TORONTO — Eight deserving event professionals were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo (CMEExpo) today.
The inductees were celebrated at the live ceremony that took place at the first day of the exciting two-day event held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto.
“The Hall of Fame program, now in it’s 11th year, is comprised of 68 industry leaders who have made, and continue to make outstanding contributions to the Canadian meetings and events industry. And today, we are delighted to be adding eight more to the growing list,” Melissa Arnott, CMEExpo show manager said at the ceremony.
The 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees. Back Row (L-R): Reggie Lang, Alissa Hurley, Shannon Valeriote, Zaman Ishaad. Front Row (L-R): BettyAnne Sherrer, Candice Schierling, Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald.
Missing: Francois Brunet
Francois Brunet was inducted as the 2019 Industry Volunteer; this category recognizes and individual planner or supplier who gives freely his or her time or expertise in the promotion of industry associations, groups, professional industry chapters or charity work.
Shannon Valeriote was inducted as the 2019 Industry Mentor; this category celebrates a planner or supplier who through his or her expertise, professional influence. or academic position has provided others with opportunity, inspiration, or ability to pursue excellence.
Zaman Ishaad was inducted as the 2019 Rising Star; this category honors a planner or supplier with 2-5 years’ experience in the industry, who has demonstrated leadership and the desire to be an ambassador for the industry.
Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald was inducted as the 2019 Industry Planner; a category reserved for an individual who represents everything an event professional should be.
Alissa Hurley was inducted as the 2019 Industry Innovator; a category that recognizes a planner or supplier who has developed and implemented a service, product, or concept that modernizes today’s industry and moves it forward.
And, as a direct result of the V.I.Plane, which allowed planners, as well as suppliers and sponsors to mingle on their very own private flight from Toronto to Victoria B.C. for the 2018 PCMA CIC Conference, Candace Schierling, Reggie Lang, and Bettyanne Sherrer were inducted for The Big Idea. The Big Idea celebrates planners and suppliers who have dreamed up and implemented an idea that has improved the productivity, profitability, culture and/or operational systems of a specific company or business.
New this year to the ceremony were touching videos from nominators and industry peers explaining why each inductee deserved to be in the Hall of Fame.
Nominations to be inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2020 will open in the new year.
Congratulations to all the Inductees and especially our two CED – Certified Event Designers Zaman Ishaad, CED for your Rising Star award and Alissa Hurley on her Induction as Industry Innovator. We’ve known it all along and this is most deserved.