Tarsus Group’s Trade Show News Network is pleased to announce Don Pazour, president and CEO of Access Intelligence, will receive the Industry Icon Award at the 3^rd Annual TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence Nov. 2-4 in Louisville, Ky.

“Don exemplifies exactly who should be honored in our industry as someone who is a well-respected leader and an all-around really great person,” said Rachel Wimberly, TSNN’s president and editor-in-chief.

She added, “We are thrilled that Don will receive the Industry Icon Award at the 3^rd Annual TSNN Awards and be feted by his peers during the three-day gala celebration.”

Pazour has led the Access Intelligence team for more than a decade, and in that time, has grown the company’s portfolio with 18 acquisitions and several launches serving the media/marketing, energy/engineering, aerospace and healthcare markets.

Before joining Access Intelligence, Pazourworked at Miller Freeman, a subsidiary of United Business Media,for 23 years,where he was named CEO in 1997.

His ascendance through the company included management of conferences, magazinesand high-value information businesses.

Pazour launched and grew Miller Freeman’s presence in the High Tech publishing sector, culminating with the acquisition of CMP Media in 1999.

With the acquisition by Miller Freeman of Blenheim USA’s trade shows, Miller Freeman also became the largest trade show producer in the United States under his leadership.

Besides his corporate leadership, Pazour also has given back to the industry in his current positions as vice chair of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and chair of American Business Media’s government relations committee and past chairpositions for theSociety of Independent Show Organizers.

National Trade Productions’ Robert E. Harar was the first TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree in 2010, and InfoComm International’s Jason McGraw received the award at last year’s event.

Also on tap at this year’s event in Louisville is the “State of the Industry” panel during the C-level executive conference at which IAEE’s chair, Doreen Biela, and SISO’s incoming chair, David Audrain, will speak on topics currently facing the trade show industry.

"Our industry is changing faster than ever before and having come through the most recent recession it is time for us all to focus on how we grow again,” Audrain said.

He added, “Coming together at the TSNN conference during the TSNN Awards program, will be a great opportunity for us to discuss how best to focus on the growth we need to have and how we will provide value to our customers that give us that growth."

Audrain is president and CEO of the newly formed Clarion Events North America, a subsidiary of global event organizer Clarion Events Ltd.

Previously, Audrain was president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt North America, where he spent more than six years managing a team of 40 staff spread across the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Audrain also has worked for ConvExx, Advanstar Communications, Hanley Wood Exhibitions, Miller Freeman and the Texas Restaurant Association.

He is a past chair of the International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR).

Bielahas been involved in the exhibitions and events industry since 1991, currently as vice president, Engagement & Events for LightSpeed. 

Her professional experience has included working for McDonald’s Corporation, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Hall-Erickson and other organizations in a variety of roles.

 She has served as chair of the Midwestern Chapter of IAEE and currently is the 2012 Chair for both IAEE and the International Center for Exhibitor & Event Marketing (ICEEM).

The TSNN gala awards evening at the Marriott Downtown Louisville will celebrate the 50 fastest-growing shows in attendance and net square footage, as well as TSNN’s “Best of Show” award and the relaunch of The Expo Group’s Show Manager of the Year awards.

A full list of fastest-growing show winners can be found on www.T-awards.com.

Other weekend events will include a Friday Night Reception with special guests at the 21c Museum Hotel, which was named the one of the top ten hotels in the world Readers’ Choice Awards 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

The Sunday Brunch truly is going to be a memorable experience at the home of the Kentucky Derby -Churchill Downs. The brunch will be followed by a special day of racing at the storied track.

Sponsors already signed on for the event include Founding Sponsor The Expo Group; City Sponsor Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Venue Sponsor Kentucky International Convention Center; Hotel Sponsor Louisville Marriott Downtown; Presenting Sponsors Wyndham Jade, Ungerboeck Software International and George Fern Exposition & Services; Gold Sponsors ASP, Experient, Travel Planners and Production Transport; Silver Sponsors EPIC, Industry Connect, a2z Inc., OnPeak and Freeman; Media Sponsor H+A International.

For sponsorship information on the 2012 TSNN Awards please contact John Rice, TSNN sales and development, (617) 201 7088 jrice@tsnn.com.

Registration for the awards is limited to winners, their guests and sponsor suppliers. Please contact John Rice for more information.