Signature Boston
November 30, 2017
Honorees Recognized at Expo! Expo! in San Antonio
Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) recognized the 2017 recipients of the Helen Brett™ Scholarship and Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant during its Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Presentation at Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas.
“Our members are the driving force behind IAEE and the reason why we strive to represent the global exhibitions and events industry at the highest standards,” said IAEE President & CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “Today’s presentation recognized the individuals who put their best foot forward on behalf of both, and it was incredibly gratifying to honor their achievements.”
The Helen Brett™ Scholarship was established by Robert Kolinek, CEM, CMP, and named for his grandmother, who was a pioneer in the trade show industry. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist individuals who are exploring the study of exhibitions and events management with the end goal of advancing their career in this field.
IAEE congratulates this year’s Helen Brett Scholars:
Roxy Ho is a senior studying Sports/Entertainment/Event Management at Johnson & Wales University. Her passion in events, especially in exhibitions and galas, is what made her travel from Vietnam to the U.S. For the past few years, Ho organized the first prom in Ho Chi Minh city for over 500 attendees, several cultural events and exchange programs to Japan, along with entrepreneurship camps and workshops. Through different experiences, she had a chance to volunteer at the 2016 World Golf Championships at Trump National Doral Miami; serve as a Changemaker Fellow of Rhode Island Social Enterprise Greenhouse; and meet former President Obama through the Youth Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. Ho believes that receiving the Helen Brett Scholarship is an important stepping stone for her to network with professionals in the industry and be more confident about her own abilities.
“I fell in love with the career, where I can create memorable, once-in-a-life-time experiences for people,” notes Ho. “To me, working in an event from start to end is a recreational activity where I can use my creativity, problem solving skill and strategic thinking. Events management triggers my mind and challenges my abilities, so the more I strive to create a perfect experience, the better I am as a leader in the events industry and a better individual. I found my right career, which is being an event planner.”
Euginnie Zeitler is currently enrolled at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality of Meeting Planning and Trade Shows. She is an honor graduate of Richland College Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Travel Exposition and Meeting Management (TEMM). A participating member of the Richland College TEMM club, Zeitler chaired the 2016 and 2017 TEMM Silent Auction and Scholarship Luncheon. She was also the administrative assistant to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority Zone. She was responsible for the planning of travel, organizing investors meetings and the daily functions of the CEO office.
As a little girl growing up in a Nigerian village, Zeitler always found herself assisting in setting up spectacular events like the traditional marriages, which is an annual event that showcases the Eleme culture and pride. Her interest in the event industry began in her teenage years, so when she discovered that Richland College offers a degree in meeting and event management, she plunged into it as a career without a second thought. By way of gaining more experience into hosting public events, Zeitler volunteered her time with several industry event planners and executors to broaden her knowledge.
The Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund supports exhibitions and events industry education and professional development by providing a challenging and engaging educational experience for young professionals, professionals new to the exhibitions and events industry, those that are intellectually curious about trends and opportunities, and those that are interested in learning about the global marketplace. Each year, applicants for grants are required to submit detailed information regarding their employment and experience in the exhibitions and events industry, as well as their intent for continued education and development of their career.
IAEE congratulates this year’s Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund grant recipients:
Amy Drum, CMP, CAE is Owner of Drum Meeting Planning & Event Consultants, LLC. She specializes in immediate staffing solutions for short- and long-term meeting and event needs primarily for national/international membership associations (trade and professional society) and corporations in sectors such as education, financial & legal, government, healthcare & STEM, medical, industrial, and communications. Her experience encompasses events ranging from 25 to 20,000 attendees in North America, Europe and Asia. With more than 25 years of experience, Drum provides excellence in every aspect of planning and executing an organization’s meeting, event or convention, and in safeguarding trusted leadership for management outsourcing needs.
A graduate of Cornell University, Drum also serves as Faculty/Instructor for the Meetings Certificate Courses at Temple University. She teaches courses in Fundamentals in Meeting Planning, Contracts and Negotiations, Budget & Finance Toolkit for Meeting Planners, and Breaking into Meeting Planning.
Melissa Peticolas has been an Account Executive at Vista Convention Services since 2009. She is responsible for selling and servicing over 35 trade show and special event accounts nationwide on an annual basis. While her primary focus is the Atlantic City, N.J. market, other cities of experience include Napa, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Md.; and Miami, Fla.
Peticolas graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, minor in Marketing and certificate in Industrial/Organization Psychology. She had her first taste of the events industry in college, where she served as Director of the College Union Board planning concerts, comedy shows and other special events on campus. A professional internship with the special events department at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City allowed Peticolas to learn the ins and outs of casino promotions. As a result of her hard work and display of effort, she was awarded the Trump Intern Scholarship at the completion of the program.
Upon graduating, Peticolas spent more than six years at Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), which served as her stepping stone into the trade show industry. She coordinated the efforts of over 40 marketing executives to sell vacation packages to attendees at over 700 trade shows a year, exhibiting at both industry and public events. She was responsible for contracting sponsorships and exhibit space for MVCI prior to managing the sales staff directly. Peticolas received awards for Expense Efficiency time after time, as the program was one of the most cost effective nationwide within MVCI.
“I’m thrilled to have been selected as a Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund recipient for 2017,” said Peticolas. “Using this grant to obtain my CEM designation will allow me to remain competitive in the industry and provide a unique perspective to my current and future clients. I look forward to the challenge and am excited to see what the future holds for me in the events industry.”
Visit www.iaee.com for more information about the Helen Brett Scholarship and Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund.
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Buttine Exhibition Insurance, Convention News Television (CNTV), Freeman, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Personify – A2Z Events, Swapcard and Synchronicities (Visit Anaheim, Visit Baltimore and Visit San Antonio). Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
Sr. Communications & Content Manager
+1(972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com
