The Regional Association Council (RAC) has named Julie Schoenbauer, executive director for the Rocky Mountain Region Promotional Products Association (RMRPPA), as the recipient of the 2017 Donna Hall Memorial Grant. The award presentation will take place during the opening reception and dinner at the 2017 RAC Leadership Development Workshop in Grapevine, Texas, on October 17.

The Donna Hall Memorial Grant was created by RAC to provide regional association executive directors the opportunity to advance their education and careers by providing financial support to attend education conferences and events. 

“I am extremely honored to be the recipient of the Donna Hall Memorial Grant,” says Schoenbauer. “I will be using the award to attend the ASAE Great Ideas Conference next March. This will teach me how to create and support leaders in innovative ways, which will be beneficial as our board continues to transition to new leadership.” 

Schoenbauer was selected from a pool of executive directors who applied for the grant and was chosen by a four-person advisory group. She will receive up to $1,500 in tuition and travel expense reimbursement to attend workshops and events that enhance her professional development. 

Schoenbauer is the fourth recipient of the Donna Hall Memorial Grant. Previous grant recipients are Jonathan Riegel, MAS, LaDonna Belcher (OPPA) and Dana Geiger, CAS, (CPPA and VAPPA). 

The Donna Hall Memorial Grant was created by the RAC Board in 2013 to honor the memory of Donna Hall, who served as executive director of the Michigan Promotional Professionals Association (MiPPA).