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2025 IAEE Award Winners

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Leslie Johnson is Breaking Records and Building Legacies

Ever wonder how one leader can transform an entire city’s reputation and economic trajectory? Discover the innovative strategies, relationship-building secrets and bold decision-making that helped IAEE Outstanding Marketing & Sales Award winner Leslie Johnson exceed goals by triple digits while securing events that will impact Milwaukee’s economy for the next decade. Prepare to get inside the mind of Milwaukee’s marketing powerhouse!

Matthew Kalb is Transforming Events Education Through Authenticity and Innovation

What separates educators who inform from those who transform careers? In this candid conversation, Bob Dallmeyer Educator of the Year Matthew Kalb reveals why he believes that real learning happens when educators lead with curiosity and shares his mentorship approach that positions his students as industry leaders. Get his insider perspective on events education today and the mindset shift that's helping his mentees accelerate their path to industry recognition.

Susan D. Haning is a Champion of Excellence in the Industry

What does it take to uplift an entire industry from the inside out? Distinguished Service Award winner Susan D. Haning shares her leadership philosophy that drives meaningful change. Whether you’re climbing the career ladder or already at the top, you’ll take away actionable insights on building lasting professional relationships, investing in others without losing yourself, and why the most impactful leaders measure success by the people they elevate along the way.

Ryan Lovell is Building IAEE’s Future One Leader at a Time

What does it take to transform a local chapter while simultaneously teaching thousands of professionals across four continents? Discover how Chapter Merit Award Winner Ryan Lovell balances governance innovation with global education and learn the strategies he uses to create lasting impact in the exhibitions and events industry. Whether you’re looking to step up in your own chapter or expand your influence beyond borders, Ryan can show you how to get it done!

Honeycomb Strategies is Pioneering Sustainability Data Management

What if measuring your event’s environmental impact was as easy as tracking registrations? Discover how Innovative Business Solution Award winner Honeycomb Strategies is making sustainability data management accessible to organizations of any size, and why the CEO behind it believes we’re on the verge of making green events the new industry standard. Learn what's possible when the right technology meets the right moment in this exclusive interview.

Julie Sullivan’s Playbook Includes a Masterclass in Chapter Revival

What do you do when your chapter is on life support and others have walked away? Chapter Merit Award winner Julie Sullivan didn’t just answer that question – she turned a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a masterclass in transformational leadership. Discover the unconventional strategies and hard-won lessons that took the Rocky Mountain Chapter from sputtering to record-breaking events, and learn why her approach is changing how IAEE chapters think about survival and growth.

Kara Dao is Breaking Barriers and Building Belonging

What does it take to become the first of your kind in an entire industry, and then use that platform to lift others up? Discover how Cathy Breden Woman of Achievement Award winner Kara Dao is redefining success in exhibitions and events by making inclusion and mentorship as important as operational excellence. Read on for candid insights about creating lasting change, the advice that transforms careers and why the future of our industry depends on the leaders we choose to become today.

IAAPA Expo Europe is Breaking Records and Building Communities

What does it take to transform a trade show into an industry-defining moment? In this exclusive interview, discover the strategic thinking, bold innovations and lessons learned from orchestrating Europe’s most successful attractions expo. Whether you’re planning your next event or looking to elevate your industry presence, International Excellence Award winner IAAPA Expo Europe offers insights that will change how you think about creating meaningful connections at scale.

Dr. Thomas C. Padron is Building Tomorrow’s Industry Leaders

Discover how one award-winning professor is revolutionizing hospitality education by bringing AI into the classroom, transforming industry events into living laboratories and creating a pipeline of ethically grounded professionals ready to lead. In this candid conversation, Bob Dallmeyer Educator of the Year Dr. Thomas C. Padron shares how he inspires students to see beyond the classroom to their future careers.

Bob Priest-Heck’s Journey from Innovator to Industry Icon

What does it take to not just achieve substantial success in an industry, but to reimagine its entire trajectory? Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Bob Priest-Heck opens up about the pivotal decisions that defined his career, the hard-won lessons from leading through unprecedented crisis and the legacy he hopes to leave for the next generation of movers and shakers. Bob’s story is a masterpiece in visionary leadership and is one that every industry professional should know.
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