KCSAE takes great pride in recognizing individual and organizational achievements in the association industry. Award recipients are honored annually at the KCSAE Annual Celebration and Meeting in September (award nomination forms are made available each year in June). Please e-mail Executive Director Cynthia Edmunds at cedmunds@kcsae.org with any questions about KCSAE Awards.
KCSAE Award Category Descriptions
Distinguished Association Executive Award
The recipient of this award shall exemplify the best in executive association management, continually bringing credit to the profession and the association management community. He or she shall provide leadership within his or her own association, KCSAE and other voluntary membership organizations. The recipient must be the chief paid executive of an association and a member of KCSAE.
Professional Excellence Award
The recipient of this award shall exemplify the best in association management by a staff person, bringing credit to his or her employing association and the association management community. He or she shall provide leadership within his or her association and other voluntary membership organizations, including civic and community organizations. The recipient must be a staff person (not a chief paid executive) and a member of KCSAE.
Allied Member Award of Excellence
The recipient of this award shall exemplify the best in service to the association community. He or she shall have made a significant contribution to KCSAE and to the allied member employing him or her. The recipient must be employed by an allied member firm.
Emerging Professional Award
This award shall recognize and encourage young KCSAE members who have demonstrated an initial commitment to and potential for growth within the association management or allied service field. He or she must have demonstrated an ability and eagerness to support association management by his or her KCSAE involvement – by serving on committees and/or as an officer, heading projects or contributing in general to KCSAE’s well-being – and/or his or her involvement in external community service opportunities.
Associations Advance Kansas City Award
This award shall honor an association that has developed and implemented a beneficial community service project. The recipient must be a member association of KCSAE.
Distinguished Community Leadership Award
This award shall honor an individual or organization whose actions have supported the growth and recognition of the association management community. The recipient must not be eligible for membership in KCSAE.
KCSAE Award Recipients History
Distinguished Association Executive Award
1991 — Roger Sherwood, CAE
1992 — Doug Viehland, CAE
1993 — Cheryl Jernigan
1994 — Bob Kralicek, CAE
1995 — Larry Aaron, CAE
1996 — Jerry Fogel, CAE
1997 — Stephen Mona, CAE
1998 — Jeff Flora, CAE
1999 — James D. Maloney, CAE
2000 — Philip Josephson, CAE
2001 — Lisa Daniels, CAE
2002 — William Bernier, CAE
2003 — Deborah Hamlin, CAE
2004 — Jan Estell, CAE
2005 — Don Bretthauer, CAE
2006 — Diane Ruggiero, CAE
2007 — Stacy Brungardt, CAE
2008 — Bob London, CAE
2009 — Jody Shelton, CAE
2010 — Hannes, Combest, CAE
2011 — Susan Avery, CAE
2012 — Marilyn Bier, CAE
2013 — Kerwin Brown, CAE
2014 — Angela Broderick Bedell, CAE
2015 — Vickie Schatz
2016 — Chad Harris, CAE
2017 — Mike Chamberlain, CAE
2018 — James Penrod, CAE
2019 — Jim Griffith, CAE
2020 — Scott Grayson, CAE
2021 — Melinda Farris, CAE
2022 — Debra Persinger, CAE
2023 — Melanie Dolechek, CAE
Professional Excellence Award
1991 — Dave Fellers, CAE
1992 — Donna Williams
1993 — Dona Flory, CAE
1994 — Marcia Neu, CAE
1995 — Carol Grimaldi
1996 — Betchie Bistrom
1997 — Jeffrey Warner
1998 — Mickey Schaefer, CAE
1999 — M. Kaye Sullivan
2000 — Jane Male, CAE
2001 — Kevin Kelley
2002 — Laura Simmons, CAE
2003 — Denise DeJulio
2004 — Patricia Kutt, CAE
2005 — Hannes Combest, CAE
2006 — Olivia Holcombe, CAE
2007 — Perry Crume
2008 — Brian Van Norman, CAE
2009 — Anne Winter
2010 — Jim Griffith, CAE
2011 — Linda Secrist, CAE,CPA
2012 — Dana Greco, CAE
2013 — Michael Avery, CAE
2014 — Tiffany Shepherd, CAE
2015 — Deidre Gish-Panjada
2016 — Stacey Robinson, CAE
2017 — Brad Patterson, CAE
2018 — Curtis Kitchen, CAE
2019 — Jody Gold
2020 — Heather Lehman, CAE
2021 — Kyle Farmer, CAE
2022 — Amy Farmer, Ed.D, CAE
2023 — Elliott Yoakum
Allied Member Award of Excellence
1991 — Patricia Corbin, CHSE, Hilton Plaza Inn
1992 — Harrison Coerver, Harrison Coerver Associates
1993 — Gad Smith, Spencer Fane Britt and Browne
1994 — Chuck Vogt, All Star Awards
1995 — Rick Adie, Hyatt Regency Hotel
1996 — Keith Hall, Grant Thornton
1997 — Fritz Edmunds, National Distributor Network
1998 — Michael McCann, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne
1999 — Scott Franklin, First Generation Consulting
2000 — Carmen Liimatta, InfoWeb Services
2001 — Becky Addleman, Westin Crown Center
2002 — Alton Hagen, CMP
2003 — Frank Uryasz, CAE
2004 — Belinda Waldo, CMP
2005 — Anne Deuschle
2006 — Mickie Rops, CAE
2007 — Tim Steinbeck, Modern Litho Print
2008 — Chuck Vogt, Jr., All Star Awards
2009 — Julie Green, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts National Sales Office
2010 — Rachel Ronan, Kiwi Creative
2012 — Dave Fellers, CAE, Dave Fellers Consulting, LLC
2013 — Lyne Tumlinson, CAE, Lift Team Coaching
2014 — Michael Farr, CGMP, CASE, Hyatt Regency Tulsa
2015 — Alton Hagen, AGENDA: USA
2016 — Jerry Pollock, Marketing Transitions
2017 — Denise DeJulio, Visit KC
2017 — Brad Plumb, Visit Overland Park
2018 — Mark Cremer, Aladdin Hotel
2019 — Kate Smith, Merrigan & Co.
2020 — Mic Johnson, MJMeetings, LLC
2020 — Missy Johnson, MJMeetings, LLC
2021 — Jessica Nollett, Enterprise Bank & Trust
2022 — David Kinney, Louisville Tourism
2023 — Cynthia Edmunds, Systems & Solutions
Emerging Professional Award
2010 — Matt Merrigan
2011 — Crystal Roberts
2012 — Stacey Robinson, CAE
2013 — Trevor Mitchell, CAE
2014 — Liz Icenogle, CAE
2015 — Heather Lehman, CAE
2016 — Emily Lowndes
2017 — Sarah Eggers
2019 — Ashley Wilson, CAE
2020 — Andy Meyer
2021 — Sarah Easter, CAE
Associations Advance Kansas City Award
1991 — American Business Women’s Association
1992 — Kansas City Life Underwriters Association
1997 — Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
1998 — American Academy of Family Physicians Community Outreach Program
1999 — Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
2002 — Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
2003— National Association of Insurance Commissioners
2005 — Children’s Miracle Network
2008 — Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City
2011 — FarmHouse Fraternity’s Promise of Service Project
2013 — Alpha Phi Omega
2014 — American Public Works Association
2022 — Kathy Nelson
2023 — Kansas City Aviation Department
Distinguished Community Leadership Award
1991 — Mayor Richard Berkeley
1992 — Kansas City Area Development Council
1993 — Gil Bourk, Greater Kansas City Sports Commission
1995 — R. William Taylor, American Society of Association Executives
1996 — Martin Fromm
1997 — Crosby Kemper / Alexander Kemper
1998 — Mayor Emanuel Cleaver
1999 — Wayne Chappell
2001 — Anita Gorman
2002 — William Dunn Sr.
2004 — David Renz
2005 — Mayor Kay Barnes
2008 — Rick Hughes