NEW ORLEANS – The Spears Group and GNO, Inc. announced that this year, the fifth annual Millennial Awards will occur alongside Emerge Summit, a new annual emerging leadership conference.
Emerge Summit will take place July 13-14 at the Ace Hotel in New Orleans, followed by the Millennial Awards on July 15.
Created by GNO, Inc., the summit will provide hundreds of up-and-coming young professionals with a series of educational and supportive platforms to drive ideas for personal and career development.
Emerge Summit will feature early career professional speakers and panelists from across the country, on a variety of topics including leadership, business development, and career management. Content will cover many of the complex issues facing young professionals throughout various career levels and stages.
The Millennial Awards, conceived and produced by the Spears Group since 2013, honor dynamic young professionals who contribute to the community through public service, make significant strides in business sectors and serve as cultural ambassadors. Notable past recipients of the Millennial Award include Kristin Coleman, Trombone Shorty, Bivian "Sonny" Lee, Chef Michael Gulotta, Cherie Melancon, Kendall Francis and Tara Letort, among others. Winners are chosen by a distinguished panel of judges comprised of notable young professionals and previous award winners, Spears reps said.
Every year, a portion of proceeds from the Millennial Awards are donated to local charities. This year, donations will be made to the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Young Professionals, a group of exceptional young men and women who work to empower New Orleans through volunteering, civic activism and social and cultural events, Spears reps said.
Also, returning for the fourth year is the Millennial Restaurant competition, wherein local restaurants will compete to become the 2017 Millennial Restaurant Destination. Past winners include The Munch Factory and Katie's Restaurant.
Emerge Summit and the Millennial Awards will be open to all young professionals from across the U.S. with nominations for the awards opening May 1. Tickets will be $30 for each event or $50 when purchased together.
The 2017 Emerge Summit and Millennial Awards are presented by GNO, Inc., Spears Group, Southwest Airlines, Ace Hotel New Orleans and Tulane Health Systems.