PPO Annual Awards
Each year, during our annual Spring convention, we award those members who have performed outstandingly in print competition and service. Below is a list of past and current winners of the awards.
PPO Image Awards
Photographer of the Year
Awarded to the PPO photographer with the highest scoring top four merited images in the Photographic Open categories.
2006 - Robert Hughes
2007 - Mark Garber
2008 - Mark Garber and Jennifer Gilman
2009 - Lynda Brown and Darrell Moll
2010 - Rod Brown
2011 - Darrell Moll
2012 - Darrell Moll
2013 - Elaine Hughes
2014 - Robert Hughes
2015 - Ted Linczak
2016 - Jaki Miller
2017 - Christine Walsh-Newton
2018 - Kristy Steeves
2019 - Danica Barreau
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Kristy Steeves
2023 - Kristy Steeves
Robert Graetz Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the maker of the highest-scoring wedding image.
2014 - Larry Spencer
2015 - Ted Linczak
2016 - Ted Linzcak
2017 - Ted Linczak
2018 - Ted Linczak
2019 - Ted Linczak
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - Bill Tyler
2022 - Bill Tyler
2023 - Brenda Pottinger
John Hoverman Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring wedding album.
2015 - Ted Linczak
2016 - James & Genevieve Nisly
2017 - Nisley, Genevieve & James
2018 - Brenda Pottinger
2019 - Brenda Pottinger
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - Brenda Pottinger
2023 - Brenda Pottinger
J. Anthony Bill Award
Highest Scoring Portrait
2013 - Christine Walsh-Newton
2015 - Christine Walsh-Newton
2016 - Kristy Steeves
2017 - Shari Brownlee
2018 - Catherine Smith
2019 - Danica Barreau
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - Kristy Steeves
2022 - Kristy Steeves
2023 - Kristy Steeves
Wedding Photographer of the Year
Awarded to the PPO photographer with highest scoring top four merited images in the Wedding categories.
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - Brenda Pottinger
2023 - Brenda Pottinger
ASP Elite Award
Awarded to the highest scoring entry by an American Society of Photographers member in Ohio.
2015 - Elaine Hughes
2016 - Elaine Hughes
2017 - Susan Gertz
2018 - Jaki Miller
2019 - Danica Barreau
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Danica Barreau
2023 - Kristy Steeves
Affiliate Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring entry for a first-time PPO entrant.
2015 - Jennifer Pritchard
2016 - Jaki Miller
2017 - Trudy Roney
2018 - Nathan Beck
2019 - Autumn Skoczen
2020 - Betsy Luce
2021 - Jennifer Gunderson
2022 - Kerra Fischer
2023 - Lisa Siders
Pictorial/IMPACT Award
Awarded to the most evocative image that best illustrates a story. Awarded by the judges.
2015 - John Stork
2016 - Ted Linzcak
2017 - Danica Barreau
2018 - Jaki Miller
2019 - Mike Underwood
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Robert Kunesh
2023 - Kristy Steeves
Kubiac Award
Awarded to the maker of the most creative entry, regardless of category. Awarded by the judges.
2015 - Elaine Hughes
2016 - Elaine Hughes
2017 - Susan Gertz
2018 - Ted Linczak
2019 - Robert Kunesh
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Debbie Knight
2022 - Danica Barreau
2023 - Lori McCoy
Artist of the Year
Awarded to the PPO artist with the highest scoring top four merited images in the Artist categories.
2016 - Elaine Hughes
2018 - Danica Barreau
2019 - Danica Barreau
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Danica Barreau
2023 - Robert Kunesh
National CPP Award
Awarded to the highest scoring print by a Certified Professional Photographer in Ohio.
2015 - Elaine Hughes
2016 - Elaine Hughes
2017 - Jaki Miller
2018 - Jaki Miller
2019 - Danica Barreau
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Danica Barreau
2023 - Kristy Steeves
GUEST Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring maker who is not a member of PPO.
2021 - Lisa Pertile
2022 - Judy Reinford
2023 - Karen McCall
George Edmondson Award
Presented to the highest scoring Commercial/Illustrative image.
2004 - Gregg Wurtzler
2006 - Gregg Wurtzler
2007 - Rex Lavoie
2009 - Robert Kunesh
2010 - Gregg Wurtzler
2011 - Rex Lavoie
2012 - Gregg Wurtzler
2013 - Gregg Wurtzler
2015 - H. Fred Cockrill
2016 - Tony Makris
2017 - John Stork
2018 - Jeff Wallace
2020 - Kelly Settle
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Robert Kunesh
2023 - Robert Kunesh
Environmental Portrait Award
Awarded to the highest-scoring environmental portrait. Awarded by the judges.
2017 - Joe Krehlick
2018 - Shari Brownlee
2019 - Ted Linczak
2020 - Ted Linczak
2021 - David Beckham
2022 - David Beckham
2023 - Kristy Steeves
PPO Service Awards
Warren Motts Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded for talent, skill, and the spirit of sharing. This award is presented to a photographer who upholds or upheld the highest ideals of a professional photographer and compiled a body of work that showed this skill. The award is presented to a photographer who demonstrated the highest caliber of technical excellence and creativity. This photographer was or is a teacher and or mentor to others. The recipient continued, or continues to grow as a professional throughout their career which spanned no less than 25 years.
2014 - Chuck Finlay
2016 - Jay Stock
2017 - Larry Peters
2019 - Gregg Wurtzler
2020 - Terry Dunlap
PPO Distinguished Service Award
Awarded for service to the craft of Photography through service, education, and technology. Each year the PPO Board chooses the most deserving person who in the past and present years has exhibited dedication to photography in the fields of service, education, and technology.
2014 - Gregg Wurtzler
2015 - Tom Welsh
2016 - Christine Walsh-Newton
2017 - Mike Price
2018 - David Beckham
2019 - co-winners: Rodney Getz and Jon Johnson
2020 - Kristy Steeves
2021 - Brent Watkins
PPA National Award
Volunteers truly are the lifeblood of PPA and its Affiliates. Every association has those extraordinary volunteers whose efforts on behalf of the Affiliate and its members deserve special recognition. Seeking a way to thank these individuals – PPA created the National Award in 1958. Each year, PPA makes this prestigious award available to state, regional, national, and international affiliates – who then present it to deserving individuals. The highest honor granted by a PPA Affiliate, it recognizes those whose support for photography goes far beyond any regular expectations or contributions. The simple inscription on this plaque reads “for service to professional photography”– but we know that this award means far more than that.
1960 - Maddison Geddes, M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog
1961 - Lawrence P. Brand
1962 - John E. Smucker, M.Photog.Cr.
1963 - Paul H. March, M.Photog.Cr
1964 - Fred Schmidt
1966 - Roy Beadling, M.Photog.Cr.
1967 - Robert E. Parker, Cr.Photog.
1968 - William R. Abey, M.Photog
1970 - Rob Paris
1971 - Harry Pluto, M.Photog.
1972 - Clarence White
1973 - Leo Wilhelm
1974 - Vincent Crawford, Cr.Photog
1976 - Jay Stock, M.Photog.Cr.
1977 - Warren E. Motts, M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP
1980 - Raymond Linesch, Cr.Photog
1981 - Richard Kinstler, Cr.Photog
1982 - Larry T. Tibbals
1983 - Larry Tibbals, Cr.Photog
1984 - Doris Crawford, Cr.Photog, CPP
1985 - Sam Oliver, M.Photog.Cr.
1986 - Jerry Maurer, Cr.Photog.
1988 - Carl Mansfield
1990 - Charles Finlay, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
1991 - Allyn Riznikove
1993 - Kent Smith, M.Photog.Cr.
1994 - Larry Peters
1995 - Carol Riznikove, Cr.Photog. CPPS
1996 - Rex Lavoie, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
1997 - Andrew N. Foster, Jr., M.Photog.
1998 - Steven Troup, Cr.Photog.
1999 - Thomas Lazaroff, M.Photog.Cr.
2000 - Ralph Goodrich, M.Photog., CPP
2001 - Rod Brown, M.Photog.Cr.
2002 - Terry Dunlap, M.Photog & Lisa Dunlap, Cr.Photog
2003 - Barry Finlay, M.Photog.Cr.
2004 - Patrick Rice, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
2006 - Ken Holiday, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
2007 - Mark Garber, M.Photog.Cr.
2008 - Gregg Wurtzler, M.Photog.Cr.
2009 - John Johnson, M.Photog.Cr.
2010 - Jerry Wolff, M.Photog.Cr.
2014 - Christine Walsh-Newton, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
2015 - Steven Busch, M.Photog.Cr., CPP & Julie Busch, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
2016 - John Fenstemacher, CPP
2017 - Dan Messaros, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
2018 - Brent Watkins, M.Photog.
2020 - David Beckham, M.Photog.
2022 - Danica Barreau, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., CPP
President's Award
This award is given by the President of the PPO to an individual or individuals whom the President feels has provided extraordinary service to the PPO.
2015 - Tom Walter
2016 - Brent Watkins
2017 - Susan Rowe
2018 - Mike Price
2019 - Jeff Rose
2020 - Danica Barreau
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Brent Watkins
Walter Troup "Above and Beyond"
This award is given to a PPO member, who through their service to PPO, has gone "above and beyond" expectation in fulfilling their job. Awarded by the PPO Board. Walter was a charter member of the Professional Photographers of Ohio and served as President in 1960 and again in 1984. He was awarded both state and national distinguished service awards for his service and dedication to the photographic industry.
2013 - Brent Watkins
2014 - Kristen Woods and Susan Rowe
2015 - Tom Walter
2016 - Julie Hanes
2018 - Jeff Wallace
2020 - Michael Price
2021 - Danica Barreau
2022 - Danica Barreau
PPO DISTINGUISHED Service Award
Given to those who have volunteered throughout the year.
2019 - Dan & Barb Messaros, Walter Rowe, Teri Ann Watkins
2020 - Sue Voldrich, Jeremy Voldrich, Lori McCoy
2021 - Kristy Steeves
2022 - Jeff Rose
Vendor of the Year Award
2019 - K&R
2020 - American Color Imaging (ACI)
2021 - Jeff Burton - Printcompetition.com