The 2023 North American Awards Gala was a truly inspiring and exciting event, celebrating record-breaking sales in the US and Canada. The three-day event was held at the Fontainebleau Hotel, a gorgeous resort on the oceanfront of Miami Beach in an area known as “Millionaire’s Row.” Spanning over 20 acres, this iconic, legendary luxury hotel boasts scenic ocean views and six outdoor swimming pools surrounded by private cabanas, a nightclub, nine spectacular restaurants, and an indulgent spa.
The festivities began the evening of January 26th with a private reception gathering the Regional and National Consultants at Fontainebleau’s StripSteak restaurant bar. The event served as a perfect welcome for the newest consultants, who would be formally recognized with awards later in the weekend.
On Friday, attendees arrived from across the United States and Canada to join the Campaign Heads and National Account Managers from Credico (USA) LLC and Credico Marketing Inc. at bespoke campaign breakout sessions in the afternoon. These Summits had a twofold purpose: information and celebration! The sessions provided attendees with updates and knowledge specific to their respective campaigns. They also featured the presentation of Brand Ambassador and 20/20 Club Awards to the business owners at the top of their game.
The evening featured the weekend’s highlight event: the Awards Gala. Guests were welcomed to the Sparkle Ballroom with a red-carpet photoshoot and drinks reception as everyone caught up with their friends in the industry. Following the reception, the doors were opened for guest to take their seats and enjoy appetizers before the ceremonies began.
Credico’s President Jesse Young welcomed the crowd with exciting plans for 2023. Next, National Consultant Justin Cobb took the stage to recognize Ronan O’Connor and Chris Mikkides as two of the newest Regional Consultants, both of whom presented inspirational speeches.
Next on the stage were Regional Consultants Kirsty McLeod and Eric Martin, who presented the 50/50 Club awards to 21 high-achieving independent sales offices. Fresh in from the UK, National Consultant Josh Cote then stepped up to deliver a speech and announce the nominees and winners for Recruiter of the Year. Regional Consultant Bart Yates was up next to present the nominees and award winners for Business Partner of the Year, followed by an amazing dinner accompanied by an outstanding jazz trio.
National Consultant Raf Diaz kicked things off after dinner with the announcement of a third new Regional Consultant, Pani Verma. Raf returned to the stage following Pani’s speech to announce the nominees and winner of the Most Improved Owner of the Year. Yet another Regional Consultant was then congratulated as James Flynn was welcomed to that elite cohort.
“The 2023 Credico Gala was hands down one of the best corporate events I’ve ever attended, from the setting to the award speeches themselves, I feel truly blessed to have been a part of it.” – Regional Consultant James Flynn
A highlight of the evening was an enthralling speech from Credico’s Chairman, Antoine Nohra, who also thanked our client sponsor, Charter. The fantastically successful partnership between Credico, Charter, and our network of independent sales offices was highlighted in a presentation from Patrick Longood, Vice President, Retail Partnerships at Charter Communications.
Visiting from South Africa, National Consultant Peter van den Berg presented an inspiring speech followed by the President’s Club awards, an accomplishment achieved by ten distinctive business owners. Then it was Regional Consultant Matt Goodchild’s turn to present two more new Regional Consultants, Michael Wang and Obi Shorinwa.
“The event in Miami was absolutely fantastic. The venue, awards, and speeches were absolutely breathtaking. It was a truly humbling experience to be a part of, and I’m so excited to be a part of this organization.” – Regional Consultant Michael Wang
Then it was time to announce the winners of the Million Dollar Club awards, presented by Regional Consultants Gustavo Saez, Ayush Sukhani, and Adrien Fourny. In total, a record-breaking 31 incredible entrepreneurs earned this distinction. And if that wasn’t enough, National Consultant Elana Diaz then presented two entirely new categories of awards that showcase the growth and success in the industry, the $2 Million Club and $3 Million Club.
The next National Consultant to grace the stage was James Sagar, presenting the winners of the Rookie Club awards in recognition of these entrepreneurs’ outstanding achievements in their first year of business. He then announced the winner of the Rookie of the Year award, Christopher Sandys-Thomas. Not to be outdone, Gavin Walsh then announced the nominees for Comeback Owner of the Year, awarded to both Fernando Campos and Simone Suetsugu. Remaining on stage to be recognized as the evening’s seventh Regional Consultant, Simone Suetsugu gave a heartfelt speech before the presentation of the prestigious Owner of the Year award.
This recognition was presented by Raf Diaz and James Sagar, who returned to the stage to recognize Igor Barbosa as one of two Owners of the Year. Jason Ward also earned this prestigious award, as well as being recognized as the eighth and final Regional Consultant of the evening.
Last but by no means least, the newest National Consultant, Gavin Walsh, was presented with a stunning Audemars Piguet watch in recognition of this incredible achievement. Following his enthusiastic speech, it was time for the crowd to celebrate! Guests partied into the wee hours, enjoying fully stocked bars, casino tables, photo booths, costumed dancers, and a fantastic live band.
“A memorable night – one I will remember for a long time!” – National Consultant Gavin Walsh
Saturday was a day for networking, with various organizations hosting pool parties, yacht outings, and summit meetings. On Sunday, guests boarded their flights home full of excitement, budding plans, amazing memories, and even a little bit of the glamourous sparkle of Miami.
