SmithBucklin’s Henry Givray Named to EIC Hall of Leaders

Henry Givray, chairman SmithBucklin board of directors.

SmithBucklin, the association management and services company is pleased to announce that Henry Givray, chairman of the SmithBucklin board of directors and former president and CEO, has been selected by the Events Industry Council for its prestigious Hall of Leaders.

The Hall of Leaders award is the premier recognition program in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions, hospitality and travel industry — the industry’s “lifetime achievement award.” The defining quality among these honorees is that the industry would not be what it is today without their contributions.

Givray will be inducted during the Hall of Leaders Gala on October 16 in Las Vegas. Later, a short tribute video providing highlights of his career will be featured at the Hall of Leaders Recognition Pavilion in the Washington, DC Convention Center. In addition, a bronze plaque bearing his likeness and a statement of his contributions to the industry will be installed in the Hall of Leaders located in Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Among Givray’s most distinguished achievements — and one through which he continues to give back to the industry to this day — has been his focus on creating and facilitating high-impact leadership learning programs that have left a strong imprint on the association and events industries. Beginning as a solely internal initiative for SmithBucklin employees, the programming has evolved to include two offerings. The first is the SmithBucklin Leadership Institute. Launched in 2013, it is an intensive, seven-month program that exposes a small, diverse group of association volunteer leaders who serve SmithBucklin client organizations to leadership concepts, principles and guidelines. The second is Leadership’s Calling, which is a similar program that includes both top-performing employees from SmithBucklin and individuals from outside the company. To date, 255 people have experienced Givray’s leadership programs, and many of those individuals have in one way or another been involved in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and travel industry.

Givray also speaks on leadership free-of-charge and is regularly invited to association conferences, corporate meetings, and educational forums. His presentation offers unique insights into the characteristics of effective leaders and provides practical ideas and principles that help attendees identify opportunities to grow as leaders.

In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Destination Marketing Association International honored Givray and SmithBucklin with its Spirit of Hospitality Award in 2006. Givray also was honored with the 2008 Samuel B. Shapiro Award by the Association Forum of Chicagoland, its highest honor presented annually to a chief executive officer for outstanding service and accomplishments. In 2013, Givray was named the TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree by Trade Show News Network. In addition, Tradeshow Week named him one of the most influential people in the trade show business in 2006.

One of the criteria for individuals to be considered for the Hall of Leaders award is community service. Givray is actively involved in Compass to Care, a charitable organization that helps ensure that all families can access life-saving cancer treatment for their children. He also supports Children’s Place Association, a nonprofit that helps kids and families confronting both serious health issues — such as cancer, epilepsy, autism and HIV — and extreme poverty. In 2009, Children’s Place Association recognized Givray and SmithBucklin as its 2009 Champion for Children.

The Hall of Leaders has been a symbol of industry excellence, achievement, and inspiration, welcoming over a hundred inductees into its ranks since its inception in 1985. All have demonstrated forward-thinking and innovation, and have shaped the events industry into what it is today. Past inductees include Conrad Hilton of Hilton International, J.W. Marriott of Marriott Corporation, and Darryl Hartley-Leonard of Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

For more information, please visit Hall of Leaders; SmithBucklin; Events Industry Council.