Honorees to be Recognized at Expo! Expo! in November

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) proudly announces this year’s winners of its IAEE Awards Program, which recognizes outstanding contributions by IAEE members and member companies.

The 2026 IAEE Award Winners were selected after careful consideration and review by the IAEE Awards Committee and approval by the IAEE Board of Directors following an open call for nominations to IAEE members earlier in the year. This year’s winners will be celebrated at the awards ceremony held during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition on 16-18 November 2026 in Milwaukee, Wis.

“Each year, the IAEE Awards give us the chance to celebrate the people and organizations who are moving our industry forward, and this year’s winners have done exactly that,” said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. “Their leadership, creativity, and commitment to education and community reflect the very best of IAEE and our industry. Congratulations to all of our 2026 honorees and we look forward to celebrating with them in Milwaukee.”

The Pinnacle Award recognizes an IAEE member who, over the years, has furthered IAEE’s objectives of advancing exhibitions and events management through the promotion of education, the dissemination of knowledge, and the introduction or development of innovative techniques, and who has been dedicated to the perpetuation of the highest ideals, trust and professionalism in this highly specialized field.

This year’s recipient is Julia W. Smith, CTA, CEM-AP, CEM Fellow, Senior Vice President of Business Development at GES. An IAEE member since 1985, Smith served more than eight years on the Board of Directors, including as Chairperson in 2016, and held over 50 committee and task force roles. A champion of education, she taught CEM courses worldwide, earned the CEM Fellow distinction, and helped author and edit IAEE’s “Art of the Show” textbook. She also became one of the first women to chair ESCA and mentored many colleagues. Smith has been widely recognized with numerous accolades from across the industry. Her decades of leadership, mentorship and commitment to education resonate as a lasting influence on the people and profession of exhibitions and events.

“Julia’s career embodies the immense dedication and love for the industry that the Pinnacle Award represents,” noted Flanagan. “Her impact on IAEE and our industry is immeasurable.”

The Bob Dallmeyer Educator of the Year Award is presented to IAEE members who possess outstanding creativity, a positive attitude, and the ability to transfer knowledge through good communication skills and innovative teaching to promote life-long learning to exhibitions and events industry professionals.

This year’s recipients are Rich Vallaster, QAS, AAiP, CEM, Senior Director of Industry Relations and Thought Leadership at Momentive Software and Jessica Wiitala, Ph.D., MBA, CMM, Associate Professor of Event Management at High Point University.

The Cathy Breden Woman of Achievement Award recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership, and made significant contributions to the industry and her community.

This year’s recipient is Ann Olson, CEM, Senior Vice President of Business Development at GES.

The Chapter Merit Award recognizes IAEE members who step forward to advance the goals and objectives of their local chapter, as well as exemplify IAEE’s mission and objectives.

This year’s recipients are Bob Chain, Global Head of Strategic Accounts with Swapcard, representing the IAEE Midwestern Chapter; Rachel Grundner, CEM, Sales Director with the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA, Trifecta Collective), representing the IAEE Rocky Mountain Chapter; and Stephanie Lippi, Event Director with EH Media, Church Facilities Expo, representing the IAEE Mid-South Chapter.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to IAEE members who have rendered distinguished service to IAEE and to the exhibition industry. Qualifying criteria includes extraordinary service and contributions at local, national and/or international levels that have furthered the growth and development of the organization.

This year’s recipient is M.T. Hickman, MS, CMP, CED, Senior Professional Faculty at the School of Merchandising and Hospitality, G. Brint Ryan College of Business, University of North Texas.

The Emerging Leader of the Year Award commends members who are newcomers to the industry and are motivated to not only excel in their career in exhibitions and events, but who are also passionate about advocating on behalf of IAEE and the industry.

This year’s recipient is Lexy Frechette, CEM, Conference Manager at Informa Markets.

The Innovative Business Solution Award recognizes achievement by an IAEE member or member organization in the creation of new and innovative business solutions.

This year’s recipient is Bear Analytics for its Bear IQ Platform.

The Outstanding Marketing & Sales Award recognizes an IAEE member’s outstanding achievement in marketing and sales activities including outstanding performance in total event revenue/profit, advertising revenue, attendance, sponsorship revenue, exhibit space sales and customer service.

This year’s recipient is Forge for its StreamTV Show.

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an IAEE member who has dedicated their time to the progress and fulfilling the charge of a committee or task force on which they serve.

This year’s winner is La Shon Smith, CEM, Director of Exhibitions at the American Academy of Ophthalmology® (AAO).

In May, IAEE announced that AVIXA’s InfoComm América Latina 2025 received the International Excellence Award, which was presented at IMEX Frankfurt.

Click here to learn more about the IAEE Awards.