Hall of Fame

Join BizBash as we induct three industry visionaries into the BizBash Hall of Fame during the general session. BizBash's Hall of Fame was created to recognize and reward key event strategists who in their careers have made major contributions to furthering the event industry's goals, as well as to personal philanthropy.

Dennis Cornell Associate Senior Vice President, University Relations USC Chief of Protocol University of Southern California	Debbie Hawkins Owner of Association Management Specialists Executive Director of MPISCC and ISES-LA	Mindy Weiss Owner and Principal Planner/Designer Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

DENNIS CORNELL
Associate Senior Vice President, University Relations
USC Chief of Protocol
University of Southern California
Dennis Cornell is associate senior vice president of university relations and USC chief of protocol at the University of Southern California. He is responsible for artistic direction, quality control, budgeting, and production for more than 200 events each year, from commencement to fund-raising galas. As chief of protocol, he is integral to how the university looks and feels to the public at large, working with senior administration, deans, and development officers to ensure consistent messages and protocol standards. Arts and Culture at USC, as well as special projects like the university's 125th anniversary celebration and Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative, are included in his portfolio. He also created the USC Impression Series, which includes seminars on business communications and etiquette, dining etiquette, and dress for success geared to graduate and undergraduate students as well as young professionals.

Cornell has been a keynote speaker at national conferences including the first Academic Event Professional Conference, The Starlight Foundation, and City of Hope. He produced and directed seven of the last 11 HRC Los Angeles dinners, including those honoring Barbra Streisand and Janet Jackson.

He came to USC in 1991 as a visiting professor in directing and producing and became managing director of the USC School of Theatre the following year. He was appointed executive director of University Events in 1995. He left USC for a short time in 2001 to become executive director of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, but returned as chief of protocol and associate vice president, university relations.
Prior to joining the faculty at USC, Cornell was vice president of casting and talent development for Columbia Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Television. He also has been a theatrical producer and director.

DEBBIE HAWKINS
Owner of Association Management Specialists
Executive Director of MPISCC and ISES-LA
Debbie Hawkins has worked in the nonprofit management arena for more than 25 years. Her management background covers the hospitality, insurance, high-tech, and nonprofit fields, as well as sales and operations in the hotel, airline, and travel industries.

In 2000, she and her husband, Don, founded Association Management Specialists, a multi-association management company created to fill a niche market for midsize nonprofits. The company is proud to manage many prestigious clients, including Meeting Professionals International Southern California Chapter and the International Special Events Society, Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Today, Association Management Specialists is responsible for organizing more than 175 annual events, including training workshops, golf tournaments, trade shows, and fund-raisers.

Hawkins has served on numerous boards of directors and has been an instructor for association and meeting management classes for many years. Her industry awards include Meeting Professional International Southern California Chapter's Manager of the Year and Leader of the Year and the International Special Events Society, Greater Los Angeles Chapter’s President’s Award.

She has earned designation both as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE). She enjoys working with interns and students, and giving back to industries that make a difference.

MINDY WEISS
Owner and Principal Planner/Designer
Based in Beverly Hills, CA, Mindy Weiss (mindyweiss.com) is the owner and principle planner/designer of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants. The company provides professional event planning services for any type or size of wedding, party, corporate event, or bar or bat mitzvah. With a book, a product line, a stationery line, a gourmet market, and many sponsorship deals, she is among the most sought-after event planners and lifestyle experts in the United States.

Weiss began her career in party planning more than 20 years ago by creating custom invitations for social events. Her clients recognized her creativity, and at their urging, she officially opened Mindy Weiss Party Consultants in 1992. Today, she is best known for her creative and unusual ideas, her unexpected decor accents, and her absolute attention to every last detail. Her bubbly personality and calm demeanor help her clients relax as she puts together the parties of their dreams. These qualities, together with Weiss’s respect for her clients’ privacy, have made her the top choice for celebrities, as well as high-profile corporations.

Weiss also provides pro bono party planning services for charitable events such as the Carousel of Hope Ball for Childhood Diabetes and the Race to Erase MS. In addition, she has had a very close connection with the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles ever since one of her sons went through a close shave with cancer. Weiss’s philanthropic work for CHLA ranges from promoting awareness of the HOPE Campaign to fund-raising to throwing their annual Celebrate Life With Hope event, which invites all the young patients of CHLA and their families out for a day of fun, entertainment and health awareness.

In addition to having a thriving core business as an event planner, Weiss has extended her brand to include products, books, and even a supermarket. In January 2009, she and the Inviting Company announced their collaboration on the Mindy Weiss for Inviting Company (www.invitingco.com) a collection of paper products including imprintable invitations and stationery. Weiss also has an exclusive bridal product line with Two’s Company (www.twoscompany.com), one of the leaders in the worldwide giftware industry.

Having positioned herself as a much-sought-after lifestyle expert by some of the biggest brands and retailers in the country, Weiss has worked with brands such as Starbucks, Crest White Strips, Linens N Things, Fortunoff, Gallo Wines, David’s Bridal, and Hpnotiq liquor.

Mindy has been featured on a variety of television shows and networks including the Today show, Dr. Phil, E!, Entertainment Tonight, MTV, and VH1. Weiss and her events have also been featured in numerous publications: Angeleno, Brides, Elegant Bride, In Style and In Style Weddings, The Los Angeles Times, LA Confidential, Martha Stewart, Modern Bride, The New York Times, O Magazine, People, Real Simple, Town & Country, Us Weekly, and The Wall Street Journal.