ESPA RECOGNIZES
INDUSTRY ACHIEVERS
Submit your nomination today! 2025 submissions are due December 5, 2025.
Nominations Open for the
Event Service Professional of the Year!
Meeting Planners: Nominate a Deserving Hotel, Event Venue, Convention Center or CVB Event Service Manager Today
Every great event has a force working behind the scenes to help you: the event service professionals at hotels, special venues, convention centers, and CVBs. They are the ones who connect you to the right resources, anticipate challenges before they happen, and ensure your event runs smoothly from start to finish.
If you held a live event in the past year, one of these professionals helped make it a success. Here’s your opportunity to say thank you in a lasting way.
The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA)—the only association dedicated to advancing the role of event service managers—is now accepting nominations for its Event Service Professional of the Year Award.
Nominate someone who:
- Partnered with you as a true teammate,
- Took ownership of your event’s success, and
- Went above and beyond to deliver a seamless experience.
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Your nomination shines a spotlight on their dedication and shows the industry how vital their work is. Help us celebrate the professionals who help you shine.
Nominate ESP of the Year!
2024 Recipient
Paul Ruby, CMP
Director of Conference Services & Events
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
Leadership in Event Service Award
Who Inspired You in Event Services This Year?
Nominated by colleagues, managers, partners, and industry peers, this award recognizes Event Service Professionals from CVBs, Convention Centers, Hotels and Special Venues whose leadership in the past year has been an inspiration to others.
Nominees may demonstrate leadership in many ways, such as:
- Guiding their organization through challenges or adversity
- Implementing an innovative program or initiative
- Inspiring and uniting the local event services community
- Leading impactful community service efforts
- Achieving service excellence through leadership, overcoming obstacles, and
These individuals share a positive, can-do attitude that lifts others and strengthens our industry in meaningful ways.
Who comes to mind for you? Take this opportunity to nominate them.
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Nominations are welcomed from colleagues, managers, partners, or industry peers. Those within the event services community who have been inspired by their leadership. (This is not an award for nominations by Meeting Planners)
Submit Your Nomination!
2024 Recipient
Rhonda Whyte
Vice President of Convention Management
Events DC
Executive Excellence Award
Celebrating Leaders Who Champion Event Services
Has your VP, GM, or other Executive demonstrated outstanding support and leadership in event services this year? Each year at the Annual Conference, ESPA recognizes an executive whose commitment and dedication to the events services profession and strengthens both their team and the profession of event service.
Criteria and Guidelines
- Nominees support staff participation in ESPA
- Nominees must be executives of an organization which has an ESPA member.
- Executives are defined as a VP or higher at a CVB; a member of the executive committee or GM at a hotel; or a VP, GM or Executive Director at a Convention Center.
- Nominees personally and consistently support quality assurance in the organization’s convention services operations.
- Nominee supports staff development, growth and continuing education.
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
As an ESPA member, if your executive is a mentor, an advocate for event services, and a champion of your team’s professional growth
Nominate your Mentor!
2024 Recipient
Matt Robinette, ESPC, CDME, CMP
Vice President of Visitor Experience
Richmond Region Tourism
Meeting Professional of the Year
Event Service Professionals, has your planner client demonstrated exceptional leadership and collaboration for an event in 2025?
This award was designed to recognize hard-working meeting professionals who exemplify teamwork, professionalism, and a true partnership with event service professionals.
Event Service Professionals know better than anyone when a planner is prepared, supportive, and a strong leader in bringing a meeting or event to life. This is your opportunity to celebrate those planners who represent the very best of our industry. Why not recognize them for their dedication and hard work?
Criteria and Guidelines
- You must have worked with meeting planner in an event services capacity during the past year
- Shows superior leadership and management qualities before, during and after the meeting
- Recognizes the importance and supports the role of the CSM in the meeting planning process
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025
Think of the planner who inspired and exemplified partnership this year. Honor them with a nomination for the Outstanding Meeting Professional Award.
Submit Your Nomination!
2024 Recipient
Ashley Grimsley
Brasfield & Gorrie
ESPA Member Awards
Member of the Year
This award recipient is an ESPA Member who has been outstanding in his or her constant enthusiasm and support of both ESPA and the Event Services Industry. This person is selected annually by the ESPA Board of Directors.
2024 Recipient
Samantha Pugh
Greater Birmingham
Convention and Visitors Bureau
2024 Recipient
Brad Knapp
Louisville Tourism
President’s Award
Each year the President of ESPA has an opportunity to recognize a member that he or she feels has shown continued support and enthusiasm for the association. There are no specific criteria for this award—it is the President’s decision to honor a member that is deserving of special recognition for their volunteer support and efforts towards the betterment of the association.
2024 Recipient
Natalie Young, CMP
Visit Houston