Founders Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - West Springfield, Mass. - October 18, 2007
EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION PRESIDENT WAYNE MCCARY
RECEIVES TOP ENTERTAINMENT HONOR
Eastern States Exposition President & CEO Wayne McCary, of Longmeadow, Mass., was honored with the International Entertainment Buyers' Association's (IEBA) Founders' Award Oct. 16 at the organization's 37th annual conference held in Nashville, Tenn.
McCary was introduced and presented the Founders' Award by Country Music Association's two-time Entertainer of the Year, Barbara Mandrell, one of the first acts he managed and promoted early in his career. She credited him with playing a significant role in the early development of her own career.
He is also credited with being one of the first entertainment buyers to bring Country music artists to fairs and amusement parks throughout the Northeast, including the Exposition.
McCary is a founding member of IEBA and was at the original meeting in the 1970s with the likes of Hap Peebles and Don Romeo, two entertainment icons in the industry. In 1984, he served as president of the organization.
Originally named the International Country Music Buyers Association (ICMBA), the name later was changed to IEBA to expand on the music genres and include categories such as agents, managers, artists, venue managers and other organizations from throughout the industry.
Member networking and professional development opportunities are part of IEBA's organizational purpose. It also presents professional education and information through a series of seminars at its four-day conference including comprehensive sessions with industry guest speakers.
McCary is the first fair manager to be elected to the Country Music Association board of directors and was named Fair Manager of the Year, a Reader's Poll Award, by Performance Magazine. He is a past president of the 2,600 member International Association of Fairs and Expositions and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2001, an honor given to a single outstanding fair manager each year.
His achievements include receiving an honorary doctorate of Public Service from Westfield State College and the Governor's Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism in 1996. He was also recognized in a proclamation issued by the six governors of New England in 2001. In the past he served for five years as the chairman of the Board of the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, Mass., and was vice chairman of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
McCary is currently a member of the board of directors of Elms College and serves as second vice president of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association.
Under his leadership at ESE, The Big E saw its second largest attendance in its 91 year history of over 1.2 million guests.
Visit www.thebige.com as plans take shape for the 2008 Big E, Sept. 12-28.
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