CSAE Awards

Celebrating Excellence in Colorado’s Association Community

There is no greater honor than being recognized by your peers for your commitment, leadership, and dedication to the association profession.

Each year, CSAE celebrates outstanding individuals, associations, and businesses whose contributions strengthen our profession and our community. Across seven award categories, these honorees exemplify leadership, professionalism, innovation, and service—making a meaningful impact within their organizations, the association industry, and the broader community. Explore the award categories to learn more about each honor and the criteria for recognition.

We are proud to recognize and celebrate our CSAE award recipients and their outstanding achievements.

Awardees

Partner of the Year

2026 - Visit Colorado Springs — Brittany Hunt, Senior Sales Manager
2025 - Hotel Colorado -Larry MacDonald, General Manager
2025 - BizStream - Rob Bean, Senior Strategist
2024 - AMG National Trust - Earl Wright, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Association Professional of The Year

2026 - Ashley Montoya, Vice President of Operations and Chief Strategy & Growth Executive — Civica Management / American Cheese Society
2025 - Tara Holmes, Executive Director, American Cheese Society and Chief Staff Executive, Civica Management

Volunteer of The Year

2026 - Sandy Ryan, National Sales Manager — Hotel Colorado
2026 - Rachel Coy, Public Relations & Content Marketing Specialist
2025 - Richelle Kemper, Senior Sales Manager, Denver Marriott Westminster
2025 - Janet Randles, Lodging Manager, Triple Crown Sports
2024 - Betty Knecht, Executive Director, Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association

Emerging Leader Award

2026 - Jack Murphy, Director of Government Affairs — Colorado Nonprofit Association
2025 - Kelsey Wood, Director of Membership,  International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
2024 - Heidi Melocco, Director of Operations, Horse Trails of America

Outstanding New Initiative

2026 - Civica Growth & Innovation Initiative — Civica Management in partnership with the American Cheese Society
2025 - Culinary Medicine Workshop - Obesity Medicine Association

The CSAE Pinnacle Awards represent the highest level of recognition within our association community. These awards honor extraordinary leadership, lasting impact, and excellence that advances CSAE and the association profession.

Association of The Year

2026 - Colorado Pharmacists Society — Emily Zadvorny, Chief Executive Officer
2025 - International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
2024 - Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration - Dave Kanagy, Executive Director and CEO

Lifetime Achievement Award

2026 - Jeff Arnold, MAM, CAE, President — Leading Associations
2026 - Ilene Kamsler, Retired CEO — Metro Denver Hotel Association (presented posthumously)
2025 - Brian Stockman, Vice President and CEO, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
2024 - David L. Kanagy, CAE, Executive Director and CEO, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration