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