The Senior Professionals Industry Network (SPIN) has announced the 2017 recipients of the industry’s first recognition for veteran meeting planners - SPIN:40 Over 40. This initiative was created to recognize and honor planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators, and pioneers.

“We had a great response to this call for nominations. The depth and breadth of what these individuals have achieved is amazing,” said Shawna Suckow, SPIN founder.

She added, “Just like our membership, this list is diverse and includes planners for large corporations, associations and smaller third-party agencies. Our award recipients speak, they teach, they plan large conferences, small incentive programs, work locally and globally and find time to mentor and volunteer.”

2017 SPIN:40 Over 40 Winners
Deborah Agricola Kuns, CMP, Frosch & Christine Peat International
Jan Aument, CTSM Silver, Good Plan Jan
Melissa Benowitz, MRB Meetings & Management, LLC
Lisa Boyd, CMP, CEM, CASE, Institute for Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Patrice Bradshaw, CMP, Boeing
Jody Brandes, CMP, CMM, Genentech
Mozella L. Brown, CMP, M. L. Brown & Associates
Carolyn Browning, CMP, CMM, HMCC, MEETing Needs, LLC
Alexandra Carvalho-Lukachova, CMP, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (Kaiser Permanente)
Carolyn Davis, CMP, Strategic Meeting Partners, LLC
Corné Engelbrecht, CMP, Conference Consultancy South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Marti Fox, CMP, CMM, CPECP, GlobalGoals, Inc.
Leticia Harnung, LMH Consulting Services, LLC
Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMM, CMP, CSEP, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Abbey Herman, CMM, Meeting and Event Consultant for Fortune 500 Companies
Donna Johnson, CMP, CMM, Capitol Hill Management Services (CHMS)
Desirée Knight, CMP, The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA)
Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, Strategic Meetings and Events
Wendy Laugesen, CMP, MarkLogic
Michael D. Lynn, CEM, CME, CMM, CMP, CPC, CPECP, Global Protocol, Etiquette and Civility Academy | Professional Tradeshow Resources
Pam Martin, Creative Meetings & Incentives (CM&I)
Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP, TML Services Group, LLC
Deborah Molique, Molique EPS
Pat Moore, CMP, Mattel
Annette Naif, Naif Productions
Natalie Norris, CMP, CMM, Meetings and More, Inc.
Qualena Odom-Royes, CSEP, CMP, CDMP, EventEssentials, LLC
Barbara Ozenbaugh, CMP, CAE, Seaside Event & Non-Profit Management
Sanece Marie Poolas, Strategic Meetings & Events
Dana L. Saal CMP, CAE, Saal Meeting Consulting
Heather Sampson, CMP, DES, Aspire Meetings & Events, LLC
Bonni Scepkowski, Stellar Meetings & Events
Arlene Schilke, CMP, Timewise Event Management Inc.
Marilee Sonneman, CMP, DMCP, Spotlight Sojourns
Karin Soyster Fitzgerald, CMP, CAE, International Association of Fire Chiefs
Chip G. Stockton, CMP, Conference ConCepts, Inc.
Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, CFPM, Thrive! Meetings & Events
Heather Switzer, CMP, Winsight, LLC
Peg Wolschon, CMP, CTA, Calyx Software
Terri Woodin, CMP, Meeting Sites Resource

The 40 honorees each received complimentary registrations to SPINCon 2017 for themselves and for a friend (who must also be a planner with ten or more years of experience), and were recognized in a ceremony amongst their peers on Dec 4. during the conference. SPINCon was held Dec. 3-5 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas.

Since its start as a LinkedIn group in 2010, SPIN has grown significantly and now counts nearly 3000 planner members in North America and Canada.

In SPINCon’s opening session on Dec. 3, the appointment of industry veteran Tracey Smith as the new executive director of SPIN was announced. Smith was the first member to join the group after it was launched by founder Suckow.

The association recently opened its membership to event industry suppliers (including hotel procurement specialists) with at least ten years of experience. Supplier membership is capped at 33% of overall membership.

While SPIN welcomes supplier membership, its online community fosters a no-selling environment.

“We want to keep the focus on connections and conversations that build relationships, not just transactions,” said Smith.

She added, “Any of our supplier partners who’ve been to SPINCon know that the vibe within SPIN is really special, and we all want to protect that. SPIN is the place to foster real relationships.”

Stay tuned for a review of SPINCon 2017, coming later this week.