EDPA Award Winners Named

1/22/2009 - Numerous industry professionals were recognized at the annual Exhibit Designers & Producers Association (EDPA) AC&SS show in Miami recently. Each year during its annual convention, EDPA recognizes individual achievements and contributions within the exhibit design and service segment of the exposition industry.

This year awards were presented in five categories during the EDPA Gala and Silent Auction Night at the event in Miami Beach. The 2008 awards and their winners are as follows:

EDDIE Award: This special award was started in 2003 and is unique in that no other award in the exhibit service industry recognizes companies for their accomplishments in self-promotion within the exhibit industry. The award acknowledges companies for their ability to self promote their brand and exhibit services.
Winners 2008: 1st Place, Derse Exhibits; 2nd Place, Impact Unlimited; 3rd Place, 3D Exhibits.

Designer of the Year Award: Created in 2003, the Designer of the Year Award was formed to recognize exhibit designers who possess the talent and commitment to take exhibit design to the next level of acceptance.
Winner: Gino Pellegrini, Inter-Global Exhibitions Group

Ambassador Award: Awarded for outstanding promotion and support of EDPA and its mission to serve the industry. This year’s winner was Mark Brauer, Vice President of Interlock Structures. Mark was a past president of EDPA in 2002 and was a key motivator in building the Upper Midwest chapter of EDPA in Minneapolis. This chapter has stood as a model for other EDPA chapters to follow. Each year the new EDPA president travels to Minneapolis in January to present their EDPA visions at the Upper Midwest Chapter meeting. Mark was also instrumental in building the EDPA Foundation and supporting the exhibit design degree program at Bemidji State University. Mark’s encouragement and influencing style has served to push action forward when initiatives stood still in the mud. His commitments have served to take EDPA to the next level of excellence year after year.

Chapter of the Year Award: Acknowledges a chapter for its diligence and hard work in promoting EDPA, and its innovative ways in forging ahead as a chapter.
Winner: Southeast Chapter, Sally Walker, President

Hazel Hays Award: The Hazel Hays Award is the highest honor bestowed by EDPA. The award was established in 1976 to honor the memory of Hazel Hays, an industry pioneer who had the vision to mold professionalism within the exhibit industry as we know it today. She is known as the first lady of the exhibit industry and was the first woman to serve on the EDPA Board of Directors in 1975 and pushed for harmony among competitors and to create professional standards.
The EDPA Hazel Hays Award is awarded to someone who has contributed to make a difference in the way we do business today in the exposition industry. This year’s winner is Larry Kulchawik, Director—3D Exhibits International, Chicago.
Larry has been active with EDPA since 1991 and began serving on the board in 1993. He was president of EDPA in 1997 and in 2000 Larry was selected for the first EDPA Ambassador Award. Larry then served on the CEIR Foundation for three years then moved on to become the first US President of IFES (International Federation of Exposition Services) in 2004. He continues to be active with IFES to create a network of exhibit companies throughout the world to serve the end user in a consistent way.

For more information, go to www.edpa.com.



Contact:
rthompson@edpa.com

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