award winners, saluting outstanding work in special events.
Jodi Collen, CSEP, of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, brought several in the audience to tears as she accepted her award for Event Design/Decor Budget Under $25,000 while giving thanks to the encouragement provided by fellow nominee David Merrell of Los Angeles-based AOO Events. Saying at one point in her career she felt "lost," she credited Merrell's encouragement for giving her direction to finding her true path in life with special events.
Following is the list of Esprit Award winners (all figures are U.S. dollars):
2009 ISES Most Creative Solution"ITS World Conference"
Barkley Kalpak Associates
2009 ISES Best Event with a Legacy
"Live United Launch Celebration"
Ami Cervin, Greater Twin Cities United Way
Ryan Hanson, BeEvents
2009 ISES Best Industry Contribution
"Event Hospitality Tourism Management "
Geoffrey Gilmore, CSEP, Geoffrey Gilmore Signature LLC
2009 ISES Best Industry Innovation
"Texas Star Website"
Jeff Musick, 10-80 Technologies
Marla Watson Werst, CSEP, PeaPod Productions
2009 ISES Best On- or Off-premise Catered Event
"How Sweet It Is!"
Tony Conway, CMP, A Legendary Event
2009 ISES Best Marketing/Design Collateral Budget Under $25,000
"60: The New 40"
Bonny Katzman, BK Design
2009 ISES Best Marketing/Design Collateral Budget Over $25,000
"Diamonds in the Desert"
Rick Jobe, Jobe & Associates
2009 ISES Best Event Support Services Budget Over $75,000
"8,000 Guest International Conference"
Nancy Jacobs, EdgPRODUCTIONS Inc.
2009 ISES Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization Budget Under $75,000
"Your Day to Indulge"
Rachel Kraby-Brooks, Eventomics
2009 ISES Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization Budget $75,000-$200,000
"Celebrating Inspiration and Hope"
Sheila Graham, CSEP, American Red Cross
2009 ISES Best Event for a Nonprofit Organization Budget Over $200,000
"Pentagon Memorial Fund Dinner"
Deborah Gitelson Krauth, The Webster Group
2009 ISES Best Wedding Budget Under $75,000
"Vietnuptials in the Redwoods"
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Events of Distinction
2009 ISES Best Wedding Budget $75,000-$200,000
"Old Hollywood Glamour"
Tara Wilson, Tara Wilson Events
2009 ISES Best Wedding Budget Over $200,000
"From India with Love"
Patricia Weiner and Stacey Weiner, Plan-it Parties
2009 ISES Best Event Design/Decor Budget Under $25,000
"Advent Vespers"
Sheree Bochenek, Apres Party and Tent Rental
Jodi Collen, CSEP, Augsburg College
2009 ISES Best Event Design/Decor Budget $25,000-$75,000
"Shaken and Stirred"
Jack Kelly, Eye Dialogue
2009 ISES Best Event Design/Decor Budget Over $75,000
"Tis the Seasons"
Sara Hunt, AT&T Park
2009 ISES Best Event Photography/Videography
"Pentagon Memorial Dedication"
Geoffrey Chesman, ImageLink Photography
2009 ISES Best Technical Production
"RBC Plaza Grand Opening"
Allin Foulkrod, CSEP, Creative Visions Inc.
2009 ISES Best Social Event Planning Budget Under $75,000
"Phasion Phest"
Sharon Phillips Waxman, SPW Productions
2009 ISES Best Social Event Planning Budget Over $75,000
"Amanda's Chocolate Factory"
Taylor Strimple and Patricia Weiner, Plan-It Parties
2009 ISES Best Meeting/Conference Program Budget Under $200,000
"Around the World Conference"
Carolyn Luscombe, CSEP, CMP, Eclectic Events International
2009 ISES Best Meeting/Conference Program Budget Over $200,000
"Transform: National Sales Meeting 2008"
Kelly Dolan, Aspect Medical Systems
2009 ISES Best Corporate Event Budget Under $75,000
"An Evening of Carioca Pride"
Sean deFreitas, Designs by Sean
Harith Wickrema, Harith Productions
2009 ISES Best Corporate Event Budget $75,000-$200,000
"The Wedding Fair"
The Wedding Guys
2009 ISES Best Corporate Event Budget Over $200,000
"32nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association"
Sally Webb, CSEP, The Special Event Co.
2009 ISES Best Entertainment Production Budget Under $25,000
"Wine and Trees"
Sandy O. Fergus, Creative Juice
2009 ISES Best Entertainment Production Budget $25,000-$75,000
"Rethinking the Boundaries Launch"
Debbie Meyers, CSEP, Bravo Productions Entertainment
Sally Webb, CSEP, The Special Event Co.
2009 ISES Best Entertainment Production Budget Over $75,000
"Enquerir"
Michael Kloss, Emory University Office of University Events
2009 ISES Best ISES Team Effort Budget Under $75,000
"Hillary Clinton Rally"
Jodi Collen, CSEP, Augsburg College
Craig Oliver, AARCEE Party & Tent Rental
Daniel R. Zunker, Heroic Productions
2009 ISES Best ISES Team Effort Budget $75,000-$200,000
"New Inspiration of Dermatology"
Kelley Gillespie, CSI Capitol Services
Gary Jones, CSEP, and Liz Sine, Gary Jones Presents …
Jan Kearney, Cast of Thousands Entertainment Co.
2009 ISES Best ISES Team Effort Budget Over $200,000
"Christening of the New York"
Angel Barbosa, Teresa Chubb and Stacey Dauzat, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
BBC Destination Management
Sandy Pagnotti, P.W. Feats
Eventworld 2010 runs Aug. 4-7 in Baltimore.
Photos by Special Events
For more Eventworld coverage, visit specialevents.com/ises.
