Freeman's Recent Awards Highlight Commitment to Excellence

2/26/2009 - Freeman has received a number of high profile awards within the past several months. These awards showcase the hard work behind key business goals at Freeman in areas of customer service, employee development and learning, client partnership and support, industry leadership and innovation.

Customer Service
In November, Freeman received the 2008 International Service Excellence Award from the International Council of Customer Service Organizations. More than 175 companies were considered for the top awards, and is especially significant for Freeman as the first company in the face-to-face event industry to be recognized internationally for customer service on par with highly successful consumer brands such as Jet Blue, Nokia and Bath & Body Works.

Employee Development and Learning
In January, Freeman earned the Bersin & Associates 2008 Learning Leaders Award for Organizational Management Excellence. The award recognizes Freeman’s “holistic team-based approach to people management, maintaining a customer-driven, strategic focus on effective management of the entire employment life cycle”. Bersin & Associates is a well-respected industry research and advisory services company dedicated to helping organizations implement enterprise learning and talent management strategies for business performance improvement.

In December, Freeman’s training programs were also recognized by the Dallas Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), winning their annual “Best Place to Learn Award”. Freeman training manager, Kirk Dingman, also received the ASTD 2008 “Innovation Award” from the Dallas chapter.

Client Partnership and Support
Freeman has received the 2008 Supplier Excellence Award from Alcon Laboratories, a leading eye care company with its global headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. The award, presented by Alcon’s Global Conventions group, recognized Freeman’s superior commitment, high quality service and value as key contributors to the Alcon’s face-to-face marketing success. For more than 20 years, Freeman has partnered with Alcon to build their brand presence and educate customers and prospects through tradeshows and events activities.

Jodi Ellsworth of Freeman’s St. Paul office also earned a coveted Customer Service Excellence Award from Freeman client partner 3M CHIMD division for her outstanding support of their face-to-face event and exhibit program in 2008.

Industry Leadership
Louise Upshaw-McClenny, Freeman sales training manager, received the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” award for 2008. Honored at the Adrian Awards on January 26, 2009, Upshaw-McClenny was recognized for her creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.

Eric Blanc, from Freeman’s Orlando office, was presented the ACOM (Association for Convention Management) President’s Award at their annual meeting in January for his efforts in developing the association’s educational scholarship program as well as ongoing efforts towards the growth and success of the association’s annual meeting program.

Innovation
Freeman was again recognized as a leader in green initiatives in the face-to-face industry, winning the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Capital Chapter’s 2008 Green Award in the supplier category. The award was presented at the Washington DC annual meeting, and recognized specific environmental practices at Freeman in both the production of events as well as their day-to-day office and facility operations that have made a significant impact on sustainability.

“Receiving these varied, high-profile awards confirms for us that we are focused on the right things to maintain a leadership role in the face-to-face industry,” said Carrie Freeman Parsons, Freeman’s vice chair and chief marketing officer. “We have identified priority business goals in critical areas, so it is gratifying to see that our employee owners’ hard work is recognized and appreciated.”

Freeman is a leading provider of integrated services for face-to-face marketing events, including expositions, conventions, corporate events and exhibits. Clients engage Freeman for strategic counsel, creative development and on-site logistics execution for face-to-face events of all sizes. With 41 offices in North America, Freeman produces more than 4,300 expositions annually, including 103 of the largest 200 U.S. trade shows, and more than 11,000 other events worldwide. The company has received numerous awards recognizing outstanding efforts in industry leadership, creative design, community service, innovation and customer-driven partnerships.

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



Contact:
ellen.beckert@freemanco.com

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