1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thomas Skernivitz, Editor
Cleveland Business Connects (CBC) magazine
(216) 831-9557
tom@cbcmagazine.com
www.cbcmagazine.com
Finalist Field Set
for Feb. 25 CCA Ceremony
at Playhouse Square's State Theatre
More than 11,000 online votes result in 138 nominees
in 26 corporate event/business networking categories
CLEVELAND (Dec. 23, 2014) — Executive Caterers, Greater Cleveland Food Bank,
Lake Health, Rock the House, and Marigold Catering — with 29 nominations combined
— head the list of finalists toward the eighth-annual Connectors Choice Awards.
Presented by Cleveland Business Connects magazine and parent company Contempo
Communications, CCA annually honors organizations, individuals, and events within the
local corporate event-planning industry and business networking community. The
winners in 26 categories will be announced Feb. 25 at the CCA ceremony inside the State
Theatre at Playhouse Square.
With 138 finalists overall, this again is the largest CCA field ever. Online public voting
— a record 11,330 ballots were cast from Oct. 2 through Dec. 7 — determined the
finalists (typically five) in each category. A panel of judges will select the winners upon
reviewing written submissions by the finalists, all of whom are being recognized
exclusively for their accomplishments in 2014.
Executive Caterers leads the way with seven nominations, including Offsite and Onsite
Caterer of the Year. The company's Landerhaven facility is up for Event Production
Company of the Year and Venue of the Year/Non-Hotel. Director of Business
Development Melissa Marik (Networking Star), Special Event and Catering Consultant
Cristina Lowenfeld (Networking Rising Star), and Senior Event Planner Kate Walter
(Corporate Event Planner Rising Star) are also finalists.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, behind Special Events and Communications
Coordinator Kevin Grissinger (Event Planner Rising Star), is nominated six times,
including the category of Venue of the Year/Non-Hotel. The organization's networking
arm, YP Pantry, is a Networking Organization finalist. And three Food Bank events
— BrewHaHa, Taste of the Browns, and Market at the Food Bank — are up for Event of
the Year/Fundraiser w/less than $50K planning budget.

2. Lake Health Marketing Events Specialist Anne H. Doyle is represented in the
Networking Star and Event Planner Star categories while one of her events — Relax and
Renew: Ladies Night Out — is a Corporate Event of the Year finalist. The Lake Health
Foundation also boasts three nominations. Special Events and Annual Giving
Coordinator Tracy Dennis (Event Planner) organized Glitz 2014: Black Tie at the
Ballpark (Event of the Year/Fundraiser w/greater than $50K planning budget) and
FORE! Wellness Classic (Corporate Golf Outing).
Rock the House is nominated in five categories, including Corporate Event Entertainer,
Trade Show Exhibit Company, and Event Production Company. Marketing and
Communications Director Nick Borelli (Networking Star) and Client Coordinator and
Talent Director Travis Rose (Corporate Event Planner Rising Star) also are finalists.
Marigold Catering is a finalist in both the Offsite and Onsite Caterer categories. Event
Planner Vicki Hlousek is an Event Planner of the Year finalist while Assistant Sales and
Event Manager Jessica Mickley is a finalist in the networking and event planning Rising
Star categories.
All 26 categories and 138 finalists are listed below.
The Feb. 25 CCA ceremony, facilitated by WKYC-TV Senior Health Correspondent
Monica Robins, will occur from 5-9 p.m. Following a networking cocktail hour and the
awards ceremony, dinner will be served on the stage of the State Theatre. Presenting
sponsors Driftwood Catering will cater the event while Event Source will provide rental
equipment. Cedar Point will return as a signature sponsor.
For additional CCA information and to purchase tickets and VIP tables for the event, visit
www.cbcmagazine.com/cca2015.
2014 BUSINESS NETWORKING RISING STAR OF THE YEAR:
 Ashley Basile Oeken, executive director, Engage! Cleveland
 Christopher Hodgson, partner, Driftwood Catering
 Cristina Lowenfeld, special event and catering consultant, Executive Caterers
 Jessica Mickley, assistant sales and event manager, Marigold Catering
 Kristen Schmidt, marketing coordinator, CTAC
2014 BUSINESS NETWORKING STAR OF THE YEAR:
 Anne H. Doyle, marketing events/community coordinator, Lake Health
 Lauren Rudman, manager of human resources, ERICO International
 Lynda Nemeth, director, Geauga County Tourism
 Melissa Marik, director of business development, Executive Caterers
 Nick Borelli, marketing and communications director, Rock The House
 Paul Marnecheck, manager of small business solutions, Council of Smaller
Enterprises
 Vince Iannaggi, director of business development, L'Nique Linens

3. 2014 WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORKING ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR:
 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Cleveland
 Red Key Network
 WIN Cleveland
 Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Cleveland
 YWCA Greater Cleveland Women's Leadership Initiative
2014 BUSINESS NETWORKING ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR:
 Engage! Cleveland
 Greater Cleveland Food Bank
 International Special Events Society (ISES) Cleveland
 Red Key Network
 Rotary Club of Cleveland
2014 BUSINESS NETWORKING ORGANIZATION EVENT OF THE YEAR:
 Business Expo, Heights-Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce, May 8, 700
Beta Banquet and Conference Center
 Cleveland Young Professionals Week, Engage! Cleveland, Oct. 6-12, Various
Locations
 East 4th Bar Crawl, International Special Events Society (ISES) Cleveland, June
10, East 4th Street
 Membership Drive, International Special Events Society (ISES) Cleveland, Dec.
10, 2013, Museum of Contemporary Art
 Networking and Ghost Tour, Future Emerging Leaders of Lake County (FUEL),
Oct. 16, Downtown Willoughby
2014 CORPORATE EVENT KEYNOTE SPEAKER OF THE YEAR:
 Andrea Vecchio, president, Andrea Vecchio LLC
 Hal Becker, CEO, The Becker Group
 Hugh Littleton, senior training specialist, Cuyahoga Community
College/Corporate College
 Jeff Nischwitz, chief story debunker, The Nischwitz Group
 Phil Stella, president, Effective Training and Communication
2014 CORPORATE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
 Dale McDonald, Dale McDonald Photographer
 Greg Murray, Greg Murray Photography
 Joe Pollack, Pollack Studio
 Linda Ford, Linda's Lenses Photography
 Vanessa Gliha, Orchard Photography
2014 CORPORATE EVENT ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:
 Rock The House
 Rick Smith Jr.

4.  Selective Sound Entertainment
 Troy Entertainment
 Champagne Entertainment Productions
2014 CORPORATE EVENT PLANNER RISING STAR OF THE YEAR:
 Alyssa Henning, director of event innovations, Great Lakes Science Center
 Kate Walter, senior event planner, Executive Caterers
 Kevin Grissinger, special events and communications coordinator, Greater
Cleveland Food Bank
 Jessica Mickley, assistant sales and event manager, Marigold Catering
 Travis Rose, client coordinator and talent director, Rock The House
2014 CORPORATE EVENT PLANNER OF THE YEAR:
 Adina Magda, event manager, Council of Smaller Enterprises
 Amber Muslusky, events planning manager, Corporate College
 Anne H. Doyle, marketing events/community coordinator, Lake Health
 Tracy Dennis, special events and annual giving coordinator, Lake Health
Foundation
 Vicki Hlousek, event planner, Marigold Catering
2014 CORPORATE GOLF OUTING OF THE YEAR:
 Celebrity Golf Classic, Cleveland Indians Charities, Aug. 14, Quail Hollow
Country Club
 Charitable Golf Outing, Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management,
July 14, Weymouth Country Club
 FORE! Wellness Classic, Lake Health Foundation, June 27, Fowler's Mill Golf
Course/Legend Lake Golf Club
 Links for Life, Suicide Prevention Education Alliance of Northeast Ohio, June 24,
Fowler's Mill Golf Course
 Ronald House Pro-Am, Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, June 23,
Mayfield Sand Ridge Golf Club
2014 CORPORATE EVENT OF THE YEAR (FUNDRAISER, WITH LESS THAN
$50,000 PLANNING BUDGET):
 BrewHaHa, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, July 10, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
 Cleveland Walk Now, Autism Speaks, Sept. 14, Progressive Field
 Fall Ball: Uniquely Cleveland, United Way of Greater Cleveland Young Leaders,
Oct. 4, Museum of Contemporary Art
 Market at the Food Bank, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, May 4, Greater
Cleveland Food Bank
 Red, White and Groove Gala, Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism, March 8,
Astrodome Event Center
 Taste of the Browns, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Sept. 15, FirstEnergy
Stadium

5. 2014 CORPORATE EVENT OF THE YEAR (FUNDRAISER, WITH GREATER
THAN $50,000 PLANNING BUDGET):
 Big Shots Little Stars, Flashes of Hope, Oct. 2, Quicken Loans Arena
 Brilliance: A Benefit for MOCA, Sept. 12, Museum of Contemporary Art
 Cleveland Chef Gala, Autism Speaks, Aug. 9, Cleveland Museum of Art
 Cleveland Heart Walk, American Heart Association, Sept. 27, Voinovich Park
 EverGreen EverBlue: The Ultimate Block Party, Western Reserve Land
Conservancy, Sept. 6, Home of Laura and Chris McKenna
 Glitz 2014: Black Tie at the Ballpark, Lake Health Foundation, Sept. 20, Classic
Park
 HANNApalooza, Great Lakes Theater, June 14, Great Lakes Theater
 Pandemonium, Cleveland Public Theatre, Sept. 13, Cleveland Public Theatre
 Sing Out!, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, June 4, Ohio Theatre
2014 CORPORATE EVENT OF THE YEAR (NON-FUNDRAISER):
 Dazzle the District, Wizard of Ahs, May 2, Playhouse Square
 Gay Games Cleveland Opening Ceremony, Cleveland Foundation, Aug. 9
 Money Matters Symposium, PNC Bank, Nov. 6, Corporate College East
 Relax and Renew: Ladies Night Out, Lake Health, Mooreland Mansion, June 17
 Small Business Convention, Council of Smaller Enterprises, Oct. 22-24, Kalahari
Resort and Convention Center
 Welcome Home LeBron James, Wizard of Ahs, Aug. 8, Infocision
Stadium/Summa Field
2014 CORPORATE EVENT VENUE OF THE YEAR (HOTEL):
 Aloft Cleveland Downtown
 Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland East/Mayfield Villagel/700 Beta Banquet and
Conference Center
 Intercontinental Hotel
 Metropolitan at The 9
 Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
 Wyndham Cleveland At Playhouse Square
2014 CORPORATE EVENT VENUE OF THE YEAR (NON-HOTEL):
 Cleveland Museum of Art
 Corporate College East
 Executive Caterers
 Greater Cleveland Food Bank
 Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland MOCA
 Music Box Supper Club
2014 CORPORATE EVENT DESTINATION OF THE YEAR:
 Cedar Point
 Gervasi Vineyard
 Kalahari Resort and Convention Center

6.  Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
 Sawmill Creek
 The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake
2014 OFFSITE CORPORATE EVENT CATERER OF THE YEAR:
 A Taste of Excellence
 Driftwood Catering
 Executive Caterers
 Food for Thought
 Marigold Catering
2014 ONSITE CORPORATE EVENT CATERER OF THE YEAR:
 A Taste of Excellence
 Driftwood Catering
 Executive Caterers
 Food for Thought
 Marigold Catering
2014 CORPORATE EVENT GIFT/PROMOTIONS COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 2 Bubbies Cookies
 Baskets Galore
 Gino's Awards
 Team Promotions
 Ten10 Design
2014 CORPORATE EVENT AWARDS COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 Crown Trophy
 Gino's Awards
 Miracle Custom Awards and Gifts
 Streets Of Manhattan
2014 CORPORATE EVENT FLORAL DESIGN COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 Flowerville
 Neil Leeson Decor Floral
 Plantscaping and Blooms
 Something New Florist and Events
 The Urban Orchid
2014 CORPORATE EVENT EXHIBIT COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 I-X Center
 Ohio Displays Inc.
 Rock the House
 Skyline Event Services
2014 CORPORATE EVENT SIGN AND BANNER COMPANY OF THE YEAR:

7.  Epic Signs and Graphics
 FASTSIGNS Downtown Cleveland
 Hotcards
 Ten10 Design
2014 CORPORATE EVENT RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 All Occasions Party Rental
 Event Source
 Everything Tented
 Let's Entertain Party Rental
 L'Nique Linens
2014 CORPORATE EVENT PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR:
 Executive Caterers
 GhostLight Productions
 Rock The House
 Solus Lighting
 Wizard of Ahs