IRTA�s 28th Annual Awards Ceremony
The International
Reciprocal Trade Association held its 28th Annual Convention in
Savannah (GA) Sunday, September 9, through Tuesday, September 11,
2007. Highlights from the Awards Banquet as follows were provided by
IRTA.
Barter
Ambassador Award is given
to those members who have made an extra effort to introduce new
members to IRTA. This year�s recipients are Harold Rice of
American Exchange Network in Kansas City (MO) and
Reiner Husemann of Euro Barter Business in Germany.
The
Certified Trade Broker Program, also known as the CTB, has been
a cornerstone of IRTA training and education. The candidate this
year is Elizabeth Haire of Citizens Match.org in Florence
(MA).
IRTA has an
extremely dedicated CTB Program teacher in Steve Acerra from Florida
Barter. We wish to thank him for his dedication to this program and
for instructing the CTB training and testing for IRTA �U.�
This year we
are starting two awards that UC (Universal Currency) will give each
year: one recognizes a broker within a member exchange and another
that recognizes an exchange owner.
This year,
there was one particular broker who gave special time and attention
to UC. The UC Broker Award went to Ben Quandt from
Bartercard United Kingdom.
He was selected
by UC as a broker who first and foremost exhibits professionalism as
well as provides outstanding follow up on requests, protects the
integrity of the currency by researching not inflating offers and
takes the initiative to enter the offers on the UC system on their
own, develops and shares creative ideas to close or save a deal, and
generally has a positive attitude at all times. For example, when he
was put in charge of the Bartercard UK UC account, he initiated $30K
in sales in 90 days � mostly in travel to London and Ireland.
The UC
Exchange Owner Award, which recognizes trade exchange leaders
for their special attention and actions that support UC, was awarded
to Michael Touma of BBX in Australia.
IRTA�s
Platinum Sponsor, for the second year in a row, went to
Sirri Simsek from Turk Barter in Istanbul. This is the
highest sponsorship that IRTA makes available. In her presentation
Krista Vardabash disclosed, �I expect to see you in the IRTA Hall of
Fame very soon, and wish to again extend my heartfelt gratitude to
you and to Turk Barter.�
The IRTA Silver
Sponsor was awarded to Ian Jones of BarterXchange
Singapore. This is the first year that BarterXchange
participated in the IRTA sponsorship program, helping the IRTA brand
become recognized and respected in Asia.
For sponsoring
the IRTA �U� Library/Internet Caf� and making it a true hub
of activity, IRTA thanked Gary Field of NuBarter in Savannah
(GA) for his generosity and support.
Many of us
remember Paul St. Martin as a person who stood as shining example of
selfless contribution of his time and talents to benefit the
industry, he went above and beyond the call of duty in service to
IRTA.. It is this quality that embodies the following award
appropriately named The Paul St. Martin Distinguished Service
Award.
The following three special people
exemplify this type of commitment and service to IRTA:
Lois Dale of Barter Advantage in New York City.
As president of IRTA, Lois has
stepped-up to the plate in many ways. One occasion was especially
notable...she attended The 2006 Global Entrepolis conference in
Singapore where she conducted training sessions, spoke to media, and
educated business people on barter and IRTA.
David Wallach of Commercial Currency Consultants in
San Rafael (CA).
Not long ago, David adamantly stated
that what IRTA needed was a program to be put into the hands of
members to help them educate their communities on the important role
of commercial bartering. He had in mind what that project would look
like, and set out to obtain testimonials from exchange owners around
the world to use in the DVD that he has produced.
Gary Field of NuBarter in Savannah (GA).
There a long list of things that
represent the above and beyond efforts of Gary as it relates to the
successful execution of this conference, and the 5 year anniversary
of his trade exchange this week. This award recognizes both of those
things. He has passed the critical 5-year point for any business and
cultivated a strong membership base. Additionally, Gary hosted the
IRTA conference this year and sponsored the Internet Caf� � making
NuBarter the newest exchange to ever take on that challenge.
IRTA�s
Outstanding Achievement Award honors individuals who have
demonstrated outstanding achievement in the barter industry through
management techniques, education, client services and
marketing/sales. The two recipients have definitely made a positive
impact on the barter industry.
Don
Mardak from International Monetary Systems: in New Berlin (WI).
Many of
his peers recognize the value, from the favorable exposure his
company has created, for the commercial barter industry within the
public financial markets. In doing so, he has captured public and
private interest for our industry in the form of capital and
national recognition.
Napoleon
Ares from ITEX Montreal in Quebec, Canada.
His efforts with
the Canadian government have yielded positive exposure for the
barter trade industry by working with the Industrial and Consumer
Department of the Quebec Provincial government to educate them on
the value of barter trade, especially for new business.
The IRTA
Hall of Fame is the highest honor IRTA bestows. It recognizes
individuals whom the Hall Of Fame Inductees feel are regarded as
�indisputable leaders in the barter industry.�
What makes an
indisputable leader? Someone who has been in the barter industry for
at least 10 continuous years and has made universally recognized and
specific contributions to the barter industry as a whole. Above all,
inductees must be regarded in the industry as highly professional
and ethical.
This
description is just not big enough to adequately describe the person
who we induct tonight to the IRTA Hall of Fame:
Art Goehring, Hall-Of-Fame Inductee.
He is the
retired founder in 1976 of Tradecorp, a highly successful trade
exchange with 1,500 members in Columbus (OH), Dayton, and Cincinnati
markets. He sold his exchange to IMS several years ago.
