Award Winners

NACE Houston Chapter Local Award Winners

The NACE Houston Chapter is proud to recognize the recipients of our annual Chapter Awards. These exceptional individuals, organizations, and event professionals have been celebrated for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the catering and events industry.

The NACE Houston Chapter Awards recognize excellence, creativity, leadership, and impact within our local community. Winners are judged by their peers and embody the spirit of innovation, dedication, and professionalism that defines our industry. These awards not only celebrate individual and chapter success but also highlight the vital role our members play in elevating the events profession and making a meaningful difference throughout the Houston community.

Below is a collection of recent Chapter Award recipients recognized during our annual Awards Gala. We congratulate each of these deserving winners and thank them for their continued contributions to our chapter and the events industry.

Industry Awards

Entertainment Production of the Year

2022/2023 - Artisan Oddities & Entertainment - 149th Kentucky Derby
2023/2024 - Artisan Oddities & Entertainment - United Annual Summit 2024 "Limitless"
2024/2025 - Imagen Venues - Texas Cigar Festival 2025

Technical Production of the Year

2022/2023 - Imagen Venues - NSPPD 2023 Conference
2023/2024 - Imagen Venues - Fury Fighting
2024/2025 - Premiere Events & Urban Rubbish - Havana Nights - 2025 Heart Ball

"Shot" of the Year

2023/2024 - Swish & Click Photography - Christine Wright - Bride Plays with Light

Styled Shoot of the Year

2023/2024 - Swish & Click Photography: Christine Wright & Let's Make a Plan Events: Cyerah Sprinkle - Black Bow Coquette Editorial
2024/2025 - Premiere Events, Epoch Co Events, & The Drakes - Flower Child Styled Shoot

Synergy Award - Team Event of the Year

2022/2023 - Truluck's Woodlands, Revelry Goods, Kalu Design, Piney Rose Floral, & EB Inc Events - Emerald Ray
2023/2024 - Swift + Company, Houston Museum of Natural Science & J&D Entertainment - Annual Cooper T Smith Sales Rally
2024/2025 - Truluck's Woodlands & Creative Partners, Premiere Events, EB Inc Events, Swift + Co, Piney Rose, & Revelry Goods - Fifty & Fabulous

Catered Event of the Year

Budget Under $50,000

2022/2023 - Truluck's Woodlands, Revelry Goods, Kalu Design, Piney Rose Floral, & EB Inc Events - Emerald Ray
2023/2024 - Sugar Creek Country Club - A Ceremonial Transition
2024/2025 - Sugar Creek Country Club - Sangeet in Full Bloom

Budget Between $50,000-$100,000

2024/2025 - Ashley Marie, CPCE, Sugar Creek Country Club, DJU Entertainment, & Revelry Goods - Benicio's Neon 13th Birthday Celebration

Budget Over $100,000 (Previously Budget Over $50,000)

2022/2023 - Sugar Creek Country Club & EB Inc Events - Travel Companions Forever
2023/2024 - Cafe Natalie Catering & 713 Music Hall - Touchdown: A Magical Celebration of Houston's Best and Brightest
2024/2025 - Truluck's Woodlands & Creative Partners, Premiere Events, EB Inc Events, Swift + Co, Piney Rose, & Revelry Goods - Fifty & Fabulous

Floral Design/Table Scape of the Year

2022/2023 - Truluck's Woodlands, Revelry Goods, Kalu Design, Piney Rose Floral, & EB Inc Events - Emerald Ray
2023/2024 - Premiere Events - Magical Moments Voices for Children Gala
2024/2025 - Premiere Events & Urban Rubbish - Havana Nights - 2025 Heart Ball

Event Design/Decor of the Year

2022/2023 - Truluck's Woodlands, Revelry Goods, Kalu Design, Piney Rose Floral, & EB Inc Events - Emerald Ray (Budget Under $50,000)
2022/2023 - Sugar Creek Country Club & EB Inc Events - Travel Companions Forever (Budget Over $50,000)
2023/2024 - Peachy Events - Through the Decades
2024/2025 - Sugar Creek Country Club - Sangeet in Full Bloom

Live Event Production of the Year

2022/2023 - Truluck's Woodlands, Revelry Goods, Kalu Design, Piney Rose Floral, & EB Inc Events - Emerald Ray (Budget Under $50,000)
2022/2023 - LSCS Venue Services, 360 Design, & The Hometown Chef Catering Co - NCAA Final Four Media Party (Budget Over $50,000)
2023/2024 - Sugar Creek Country Club - A Ceremonial Transition
2024/2025 - Sugar Creek Country Club - Sangeet in Full Bloom

Wedding of the Year

Budget Under $50,000

2022/2023 - Whimsical Creative - Mid-Century Cali Inspired Wedding - Rebecca & Michael
2023/2024 - Cafe Natalie Catering, Happily by Hayley & LEAP Production Videography - Monochromatic Magic: A Disco Wedding in Black + White
2024/2025 - Sugar Creek Country Club - Tradition in Bloom: An Ethereal South Asian Wedding

Budget Between $50,000-$100,000

2024/2025 - Peachy Events & Cafe Natalie Catering - From The West to The Gulf: A Coastal Love

Budget Over $100,000 (Previously Budget Over $50,000)

2022/2023 - Cafe Natalie, Belle Events, 360 AV Design, Aztec Tent & Events, & Flora + Eventi - Tented Masterpiece
2024/2025 - Cafe Natalie Catering & Set in Stone Events - From Vines to Vibes: A Celebration of Style & Flavor

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Individual Awards

Spirit of NACE

2010 - Adam Rineer
2011 - Carita F.
2012 - Monique Studak
2013 - Michael Savino
2014 - Clara Hough
2015 - Harold Kelly
2016 - Radhika Day
2017 - Kat Creech
2017 - Jason Fajkus
2018 - Kayla Wiltsey
2019 - Monique Studak
2022 - Kerri Childress, CPCE
2023 - Olivia Mays, CPCE
2024 - Diana Fox, CPCE
2025 - Stephanie Ton

Danny Kallen Networker of the Year Award

2010 - Jill Vidal-Raines
2011 - Krystal Peay
2012 - Radhika Day
2013 - Lisa Carruth, CPCE, CMP
2015 - EJ Rexroat
2016 - Trent Blake
2017 - Adrienne Wagenheim
2018 - Gina Guiterrez
2019 - Jennifer Jenkins, CPCE
2021 - Amanda Hough
2022 - Cara Blackledge
2023 - Kristan Marsh, CPCE
2024 - Kristan Williams, CPCE
2025 - Valinda Cortez

Industry Legacy Award

2014 - Clara Hough
2015 - Mitch Daniels
2015 - Adam Rineer
2016 - Kat Creech
2016 - Monique Studak
2017 - Lisa Hopkins, CPCE, CMP
2018 - Therese Cole-Hubbs
2018 - Laurette Veres
2019 - Lisa Carruth, CPCE, CMP
2022 - Margery Reinheardt, CPCE
2022 - Gary Baumann, CPCE
2024 - Erin Kenyan, CHE, CPCE
2025 - Amber Scheer, CPCE

Baumann-Reinheardt Member of the Year Award

2010 - Mitch Daniels
2010 - Clara Hough
2011 - Jeremie
2011 - Jill Vidal-Raines
2012 - Adam Rineer
2012 - Krystal Peay
2013 - Victoria Jenkins
2014 - David Jones
2015 - Lisa A.
2016 - Lisa Carruth, CPCE, CMP
2017 - Jason Fajkus
2017 - Savanna Gray
2018 - Adrienne Wagenheim
2019 - Katie Aguirre
2021 - Amber Scheer, CPCE
2022 - Jennifer Jenkins, CPCE
2023 - Diana Fox, CPCE
2024 - Renee Pool, CPCE
2025 - Samantha Gieseke, CPCE

Hopkins Cougar Advocate of the Year Award

2010 - Lisa Hopkins
2011 - Adam Rineer
2012 - Krystal Peay
2013 - Jason Fajkus
2014 - Jill Vidal-Raines
2015 - Scott Fontenot
2016 - Lisa Carruth, CPCE, CMP
2017 - Gary Baumann
2018 - Malik McGhie
2019 - Clara Hough
2020 - Renee Pool, CPCE
2021 - Jennifer Jenkins, CPCE
2022 - Ashley Marie, CPCE
2022 - Lewis Grell
2023 - Amber Scheer, CPCE
2024 - Gary Archer
2025 - Michael Williams, CPCE

Above & Beyond Award

2018 - Kerri Childress
2019 - Rebecca Cunningham
2022 - Kristan Williams
2024 - Kyle Buthod
2025 - Amber Scheer, CPCE

Trailblazer of the Year Award

2024 - Amy Kujawa
2025 - Lauren Fox

Rookie of the Year Award

2018 - Amber Scheer
2019 - Danny Ray
2022 - Daniel Meadows
2023 - Michael Williams, CPCE
2024 - Argelio De Leon
2025 - Jordan Swenson

Student of the Year Award

2021 - Ariana Silva
2022 - Sara Jamieson
2023 - Michelle Bermea
2024 - Paula Dillon
2025 - Jackson Vicic

Industry Ally of the Year Award

2015 - Harold Kelly
2016 - Jeff Raines
2017 - Mark AFE
2018 - Andy Hopper
2019 - Christine Wright
2022 - Valinda Cortez
2023 - Gary Archer
2024 - Monique Studak
2025 - Samantha Gieseke, CPCE

President's Award

2024 - Michael Williams, CPCE
2025 - Ashley Marie, CPCE

Congratulations to all the winners! Your talent and dedication continue to set the standard for excellence in our industry.

Interested in Submitting for an Award?
If you’re interested in submitting for the Houston Chapter Local Awards, we encourage you to apply so we can recognize the amazing achievements of our members!

Please contact Director of Recognition Ashley Marie, CPCE, at recognition@nacehouston.net for more information.