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Last week was very special in that two members of our talented ASA staff were recognized by their professional organizations for exemplary performance and value of contributions.
The power of a society or association is reflected not only in the engagement of its membership, but also in the staff working to support it. It’s my privilege to share with you some very exciting news about ASA and our staff.
On May 3, ASA Incoming President Dr. James Grant, ASA CEO Paul Pomerantz, ASA Chief Program Office Chris Wehking and I had the honor of participating in the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Visionary Awards competition in Washington, DC, which recognizes and celebrates inspirational leaders in the business events industry and is attended by 1,200 of the meetings and hospitality industry’s top leaders and guests.
Danielle Urbina, CMP, ASA director of meetings and events, was a finalist for the Meeting Professional of the Year Award, which honors a PCMA member who exemplifies professional excellence in their contributions to their organization, PCMA and the business events community. I am thrilled and proud to announce that Danielle Urbina was selected as the 2017 Meeting Professional of the Year.
ASA’s Meetings and Exhibits team is responsible for developing and producing outstanding conferences that deliver an attendee experience that’s second to none.
The annual meeting alone requires year-round planning by staff and the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee (AMOC). The work put into that meeting is performed by most ASA business units, including: education, meetings and exhibits, corporate relations and business development, governance, marketing and member services. These efforts combined with the tremendous non-dues financial support from our corporate Industry Supporters, and exhibitors allows ASA to set lower than industry average registration rates for attending members, and provides much needed financial contribution for ASA member programs, services and our advocacy efforts.
Additionally, ASA’s Public Relations team, led by Theresa Hill, ASA director of public relations, accepted two American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 2017 Gold Circle Awards for ASA’s Protecting Safe VA Care initiative, which helped to preserve physician-led, team-based anesthesia care in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.
The awards competition recognizes “excellence, innovation, and achievement in association/nonprofit marketing, membership, and communications programs.” The 2017 competition received an incredible 172 submissions. More than 80 judges from different associations, nonprofits and for-profit organizations evaluated the submissions.
The Safe VA Care initiative won a Gold Circle Award for Media/Public Relations/Advocacy Campaign, one of 11 Gold Circle Award categories. This award is, in and of itself, an incredible accomplishment.
But we were even more excited when the Safe VA Care initiative also won the Gold Circle Award for Overall Excellence, the award for the national best of the best. Its ASAE’s top public relations honor.
I think these accomplishments are reflective of the outstanding staff we have supporting our specialty and their dedication and commitment to us as members.
Jeffrey Plagenhoef, M.D.
ASA President
