January 23, 2025
Amazing Program and The Lion King in Appleton!
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Past Award Recipients
In addition to the Chapter Award winners below, Wisconsin is proud to recognize 15 International Award winners who call Wisconsin home.
Pioneers Who Founded MPI:
- Serge Logan,CM
- Damian Mogilka, CM
- Rosemary Steinfest, CM
- Jim Goebel, CM
International Presidents:
- Coleman, CMM
- Jim Goebel, CM
- Ed Scannell, CSP, CMP
- Ed Simeone
International Planners of the Year:
- Steve Clark
- Ed Scannell, CSP, CMP
- Janet Sperstad, CMP
International Marion Kershner Chapter Leaders:
- Julie Peterman, CMP
- Ed Simeone
International Supplier of the Year:
- Coleman, CMM
Global Paragon Winners:
- Energy Center of Wisconsin
MPI Award of Excellence:
- Wisconsin Chapter
EIC (CIC) Hall of Fame Inductee:
- Ed Scannell, CSP, CMP
Past Gala Award Recipients
Our 2018-2019 Award Recipients
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s member recognition awards. The Gala was held August 8th at the Hotel Retlaw in Fond du Lac, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Dana Ecker - La Crosse CVB | |
| Industry Advocate: | Tracey Bockhop, CMP - Meet Meetings | |
| Outstanding Leader: | Deana Heinisch - Waukesha Pewaukee CVB | |
| President's Award: | Kathy Reading - The SCAN Group, Inc. | |
| Rising Star Award: | Sarah Lemmers - Destination Madison | |
| Team of the Year: | Trivia Night! |
2019 Scholarship Winners
Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger Scholarship:
The Founder's Grant: Rebecca Staats
Our 2017-2018 Award Recipients
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s member recognition awards. The Gala was held on September 20th at The Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
Hall of Fame: | Laura MacIsaac, CMP - Monona Terrace Convention Center | |
Industry Partner: | Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau | |
Meeting Industry Advocate: | Shannon Timmerman, CMP - Wilderness Resort | |
Planner of the Year: | Alison Huber, CMP - Fox World Travel | |
Rising Star Award: | Sherry Wolff - American Club Resort Hotel | |
Supplier of the Year: | Cathy Cluff - Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau | |
Team of the Year: | Spring Education Day Team | |
President's Award: | Danielle Ziegler, CMP, CVT |
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s awards gala was held on September 11th at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Carmen Smalley, CMP - Milwaukee Area Technical College |
| Industry Partner: | Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Reggie Driscoll, CMP - State Bar of Wisconsin |
| Planner of the Year: | Cheryl Oswald, CMP - Kohl's Department Stores |
| Rising Star Award: | Jason Kauffeld - Green Lake Conference Center |
| Supplier of the Year: | Deana Heinisch - Waukesha Pewaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Team of the Year: | April Chapter Meeting Team |
| President's Award: | Katie McGinnis - The Iron Horse Hotel. |
2017 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger Scholarship: | Ann Breitenbach - Madison College |
| The Founder's Grant: | Carmen Smalley, CMP and JoEllen Graber |
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s awards gala was held on September 11th at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Alison Huber, CMP - MDS Association Management |
| Industry Partner: | Visit Milwaukee |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Laura MacIsaac, CMP - Monona Terrace Convention Center |
| Planner of the Year: | Tracey Bockhop, CMP - Meet Meetings |
| Rising Star Award: | Nicole Ellickson, CMP - Association of Family and Conciliation Courts |
| Supplier of the Year: | David Helgeson, CMP - Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center |
| Team of the Year: | Social Media Team |
| President's Award: | Maria Peot - Milwaukee Area Technical College |
2016 Scholarship Winners
| The Founder's Grant: | Maria Peot |
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s awards gala was held on September 11th at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Steve Lorenz, CMP - Meetings & Incentives Worldwide |
| Industry Partner: | The Osthoff Resort |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Frost Williams - Visit Milwaukee |
| Planner of the Year: | Amy Qualmann, CMP - WIsconsin Association of School Boards |
| Rising Star Award: | Sarah Banach - Marcus Hotels & Resorts |
| Supplier of the Year: | Michelle Tyo-Johnson - NorthCoast Productions |
| Team of the Year: | 2015 Spring Education Team |
| President's Award: | Jen Hlavachek, The North Central Group |
2015 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Jen Nadolski |
| The Founder's Grant: | Susan Kainz |
The Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-WI) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s awards gala was held on September 11th at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Jodi Goldbeck, CMP - Madison Area Technical College |
| Industry Partner: | Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Carmen Smalley, CMP – Milwaukee Area Technical College |
| Planner of the Year: | Jennifer Mell, CMP - Gant Meetings |
| Rising Star Award: | Kristen Salewski, CMP - Rural Mutual Insurance Company |
| Supplier of the Year: | Anna Anderson, CMP -- Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton |
| Team of the Year: | 2013 Awards Gala |
| President's Award: | Deana Birmingham-Heinisch, Waukesha & Pewaukee CVB |
2014 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Bethany Babcock |
| The Founder's Grant: | Cheryl Oswald |
On September 5, 2013 the Wisconsin Chapter of Meeting Professionals International held its annual Awards Gala at the Marriott Madison West. Please help us in congratulating these members for their commitment to our industry and our chapter.
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Tami Gilbertson, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Tri-Marq Communications, Inc. |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Jodi Goldbeck, CMP |
| Planner of the Year: | Sherry Lee, CMP |
| Rising Star Award: | Maria Peot |
| Supplier of the Year: | Tom Graybill |
| Team of the Year: | Golf Outing Team |
2013 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Carina Wilz |
| Professional Development Grant: | Deana Birmingham-Heinisch |
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Mae Ibe, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Wilderness Territory/Glacier Canyon Conference Center |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Susan Kainz |
| Planner of the Year: | Naomi Tucker, CMP |
| President's Award: | Jen Hlavachek |
| Rising Star Award: | Melissa Amado Tansor |
| Supplier of the Year: | Alison Huber, CMP |
| Team of the Year: | March Event Team |
2011 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Kaitlyn Hafeman |
| Professional Development Grant: | Nicole Raudabaugh |
Janet Sperstad, CMP, was recognized for her 25 years in MPI-Wisconsin with a special tribute on her role in enhancing the meeting profession. Special guests celebrating with Janet included: Ann Godi, former MPI Chair from Atlanta, GA; Banz Ledin from Spotme.com in Switzerland; Amanda Cecil, professor at Indiana University and IUPUI; Turina Bakken, Associate Vice President of Madison College; and a video tribute from former MPI-WI president Glenn Brill, CMP (1996-1997).
This year MPI-WI added a special panel discussion to the event, featuring Jeff Skiles, co-pilot of the famous “Miracle on the Hudson” flight. The Educational Discussion Panel was titled “Trends in Group Travel for the Meeting and Events Industry” and focused on destination trends, traveling safety, and proper protocol. The Panelists included were Rose Gray, Fox World Travel; Mae Ibe, CMP; Paulette Heney, CMM, Meetings & Incentives; and special guest, Jeff Skiles, EAA, and the co-pilot of the famous “Miracle on the Hudson flight.”
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Janet Sperstad, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Madison Area Technical College |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Tami Gilbertson, CMP |
| Planner of the Year: | Paulette Heney, CMM |
| President's Award: | Shannon Timmerman, CMP and Michelle Eggert, CMP |
| Rising Star Award: | Jill Schroeder |
| Supplier of the Year: | Shannon Timmerman, CMP |
| Team of the Year: | Website/Social Media team |
2011 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Melissa Amado |
| Professional Development Grant: | Michelle Eggert, CMP, Tina Jacobson, CMP, Jillian Schroeder and Janet Sperstad, CMP |
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Michelle Eggert, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Energy Center of Wisconsin |
| Journalism Award: | Michelle Reed, CMP |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Alison Huber, CMP |
| Planner of the Year: | Tami Gilbertson, CMP |
| President's Award: | Susan Kainz |
| Rising Star Award: | Jen O’Branovich |
| Supplier of the Year: | Sue Lidstrom |
| Team of the Year: | Midwest Conference Team |
2010 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Nicole Putchel |
| Professional Development Grant: | Annette Konicek |
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Cindy Foley, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Fox Cities CVB |
| Journalism Award: | Jennifer Hallett |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Susan Arts, CMP |
| Planner of the Year: | Lynette Resch, CMP |
| President's Award: | Taci Tolzman |
| Rising Star Award: | Tracey Bockhop |
| Supplier of the Year: | Susan Kainz |
| Team of the Year: | Community Outreach |
2009 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Matthew Baumler |
| Professional Development Grant: | Vicky Zacharias |
Awards listed alphabetically
| Hall of Fame: | Cinda Vingers, CMP |
| Industry Partner: | Wisconsin Dells VCB |
| Journalism Award: | Sue Lidstrom |
| Meeting Industry Advocate: | Paulette Heney, CMM |
| Planner of the Year: | Linda Hale |
| President's Award: | Tami Gilbertson, CMP |
| Rising Star Award: | Joey Greeno |
| Supplier of the Year: | Laura Cornell, CMP |
| Team of the Year: | Fall Education Day Co-Chairs: Marin Medema and Cindy J. Foley, CMP |
2008 Scholarship Winners
| Kristin Bjurstrom Krueger, CMP Scholarship: | Alexandra Chugina |
| Professional Development Grant: | Carmen Smalley |
