MK Shannon Designs Awards for the International Fashion Film Festival

MK Shannon Awards & Rewards is happy to introduce a new custom award created for Cinémoi. Nevin Milan, the creative director for Cinémoi, contacted the offices of MK Shannon to express an interest in having MK design an original award for the annual International Fashion Film Festival. It would be the first time awards would be presented. Nevin and MK immediately connected and began working together to create a design that would capture the essence of this first event. Very quickly they developed an award that met all the imaginings of both. The design was developed and produced in pewter within 4 weeks! Shown below, you can follow along with the progress—the sketch, the model for the piece, and the finished award.

Sketch for International Fashion Film Award

Model for International Fashion Film Award

International Fashion Film Award

MK Shannon Awards can produce custom awards very quickly,” says MK, “but it was Nevin’s quick work and perseverance that allowed us to meet his deadline.” Fifteen awards were presented at the ceremony live on the network. The event can be viewed at http://www.cinemoi.us

Nevin wrote “Finally got to see the award statuette in person last night before they were presented. Everyone said they were stunning. Seriously, they are great!”

Nevin Milan, creative director for Cinémoi with International Fashion Film Award

Cinémoi is a 24-hour network featuring curated films from around the world and high couture festivals new to the U. S. television market. Cinémoi is nestled among AMX, FX Movie Channel, IFC, Sundance Channel, and Turner Classic Movies. Cinemoi presents vintage to contemporary award-winning movies.

“We’re committed to offering high-quality entertainment with unparalleled style and elegance, and believe that Cinémoi, will become a network of choice for a breadth of American viewers,” offered Rod Sherwood, CEO of Cinémoi North America. More than just a movie channel, Cinémoi is aimed at discerning viewers who aspire for enticing and sophisticated entertainment.

La Quinta Presents MK Shannon Awards at Annual Awards Banquet

La Quinta "Stellar" Award

La Quinta "Brilliant" Award

For the third year, La Quinta Management Hotels has selected MK Shannon Awards to provide the awards for their Annual Awards banquet. Three years ago La Quinta contacted MK Shannon Awards looking for an award that would allow their logo to stand out and represent the company. MK suggested that an award be customized to meet their needs. Using an existing design and customizing it to represent La Quinta helping them meet their budget. 

 
La Quinta awards 20 individuals with their highest award “STELLAR” and 16 other individuals receive the “BRILLIANT” award for a wide range of achievements in several categories. 

In Business This is "As Good As It Gets!"

With a company that is reaching it 30^th year (hard to believe but true), and as the owner of that company, I have traveled many miles and interacted face-to-face with many event planners, very many. There are those who stand out in my mind and those who just stand out. BRAVO! is and continues to be one of those event planning companies that is superb. I have been involved with this company since 2007. Nancy Shaffer, Founder and CEO, is an amazingly talented woman who sought to use our company as a resource for high-quality awards. In my mind, she wanted awards that could match the quality of the events she produced. I think her work is stellar and I am proud that she considers mine the same.

We always hope to please our clients and when we do and they tell us so, it is particularly heart warming to all of us at MK Shannon Awards. You can work for money, most of us have no choice, but to work for things you love and to perform in a manner that you can be proud of is “as good as it gets” in business!

We recently received this email from Eldrina Jones, Chief Operating Officer of BRAVO! It was so touching I had to share it here. 

MK, I only speak the truth and when great client service is provided – I shout it from the hills. Too many times people only talk about the negative experiences and I am happy to acknowledge Kathleen and your entire team. I can see why she is your “right and left arm” – her warm and calm demeanor was always present on the phone.

We are a small business and know that every single person is vital for the body as a whole. These are the people that keep us going. We appreciate our BRAVO! family. Nancy and I have spent years nurturing the people who make our business.

I thank you MK for your artistry. It always brings a smile to our faces when we open the box. A bigger smile when we see such deserving people (as these honorees) who are most times overlooked, see these awards and hold them with such pride. That is when the joy is overflowing from the inside out.

We encourage our clients to use MK Shannon for their awards and will continue to spread the word.

Thank you MK.

Eldrina Jones

Chief Operating Officer BRAVO!

 


The following is our reply:

Eldrina, I trust that your awards will arrive safely and I am so pleased that you took the time to praise Kathleen. She is my "right and left arm", as you have witnessed. Everyone that works to make my designs into awards that you can present with honor to your recipients, deeply cares about making you proud. Very sweet of you to take the time to thank Kathleen; sincerely appreciate your business. ~MK

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Jamie Rose called me in October to ask about a bronze he acquired that had my signature and copyright. Once he described the piece, I smiled as I knew it was the first piece, and my favorite of all the 20 different bird images that I created for Shaklee Corporation. The Altus Awards were presented to their top sales people every year. Jamie seemed to love the lines of his piece, called Soaring, so much that I told him I would forward him another piece and his email below is the result of our interaction. It is a few moments with another mind that I will never forget and for which I am deeply appreciative. I am so glad Jamie Rose is on this planet!

Here's my email to Jamie:

Jamie, here is another old piece. I made this sculpture from a dream I had where I saw this image. I named it after my grandmother—"Alta". Also, I named it that because of the Spanish word (which means high or elevated). Anyway the piece has a head that shows only half of the face and the other half is an open space. I sculpted it without thinking. I saw the image in my mind and created it. Then someone asked me what the meaning was and I said, without hesitation, that half of the face is the part of us we know and the other space or half is the part we do not. We are always gaining self knowledge and forever having more to learn.~ MK

Alta by MK Shannon

Here's Jamie's response and description of Alta:

"MKWonderful! Thank you for sharing this image with me. At first the lighting/reflections gave me pause . . . but there is so much about it that resonates with me—your description and more so . . .
The universe—our existence our experience is both the ordered and the wildness together. 

And the 'open mind' half in the piece is our fill-able potential, still connected —with everything and within everything—sharing order, sharing disorder, at home with whatever meanings we come to terms with. :-) The head . . . seems poised astride; its tethered connection with Being and yet reaching beyond to . . . the rest of it.
Dreams and spontaneity are a gift of life, aren't they. Communicating the insights—a challenge. But it is imagery that lasts with people, and resonates.I've spent 66 years trying to get a message across on exactly the idea of this sculpture (albeit with words and mathematics—"Integrity Paradigm— understanding the integral universe" UIU)—so I definitely appreciate the challenge. :-) 

I am so glad to have connected with you around the eagle. It really means a lot to me. It's an elegant work. So hopeful in its sweeping lines. I wrote a poem back in the 60's about Yuri Gagarin that your sculpture made me remember. Because when he achieved orbit as the first human in space around the earth, he radioed back, "I am Eagle, I am Eagle" 'wingless and mystic he soared . . ." I always admired his exhilaration. 

And the sculpture's rough and reaching—curved base of the piece—is the earth below. I called her "horizon", the sleek and streaming active space beneath him- -lovers moving together in the stellar expanse, different from each other; separated but so closely connected. You captured that in your styling—both the soaring freedom, and the unbreakable connection. 

Please forgive me for adding this layer of personal relevance—your incredible story today literally took my breath away. All and so much happening and falling into place and opening up potential and opportunity for your life. You've had me smiling all day, and thanking life for hearing about such a phenomenal affirming experience. Just happy for you.(!) Don't know when or how but I will definitely act on your offer to meet at the foundry some day. I look forward to it. 

Stay incredible  :-)Jamie"

ENVISION . . . IMAGES THAT INSPIRE!

The past, present and future create the foundation of your organization—its mission, character, and reputation. The design work of MK Shannon Awards & Rewards captures that message and vision in a powerful way by creating an award you present to people in the organization. This symbol is carried forward every time you recognize individuals for their performance, service, and contribution.

MK Shannon creates unique recognition awards that tap into the human spirit and imagination. Whether it be sales, sports achievement, service or fundraising efforts, MK Shannon Awards offer customized incentives that celebrate excellence and achievement.

Here are two examples where an organization contacted MK Shannon to use her creativity in art to produce a custom award.

"For the Love of Animals" SPCA Donor Incentive Award

Here's what was said:

". . . it is all that I had envisioned as a symbol for the SPCA. It integrates mankind and the animals through its graceful curves."

Richard Avanzino, President

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

San Francisco, California

"ALTUS" Achievement Award for Shaklee Corporation

"MK Shannon has an understanding of Shaklee. I recommend her art to anyone looking for truly outstanding and innovative pieces."

Rich Perry

Vice President Sales

Shaklee Corporation

ClubCorp Circle of Excellence Awards

ClubCorp prides itself in being “the world leader in private clubs.” ClubCorp comprises an elite collection of private golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs. Its private clubs are unrivaled in their scope, quality of facilities and services, and are distinguished further by the collection of names found on their rosters of membership.

Chairman Success Award

"For the past 15 years, ClubCorp has partnered with MK Shannon on our most prestigious award—our Circle of Excellence. Out of our 160 Clubs only about one-quarter of our Clubs receive this award per year and when they do, they proudly display their Circle of Excellence award's for their Members, Guests, and fellow Employee Partners to admire. MK Shannon always produces quality work, and is responsive to our every need. Thanks for your continuous excellent service!" ~Kay Miller, ClubCorp Executive Assistant

ClubCorp awards member clubs every year for achievement according to their level of services, the quality of those services, and the facility. Only a few clubs qualify. Those that do qualify are presented with the award entitled “Success”. This piece is presented along with matching “Success” lapel pins that are presented by the recipient’s club to each of its staff from the grounds keeper to the manager. This program was so successful that an additional award was customized to be presented to honor a still higher level of achievement.

Chairman's Circle of Excellence (detail)

In 1999 Club Corp contacted MK Shannon wanting a substantial award to be presented to properties that have achieved and met membership qualification for their Circle of Excellence. They also wanted to have something smaller to give to the staff of the entire club that reached the membership qualifications. MK created an award entitled "Success". This award is about 14 inches tall. MK also created a matching lapel pin to be given to the qualifying staff members. Club corp also established a Chairman's Circle of Excellence Performance Recognition program which focuses on ClubCorp's five key business initiatives. The executive committee members present the club with a framed Circle of Excellence certificate, a sculpture created and signed by the artist MK Shannon, and a custom-designed lapel pin in either silver or gold, for each Employee Partner of the team. Maintaining Gold status in the Circle of Excellence for three consecutive years qualifies a property for membership in the Chairman's Circle. MK added a one inch Cubic Zirconia to the base of the "Success" award for the Chairman's Circle Award. These awards continue to set the bar for achievement very high!

Custom Award "Vanguard" Designed for Donor Recognition

Vanguard, designed in 2009, is a custom award that has broad appeal for use as an achievement award, or a donor recognition award. As a corporate award this sculpture honors employee recognition or client appreciation. It also lends itself to use as an achievement award. The word Vanguard in the dictionary means "leading position". Can you imagine an army with the troops at the front leading the way--they are the Vanguard! In companies and foundations there are always “vanguard” individuals. This unique award is a simple design with a powerful message. Two figures are shooting upwards through time and space toward their goal. It could easily represent an outstanding employee and the company working together and be presented as a corporate award. It could also be used to honor teams. As a donor award it could be given to a married couple to honor their work or support of a foundation or non-profit organization. This piece has honor and achievement written all over it!