The 24th Annual LOUIE Awards committee is pleased to announce the judges for this year's LOUIE Awards. The panel of judges consists of 16 well-respected retailers, sales representatives, editors and members of the industry who will evaluate this year’s LOUIE entries to determine the finalists and winners in each category. The LOUIEs welcome a high caliber of new and returning judges to this year’s Awards, including influential retailers such as Paper Source, Kate’s Paperie and Barnes & Noble; industry professionals from Hallmark, American Greetings and Mohawk Paper; and editors from Oh So Beautiful Paper, HOW Magazine and Stationery Trends.

By continuing in the vein of last year’s move to include more retailer judges, and with the addition of members of the editorial staff from influential paper and stationery publications and blogs, this prestigious group of judges will bring their greeting card product expertise to the process. Their involvement motivates new and returning entrants to participate in the LOUIEs in 2012 and beyond. The judges are as follows:

 

Elaine Barker -- Owner, Paper Potpourri

Monika Brandrup -- VP and Creative Director, Up With Paper

Violet Brandwein – Buyer, Kate’s Paperi

Rob Fortier – Principal, Center Aisle Group

Nole Garey – Founder and Editor, Oh So Beautiful Paper

Carol Hayden – PaperSource

Meryl Hooker – Manufacturer’s Rep and Principal, Center Aisle Group

Ginger McCleskey – Manufacturer’s Representative, Queen of Hearts Cards

Karen McGhee – Card Buyer, Barnes & Noble

Ann McGillicuddy – Art Director, Hallmark

Erin Miller – Co-Owner, Haute Papier

Joanna Mohr – Art Director, American Greetings

Gentry O’Neill – Owner, Paper On the Avenue

Megan Patrick – Content Director, HOW Magazine

Sarah Schwartz – Editor, Stationery Trends

Stacey Smith – Buyer, Binders Art

Allyson Van Houton – Marketing Specialist, Mohawk Paper and Curator, Felt and Wire Shop

 

 “In choosing this year’s group of LOUIE judges, we wanted to be sure that there was a good mix of retailers, editors, reps and industry members from known and respected companies and publications in order to encourage future entries and to continue to raise the caliber of the LOUIEs,” said Katy Greenspan, this year’s LOUIE chair. “We are confident that this year’s judges will bring their knowledge, passion and commitment to the Awards.”

Judging is scheduled to occur January 31st and February 1st in New York City, during the New York International Gift Fair®. Judges will score each entry based on five categories: Originality, Impact, Design Excellence, Sendability and Value; and will choose three entrants in each category as a finalists to receive a LOUIE Award at the LOUIE Awards gala in May, taking place on Sunday, May 20, at Espace in New York City, during the National Stationery Show®.

The most coveted award, “Card of the Year” (there are two winners, one from each price break), is determined by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges following the 2-day judging process. The Blue Ribbon panel is subgroup of the larger panel.

For more information, visit www.greetingcard.org.