The winners of EXHIBITOR Magazine's 16th Annual All-Star Awards, however, challenge these perceptions. The Thomas Edisons of the marketing world, this year's winners sailed over numerous hurdles, met sky-high program objectives, and invented one-of-a-kind solutions that scored serious results.

Take Terrence Young, CMP, manager of international events at Pyrotek Inc. He invented a global branding guide that cut corporate exhibit-design and -production costs by 90 percent.

Judy Volker, marketing director at Iatric Systems Inc., also created something out of nothing. Hamstringed by a tight budget and strict show regulations, she convinced local merchants to offer discounts to attendees wearing Iatric-branded bracelets.

Stephen Cherry, senior marketing specialist at Amway Corp., and our winning duo, Carrie Jewkes and Angi Schoolcraft, marketing specialists for Chevron Lubricants (a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.), also invented one-off solutions. To increase the public's positive perceptions about his company, Cherry created a series of face-to-face events via a multicity tour. Meanwhile, the Chevron team concocted an attendee-engagement activity to generate awareness for a new product – and scored a 2-to-1 return on investment for the promotion.

So please join us in congratulating our newly crowned winners, each one of which possesses both marketing know how and inventive genius. May their optimism and visionary creations inspire you to channel your own inner inventor.