Awards and Accreditations
 

Organizational

South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority 
(Formerly Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau)

• 2016 Videographer Award of Distinction - Mystery Solved: The Effect of Tourism
• 2015 Videographer Award of Distinction - Video for the Web/Webmercial, Man up Along the South Shore
• 2015 Telly Awards Bronze Award Online Video - Comedy, Man Up Along the South Shore
• 2015 Hermes Creative Award Gold Award Social Media - YouTube Video, Man Up Along the South Shore
• 2015 The Communicator Awards Award of DistinctionCommercials - Campaign - Promotional/Branding, How Tourism Benefits a Community
• 2014 AVA Digital Awards Gold Award PSA Campaign - Commercials, How Tourism Benefits a Community
• 2014 MarCom Awards Gold Award PSA Campaign - Television, How Tourism Benefits a Community
• 2014 Videographer Award Award of Excellence Television/PSA Campaign - How Tourism Benefits a Community
• 2014 Hermes Creative Awards Honorable MentionSpecial Events - 30 Stops in 30 Days Campaign
• 2014 Hermes Creative Awards Gold Award Video/Event - 30 Stops and a Rube Goldberg Machine!
• 2013 Indiana Historical Society Outstanding Project or Event South Shore Civil War Memorial Trail
• 2013 W3 Award Silver Award Mobile Websites - Travel, SSCVA New Mobile Website
• 2013 HSMAI Adrian Awards - Bronze Adrian Award - Public Relations Campaign/Special Event - 30 Stops in 30 Day Campaign
• 2013 MarCom Award - Gold - South Shore CVA Mobile Site Redesign
• 2013 Apex Award - Award of Excellence Websites - South Shore CVA Website Redesign
• 2013 Videographer Award - Award of Distinction, Video for the Web/Marketing (Product) - The New South Shore CVA Mobile Site
• 2013 The Communicator Award - Award of Distinction, Websites, Travel/Tourism - South Shore CVA Website Redesign
• 2013 The Communicator Award - Award of Distinction, Marketing/Promotion, Poster - 2012 South Shore Air Shore Event Poster
• 2013 Hermes Creative Awards - Gold Award, Website Overall, Government - South Shore CVA Website Redesign
• 2012 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award, Award of Excellence - Supplier Star Service - Bring it Home campaign
• 2012 International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Marketing Competition, Event Poster, Large Show - 2012 South Shore Air Show Poster
• 2010 MarCom Awards - Gold Award, Video Category – “Built by Steel, Changed by Tourism” promotional video
• The South Shore CVA is accredited by DMAI as a DMAP (Destination Marketing Association Program)
• 2009 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Silver Adrian Award for Web Marketing Excellence  - Email Marketing Campaign
• 2009 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award - Award of Excellence for Supplier Website
• 2009 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award - Award of Excellence for Supplier STAR Service - FAM Tour w/ meeting planners
• 2009 International Academy of the Visual Arts Communicator Award - Award of Excellence (Gold) - 2009 South Shore Visitor’s Guide
• 2008 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award - Best Membership Program
• 2008 International Academy of the Visual Arts Communicator Award - Silver – Indiana Welcome Center’s “Can’t Hold it?” billboard
• 2008 Indiana Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work in Indiana - #9 in the Small/Medium Sized Companies
• 2007 International Council of Air Shows Marketing Competition Event Poster- Large Show
• 2007 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE)
• 2007 Indiana Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work in Indiana - #6 in the Small/Medium Sized Companies
• 2006 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award - Best Newsletter
• 2005 MarCom Creative Awards Honorable Mention - LCCVB’s website
• 2005 MarCom Creative Awards Gold Award - 2005-2006 Lake County Official Visitor’s Guide
• 2005 MarCom Creative Awards Gold Award - Innovations logo
• 2004 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award  - Best Supplier Total Communication Program - creation of “Indiana’s Chicago”
• 2004 The Communicator - “Indiana’s Chicago, Now That’s Tourism” TV program
• 2003 International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (IACVB) Idea Fair  Best of Show - $2-3 million bureaus for entering a video sales presentation
• 2002 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Best Total Communication Plan
• 2002 VISTA Lt. Governor's Award for Excellence in Tourism Electronic Communication
• 2002 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Bronze Adrian Award - Video Sales Presentation
• 2000 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Silver Award, Public Relations - ACCVA
• 2000 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Golden Bell Gold Award - LCCVB Newsletter
• 1999 International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) Idea Fair - Bureau operations and management for in-office child care program
• 1996 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Bronze Award, Public Relations
• 1996 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Silver Award, Visitors Guide
• 1996 VISTA Lt. Governor's Award for Excellence in Tourism Public Relations - 1995 Welcome Sign Campaign
• 1995 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Golden Bell Silver Award - Public Relations campaign – community service
• 1995 Hospitality Sales and marketing Association International (HSMAI) Golden Bell Bronze Award -Magazine Category – 1995 Lake County’s Official Visitor’s Guide
• 1994 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Bronze Award, Advertising Campaign
• 1994 International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) Idea Fair 1st place  - Advertising Category
• 1994 VISTA Lt. Governor’s Award for Excellence in Tourism - “Shoe-in for Fun” Advertising under $10,000
• 1994 Channel 56/WYIN Most Valuable Player - WYIN Program underwriter
• 1993 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Bronze Adrian Award - Direct mail piece – advertising series

Indiana Welcome Center Building Awards

• 2008 Building Indiana News Best Exterior Design
• 2002 Indiana Hoosier Hospitality Conference VISTA Lt. Governor’s Award  - Electronic media for the creations of the Indiana Welcome Center’s Video Wall
• 2002 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) Star Award, Best Total Communication Program- design and implementation of the Indiana Welcome Center’s Video Wall
• 2000 CAF Outstanding Architectural Design of the Year 
• 2000 CBC (Chicago Building Congress) Merit Award -Building construction under $10 million
• 1999 Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) Outstanding Achievement

Staff Awards and Accreditations

Speros A. Batistatos, FCDME, President/CEO

• 2008 Indiana Minority Business Magazine - Champion of Diversity Award
• 2008 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International - Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing
• 2008 TradeWinds - Ambassador of the Year
• 2008 TradeWinds - Lifetime Ambassador
• July 2000 Governor of Indiana, Frank O’Bannon Sagamore of the Wabash - Highest civilian honor awarded in Indiana
• 2000 VISTA Lt. Governor’s Award for Excellence in Tourism - Professional Achievement Award
• July 1999 International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) - Fellow Certified Destination Management Executive (FCDME)
• July 1997 International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB)  - Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) accreditation
• Congressional Appointee, White House Conference on Tourism 1996
  Appointed by the Honorable Peter J. Visclosky, Congressman, Indiana 1st District
• February 1996 Indiana Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Hoosier Award - dedicated service and contributions to the community

Katie Holderby, CDME, Executive VP/Chief Projects Officer

• July 2016 Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) - Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) accreditation

Luke Weinman, Chief Technology Officer

• Google Analytics Qualified Certified
• 2015 Honored as 20 Under 40 - Times BusINess
• 2005 Purdue University Calumet’s Department of Communications & Creative Arts, Alumni Committed to Excellence Award
• Purdue University Calumet - Outstanding Radio and Television Student Award

Andrea Rivera, Art Director

• 2003 Indiana University Bachelor of Arts Degree Certificate of Honor
• 2003 Indiana University Fine Arts Merit Award

Richard Brankle-Piszczek, Director of Human Resources

• The Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional