gsae 2009 award winners

Clifford M. Clarke Award: Joe Brannen, CAE, President & CEO of the Georgia Bankers Association. The Cliff Clarke Award is GSAE’s highest level of recognition and is given to the association executive in Georgia who has demonstrated exemplary personal leadership and service to his own association, the association community and the general community.

Alan R. Johnson Award: Linda W. Woodworth, CAE, retired executive director of the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta. The Alan R. Johnson Award, established in 1994 and named in memory of a past chair of the GSAE Foundation, is presented in honor of a member who exhibits the ability to influence others by modeling positive behavior, gaining cooperation from others and fostering creativity and innovative thinking.

Corporate Member Representative Award: Mark Adams, Director of Sales, Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau. GSAE’s Corporate Member Representative of the Year Award is presented to a corporate member who has demonstrated outstanding and continuous service to, involvement with and support of the association community in Georgia, and of GSAE and the GSAE Foundation.

Emerging Leader Award: Ashley Pruett, Manager of Membership & Customer Service, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The Emerging Leader Award is presented annually by GSAE to an association executive with less than ten years of experience who demonstrates leadership through service to GSAE, their own association and to their community.

The Stephen Styron Award: Christopher O'Donnell, CHSP, Director of Group Sales, Crowne Plaza Hilton Head Island Beach Resort, Atlanta Sales Office. The Stephen Styron Award is presented annually in honor of one of GSAE’s past presidents. This award is given to the committee leaders who the current president feels have done the most outstanding job.

The Stephen Styron Award: Lori Estroff, Principal, Premier Meetings. The Stephen Styron Award is presented annually in honor of one of GSAE’s past presidents. This award is given to the committee leaders who the current president feels have done the most outstanding job.

President’s Award: Megan Rutter Branch, CAE, Director of Communication, Advocacy & Technology, Bobby Dodd Institute. The President’s Award is presented to the member whom the president feels has made the most outstanding contribution to the Society, advancing the aims, ideals and standards of GSAE and association management. 

President’s Award: Jim Fowler, CAE, Senior Account Executive, The Kellen Company. The President’s Award is presented to the member whom the president feels has made the most outstanding contribution to the Society, advancing the aims, ideals and standards of GSAE and association management.

Benson Skelton Award: Abit Massey, CAE, president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Given annually in honor of one of GSAE’s past presidents, the Benson Skelton Award recognizes the member who sponsors the most new members, strengthening GSAE in size and effectiveness.