IAEE Gives Ned Krause Highest Award
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 10/15/2007
The Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions and Events awarded the Pinnacle Award, its highest individual honor, to Edward J. "Ned" Krause III, president and CEO of E.J. Krause & Associates.
The association will honor Krause and 13 other individuals for their outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry Dec. 10 during the opening general session and awards presentation at Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas. The IAEE Awards Committee and Board of Directors chose winners from 57 nominations.
Krause was chosen, IAEE said, because he has advanced exhibition and event management through education, disseminated knowledge, introduced or developed innovative techniques and shown dedication to industry ideals and professionalism.
Two Distinguished Service Awards went to Charles W. Allen, chairman and CEO of the C.W. Allen Group and executive director of the Intl. Economic Alliance, and Felix Niespodziewanski, director of convention and meetings for the American College of Surgeons.
Niespodziewanski called the industry "wonderful, with many wonderful people, many of whom helped me along the way to become who I am today. For being the first generation (American) of immigrant parents and growing up in the blue-collar streets of Chicago, I guess I did OK after all." He said he was grateful to those who nominated and selected him.
Allen said he also was honored, although the honor really belonged to his mentors, colleagues and co-workers. "I have simply tried to give back to IAEE and this incredible industry, which I love so much," he added. "Although I am still in arrears in that department, I will continue to do my best to help elevate the global events industry to the lofty position I know it deserves."
The Merit Award, for those who have benefited IAEE primarily at the chapter level, went to Cindy Ferguson, director of marketing for the Assn. of Progressive Rental Organizations, and to G. Bruce Lemmon, managing director of Global Events Management.
The Outstanding Achievement in Industry Leadership Award went to Karen Chupka, Consumer Electronics Assn. senior vice president of events and conferences, and Patti Shock, University of Nevada Las Vegas Hotel College's director of distance education.
BDMetrics received the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation in Business Solutions Award for its SmartPlatform technology.
Several other honorees will receive awards in December:
- Sharon Woodard, group show manager for dmg world media
- Sandra Toms LaPedis, general manager for RSA Conferences
- Ray Baum, director of client relations for ListeNation
- Keira Miller, manager of exhibitor services and industry relations for SECO Intl.
- Gu Xuebin, managing director for Info Salons China
