Dr. Joe Goldblatt, FRSA served as the founding president of the International Special Events Society (ISES), the author of the first international certification examination for the special events industry and is the author, co author and editor of twenty books in the field of events management education including the first published text book in the field. He has received life time achievement awards from the International Special Events Society and Special Events Magazine. He was one of the first inductees into the Special Events Industry Hall of Fame. Russia awarded him the Silver Medal for lifetime creative contributions to the events industry. He was selected as the Event Educator of the Year by the Professional Convention Management Association and honored as the distinguished alumnus by his undergraduate college. He was the first educator to be inducted into the International Festivals and Events Association Hall of Fame.