February 21, 2025
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EMPI Award Recipients
2022-2023 | Sarah Anderson, Nikki Fisher, CFEM, CGMP, Nicole Palkowitsch |
2021-2022 | Joan Rausch, CMP, Minnesota Chamber |
2020-2021 | Kris Meyer, CMP, & Vicki Stumpf, CAP, Thrivent Financial |
2019-2020 | Nicole Coon, CMP, Housing First Minnesota |
2018-2019 | Tom Edelen, Thrivent Financial |
2017-2018 | Lisa Marie Borchert, Thrivent Financial |
2016-2017 | Nicole Coon, Builders Association of the Twin Cities - Housing Day at the Capitol |
2015-2016 | Nicole Coon, Builders Association of the Twin Cities - BATC's Building Industry Gala (BIG) |
2014-2015 | Sue Murray, Meet Minneapolis |
2012-2013 | Brave New Workshop |
2011-2012 | Thrivent Financial National Sales Meeting |
2010-2011 | Michael Bergman, HelmsBriscoe – HB Cares |
2009-2010 | Julie Ann Schmidt, Lithium Logistics |
2008-2009 | Medtronic, Inc. – 2008 National Service Meeting |
2007-2008 | Minnesota Chamber of Commerce – 2007 Board of Directors Planning Conference: “Across the Pond” |
2006-2007 | Target Corporation – Target Stores National Sales Meeting |
2005-2006 | Thrivent Financial for Lutherans – National Launch of Thrivent Builds-Minneapolis Events |
2004-2005 | Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance – Living Green Expo |
2003-2004 | GEAPS |
2002-2003 | Microsoft Business Solutions |
2001-2002 | metroConnections |
2001-2002 | Great Clips, Inc. |
2000-2001 | Media Productions |
1999-2000 | Cargill Romsaas |
1999-2000 | College of St. Catherine |
1998-1999 | Printing Industry of MN, Inc. |
| 2022-2023 | NA - no call for nominations for this award |
| 2021-2022 | Julie Krueger, CMP, Land O’Lakes, Inc. |
| 2020-2021 | Jenny Ng, CMP, National Co+Op Grocers |
| 2019-2020 | Pam Soules, Magnetic Events, LLC |
| 2018-2019 | Amanda Sullivan, CFA Society of Minnesota |
| 2017-2018 | Nicole Coon, Builders Association of the Twin Cities |
| 2016-2017 | Susan Bormann, CMP, International Dairy Queen |
2015-2016 | Lisa Marie Borchert, Thrivent Financial |
2014-2015 | Mary Thao, ACA International |
2013-2014 | Debbie Friedman-Hueller, M.A., CMP, CSEP, Laureate Education |
2012-2013 | Staci Kvasnik, Boston Scientific |
2011-2012 | Stephanie Pfeilsticker, CMP, CMM, MBA, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans |
2010-2011 | Jim Louis, Best Meetings |
2009-2010 | Ellie Madson, RBC Wealth Management |
2008-2009 | Lora Gray, CMP, Target Corporation |
2007-2008 | Theresa Link, CMP, CMM, Woodbury Financial Services |
2006-2007 | Sue Daly, CMP, Aon Service Corporation |
2005-2006 | Sean Schuette, Cygnus Expositions |
2004-2005 | Arlene Harrison, CMP, United Hardware Distributing Co. |
2003-2004 | Liz Vardaman, CMP, Jostens |
2002-2003 | Dan Young, CMP, LLIF, Thrivent Financial |
2001-2002 | Patricia Burley, CMP |
1999-2000 | Sara Stark, CMP |
1998-1999 | Peggy Tschida |
1997-1998 | Joan Rausch |
| 2022-2023 | NA - no call for nominations for this award |
| 2021-2022 | Paul Dawson, Almbridge Hospitality |
| 2021-2022 | Jennifer Hultman, WeFrame USA, LLC |
| 2020-2021 | Elaiza Shepherd, 180 Group, Inc. |
| 2019-2020 | Katie Langland, Minneapolis Northwest Tourism |
| 2018-2019 | Kathryn Laulainen, The Marquette Hotel |
| 2017-2018 | Davie Hagen, Elan Speakers |
| 2016-2017 | Rania Hammad, Loews Hotel |
2015-2016 | Robert McCarthy, Maple Lane Media, LLC |
2014-2015 | Nicole French, Premier Transportation |
2013-2014 | Sam Smith, Interactive Meeting Technology, LLC |
2012-2013 | Melissa Leal, Hotel Sofitel |
2011-2012 | Nicole French, Premier Transportation |
2010-2011 | Brian McDermott, Growthworks |
2009-2010 | Jean Riegelman, Treasure Island Resort |
2008-2009 | Staci Kvasnik, metroConnections, Inc. |
2007-2008 | Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, Garrett Speakers International |
2006-2007 | Kelly Kellin, Advantage Performance Network |
2005-2006 | Dianna Fuller, CMP, Hoffman Communications, Inc. |
2004-2005 | Todd Pottebaum, Quality Resource Group |
2003-2004 | Michael Bergman, Hilton Minneapolis |
2002-2003 | Jolene Ihle, Mintahoe Hospitality |
2001-2002 | Heather Tietz |
2000-2001 | Bernie Fautch |
1999-2000 | Becky Harris |
1998-1999 | Barbara Madigan |
1997-1998 | Sheila Harris |
| 2022-2023 | Marquette Hotel and Windows on Minnesota |
| 2021-2022 | Marriott Minneapolis City Center |
| 2019-2020 | The Graduate Minneapolis |
| 2018-2019 | Synergos AMC |
| 2017-2018 | Dave Cowley Incentives |
| 2016-2017 | Land O'Lakes |
2015-2016 | Maple Lane Media, LLC |
2014-2015 | Caesars Entertainment |
2012-2013 | Élan Speakers |
2011-2012 | Mystic Lake Casino Hotel |
2010-2011 | Susan Milteer/Event Lab |
2009-2010 | Kelly Cavers/San Diego Convention and Visitors |
2008-2009 | The Hotel Minneapolis |
2007-2008 | Radisson Hotel & Conference Center |
2006-2007 | Madden’s Resort and Conference Center |
2005-2006 | Hoffman Communications, Inc. |
2004-2005 | Mystic Lake Casino Hotel |
2003-2004 | GrowthWorks, Inc. |
2002-2003 | The Design Group |
2001-2002 | Martin Bastian |
2000-2001 | Brave New Workshop |
1999-2000 | Serigraphics Studio, Inc. |
1999-2000 | Audio Visual & Film Group |
1998-1999 | Showcore, Inc. |
| 2022-2023 | Nikki Fisher, CFEM, CGMP |
| 2021-2022 | Emily Youngs, CMP, Events by Emily |
| 2020-2021 | Elaiza Shepherd, 180 Group, Inc. |
| 2019-2020 | Alyssa Frank, Northwestern Mutual - Minneapolis |
| 2018-2019 | Emily Van Lith, Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities |
| 2017-2018 | Jackie Darsow, Minneapolis Northwest Tourism |
| 2016-2017 | Meghan Likes, CMP, National Co+op Grocers |
2015-2016 | Liz Connors, Interactive Meeting Technology, LLC |
2014-2015 | Sydney Wolf, MetroConnections |
2013-2014 | Rania Hammad, The Saint Paul Hotel |
2012-2013 | Lisa Albers. Rush Creek |
2011-2012 | Barb Madigan, ALTOUR |
2010-2011 | Robert Payne, The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis |
2009-2010 | Abigail Weber, Metropolitan Airport Commission |
2008-2009 | Nikki Huckstadt, BCD Meetings & Incentives, Honeywell Meeting Solutions |
| 2022-2023 | Devie Hagen |
2022-2023 | Shawn Petersen |
2008-2009 | Shawna Suckow, CMP, Compass Sponsorship |
2007-2008 | Debra Bequette, Helms Briscoe |
2006-2007 | Ann Ruehling |
2005-2006 | Marlene Novak, Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place |
2004-2005 | Lynnette Offen, Tq3 Navigant |
2004-2005 | Brenda Erickson, Grand Excursion 2004 |
2002-2003 | Amy-Marie Lemanski, Boston Scientific |
2001-2002 | Heather Tietz |
2000-2001 | Dan La Fond |
1999-2000 | Carol Helgesen |
1998-1999 | Dianna Fuller, CMP |
1997-1998 | Michael Meyer, CMP |
2008-2009 | Debbie Van Ravenhorst |
2010-2011 | Julie Ann Schmidt, Lithium Logistics Group |
2009-2010 | Devie Hagen, Élan Speakers Agency |
2008-2009 | Devie Hagen |
2007-2008 | Denise Woods, CMP, Associated General Contractors of MN |
2006-2007 | Cathy Berg, CMP, ACA International |
2010-2011 | Lisa Anne Venne, Life Time Fitness, Athletic Events |
2009-2010 | Barb Oswell, Odyssey Resorts |
2008-2009 | Diane Pearson, CMP, Event BizNiz |
2007-2008 | Michael Bergman, HelmsBriscoe |
2006-2007 | Jan Tolle MacDonald, CMP, CTC, CMM, Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau |
2005-2006 | Debbie Van Ravenhorst, HelmsBriscoe |
2004-2005 | Linda Hammer, CMP, CMM, RBC Dain Rauscher |
2003-2004 | Brent Foerster, Hilton Minneapolis |
2002-2003 | Jennifer Arends, TRIAD Conferences |
2001-2002 | Linda Hammer, CMP |
2000-2001 | Cheryl Otting |
1999-2000 | Katherine A. Wilson |
1998-1999 | Peggy Tschida |
| 2007-2008 | John Cosgrove, Cosgrove Trivia Challenge |
| 2006-2007 | Nicole French, Premiere Transportation |
| 2005-2006 | Doug Gillam, Equinox Creative |
| 2004-2005 | Nate Maddux, G.L. Berg Entertainment |
| 2003-2004 | Brooke Stoeckel, North Metro Minneapolis CVB |
| 2002-2003 | Sean Schuette, Cygnus Expositions |
| 2001-2002 | Shawn Suckow |
| 2005-2006 | Betti Budde, CMM, HelmsBriscoe |
| 2004-2005 | Devie Hagen, Oak Ridge, A Dolce Conference Destination |
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