Julia Smith, CEM, CTA receives first IAEE Woman of Achievement Award.
DALLAS – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) confirms another successful Women’s Leadership Forum was held 13-14 May 2014 at the Washington Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. Debuted last year, more than 100 attendees sold out this year’s event which featured education sessions for women at all stages of their career.
Keynote speakers Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, authors of Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence, coached attendees on developing their presence and creating a personal brand that can be carried forward in their professional and personal lives. Breakout sessions included insight into conducting business on an international level, business etiquette and dress, standing out among the crowd in a business interview, navigating the job market at an executive level, and media interviewing techniques to look and sound one’s best on camera. The closing session panel of executives included Peggy Daidakis, executive director, Baltimore Convention Center; Mary Logan, JD, CAE, president, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation; and Tammy Routh, vice president, Global Sales, U.S. Marriott International, discussing their leadership journey.
“The response from the attendees at the Women’s Leadership Forum has been phenomenal,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “Every stage of a career – from the young professional to the seasoned executive – was represented at this event, which shows us how valuable of an education opportunity this really is. We are already developing next year’s program with this in mind.”
This year’s Women’s Leadership Forum also presented the first Woman of Achievement Award to Julia Smith, CEM, CTA, senior vice president of National Sales at Global Experience Specialists (GES). This award recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership, and made significant contributions to the industry and her community.
“I’m extremely honored to be recognized for my role in the industry that has been my home for most of my career,” said Smith. “I’m fortunate to work for a company that supports me, to have a family that deals with my crazy schedule, and to have co-workers and clients who make coming to work exciting and gratifying.”
Criteria for the award include: being a woman currently employed or retired from an IAEE member company in good standing; having been employed with one or more IAEE member companies for a minimum of 8 years and spanning at least 15 years; having demonstrated exemplary leadership abilities through years in the exhibitions and trade show industry; having made significant and/or noteworthy achievements or contributions to the exhibitions and trade show industry resulting in a breakthrough, or milestone, made at any time within the nominee’s career; having contributed time and talents to IAEE; having demonstrated services as a role model, or mentor, that shows dedication to the advancement of women in the exhibitions and trade show industry.
Sue Ralston, CEM, director of Events for the National Automatic Merchandising Association nominated Smith for the award. She said, “Julie is a true inspiration to women in the exhibitions and events industry. She has had an impressive career with GES spanning more than 25 years, was one of our very first CEMs and is a current member of the IAEE Board of Directors. Her enthusiasm towards the advancement of women in our industry has been very motivating. I feel extremely fortunate to have Julie as both a reliable supplier partner and a good friend.”
Next year’s IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum will be held on 8 April 2015 at the Washington Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. Registration will open soon, and for those who register by the end of the year, the registration fee will be the same as this year. Additionally, IAEE will offer CEM courses on 6-7 April 2015 for those needing to start, continue or complete their certification.
Photo caption (from left to right): IAEE Chief Operating Officer Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP; 2014 IAEE Woman of Achievement Award Recipient Julia Smith, CEM, CTA; and Jamie Hillegas, CMP, CEM, 2014 IAEE Women’s Leadership Task Force Chair.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
