The Events Industry Council (EIC) today announced the 2020 Hall of Leaders inductees and Social Impact Award recipients. They will be honoured at a virtual celebration on 25 March 2021. EIC’s Hall of Leaders award is the premier recognition and programme in the events industry recognising a lifetime achievement for those that have had a legacy impact on global business events sector. This year’s inductees join 137 previous honourees who have had an integral role in shaping the industry. The Hall of Leaders 2020 inductees are:
- John H. Graham IV, CAE, President & CEO, ASAE (Posthumously), Nominated by ASAE
- Anita Pires, President, Pires Destinations & Events Intelligence, Nominated by COCAL
- Jonathan Howe Esq., President & Senior Partner, Howe & Hutton, Ltd., Nominated by MPI
“This year in addition to honoring our Hall of Leaders winners we have incorporated important recognition for those that have lead in a time of great uncertainty and motivating others to do so as well ; We are struck by the the grace and determination and inspiration these leaders have provide our workforce,” said Amy Calvert, EIC CEO. “This year’s Hall of Leaders inductees and global award winners exemplify our shared values and their contributions will serve as a beacon and a guide for our path forward united and inspired story tellers about the impact we will have as an essential driver the global economic recovery and of a collective consciousness fostering human connections and meaningful social progress.”
In 2020, EIC introduced its Social Impact Award that recognises individuals or organisations for extraordinary effort in the areas of, diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the global events industry. The Social Impact Award Recipients are:
EIC Social Impact Award: Individual
Latoya Lewis, Founder & Executive Director, EnventU, Nominated by Andrea Liss
EIC Social Impact Award: Organisation
The Above and Beyond Foundation, Nominated by Tony Lorenz, HeadSail
EIC Social Impact Award: Leading in times of crisis
Black Tourism and DMO Leaders – Nominated by Mike Gamble, SearchWide Global
Cleo Battle, CDME, CTA (Chief Operating Officer, Louisville Tourism)
Timothy Bush, CDME, TMP (Chief Tourism Development Officer, OneSpartanburg, Inc.)
Julie Coker (President & CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority)
Gregory DeShields, CHE, CDE (Executive Director, PHL Diversity)
Jason Dunn, Sr., CTA (Immediate Past Chairman, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, and Group Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Lorne Edwards (Senior Vice President of Sales & Services, Visit Phoenix)
Elliott Ferguson (President & CEO, Destination DC)
Darren Green (Senior Vice President Sales, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board)
Michael Gunn, CMP, CFMP (SVP Convention Sales, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Al Hutchinson (President & CEO, Visit Baltimore)
Charles Jeffers (Chief Operating Officer, Visit Baltimore)
James Jessie (Chief Sales Officer, Travel Portland)
Connie Kinnard (VP of Multicultural Tourism & Development at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Robin McClain (SVP, Marketing & Communications Destination DC)
Angela Nelson, CTA (Vice President, Multicultural Business Development, Experience Grand Rapids)
Marie Sueing (Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Melvin Tennant, CAE (President & CEO, Meet Minneapolis)
Rickey Thigpen, MSL (President & CEO, Visit Jackson)
Dan Williams, CTA (VP, Convention Sales, Experience Columbus)
Ernest Wooden, Jr. (Former President and CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board)
In 2020, EIC introduced two new global awards: the EIC Social Impact Award and the EIC Adaptation and Innovation Award. These awards recognise individuals or organisations for extraordinary effort in the areas of, diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility or extraordinary effort in the areas of adaptation and innovation to ensure our industry’s relevance as we emerge from a global health crisis now and into the future.
For more information on EIC’s Awards programme visit https://eventscouncil.org/Leadership/Global-Recognition.
Author: Adam Parry
Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.
