MPI Georgia Phoenix Awards
The MPI Georgia Phoenix Awards honor the volunteers, members, and sponsors who are advancing our industry and contributing to the ongoing success of the Georgia chapter. Coming out of one of the most dynamic times in our industry, it is thrilling to be able to recognize the tremendous contributions and exceptional work of these winners for delivering on MPIs mission to learn, innovate, collaborate, and advocate.
Congratulations to the 2023 Phoenix Awards Winners! Thank you for your service and dedication to MPI Georgia.
President's Awards: Sharon Collins, CMP, CMM, DES
President's Award: Sybil Lee, CMP
Chapter Leader of the Year: Sybil Lee, CMP
Committee
of the Year: EDI and Community Inclusion
Creative/Innovative
Concept of the Year: 2023 Spring Summit
Planner
Member of the Year: Carla Albright
Rising
Star of the Year: Rachel Jackson
Supplier
Member of the Year: Dee Mittman
Sponsor
Impact of the Year: Photosynthesis Studios
Lorraine
Powell Influence Award: Lance Hornecker, CMP CMM
Hayward
C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Tim Barrett, CMP
Hall
of Fame Achievement Award: Abby Freeman
Phoenix Awards Details:
General Eligibility Criteria: Applies to all awards nominations
- Event/Program Date: The current fiscal year dates from July 1 - June 30. All events and programs must have occurred within these dates to be eligible for an award, with the exception of the current year Phoenix Awards (the prior year Phoenix Awards may be nominated) and their related sponsors, venues, committees and events based on submission deadlines.
- MPI Georgia Member: The nominated entity (organization, individual, etc.) must have representation in MPI Georgia and be a current member of MPI Georgia in good standing.
- Awards are based on the members work within MPI Georgia.
Description: Awarded to the member who has served in a leadership role and whose work has made considerable contribution to the growth of our chapter.
Description: Awarded to the MPI Georgia volunteer committee (award accepted by the committee chair) that provided a significant impact and valuable contribution to our chapter during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Note that Phoenix Awards 2022 committee is eligible this year.
Description: Awarded to a Planner member who has impacted our chapter through their unwavering service and commitment.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Must be an active member on a committee within the current year
- Must not have held an MPI Georgia Board position within the past three (3) years
Description: Awarded to a Supplier member who has impacted our chapter through their unwavering volunteer service and commitment.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Must be an active member on a committee within the current year
- Must not have held an MPI Georgia Board position within the past three (3) years
Description: MPI Georgia’s volunteers are constantly enhancing our events with their creative ideas. Allowing our members to experience these concepts is a true value-add for our membership. This award is for a concept that has impacted our chapter through creativity or innovation. The award is intended to recognize creative ideas from the current year and will be accepted by the individual(s) and/or committee who implemented the concept.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Concept must have been executed within the current fiscal year
- Concept must not have won this award in the past 5 years
- Board members are not eligible to win this award; however, they can accept on behalf of a committee concept
Description: Awarded to a sponsoring company that uses innovation and creativity to impact the membership and showcase their company. This award is not about who spent the most money but about who had the highest impact from their sponsorship. This award can be presented to a cash or an in-kind sponsor.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a cash or in-kind sponsor from the current fiscal year
Description: Awarded to a new member (tenure of three years or less) who has made the most notable contribution of volunteer time to our chapter.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Membership tenure cannot exceed three years
- Board members are not eligible
Description: Awarded to a student member who has impacted our chapter through their unwavering service and commitment.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Must be an active member on a committee within the current year
- Must be an enrolled student for the 2022-2023 fiscal year
- Must not have held an MPI Georgia Board position within the past three (3) years
- Note: If no valid nominations are made, this award will not be presented for this year
Description: The current MPI Georgia President will select a volunteer to receive the President’s Award.
Description: The Lorraine Powell Influence Award honors MPI Georgia Chapter Past President Lorraine Powell, who influenced countless MPI members and the overall direction of the chapter for decades. This award will be given to an MPI Georgia member who has influenced the path and future of an MPI member and/or the chapter as a whole. The award recipient will embody the spirit of MPI and what it means to its members and the meetings industry.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must not be a current member of the Board of Directors
Description: Awarded to a long-standing member who has committed at least five years of service to our association. This member has made substantial contributions to the chapter. Nominees for this award are chosen by the MPI Georgia Past Presidents Council.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a current member of MPI Georgia in good standing (minimum five years)
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Must not have held an MPI Georgia Board position within the past three (3) years
Description: Awarded to a long-standing member who has committed at least a decade of service to our association. This member strives to make our industry a strong force of education and personal achievement. Nominees for this award are chosen by the MPI Georgia Past Presidents Council.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a current member of MPI Georgia in good standing (minimum ten years)
- Must not have won this award in any previous year
- Must not have held an MPI Georgia Board position within the past three (3) years
Previous Phoenix Awards Recipients:
Chapter
Leader of the Year: Carla
Jean-Thomas Carroll, CIS
Committee
of the Year: 2022
Spring Summit
Creative/Innovative
Concept of the Year: Communications:
Spring Summit Tool Kit
Planner
Member of the Year: Kareena
Bakhsh
President's
Award: Melissa
Legaux, CMP
Rising
Star of the Year: Curt
Johnson
Supplier
Member of the Year: Ted
Basco
Sponsor
Impact of the Year: Jekyll
Islan Authority
Lorraine
Powell Influence Award: Kareena
Bakhsh
Hayward
C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Jeff Whitney
Hall of Fame Achievement Award: Kethi Kelly
Chapter
Leader of the Year: Carla
Jean-Thomas Carroll, CIS
Committee
of the Year: 2022
Spring Summit
Creative/Innovative
Concept of the Year: Communications:
Spring Summit Tool Kit
Planner
Member of the Year: Kareena
Bakhsh
President's
Award: Melissa
Legaux, CMP
Rising
Star of the Year: Curt
Johnson
Supplier
Member of the Year: Ted
Basco
Sponsor
Impact of the Year: Jekyll
Islan Authority
Lorraine
Powell Influence Award: Kareena
Bakhsh
Hayward
C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Jeff Whitney
Hall
of Fame Achievement Award: Kethi
Kelly
Chapter Leader of the Year: Allyson Wagner, CMP
Committee of the Year: 2020 Fall Classic
Creative Concept of the Year: MPI Georgia Social Media
Planner Member of the Year: Paulette Hopkins
President's Award: Abby Freeman
Rising Star of the Year: Neysa Crist, CMP
Sponsor Impact Award: Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA)
Supplier Member of the Year: Shaun Tracy
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Paulette Hopkins
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Paulette Hopkins
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Lesli Castaneda, CMP
Chapter Leader of the Year: Tim Barrett, CMP
Committee of the Year: Membership - Hospitality/Welcome Committee
Creative Concept of the Year: MPI Georgia Mobile App
Planner Member of the Year: Peter Schmidt
President's Award: Tierra Copeland
Rising Star of the Year: Peter Schmidt
Sponsor Impact Award: Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA)
Supplier Member of the Year: Joel Miller
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Heather Herrig, CMP
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Russell LoPinto
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Dwayne Keller
Chapter Leader of the Year: Melissa Legaux, CMP
Committee of the Year: Membership - Networking Events Committee
Creative Concept of the Year: The Exchange
Planner Member of the Year: Laura Steele, CMP
President's Award: Tara Zeravsky, CMP
Rising Star of the Year: Brad Gibson
Sponsor Impact Award: Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Supplier Member of the Year: Carla Carroll
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Maria Trammell
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Cynthia Alford, DMCP
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Megan Perks, CMP, CMM
A HUGE THANK YOU to our Premier Annual Sponsors: Reno/Tahoe, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Photosynthesis Studio, and Modern Luxury
2019 Phoenix Awards Sponsors: Active Productions & Design, Akram Ibrahim, Allegra, AMP'D Entertainment, B. Worley Productions, Bradfordley Illustration & Design, Button It Up, Collection Furnishings, Fancy's Face & Body Art, Georgia World Congress Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Legendary Events, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, Louisville CVB, MeetApp, Mixology Partners, Over the Top Linen, Peachtree Tents & Events, Popcorn Palooza, Proof of the Pudding, Salamander Hotels and Resorts, SpeedPro Imaging, Speer Entertainment, The Sketch Effect, Urban Enterprises, Vintage Vixens, Visit Roswell, and World of Coca-Cola
Chapter Leader of the Year: Ashley Izydore Euler, CMP
Committee of the Year: Communications - ReConnect
Creative/Innovative Concept of the Year: TechTalks, 2018 Tech Summit
Planner Member of the Year: Lesli Castaneda, CMP
President's Award: Jeff Holland
Rising Star of the Year: Megan Wolszczak
Sponsor Impact Award: Active Production and Design
Supplier Member of the Year: Devon McKenna
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Melissa Legaux, CMP
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Brenda Dempsey
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Cynthia Alford, DMCP
City of Stars - It's Your Time to Shine was a night to remember. This annual awards gala recognizes our chapter’s volunteer members and sponsors as well as the overall successes of another great year. Through the amazing support of our sponsors, the Phoenix Awards were held June 28, 2018 at the W. Atlanta Midtown.
A huge thank you to our Premier Annual Sponsors: Atlanta CVB and PhotoSynthesis Studio; and to our 2018 Phoenix Awards Sponsors: 360 Destination Group, Active Production and Design, AlphaGraphics of Buckhead, Amp'd Entertainment, BOLD Design, Caesars Entertainment, Collection Event Furnishings, Discover DeKalb CVB, Far Out Galaxy, Flowering Events, FoxHall Sporting Club, Garrett Popcorn Shops, Georgia Speakers Bureau, GTS Entertainment, Jeenyoux, Jekyll Island Georgia, JW Marriott Nashville, L.E.D Experience, Loews Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, Louisville CVB, Party Tables, Peachtree Tents & Events, PSAV W. Atlanta Midtown, Salamander Hotels and Resorts, World of Coca-Cola, Vinny Verelli, and the W. Atlanta Midtown!
Chapter Leader of the Year: Jeff Whitney
Committee of the Year: Membership - Retention Committee
Creative/Innovative Concept of the Year: Fall Classic "Plan B"
Planner Member of the Year: Ashley Izydore, CMP
President's Award: Pamela Shepherd
Rising Star of the Year: Steven Schumacher
Supplier Member of the Year: Ginny Izydore
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Jeff Whitney
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Lesli Castaneda, CMP
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Whitney
Chapter Leader of the Year: Chris Bonnett, CMP
Committee of the Year: 2016 Phoenix Awards Committee
Creative/Innovative Concept of the Year: 2017 Tech Summit: Apps & The Game of Techs
Planner Member of the Year: Chris Bonnett, CMP
President's Award: Sybil Lee, CMP
Rising Star of the Year: Lissette Mathus
Supplier Member of the Year: Tara Brashear
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Eileen Roehl, CMP
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Carol D. Hall
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Ginny Izydore
The 2017 Phoenix Awards: Rising from the Ashes Celebrating Southern Legacy was a night of celebration. This annual awards gala recognizes our chapter’s volunteer members and sponsors as well as the overall successes of another great year. Through the amazing support of our sponsors, the Phoenix Awards were held June 15, 2017 at the Atlanta History Center in the heart of Buckhead.
A huge thank you to our Premier Annual Sponsors: Atlanta CVB, Visit Raleigh, Topper Worldwide Transportation, PhotoSynthesis Studio; and to our 2017 Phoenix Awards Sponsors: Active Production and Design, A Divine Event, Atlanta Fever Entertainment, Atlanta History Center, BBJ Linen Rental, Be a Star Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment, Courtney Renee Jazz, Daytona Beach CVB, Discover DeKalb CVB, Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Buckhead, Fuse Graphics, Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Greater Birmingham CVB, Greene Worldwide Transportation, Hilton Atlanta, Jekyll Island Georgia, L.E.D Experience Design, Loews Hotels, Louisville CVB, Modern Luxury, Peachtree Tents & Events, Tulip Blooming Creations, We Rent Atlanta, and the World of Coca-Cola!
Chapter Leader of the Year: Jeff Whitney
Committee of the Year: Membership - Retention Committee
Creative/Innovative Concept of the Year: Fall Classic "Plan B"
Planner Member of the Year: Ashley Izydore, CMP
President's Award: Pamela Shepherd
Rising Star of the Year: Steven Schumacher
Supplier Member of the Year: Ginny Izydore
Lorraine Powell Influence Award: Jeff Whitney
Hayward C. Cox, Jr., CMP, Continuing Quality Award: Lesli Castaneda, CMP
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Whitney
The 2016 Phoenix Awards: The Speakeasy offered “A Night of Vintage Glamour” and lots of celebration. This annual awards gala recognizes our chapter’s volunteer members and sponsors as well as the overall successes of another great year. Through the amazing support of our sponsors, the Phoenix Awards were held June 30, 2016 at Flourish by Legendary Events in the heart of Buckhead.
A huge thank you to our Premier Annual Sponsors: Atlanta CVB, Visit Raleigh, Topper Worldwide Transportation, PWP Studios; and to our 2016 Phoenix Awards Sponsors: Absolute ENT, Active Production and Design, Branding Hawk, Button It Up, Caesars, Collection Event Furnishings, Courtney Renee Jazz, Emory Conference Center Hotel, Event Drapery, Flourish, Greater Birmingham CVB, Greene Worldwide Transportation, Hilton Atlanta, Humor Wins, Jekyll Island Georgia, Juice Studios, Louisville CVB, Martino-White Printing, NYC & Company, Party Tables, Shepard Exposition, St. Louis CVB, the Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, Westin Hotel and the Yonah Mountain Vineyards!