2022 TSNN Awards Names Industry Icon, Sustainability, DEI Leadership, Industry Support Honorees

August 25, 2022
Karen Chupka

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is thrilled to unveil the 2022 TSNN Awards top honorees for the Industry Icon Award, Sustainability Award, DEI Leadership Award and Industry Support Award.

All of the award honorees will be celebrated Nov. 8-9 at the 2022 TSNN Awards at the event’s host venue, Caesars Forum, in Las Vegas. The two-day event will kick off with an opening party at Nobu Villa sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, followed the next day by an education conference, awards gala at Caesars Forum and after-party at the Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace.

Industry Icon Award

Karen Chupka, Chief Strategy Officer, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)

Climbing through the ranks at CTA and overseeing the one of the top trade shows in the U.S., Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Chupka now is responsible for cultivating strategic relationships, identifying business opportunities and representing the organization in industry forums.

"CES’ success is credited to the many dedicated team members I’ve had the chance to work with to make the show the most influential tech event in the world," Chupka said. "I’m incredibly humbled to be accepting this award and do so on behalf of the entire CES family. It is truly an honor to share this space with so many talented leaders throughout the industry. Thank you for your advice and encouragement over the years. We can’t wait to get back to Vegas in January 2023there is nothing more valuable than being face-to-face!" 

DEI Leadership Award

Janice Rogers, Corporate Vice President of Human Resources, Diversified Communications

Rogers has led a team in developing a DEI program at Diversified that could and should be a template for the rest of the industry to consider emulating. Among many initiatives, Rogers’ team ran organization-wide Unconscious Bias training, broadened their recruiting resources/geographies to include more diverse candidate pools and launched a Diversity Internship Program.

Janice Rogers

“I am genuinely honored to receive the 2022 TSNN DEI Leadership Award," Rogers said. "I am humbled to be able to do this work for our organization with the support of so many colleagues and to have learned so much personally from others who have lived experience in this space. It is also very meaningful for me to be recognized by our industry, as we all work to better diversify our events, our teams and our leadership.”

 

 

Industry Support Award

Tommy Goodwin, Vice President of Government Affairs, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)

ECA was formed during the pandemic and tapped Goodwin to lead the organization’s  advocacy on behalf of the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues and destinations that comprise the $396 billion business events landscape.

Tommy Goodwin

“I’m honored to accept the 2022 TSNN Industry Support Award on behalf of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), ECA’s alliance partners and leadership, and the many supporters of our industry’s advocacy efforts," Goodwin said. "Advocacy isn’t about one person, it’s about all of us coming together through ECA to tell the story of how face-to-face business events jumpstart economic growth, drive job creation, and support small businesses from coast to coast. Our collective advocacy is paying off in Washington, D.C. and nationwide, and I’m thrilled to see everyone’s hard work recognized at the 2022 TSNN Awards.” 

 

 

 

Sustainability Award

Specialty Coffee Expo

The Specialty Coffee Expo didn’t just talk the green talk at its show, it walked the green walk and then some. Just a few of the show’s sustainable efforts included a reusable cup program that had a 59% event diversion rate and more than 2,000 pounds of food and materials donated to the local community on behalf Coffee Expo.

Specialty Coffee Expo

“For over two decades, the global specialty coffee community has come together every year at the Specialty Coffee Expo to network and do business," said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association. "As our trade show has grown, our community has always sought innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. We are honored to receive the TSNN Sustainability Award because it recognizes the work our staff, exhibitors and visitors do every year—and inspires us to redouble our efforts to continue making the Specialty Coffee Expo a sustainability leader in the industry.”

 

The 2022 TSNN Awards would not be possible without the following sponsors: Host Sponsor, Caesars Entertainment; Host Venue, Caesars Forum; Host Hotel, Caesars Palace; Opening Party Sponsor, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority; Presenting Sponsor, SMT Expo and Personify; Registration Sponsor, Maritz Global Events; Gold Sponsors, ASP, Fern, Resorts World Las Vegas and eventPower; Silver Sponsors, Expocad, MapYourShow, Shepard, SmartSource, Cadmium, Bear Analytics, The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, Convention Data Services and The Vegas Collection; Media Sponsor, The Photo Group; Supporting Associations, SISO, IAEE, ESCA and UFI. For Sponsorship info, please contact ashows@tarsusus.com. 

For more info, please visit www.T-awards.com. 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.