Hereschicago.com, the online resource guide for the meeting and event industry, has announced that its president and founder, Jim Grillo, CMP, has been named to receive the Meeting Professional International-Chicago Area Chapter’s (MPI-CAC) 2011-2012 Kathy Osterman Industry Award.
The award will be bestowed to Grillo for his contributions as a seasoned leader who has brought passion to the meetings industry and contributed to the public’s awareness of the meetings industry. This honor was first bestowed in 1993 to its namesake Kathy Osterman, a dynamic public servant known for incredible events that brought diverse groups together and raised awareness of community issues. Since then, the award’s recipients include such notables as Gerald Roper (1997); Janet Davies (2003); Deborah Sexton (2006); Chicago 2016 Committee (2010); and most recently, Mayer Richard M. and Maggie Daley (2011).
“It’s a true honor – and certainly a bit humbling – to be associated with the list of recipients who have received this award before me,” said Grillo. “With this honor, I’ll strive to live up to the meaning of this award in Kathy Osterman’s memory. To me, this means continuing my labor of love as an advocate of Chicago, the best city in the world, and providing awareness for the Chicago meetings and events industry.”
Grillo receives this honor four years after receiving the 2009 MPI-CAC Hall of Fame Award, which recognized Grillo for his outstanding contributions to awareness, professionalism and growth of the meetings industry. This MPI-CAC award follows a long list of industry awards bestowed upon Grillo and HeresChicago.com, including the Illinois Meetings & Events magazine’s “Supplier Hall of Fame” Award 2008; the Alternate Media/News “Emmy Award” 2008; Red Carpet Concierge’s “Outstanding Chicago Meeting Professional” 2010; and HSMAI Illinois’ “Networker of the Year” 2011.
“Of course I find satisfaction through my business of connecting organizations,” said Grillo. “It’s even more gratifying for me to be in a position to create awareness of our industry contributions to the economy through volunteering for community and industry events and helping newcomers and students make connections. I’ve found that each of us can help grow our profession and industry by helping others achieve their goals – starting with reaching out to the classrooms.”
Members of MPI-CAC will gather to honor Grillo and additional 2012 award recipients during its Annual Awards Recognition Gala from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 5, 2012, at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. The ceremony will include several additional Chapter awards designed to recognize the talents, skills, accomplishments and dedication of select members and industry colleagues.
“I’m thrilled that the MPI-CAC Chapter members selected Jim Grillo to receive this award,” said Char Shada of Experient, current MPI-CAC president. “For many years, he’s worked tirelessly to elevate the meetings industry while serving our chapter in numerous leadership capacities along the way. Jim is a long-time colleague, a mentor and a true friend who has positively influenced my life and the lives of countless others. We applaud Jim for his contributions to the meetings community in Chicago and beyond.”
