SPOA wraps successful 2024 conference with awards and recognition

The School Photographers of America (SPOA), the industry association for the school and sports volume photography market, held its third annual conference July 8-12, 2024, at the M Resort in Las Vegas, NV. The association, going through a leadership transition under the direction of interim executive director Doyce Crandall with the support of the board, put together an impressive educational program with topics ranging from staff training, marketing, cybersecurity, sales training, boot camps, and more. There was also a trade show featuring volume photography leaders.

The capstone for the event was the SPOA Industry Awards Banquet, which recognizes luminaries from photographers to software designers, from yearbook reps to marketing geniuses, from veteran leaders to promising young talent. Listed below are the honorees.

Hall of Fame Inductees

• Ed Geskus, Geskus Photography
• Jerry Halterman, HR Imaging Partners
• Tom Hayes, VIP
• Clyde “Max” Ward, Max Ward Delmar Studios

Photographic Competition winners:

President’s Award of Excellence

• Aric Snyder, Jr. of Inter-State Studio

Chairman’s Award of Innovation

•  Sony

Rising Star Awards:

• Zach Swain, Geskus Photography
• Alex Ela, Cherished Memories Photography
• Jessica Brown, Kemmetmueller Photography

Event photography courtesy of Zach Harrison Photography