SIIA Awards Five Rising Stars at the Annual Business Information & Media Summit

Washington, DC, November 15, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) – the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries – today announced the winners of the 2015 Emerging Leaders Awards, during an awards luncheon at the Business Information & Media Summit (BIMS).

To celebrate the next generation of leadership in B2B media, content and information, the first Emerging Leader Awards were presented to five rising stars under 35 years of age. A total of 20 finalists were identified by a screening panel of SIIA executives. The final award winners were selected by members of the SIIA Women’s Leadership Council and other industry executives. Winners were chosen based on the individual’s record of success, impact, leadership and professional recommendations. The emerging Leader Awards are a key initiative for Connectiv, to recognize the next generation of business information leaders. This nucleus of talent will be instrumental in creating the Connectiv Emerging Leaders Collective, a new community exclusively for developing the next gen of information and media leaders that will be designed and led by millennial peers.

The five winners of the first Emerging Leader Awards are:

· James Capo, Vice President, Digital Services, Access Intelligence
· Krystle Kopacz, Chief Operating Officer, National Journal Group
· Kip McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief /Chief Investment Officer, Asset International
· Michael Mellody, Chief of Staff, National Journal Group
· Cynthia Wittig, Project Services Manager, Northstar Travel Media

All of the finalists include:

· Blake Bobit, Digital Sales Manager, Bobit Business Media
· James Capo, Vice President, Digital Services, Access Intelligence
· Kara Davey, Vice President, Corporate Development, Cision
· Genevieve Diesing, Digital Editor, Health Forum/American Hospital Association
· Natalia Dykyj, Vice President, Product, Cision
· Lauren Gabriele, Account Director, LiveIntent
· Amy Hanan, Vice President, Strategic Communications & Creative Services, ALM Media
· James Karklins, VP, Audience and Demand Generation, SourceMedia
· Liz Keener, Managing Editor, Powersports Business Media
· Krystle Kopacz, Chief Operating Officer, National Journal Group
· Heather Krentler, Regional Director, Human Resources, Crain Communications
· Emily Lettieri, Manager, RealShare Conference Series, ALM Media
· Tara Loszach, Digital Content Director, WATT Global Media
· Kip McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief /Chief Investment Officer, Asset International
· Michael Mellody, Chief of Staff, National Journal Group
· Jacob Perry, Database Marketing Manager, Business Valuation Resources, LLC
· Andy Smith, Director of Technology, WATT Global Media
· Lucy Sullivan, Marketing Manager, Diversified Communications
· Lizzy Thomas, Account Executive, UBM Advanstar
· Cynthia Wittig, Project Services Manager, Northstar Travel Media

“This wasn’t easy,” said Eric Rutter, vice president of Audience Marketing, Progressive Business Media, and one of this year’s Emerging Leader judges. “Each and every candidate was impressive and has already accomplished a whole lot in a relatively short period of time. These young men and women on the move are at the forefront of reshaping our industry.”

About SIIA
SIIA is an umbrella association representing 800+ technology, data and media companies globally. Industry leaders work through SIIA’s divisions to address issues and challenges that impact their industry segments with the goal of driving innovation and growth for the industry and each member company. This is accomplished through in-person and online business development opportunities, peer networking, corporate education, intellectual property protection and government relations. For more information, visit siia.net.