The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) announced today the recipients of prestigious awards highlighting outstanding leadership in the event services sector, as well as association leadership and engagement.
The honours were presented during the association’s 2024 Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis.
The list of 2024 ESPA award winners includes:
Executive Excellence Award – Diane DiAntonio, CMP, CEM, the General Manager at Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.
This award applauds an executive for their commitment and dedication to the profession of event service and for giving key support and leadership to members of their services team. DiAntonio was honoured for her unwavering commitment to team engagement at the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), actively promoting participation since the start of their ESPA involvement in 2014.
Event Service Professional of the Year Award – DeShawn Fitzpatrick, CMP, the Sr. Client Services Manager at Visit Houston.
This prominent award celebrates an event service manager who worked their magic to help make a meeting planner shine—just like Fitzpatrick did by providing exceptional event servicing to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity.
Leadership in Event Service Award – Jarrica Guzman, the Event Services Manager at Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB.
This award recognizes event service professionals from CVBs, convention centers, hotels and conference centers whose leadership in the past year has inspired others. Guzman was recognized for brilliantly resurrecting popular events and programs following the global pandemic.
2024 Meeting Professional of the Year – Bridget Robinson, CMP, CMM, the American Legion Director of National Conventions & Meetings.
The award acknowledges the hard-working meeting professional who exhibits personal and professional characteristics that create an environment that focuses on teamwork and shows support for the event services profession. Colleagues said this description matched Robinson.
ESPA also presented a first-time-ever 2024 Appreciation Award to long-time Executive Director Lynn McCullough for exceptional support and years of dedicated service to the organization.
ESPA Member Awards
During the 2024 annual conference, ESPA also presented association engagement awards to four members.
– Patrick Coit, CMP, destination services manager at Meet Boston, was given the William H. Just Memorial Award for being a recent CMP designate while supporting ESPA programs in several capacities.
– DeShawn Fitzpatrick, CMP, sr. client services manager at Visit Houston, and Amber Brewer, event service specialist at Visit Rochester, were named ESPA Members of the Year for their dedication to programs including Continuing Education, Accessibility, Mentorship and DEI.
– Esther Walker-Young, senior services manager at Visit KC, was presented the ESPA President’s Award for a high level of consistent volunteerism, including service on the Annual Conference and DEI Committees.
For more information on ESPA, visit http://www.espaonline.org/.
