NEWH - November 2007 - (Page 32)

service Recognizing Excellence A new award from NEWH, Inc. celebrates those who have made a serious commitment to the organization By Glenn Haussman Jillian Van Dresser Jillian Van Dresser, one of the two NEWH Recognition of Excellence award winners. T HIS YEAR, NEWH, INC. LAUNCHED the NEWH Recognition of Excellence award. Actually two awards, one each to a man and a woman, NEWH asked members to nominate a member who has contributed extraordinary time and effort to the organization, has logged at least 10 years in the hospitality industry, at one point held a local chapter or international board position for at least one term, and has mentored four people in the industry, at least two of whom are women. From a slew of nominations, drum roll please, Jillian Van Dresser, owner of interior design firm Van Dresser Company, and Russ Walvoord, vice president, contract sales for Fabricut, were selected. They will be honored at the HOSPY Awards on November 3 at the Latour Ballroom in the Wynn Las Vegas. 32 november 2007 www.newh.org tel 800.593.NEWH For Jillian Van Dresser NEWH, Inc. isn’t just a networking organization, it’s a passion. And it’s that same passion that has led her to be a leader, not only as a businesswoman and an NEWH member, but also as a mentor to younger generations of women and designers. “NEWH is a marvelous training ground for young people. We’re able to teach them how to speak, how to steer committees, and bring to fruition their thoughts and plans. It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Van Dresser says. Van Dresser is the ideal mentor, as she has been a role model for all NEWH members: she started the Atlanta chapter, the first one outside of California, in 1990 and among other roles, was president of that chapter in 1997, executive vice president for NEWH from 1999 to 2001, and then international president from 2002 to 2003. Throughout her time with the organization, she’s seen a number of designers climb the corporate ladder, less restricted by the challenges she faced early on in her career. She thinks today’s young professionals are a different breed than past generations, and she tries to imbue them with a more holistic career approach so they don’t make emotionally based decisions. “I try to get them centered as individuals. I had very good mentors growing up and I want to give these young people the same type of experience so they can benefit from the lessons I learned,” explains Van Dresser, who at age six, got the http://www.newh.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - November 2007

NEWH - November 2007
Table of Contents
Network Leaders
News
Sustainability Column
Sustainability: Green Luncheon
Have you Seen?
On the Scene
Cover Story: Passing the Torch
Scholarship: The Next Generation
Project: Harmonious Duet
Project: Second Act
Service: Recognizing Excellence
Save the Date
New Members
Partner Profiles

NEWH - November 2007