2025 Chapter Awards Winners Announced!

SIM recognizes members who contribute to the growth, advancement and excellence of their local chapter. This year, four recipients were chosen by a panel of judges and were formally recognized alongside all nominees at the 2025 Chapter Leader Summit.

Congratulations to the 2025 award winners!

Chapter Champion of the Year

Toni Harrison-Hogan, SIM South Carolina

Community Impact Award

Leona Thomas, SIM Philadelphia

Innovator of the Year

Steve Hoyt, SIM San Diego

Hall of Fame

Kristen Lamoreaux , SIM Philadelphia

2025 Judges

Thank you to our judges, representing a cross-section of the country.

• Chuck Williams, SIM Detroit
• Gary Russell, SIM Houston
• James Martin, SIM Boston
• Jake Westphal, SIM Southern California
• Antonio Taylor, SIM Arizona & SIM Memphis
• Pradeep Kumar, SIM Portland

2025 Nominees

We are grateful to all our nominees who individually and collectively exemplify a commitment to building their local communities and living SIM’s brand.

SIM National Chapter Champion of the Year Nominees

• Chet Bhat, Vice President Marketing, Houston Chapter
• Gene Barskiy, Vice President Marketing, New Jersey Chapter
• Sacha Basho, Director, Sponsorships & Philanthropy, Portland Chapter
• Addie Deinlein, Sponsorship Chair, Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter
• Toni Harrison-Hogan, SIM National Board Member, Co-Founder South Carolina Chapter
• Sanjay Khatnani, Membership Chair, Philadelphia Chapter
• Fariba Marvasti, President, Central Connecticut Chapter
• Jennifer Mathis, Program Chair, Tampa Bay
• George Sheth, Programs Chair, Southern California Chapter

SIM National Community Impact Award Nominees

• Sacha Basho, Director of Sponsorships & Chair of SIM Portland Women, Portland Chapter
• Darwin Kovacs, Community Chair, Central Connecticut Chapter
• Robin Laskowski, Vice President Membership, Houston Chapter
• YuChih Liou, Member-at-Large, Southern California Chapter
• Leona Thomas, SIM Women Champion, Philadelphia Chapter

SIM National Innovator of the Year Nominees

• Steve Hoyt, Program Chair, San Diego Chapter
• Kathy Lomax, Member Experience Chair, Southern California Chapter
• Vyom Upadhya, President, South Florida Chapter 

SIM National Hall of Fame Nominees

• Mark Griesbaum, Trustee, Chicago Chapter
• Kristen Lamoreaux, Board Member, SIM Women Founder, MIT Chair, Philadelphia Chapter
• John Manzanares, Board of Advisors, Southern California Chapter