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 2023—there 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.

“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.

“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.

“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 [email protected]. 

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

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