Burk and Hernandez Honored with EXHIBITOR CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award

ROCHESTER, Minn., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Exhibitor Media Group, the award-winning leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, announced that Robert "Bob" Burk, CTSM, diamond level, and Gail Hernandez, CTSM, diamond level, received CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer) Lifetime Achievement Awards at EXHIBITOR2014. 

The CTSM designation is awarded by EXHIBITOR in affiliation with Northern Illinois University Outreach and reflects adherence to the highest educational standards of trade show and event marketing. CTSM graduates can continue on to earn bronze, silver, gold and diamond level certifications.  This is the first time the honorary CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award was presented.

"Receiving the CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award is much like seeing an exhibit concept brought to fruition with tangible results," commented Burk, CTSM diamond-level, and the third CTSM graduate, recently retired from King Industries Inc., Norwalk, CT.  "It has been gratifying to see the CTSM program grow from its infancy into today's standard for educational and professional excellence in the dynamic world of trade show and event marketing. Plus, over two decades of growth, I have had the pleasure of sharing a similar vision of what the CTSM program could ultimately be with Gail Hernandez.  I am honored to have been recognized alongside this industry dynamo, peer and friend."

Gail Hernandez was the second individual and first woman to earn CTSM certification.

"I'm thrilled and honored to share the CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award with my friend, Bob Burk," said Hernandez, CTSM diamond level, marketing events coordinator, The Trade Show Maven, an independent trade show and event professional, Waltham, MA.  "This has been an incredible journey, but one I could not have traveled alone. Over the last twenty years, trade show and event marketing has grown from a job to a true profession, and I'm proud to have been a part of its evolution."

"It was exciting to be able to recognize two well-deserving CTSM graduates with the CTSM Lifetime Achievement Award. Gail and Bob made a commitment to lifelong learning in an industry they love, when the CTSM program was in its infancy," added Jan Nelson, CTSM gold level, executive director of Exhibitor Media Group's CTSM program.  "From the beginning, they recognized the value of industry-specific education, were pioneers in a new certification program, and kept returning to be a part of its growth and recognition."

About Exhibitor Media Group
The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Media Group publishes the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine - best practices in trade show marketing, and produces EXHIBITOR, the trade show and corporate event industry's top-rated educational conference; EXHIBITORFastTrak regional accelerated learning conferences; EXHIBITOR eTrak live online educational sessions; and GRAVITY FREE, the world's only multidisciplinary design conference. EXHIBITOR is the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the industry's only university-affiliated professional certification program. www.ExhibitorOnline.com is the trade show and event community's most comprehensive online resource.  Follow EXHIBITOR on Facebook and join EXHIBITOR's LinkedIn group.

SOURCE Exhibitor Media Group