ISES Minneapolis - St. Paul - Minnesota Star Awards

» General Information

What are the ISES Minnesota Star Awards?
The ISES Minnesota Star Awards began in 2004 as a way to provide event professionals in Minnesota with an opportunity to gain recognition for the fabulous events they create, plan, manage, and execute each year.

Who can enter the awards?
Anyone who has produced events (or components of events) within the state of Minnesota OR that works in Minnesota, but produces events in other locations. You do not have to be an ISES member to enter most of the award categories!

Why should I enter the ISES Minnesota Star Award?
By entering the ISES Minnesota Star Awards, you are able to demonstrate the amazing things that you and your company are doing! This is your opportunity to show people what you can do and what makes you stand apart from your competition. Imagine being able to tell your clients that your company is “award winning!”

Who judges the awards?
B In order to maintain fairness in the judging, the ISES Minnesota Star Award submissions are entirely anonymous and are judged by event professionals from another region of the United States. All entries are delivered to a third-party law firm for pre-judging. Once the law firm has determined that the rules are met, all qualifying entries are sent to another ISES chapter in the United States for judging. The results of the judging are returned directly to the third-party law firm, which supplies the information about the winning entries to the awards company. All of the entries must be anonymous (no mention of names or company names are allowed in the entries). No local ISES members or event professionals are involved in the judging process or knows the winners prior to the ceremony.

What if I have questions?
If you have questions about the process, or run into problems, please send an email to starawards@ises-msp.org and someone will follow up with you.

2010 Minnesota Star Awards

The 2010 Awards were no disappointment! Under the direction of Event Lab’s Pete Nelson, the evening unfolded with many surprises. As cars entered the ramp, costumed performers tossed fiery batons in the air, setting the tone for a HOT, HOT, HOT evening.

Attendees never looked better dressed in salsa-inspired style. Upon entering the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, guests made their way to the hosted bars and sampled south of the border hors d’oeuvres by Lancer Catering and Bon Appetit at the Carlson Center.

It was award time. The doors opened for the main event unveiling a Vegas-style showroom of long tables. Pete Nelson and Tim McVean treated everyone to a Broadway-style opening number that could have won a Tony…where is Ben Brantley when you need him? As the room heated up, servers came out with trays of Sangria for everyone. Friends and co-workers cheered each other on and the awards culminated with the Best ISES Team Effort award won by the Annual SOAR Celebration.

Click here for a list of all of the winners!

Dancing to Salsa del Soul at the after party was irresistible! Crazy good desserts took the place of the appetizers in the reception area, and rumor has it that some people are still at large... probably getting ready for next year’s awards!

Congratulations to all of the winners and many, many thanks to the sponsors, committee chairs and members for all their hard work they put into creating this wonderful evening. No one knows better than we do what it takes to make a special evening like this happen.

Read more about the event from Minnesota Meetings + Events editor, Ann Turner.

» 2010 Minnesota STAR Awards Recipients

Best Use of Food/Beverage
Sultry Supper Club Soiree
Lindsay Piram, give my regards to...
A local nightclub was transformed for an evening into a sultry supper club with food and libations reminiscent of the fabulous forties. Authenticity of the era was adhered to from soup to nuts, literally.

Best Use of Floral
Wish Ball 2009
Marsha Hunt, Thompson Hunt Floral and Event Design
The gala theme “Noche Para Los Niños,” enticed guests to experience an evening in a hot, jazzy, Latin American night club, surrounded by lush tropical blooms, palm trees, and architectural elements draped in abundant fresh flowers.

Best Event Design & Décor (Budget $25,000 and over)
Moroccan Fall Festival
Pete Nelson, Event Lab
The colorful and exciting landscape of Morocco was the destination of this annual client appreciation event. The ballroom was completely transformed using silk fabrics, hanging floral arrangements and dramatic lighting, transporting guests into another world.

Best Event Photography/Videography
Wedding Trade Show
Amy Coppersmith, Coppersmith Photography
We were asked to document a wedding tradeshow. We provided event photography to my client allowing them to demonstrate the details of the event and showcase why this wedding tradeshow is the best in the country.

Best Use of Entertainment
That’s Life!
Char Mason, Coleman Mason Events
Cookie Coleman, Coleman Mason Events
Pat Frederick, Pat Frederick Productions
The classic nightclub era was back for one unforgettable evening gala with a swinging’ Rat Pack floor show by the purveyors of cool...Frank, Sammie and Dean. Coat and tie was required: black tie of course.

Best Social Event (Budget $25,000 and over)
Modern Victorian Wedding
Kathy Bakeberg, Festivities
This wedding celebrated the uniqueness of the couple. It materialized the concept of a city girl and country boy coming together. The reception was held at a historic farm site with elegant Victorian inspired décor.

Best Corporate Event (Budget under $75,000)
Building Community Bridges
WOW! Events by Kraus-Anderson
Thrivent wanted its first member gala to be elegant, memorable and fun. “Building Community Bridges” delivered European-inspired elements, including a flowing fountain, bridge photo-op, rich linens and florals, “French” caricaturists and a lively singing topiary.

Best Non-Profit Event
Youth Charity Fundraiser
Nancy Jacobs, edgProductions
Inspired by the image of two children pulling a wagon laden with packages down the street, this elegant yet playful fundraiser for a children’s charity embraced the warmth of a summer day.

Best Public Event
The Unveiled Wedding Event
The Wedding Guys®
For the launch of our national tour we were challenged to destroy the mold of traditional bridal tradeshow marketing. With cutting edge graphic design we promoted our ultimate wedding planning experience to Dallas Brides.

Best ISES Team Effort
Annual SOAR Celebration
Lisa Marie Borchert, Allianz Life
Pete Nelson, Event Lab
Leonard Neil, Leonard Neil Productions
Diana Rohlfsen, Biffs, Inc.
Noah Wolf, Noah Wolf Photography
Apres Party & Tent Rental
Ultimate Events
Sculptware
The Annual SOAR Celebration is the culminating event of the Company’s month-long employee recognition drive. The event was held on campus, built on the successes of past, yet created an identity uniquely its own.

Check out the video from the 2009 MN Star Awards

» Testimonials

"A world-class presentation by a world-class ISES chapter. Clearly the
display, staging and presentation elements combined to demonstrate the
difference between events and SPECIAL EVENTS."
Dave Herman, Big EventProductions, LLC

"What a phenomenal demonstration of the tremendous success that can be
achieved by collaboration. I am proud to be a part of such a talented
group of minds!"
Jessica Woodward, Event Program Manager, metroConnecitons

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ISES Minnesota STAR Awards