It is time to celebrate, ticketing friends!
INTIX members and ticketing professionals from around the world help create the moments that make live events unforgettable. From the first click to the final curtain call, it is your expertise, precision and dedication that keep the industry moving and the magic alive.
Each year, we come together to recognize the individuals whose impact extends far beyond job titles, organizations and borders. These leaders elevate the profession and strengthen our community.
Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, we are proud to honour the 2026 INTIX Award recipients.
INTIX Spirit Award – Harmony McGivney
The 2026 Spirit Award recipient is Harmony McGivney, Box Office Manager, Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, as voted by the INTIX membership. Each year, the recipient embodies the INTIX spirit of enthusiasm, participation, service and support, while being accessible to colleagues and the industry.
Harmony McGivney.
McGivney is a passionate INTIX ambassador whose commitment to building strong relationships helps drive the organization forward. She currently Co-Chairs the Member Connections Committee (MCC), which supports new and long-time members in getting the most out of their INTIX membership.
“I've encountered few people as enthusiastic and energetic as Harmony with regard to her work in developing the kind of communication and relationships within the INTIX membership that will help ensure the future stability and growth of the organization,” says her nominator.
“The ticketing world can feel very chaotic at times, and I think it is so important to let those in your network know that you are available to listen and chat,” McGivney shared in support of her nomination.
McGivney adds, “I very much enjoy hosting the MCC coffee chats and pre-conference webinars. I find these virtual events are an excellent opportunity to connect with new and existing INTIX members and let them know about all the incredible opportunities INTIX has to offer. I truly want to be the friendly face people see at conference or on virtual events and know that they can come to me with any questions or if they need assistance.”
“Anyone who knows Harmony can attest to the incredible energy she brings into every space,” says Ashley Voorhees, Vice President of Patron Services for Omaha Performing Arts, INTIX Board Chair and Chair of the INTIX Awards committee. “She genuinely loves INTIX and speaks about our organization with enthusiasm to anyone willing to listen. She is a true ambassador of our mission and values — who better to represent the spirit of INTIX?”
True Tickets Young Ticketing Professional – David Damerell
The recipient of the 2026 True Tickets Young Ticketing Professional Award is David Damerell, Assistant Director of Ticket Services, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Each year, the recipient of this award is an INTIX member under the age of 40 who exemplifies the future of INTIX, the profession and the industry. The recipient also represents the ideals of INTIX and demonstrates growing leadership, innovation, customer care and critical thinking skills.
David Damerell.
Damerell has been an INTIX member for six years. He has over a decade of experience after entering the field “through hard work and persistence, juggling multiple part-time roles before breaking into the industry full-time,” his nominator shares. Damerell’s ability to manage three positions simultaneously, with the Washington Nationals, the Washington Capitals and Wolf Trap “was a clear testament to his dedication and work ethic.”
Transitioning into a full-time role with the Washington Ballet marked a turning point, allowing Damerell to begin attending the INTIX conference, which he has done annually since 2019. He quickly began giving back by serving on and chairing committees, speaking at multiple conferences and volunteering whenever he could. Damerell was also a founding member of the leadership team that revived DMVRTA, the Washington, D.C. regional ticketing group, post-COVID. The group now boasts over 150 members.
“At Wolf Trap, David has continued to drive excellence. He led efforts to enhance the guest and donor experience, including the implementation of online cross-show exchanges for members,” his nominator says. “David also embodies integrity, humility and a collaborative spirit. He inspires trust, earns respect and brings out the best in those around him.”
“I regularly ask my team, ‘What can we do better?’ As the eyes and ears on the front lines, their insights are essential in identifying both operational inefficiencies and opportunities for growth,” Damerell shared in support of his nomination. “I make it a priority to listen actively to their feedback and take strategic action, whether it is addressing one-off situations or tackling systemic issues that require deeper investigation.”
“David stands out as a young ticketing professional because he pairs unwavering dedication with a consistent drive to improve the patron experience and strengthen the industry as a whole,” says Voorhees.
Outstanding Ticket Office – The Athletics
The 2026 Outstanding Ticket Office is The Athletics. Each year, this award is presented to a ticket office with an exceptional reputation for customer service. The staff must also function skillfully and professionally as a team, and the ticket office must maintain a standard of excellence, accuracy and precision in public and internal accounting functions.
The Athletics ticketing team.
The past year for the Athletics ticketing team was memorable, successful and unlike any other. The club is relocating from Oakland, CA, where they have spent more than 50 seasons, to Las Vegas, NV. As the team looks ahead to opening day in the new ballpark in April 2028, the A’s will play two more seasons in their interim home at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. In addition to Sutter Health Park, the ticketing team is supporting Spring Training at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ, and six regular-season games at Las Vegas Ballpark (home of the Aviators), while building a manifest and ticketing strategy for a new state-of-the-art ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.
“A relocation in MLB has happened only one other time (2005) since 1972 and is emotional for the fan in-market as well as the front office staff,” Steve Fanelli, Revenue and Business Operations, shared in support of the nomination. “The Athletics ticket office had to unwind 57 years of the Oakland Coliseum with commemorative ticket printing, large crowds at the ballpark and emotional fans who [were vocal and not] always pleased … with the relocation.”
Fanelli continues, “There was never a playbook for the Athletics ticket office to follow. We relied on training and learnings from INTIX and [our] gut [and] intuition to find success. While the Athletics hope no other clubs have to go through the relocation of a franchise, if needed, a playbook has now been created and documented to follow based upon their pioneering experience.”
“The Athletics have navigated an extraordinary amount of change — relocating cities, building a new venue and operating from a temporary home — all of which already make them deserving of this recognition,” says Voorhees. “But it’s their leadership throughout this transition that truly distinguishes them. They stayed calm, adapted quickly, thought strategically and ultimately rose above the challenges of change management in a way we can all learn from.”
Outstanding Ticketing Professional – Gabe Johnson
The 2026 Outstanding Ticketing Professional is Gabe Johnson, Director, Criterion Ticketing, Roundabout Theatre Company. This award is presented annually to an INTIX member with at least five years of leadership experience in entertainment ticketing. The recipient exemplifies excellence, precision, achievement, service and professionalism. They must also demonstrate ongoing support for INTIX, its membership and its mission through involvement and participation.
Gabe Johnson.
Over nearly three decades in ticketing, Johnson has worked at every scale of the industry — from touring Broadway productions and small downtown theaters to major music festivals and his current role with one of Broadway’s leading theater owners. This breadth of experience has shaped his strong understanding of how audiences, technology, data and the business of live performance intersect to create meaningful connections.
In what he describes as his greatest professional achievement, Johnson designed, developed and then launched Criterion Ticketing in 2021. It is powered by Roundabout Theatre Company and allows patrons to discover shows and book tickets for plays and musicals across its five stages.
“Criterion Ticketing became more than an e-commerce system,” Johnson shared in support of his nomination. “It grew into a model for innovation and partnership, proving that a non-profit could design and operate technology that performs at the same standard as the commercial sector while staying true to its mission. The platform unified ticketing, data and e-commerce in ways that enhanced both audience experience and organizational sustainability.”
“Gabe has been a leader in implementing new technologies and ensuring their implementation is successful,” his nominator said. “He is also becoming a spokesman for the industry due to regularly being invited to speak at various events not related to ticketing.”
“Gabe has been an exceptional ticketing professional for many years,” says Voorhees. “He’s always willing to listen, explore new ideas and push the industry forward with innovation. He has been a trusted resource for many in this room and a fantastic partner to vendors — consistently elevating the standard of collaboration and professionalism.”
IMPACT Award – Linda Forlini
In addition to our annual awards honorees, INTIX was delighted to recognize Linda Forlini as its eighth IMPACT Award recipient.
The IMPACT Award is given at the discretion of the INTIX Board Chair to recognize an individual, organization, or partner that has provided continuous, consistent, extraordinary and exemplary service and support to INTIX. The award acknowledges the lasting impact on our members and the live event ticketing industry. To date, the award has been bestowed upon:
- 2019 – Linda Deckard, a public and passionate supporter of INTIX through Amusement Business and Venues Today/VenuesNow. Deckard recently came out of retirement to join IAVM as editor of Venue Professional magazine.
- 2020 – Jim Walcott, who retired as President of Weldon, Williams & Lick (WW&L) that year. Walcott passed away in 2023 and will always be remembered for his many contributions.
- 2021 – Albert Leffler, co-founder and employee No. 1 of Ticketmaster.
- 2022 – Bruno Boehi, the former CEO of ShoWare, now President of Operations at accesso.
- 2023 – Patricia G. Spira, to posthumously honor the INTIX founder and her legacy. The award was accepted by her children, Ann Spira, Ellen Spira Hattenbach and Dr. Jim Spira.
- 2023 – Angela Miles-Powell, Regional Vice President, West Region, Venues and Promoters at Ticketmaster.
- 2024 – Jack Lucas, who retired from 40+ years in the business after helping to build WestCoast Entertainment and TicketsWest into impressive industry success stories.
- 2025 – Jane Kleinberger, who co-founded Paciolan in 1980, led the company as the industry’s first female CEO and continued for two years as an advisor until her retirement in 2019.
Linda Forlini.
“Where in the world is Linda Forlini?” is a question that comes up frequently on INTIX Wednesday Wisdom calls. While she is now happily retired and traveling the world with her husband Joe, the answer is that no matter where Forlini is, she is never far from INTIX and the ticketing friends to whom she has given her whole heart for well over a quarter century.
Forlini began her career making $2.35 an hour. She rose from there to become a ticketing legend. Before retiring in 2020, she served most as Vice President of Ticket Operations at the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center in New York City, and then with the Kimmel Center and the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia.
Along the way, she has helped whenever and wherever she could. Forlini gives of her time, her knowledge and her funds. She has done so for decades, quietly and without seeking fanfare or recognition. Forlini has served on the INTIX Board, chaired committees, shared her expertise as a conference speaker and says yes immediately when asked to help. She provides mentorship, advice, hugs, smiles and anything else that the association and its members may need. Forlini also continues to attend Wednesday Wisdom from wherever she may be, whether on land or at sea. In 2019, she received The Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award for her remarkable career achievements and service to INTIX.
“I knew immediately who I wanted to receive this award. Linda’s influence over the years has been extraordinary — she has poured her time, heart and expertise into INTIX while fiercely advocating for her colleagues,” says Voorhees. “Everywhere she has gone, she has made a meaningful, lasting impact."
Few people realize that Forlini is the single largest individual contributor to INTIX. She plans her annual giving with intention, viewing it as a meaningful way to give back to an organization that has played such an important role in her life.
Forlini’s commitment is also evident in the countless ways she is consistently the first to step forward. She is always the first to register for the conference, to renew her membership, to support every fundraising campaign and to volunteer her time. She was also frequently the first to secure new sponsors or exhibitors. In retirement, when she could be cruising, she’s been out shopping instead, doing everything she can to help INTIX’s fundraising efforts at the annual conference. The surprise boxes wouldn’t be possible without her time and dedication. Forlini is always happy to sell you 50-50 tickets at the conference as well. And remember, she famously doesn’t give change.
“It’s hard to single out just one thing that stands out about Linda,” says Voorhees. “Over the years, she has been a mentor, an influencer and a quiet yet unwavering cheerleader. Her steady leadership, wisdom and dedication have helped shape INTIX into the strong, successful organization it is today.”
Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award – Derek Palmer
INTIX’s highest honor is The Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2026 recipient is Derek Palmer, Chief Operating Officer, Project Admission. This award is given annually to a current and active member of INTIX who is or has been consistently and successfully engaged in the direct leadership of a ticket operation(s) for a minimum of 20 years. Additionally, the recipient will have made sustained and quantified contributions to the standards of excellence in the ticketing and live event industry. They must also have demonstrated consistent and sustained involvement in the continued promotion, support and development of INTIX, its membership and its mission.
Derek Palmer.
Consummate ticketing professional. Innovative leader. Shining beacon in our ticketing community.
These are just some of the words that nominators used to describe Palmer, praising his expertise, values, integrity, generosity and positivity. With more than three decades in the ticketing industry and at least 25 years as an INTIX member, he is someone you can call anytime with a question or for advice on a new product or idea. “We have had many great brainstorming sessions over the years,” says one nominator, adding that Palmer “always makes time for others.”
After starting in a call center, Palmer progressed into various C-suite roles, including Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Tickets.com, Chief Operating Officer at Qcue and his current position as Chief Operating Officer at Project Admission. He worked around the world as the Managing Director-EVP of International for Tickets.com, based in London and managing offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. Palmer also has major event experience, working on the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000, and managing teams that supported Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006, and Vancouver 2010, where he ran with the Olympic Torch.
His resume is impressive indeed, but behind the executive titles and extraordinary successes, he has consistently made time for INTIX, stepping forward as a leader, speaker and champion for the organization. Palmer made history as the first INTIX Board Chair to reside outside North America and to convene a full board meeting abroad. His impact reaches well beyond the boardroom, too. Through INTIX committee work, speaking engagements, volunteer service and mentorship, he consistently gives his time to strengthen others and the broader community.
“I have and continue to advocate for expanded international representation in INTIX both via membership and educational content,” Palmer shared in support of his nomination. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, myself and others worked extremely closely with the government to advocate for the live events industry, working with organizations that ultimately resulted in the creation of NIVA and the passing of the Save Our Stages Act, playing a small part in the resulting $15 billion allocated to the industry as a lifeline.”
“Derek has continually pushed the industry forward — innovating, evolving across genres, and generously sharing his expertise,” says Voorhees. “He’s played a key role in INTIX’s success and has shaped the ticketing profession throughout his remarkable career. His blend of innovation, kindness and true ticketing nerd passion makes him an exceptionally deserving honoree.”
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!
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