NACS 2026 BOSS Awards Judges Announced

The Experiential Design Authority (EDA) is proud to unveil the esteemed final judging panel for the NACS 2026 BOSS (Best of Show Stand) Awards. The BOSS Awards celebrate innovation, creativity, and excellence in experiential design, recognizing the most impactful projects showcased throughout the NACS exhibit halls. This distinguished group of industry leaders will evaluate entries based on their innovation, execution, and the ability to transform the audience experience.

The 2026 NACS BOSS Awards will be judged by an exceptional panel of marketing and experiential design experts, including:

• Steve Deckel, CTSM, CEO, Deckel & Moneypenny, Louisville, KY

• Dana Esposito, Executive Vice President, Strategy, BlueHive Exhibits, Worcester, MA

• Stan Kruss, CEO, Expo Centric, Sydney, NSW, Australia

• Jeannette Sanders, Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, 2020 Exhibits, Houston, TX

• Stephen Ross, Vice President, Access TCA, Whitinsville, MA

• Courtney Soice, President, Hamilton, Indianapolis, IN

• Travis Stanton, Executive Director, The Experiential Design Authority, Rochester, MN

• Vickie Velji, Chief Operating Officer, Kubik, Mississauga, ON, Canada

• Michael Vallone, Senior Vice President, Creative & Delivery, Hill & Partners, Weymouth, MA

  
  

"We are thrilled to have such an accomplished group of professionals serve as judges for the NACS 2026 BOSS Awards," said Travis Stanton, Executive Director of The Experiential Design Authority. "Each of these individuals brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for innovation in experiential marketing and design. Their insights will be invaluable in evaluating this year's finalists and selecting our winners."

Steve Deckel, CTSM, CEO, Deckel & Moneypenny, Louisville, KY

Steve Deckel is the CEO of Deckel and Moneypenny, an independent experiential agency in Louisville, Kentucky. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA). Steve has over 30 years of exhibit design experience and earned his bronze-level certification through the Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) program. His clients include GE, Chevron, and many well-known brands. Deckel & Moneypenny was ranked among North America's top exhibit providers, and the company's work has been honored with numerous awards, including Sizzle Awards, Portable/Modular Awards, and ExSys Awards. 

Dana Esposito, Executive Vice President, Strategy, BlueHive Exhibits, Worcester, MA

With over 25 years of award-winning trade show design and industry strategy experience, Dana supports the account executive and creative teams at BlueHive by focusing on solving their clients’ specific needs and problems, while championing their brand and goals. She is also responsible for process refinement and the growth of BlueHive’s operations and best practices to best suit the needs of their clients. Dana has received recognition for her designs as well as her leadership throughout the industry, including EDPA Designer of the Year and the 2017 Star Award. She is the co-chair of the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) University Affiliations Committee and is on the EDPA Board of Directors.

Stan Kruss, CEO, Expo Centric, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Stan Kruss is the CEO of Expo Centric, an award-winning experiential design and exhibition agency known for bold, strategic, and commercially effective brand experiences across Australia and internationally. With deep expertise in exhibition design, brand activations, modular environments, trade show strategy, and large-scale experiential projects, Stan brings a practical, commercially minded perspective to everything he does. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, audience behavior, business outcomes, and flawless execution. As a judge, Stan looks for experiences that deliver impact beyond the photo. His perspective is shaped by years of leading teams through the realities of design, fabrication, logistics, and live audience engagement, where good ideas have to survive the real world, not just the presentation deck.

Jeannette Sanders, Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, 2020 Exhibits, Houston, TX

Jeannette Sanders' 20 years of experience spans experiential marketing, brand strategy, digital engagement, social media, content creation, SEO, SEM, and event management. She has led global marketing teams and earned multiple honors, including World Exhibition Stand Awards, Lantern Awards, and the BMA People's Choice Award. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Visual Communications from The Art Institute of Houston, an Associate of Arts in Illustration from the Instituto de Diseño de Caracas, and an Associate in Graphic Design from the Centro Artístico Villasmíl de León in Venezuela. An active member of the Business Marketing Association (BMA), AMA, and participant in the Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA), Jeannette is passionate about fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation. 

Stephen Ross, Vice President, Access TCA, Whitinsville, MA

For over two decades, Stephen Ross's tenure as an Executive Creative Director has been defined by steering teams to craft compelling visual stories that resonate in the B2B and B2C markets. His focus on customer journey strategies and integrated marketing has consistently delivered impactful brand experiences for many clients. Stephen's professional journey is rooted in design and creative strategy. He leverages design, marketing, advertising, branding, and identity development to forge strong connections between brands and their audiences. At the core of his work ethic is a commitment to innovation and excellence, evidenced by multiple industry design awards and a reputation as a sought-after speaker in the experiential marketing industry.

Courtney Soice, President, Hamilton, Indianapolis, IN

Courtney Soice brings more than 15 years of experience in executive leadership, engagement strategy and business development, with a record of driving growth and building lasting client relationships. As President of Hamilton, an award-winning experiential agency, she leads its growth strategy and oversees all pre-sale functions, including business development, sales, strategy, marketing and creative. Her leadership centers on building trusted relationships, strengthening organizational alignment and expanding how Hamilton helps brands create meaningful audience experiences. Courtney is also deeply committed to advancing the experiential industry. She serves on the U.S. Advisory Board for The Experiential Design Authority, as Vice President of the Women In Experiential (WIE) Board of Directors, and as President of the Experiential Designers and Producers Association.

Travis Stanton, Executive Director, The Experiential Design Authority, Rochester, MN

Travis Stanton brings more than 20 years of face-to-face marketing experience, including 18 years at Exhibitor magazine, where he rose to Editor in Chief. There, he launched recognition programs including the World Expo Awards, EuroShop Awards, and Best of CES, and produced virtual and live awards shows in Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, and Barcelona. He led Exhibitor to three Magazine of the Year awards and earned honors including ASBPE’s Young Leader award and the Minnesota Media and Publishing Association’s Innovator and Greg Carey Leadership awards. He also associate-produces the Miss Universe telecast. Today, as a strategist and consultant, Travis uses hard data to help clients optimize experiential marketing, drawing on two decades of global events, including five World Expos.

Vickie Velji, Chief Experience Officer, Kubik, Mississauga, ON, Canada

With 25+ years in account management and client services, Vickie Velji is a driving force behind Kubik’s leadership in experiential events. She consistently cultivates lasting client relationships, managing long-term partnerships with top brands.  As Chief Operating Officer, Vickie oversees Kubik’s operational strategy and execution, guiding global teams to streamline processes, exceed expectations, and set industry benchmarks. Her innovative approach to operations and experiential event management fuels creativity and impactful results. Vickie’s expertise and leadership have been key to Kubik’s growth and reputation as an industry pioneer, making her an invaluable asset to the company and its diverse worldwide clientele.

Michael Vallone, Senior Vice President, Creative & Delivery, Hill & Partners, Weymouth, MA

An accomplished creative professional, Michael has won over a dozen industry awards, including Davey Awards and Hermes Awards. As the leader of Hill & Partners' creative team, Michael mentors a team of designers and drives a co-creation approach to branded environments. He served on the EDPA Northeast Board from 2015–2022, including as President in 2019. A founding member and current co-chair of the EDPA Future Leaders Committee, Michael was recognized in the inaugural class of Future Leaders in 2020. He is also a dedicated mentor, guiding students at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Bemidji State University, and engaging in workforce development through initiatives at career fairs and trade schools.

The winners of the NACS 2026 BOSS Awards will be announced during a special webinar hosted by The Experiential Design Authority and Exhibit City News on November 6. Additional details TBA.

For more information about the NACS BOSS Awards, visit: https://www.experientialdesignauthority.com/best-of-show-1.

About The Experiential Design Authority: 

Comprising a collective of industry leaders and champions of experiential marketing and design, The Experiential Design Authority serves as a governing body overseeing a number of international competitions, including the BOSS Awards, ExSys Awards, and World Expolympics. The organization is committed to fairness and transparency, as well as the value of professional competition and the goal of giving back to the next generation of experiential design professionals. For more information, visit www.theexperientialdesignauthority.com.

Contact: info@experientialdesignauthority.com