Each year Exhibit Designers + Producers Association (EDPA) recognizes exhibit industry individuals who have contributed to change the direction that tradeshow marketing is heading.
The three top awards are the Hazel Hays Awards, the EDPA Ambassador Award and the EDPA Designer of the Year. Each are presented at the annual EDPA ACCESS meeting, this year on Dec. 4 in Tampa, Fla.
Within the entire tradeshow marketing industry, the exhibit designer and producer segment provides a powerful role as a partner with world companies striving to communicate the value of their products and services through tradeshows. The role of tradeshow and event suppliers continues to evolve, striving to add value each year. It is this added value to the tradeshow marketing experience that EDPA recognizes the leaders who influence alternative thinking to business as usual.
This year, EDPA recognized Mark Holme from Hill & Partners as Designer of the Year for exhibit design excellence. Thinking outside the box is easier said than done. EDPA strives to recognize an active industry designer who is passionate about the exhibit industry, is proud of the role of exhibit design in the marketing mix and commits personal time to help others grow to discover the same passion.
The EDPA Ambassador Award was given to Dan Cantor of Hamilton Display. The Ambassador Award recognizes an individual who provides never ending support to grow the mission of EDPA, seeing the whole to be greater than any of its parts. The love and passion for what we do as tradeshow suppliers is realized through membership in EDPA.
Cantor has served on the Board of EDPA for 10 years, served as treasurer for many years and managed the economic survey; he was EDPA president in 2009, and presently on the board of the EDPA Foundation.
Cantor has surely influenced many on the power of EDPA membership and has made an outstanding contribution to EDPA’s success within the entire tradeshow industry.
The Hazel Hays Award is the highest honor bestowed by EDPA. The award recognizes contributions that have influenced positive change in the world of tradeshow marketing. This year’s award was presented to Benedict Soh from Kingsmen Exhibits.
Long before international tradeshow marketing was as popular in the U.S. as it is today, Soh had visions that saw the world as a single marketplace. Soh has strongly served to connect the Asian tradeshow marketplace as well as exhibits for retail with the U.S. Through countless hours of personal travel, he has shared his knowledge and experiences on doing tradeshows in the Asian markets. Kingmen Exhibits has locations in several Asian countries with headquarters in Singapore.
As an owner of Asian companies, Soh has invested greatly in the American marketplace, an investment that has helped many American exhibit suppliers to gain the confidence to work in Asia and serve their customers without fear of failure or surprises. His love and passion for the exhibition industry has been much appreciated. He has helped to change our thinking about doing tradeshow business abroad.
As Vince Lombardi once said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence.” Each of the EDPA winners have a burning desire for excellence and are proudly recognized.
