At our 2021 EXPO in Miami — some call it the “Post-COVID” EXPO — we had to modify our ED Awards. After all, most of the industry’s clubs had been closed for the better part of a year … so how could we present “Club of the Year” Awards? The easy answer was, we couldn’t.
But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention. We had to create new awards that would instead honor specific individuals who accomplished something of particular significance during a very difficult time period. These awards were well received, and ever since then, we’ve thought about how we could bring them back.
Now, in 2025, we have! In addition to the club awards that we typically present during the ED Awards Show at EXPO (voted on by the industry), we’ve introduced several ED “Honors” Awards that will acknowledge specific individuals who have made a significant contribution to the industry at large.
The following six ED “Honors” Awards will be included within our Pre-Nominations voting process at www.theEDawards.com, ED’s official voting site which launches on Friday, May 23:
Progressive Leader (GM) of the Year – This award (formerly the General Manager of the Year Award) will honor the leaders pushing their teams forward and navigating them toward success. This award seeks to recognize the leaders who are guiding their club, and perhaps the industry, in a whole new direction.
Outstanding Employee of the Year – While general managers are often the engines that make the club move, the employees themselves are the ever-important cogs in that engine. This award seeks to honor an employee who has gone above and beyond the limitations of their title. As the nominees in this category will prove, anyone can make a difference in a club’s success, no matter what duties they perform. Be it a server, bartender, VIP hostess, security staff or DJ, the Outstanding Employee of the Year just might be your club’s MVP.
Industry Innovator of the Year – A trailblazer who pushes the boundaries of possibilities within the industry, the recipient of this award is someone whose creative thinking, groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions are transforming the landscape. Whether through technology or new approaches, this individual is leading the charge in redefining the future, setting new standards and shaping the next generation of success.
Businesswoman of the Year – Let’s be real: Conducting business in the adult nightclub industry is not for the meek, but it’s even more challenging for women. This award signifies our appreciation for an industry professional who can easily traverse these choppy waters to provide a better product or service in an industry that may not recognize them as often as they should.
Club Transformation of the Year Award – A club “transformation” can come in many forms. It could be a full renovation, an overhaul in club management or even an upgrade or significant change to the overall format of the club. This award recognizes the owner who achieved the freshest, most modern approach to their club’s transformation, helping their brand achieve an all-new look and feel for their guests to enjoy.
Carol Doda Entertainer Award – Named after the famed Condor Club performer recognized as being the first topless exotic entertainer in the US, this award will honor an entertainer, or an individual that is directly associated with entertainers, who has transcended the lights and lore of the mainstage and achieved success in our industry through their leadership, innovation and talent.
Who is on the ED “Honors” Board?
The ED “Honors” Board is a collection of well-established industry professionals from across the country who represent several areas of club operation, from big to small clubs and everything in between. This list includes (in alphabetical order):
*David “Slim” Baucom, owner, MAL Entertainment club chain; Joey Bien, owner, The Treasure Clubs; Shon Boulden, owner, Devil’s Point and The Lucky Devil in Portland, OR; *Joe Carouba, owner, BSC Management (several clubs in the Pacific Northwest); Jeb Jarrell, PANDA President and DJ; Larry Kaplan, ED legal correspondent; *John Kirkendoll, owner, Penthouse Clubs/Kirkendoll Management; Don Kleinhans, owner, 2001 Odyssey in Tampa; Danny Meyers, veteran DJ/MC; Thom Naylor, GM, Archibalds in DC; Dave Peacock, GM, Platinum 84 in Denver; Dawn Rizos, owner, The Lodge in Dallas; Jenn Shamy, owner, Delilah’s in Philadelphia; *Jim St. John, Spearmint Rhino club chain; Jeremy Sweigert, DJ, Michael’s Men’s Club, Broussard, LA; *Kathy Vercher, President & CEO, Spearmint Rhino club chain; *Jerry Westlund, owner, The Pony Clubs chain of clubs; Curtis Wise, owner, Bucks chain of clubs. (* denotes an ED Hall of Fame inductee)
“We will continue to utilize our ‘pre-nominations’ voting website (theEDawards.com) to gather nominees for these new ED ‘Honors’ Awards while also soliciting direct input from the ED Honors Board itself,” says ED Publisher Dave Manack. “Our ultimate goal is to celebrate specific individuals who are not only making significant contributions to the industry at large but are moving the industry forward into the next era of club operation.”
Please note that the Don Waitt Industry Ambassador Award and the Exotic Dancer Hall of Fame Award will also be presented at the 2025 ED Awards Show.
“These new ‘Honors’ Awards represent where we feel the industry’s attention should be paid, and what areas are important to the future of our business,” says Manack. “Our board will be made up of industry pros from all aspects of club ownership and operation, ensuring that the awards are presented to the most deserving recipients.”
More about the ED’s Awards Show
The ED Honors Awards Show — the ONLY national awards show for the multi-billion-dollar gentlemen’s club industry — is produced by ED Publications and is slated for August 26, 2025, at the Criss Angel Theater in Las Vegas (inside Planet Hollywood). The ED’s Awards Show will be hosted by top comedian Kellen Erskine (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan, Comedy Central, and more!).
Established in 1998, the ED’s Awards Show is the marquee event of the Annual ED (EXOTIC DANCER) EXPO, the only national convention & tradeshow for the adult nightclub industry since its inception in 1993. The 2025 EXPO will be held August 24-27 at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and rooms are just $89 per night!
