Wayne Roberts, MAS, the retired vice president of Wichita, Kansas-based Pioneer Balloon; past chair of the PPAI Board of Directors and recipient of the Association’s 2017 PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award, has received the Incentive Marketing Association’s (IMA) Lifetime Achievement Award during the IMA’s recent Virtual Summit.

The IMA Lifetime Achievement Award, formerly the IMA Hall of Fame, was established in 2016 to honor individuals who, through a lifetime of achievements in the incentive marketplace, played a major role in the success of the industry. This award recognizes the business personality who best represents achievement and longevity, acknowledging the winner’s sustained achievements within the incentive industry during a distinguished career.

Roberts was chosen to receive this award in recognition for his decades of dedication and commitment to IMA and the industry. An active leader, Roberts led several organization boards including PPAI and IMA’s predecessor, the Association of Incentive Marketing (AIM). He was instrumental in the formation of the Incentive Marketing Association, where he served as president. Roberts championed best practices, receiving several industry certifications, and was one of the first to earn the IMA’s Certified Professional of Incentive Management (CPIM). He is also credited with an instrumental role in developing many features of the IMA, including the creation of the President’s Award, that are still in place today.

Upon receiving the award, Roberts cited the shared passion with colleagues and lifelong friendships he made along the way. He said, “I’m very humbled to be a part of this very special group. A lot of people said the idea of an industry-wide trade association wouldn’t work, but through a lot of hard work and determination, the IMA has become a very diverse and successful trade association.”