TRENDS 2013 Salute to Association Excellence draws packed crowd
Winners of the TRENDS 2012 All Media Contest applaud as Melora Heavey, communications manager of the American Institute of CPAs, receives the Publisher's Choice Award for AICPA's website, ThisWayToCPA.com, from TRENDS publisher Joel Poznansky. Photos by www.ChuckFazio.com.
More than 500 attended the 2013 Salute to Association Excellence, Feb. 15 at the Capital Hilton in Washington.
Participants started the day at two receptions: the traditional All Media Contest winners gallery, where a new TRENDS backdrop was set up for photo opportunities. This year also saw the return of the invitation-only VIP reception, where honorees and past honorees mingled with sponsors and other guests.
After participants were cued to take their seats in the packed Presidential Ballroom, the first to be honored were the winners of the 2012 All Media Contest. This year there were 66 gold, silver and bronze winners in 22 categories. Taking the Publisher's Choice Award was the American Institute of CPAs, New York, for its website, ThisWayToCPA.com. (For more on the All Media Contest winners, click here.)
Judges' comments on the AICPA site: “This entry is simply fantastic. The entire entry is designed to be about the viewer, not about the association, which is rare and refreshing to see. It has a fresh, informal, even humorous tone that is engaging and draws the viewer in deeper, and it incorporates fun design elements that reflect that personality. This entry makes you want to get involved. Truly awesome.”
The 2012 Young & Aspiring Association Professionals were next to be feted. This is the second year that non-DC honorees outnumbered Washington-area professionals. The program was elevated this year with the presentation of standing awards. Previously honorees were presented with certificates.
The TRENDS 2012 Young & Aspiring Association Professionals are (from left) Carrie Meadows Abernathy, CMP, CEM, education training and events director, Practice Greenhealth, Reston, Va.; Mitchell Dvorak, MS, CAE, account executive, Bostrom, Chicago; Leslie McGee, managing editor, Oncology Nursing Society, Pittsburgh; Evan Williams, CAE, IOM, external relations VP, Mechanical Contractors Association, Burr Ridge, Ill.; and TRENDS publisher Joel Poznansky. Tita Thompson Freeman, SVP, Business Roundtable, Washington, was not able to attend the ceremony. 2011 Young & Aspiring Association Professional Mike Skiados, CAE, COO, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics introduced the 2012 class. (For more on the Young & Aspiring Association Professionals, click here.)
David Giger (right), the TRENDS 2013 Association Partner of the Year, was introduced by John Lisack, executive director, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Giger is sales and industry relations senior director for Hilton Worldwide. A fun testimonial video featured Giger's wife Mary, who also works for Hilton as a team leader. (For more on Giger, click here. For an excerpt of his remarks, click here.)
As is tradition, the last presentation went to the 2013 Association Executive of the Year John Graham IV, CAE (left), CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, Washington. Graham discussed the three challenges facing the association community: use of technology, changing demographics and advocating on behalf of the association community. (For more on Graham, click here. For an excerpt of his remarks, click here.)
