Signature Boston
December 2, 2019
Honorees to be Recognized at Expo! Expo! in Las Vegas
Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced the 2019 recipients of the Helen Brett™ Scholarship and Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant. The honorees will be recognized at the Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Presentation during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition to be held 3-5 December 2019 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.
“Education is one of the top priorities in IAEE’s strategic plan because we value professional growth and continually strive to provide the highest level of learning experiences to our members,” said IAEE President & CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “IAEE is proud to support the future of our industry with these career development opportunities.”
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:
Rita Ellis is an Event Management major at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. She has a passion for creating, producing and managing events, and is greatly looking forward to working in the exhibitions and events industry. She is enrolled in the Honors Program and Accelerated Degree program and has maintained a 4.0 GPA. She is an active member of the Live Events Association, the student-run International Exhibitions & Events Club, as well as the Student Advisory Council for the College of Hospitality Management.
Ellis’ passion for events sprouted from her volunteer work at Maureen’s Haven Homeless Shelter, where she has volunteered for seven years, and she continues to give back to her community through her work with charitable events such as Gloria Gemma’s “Flames of Hope,” an annual fundraiser in Providence. This October will be her third year working to host “Taste of Hope,” a specialty food and wine event for Breast Cancer patients, survivors and all supporters.
“It is the best of both worlds because I am helping plan and execute an amazing event that simultaneously raises money for a charitable organization,” said Ellis. “I wish to follow in Helen Brett’s footsteps and create opportunities for emerging relationships of integrity and trust between customers and exhibitors. Thank you to the Helen Brett Scholarship Committee for awarding me with this scholarship, I am truly humbled and grateful.”
Kateryna Serhiyenko is a senior at the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management working toward her bachelor’s degree in Event Management. She is an international student from Ukraine, having earned a degree in International Economy at Kyiv National Economic University in 2018. She is a mentor in the Rosen College Peer Outreach Mentorship Program and a Dean’s Student Ambassador in the Rosen College Leadership Council, where she founded and facilitates an “International Chat” every semester to assist and further the experience of Rosen College international students. She is also a member of SKAL International, IAEE and MPI Knights/Orlando where she serves on the Education and Special Events committees. In addition to her extracurricular activities, she maintains a 3.98 GPA.
Serhiyenko currently works as an event manager at the University of Central Florida Student Union, where she oversees more than 100 employees of a setup crew, in addition to working as a sales intern at MasterCorp, Inc. She will graduate in May 2020 and plans to work as a trade show manager, as well as explore innovative technologies that can be implemented in the industry. She hopes to own a trade show company in the future. She is very grateful for receiving the Helen Brett Scholarship this year as well as the opportunity to attend Expo! Expo! 2019.
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:
Abby Abdala is Manager, Exhibits & Sponsorships for the National Defense Industrial Association and will be using her grant award to earn her Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation.
“I am so grateful to be a 2019 recipient of the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund grant! This is a true milestone in my career as I begin the journey to earn my CEM,” said Abdala. “This certification will allow me to learn about and maintain the highest standards in our industry. I look forward to meeting other industry peers who are also working towards their CEM while applying the knowledge I will gain to my role as Manager of Exhibits and Sponsorships at NDIA.”
Racquel Codling, CMP is Director of Meetings & Sales for the American Moving & Storage Association and will be using her grant award to earn her Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation.
“As a 2019 scholarship award recipient of the IAEE Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund, I will be able to quickly acquire my CEM in an effort to obtain the necessary knowledge, foundation and the highest professional standard in exhibition management,” said Codling. “The CEM designation is critically important for my professional development and growth in the exhibitions and events management industry.”
Elizabeth George is Manager, Customer & Audience Solutions for Informa Markets and will be using her grant award to attend IAEE’s 2019 Krakoff Leadership Institute.
“I am honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the 2019 Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund,” said George. “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the Krakoff Leadership Institute (KLI) in August to focus on my personal and professional development, develop leadership skills and to continue to discover more about our extensive industry. I’d like to thank IAEE and for all those who support the fund in providing this opportunity for me as a young professional member of IAEE.”
Brittany Peck is Training Events Specialist for Shared Hope International and will be applying her grant award toward earning her Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation.
“I’m honored to have received the IAEE Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant to continue my professional education in event management through the Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation program,” said Peck. “I am actively applying what I’ve learned in the CEM courses to my non-profit work every day. With this education I am strengthening our programming to better support our organization’s cause.”
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
