For the 3rd consecutive year, an AMC staff member was honored with the John C. Thiel Distinguished Service Award from the Association Forum of Chicagoland. The award is presented for exceptional, long-term, volunteer service to the Association Forum, primarily through committee service or similar contributions.

Director of Meetings and Conventions, Kay V. Granath, CMP CAE, is the 2015 recipient. She follows AMC account executive Steve Smith who received the award in 2014 and director of marketing and business development, Marilyn Jansen, who was the 2013 recipient.

“Giving back to the association and meetings industries is something that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed throughout my career,” Granath said. “To receive this award is quite humbling, and I look forward to continuing in service to the industry in the years ahead.”

For more than 20 years Granath has advanced the association and meetings professions through dedicated service to the Association Forum. During her career she has served on the Forum’s Board of Directors, as chair of the Honors Gala committee, Annual Meeting committee, and the Meetings Shared Interest Group, and as a member of the Education and Holiday Showcase committees. She has also been a frequent Associations 101 speaker and served as a CAE Facilitator in 2006.

In addition to her Forum work, she served as a board member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), as president of MPI’s Chicago Area Chapter, and was named Meeting Planner of the Year and to the chapter’s Hall of Fame in 2001. She serves on the customer advisory councils for the Monterey (California) and St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

According to AMC principal Jeff Engle, “Our staff is extremely proud of the fact that Kay is receiving the John C. Thiel Award from Association Forum. Her continued hard work and dedication to the association industry are admirable, and we appreciate the vast knowledge and expertise she brings from her years in the industry. She is a great leader and committed volunteer, and we are proud she is being recognized by Forum.”

Granath received her award with 22 AMC staff cheering her on at the Association Forum Honors Gala, which was held Thursday, June 18 at Navy Pier in Chicago.