About Bennett Awards
Bennett Awards is a family-owned business with over 50 years of experience in awards and fine art. We started out as a fine art gallery, but quickly evolved into a design studio that creates high-end, high-quality awards for customers across the globe. Unlike vanilla award retailers and local trophy shops, our fine art heritage can be seen in all the distinctive awards we create.
What Makes Us Different?
Our Creativity and Design
We offer a level of creativity, design and customization that you won’t find anywhere else. We offer both pre-designed sculpture awards and custom awards created to your needs. In both cases, our designs transcend the typical commonplace (and boring) awards offered by traditional award and trophy shops. We work hard to ensure that your custom award design captures the true essence of your brand and/or event positioning, and delivers a “wow” factor that your award recipients and other stakeholders will never forget.
Our Diverse Set of Capabilities
Unlike most award companies, our capabilities span a broad array of different dimensions for your custom award design project, including design styles, materials, production methodologies, and form factors, which range from small pins and medallions all the way up to large-scale monumental sculptures. We are equally adept at creating old-school handcrafted sculptures and modern, cutting-edge fabricated designs. At the start of your project, we will work with you in a collaborative, consultative fashion to determine the best approach to meet your specific requirements.
Our Unique Blend of Cutting-Edge Technology and Old-World Artisanship
Our awards are created using a unique combination of handcrafted artisanship, cutting-edge design technology, and state-of-the art production methodologies. The combination of these elements provides a number of advantages during the design and production processes of any project, including the ability to create and modify alternative design concepts before zeroing in a preferred design, the ability to fine-tune the details of a design in real-time prior to final production, and much greater consistency in produced awards adhering to the intended specifications of the design. The net effect of this is that you get the exact award that you envision.
Our Fine Art Heritage
We didn’t start off as a traditional trophy shop, but rather a nationally-recognized sculpture studio and network of fine art galleries. This heritage is reflected in the quality, craftsmanship and design of all our awards. Unlike mass-produced plaques and trophies, our sculpture awards are designed and produced by a talented and creative team of skilled artisans. Our unique awards are true works of art that your recipients will proudly display for many years to come.
Our Family Orientation
We aren’t a large, impersonal trophy company that manufacturers all of its awards overseas. Instead, we’re a family-owned business, comprised of a tight-knit team of friends and talented artisans that takes great pride in every award we create. This pride is reflected not only in the quality of the awards we produce, but also in the personal touch and service we provide to all of our clients. We have worked hard to create a family atmosphere in our workplace, and this orientation extends to the way we treat our customers as well.
Meet The Team
The Bennetteers
Administration
Bob Bennett
Owner / Manager
Bob manages the day to day operations of Bennett Awards. He feels extremely lucky to be involved in a pursuit that marries art, design, and business, all things he is very passionate about. Bob has been surrounded by art and artists his entire life: his father and uncle were the well-known sculptors Bob (Sr.) and Tom Bennett (aka Bennett Sculpture), and his sister Ashley and cousin Terrie are both respected multi-medium artists. Despite these artistic roots, Bob initially took an alternate route and pursued a career in business. Prior to founding Bennett Awards, he held senior marketing roles with Intel, HP and Accenture, and co-founded/sold a technology start-up. Bob earned an MBA with distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BA with honors from Stanford University, where he played varsity football and was a Firestone Medal recipient. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, hiking, and music.
Alice Bennett
Owner / Manager
Alice works on a variety of strategic initiatives for Bennett Awards, including vendor relationships, strategic partnerships, and new production capabilities. Along with her husband Bob, she has been surrounded by art the last 30+ years, and loves applying this immersion in art to new client award projects. Alice loves developing new, creative award ideas that deliver on the true objective of what her customers are looking for. Prior to starting Bennett Awards, Alice was an art consultant in the Bennett Sculpture chain of art galleries, and, prior to that, worked in advertising for a division of Ogilvy and Mather. Alice graduated from San Diego State University, and still needs to get an occasional “beach fix”. When she is away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her four kids, puttering in her garden with her chickens, boating in the local mountain lakes, and running (she has four marathons under her belt!). Alice’s nickname in high school was “Mom”, and we all think that still applies (in the best way, of course!).
Account & Project Management
Mollee Johnston
Account Director
Mollee helps manage our client relationships and award projects, including both new custom award designs and awards based on our broad line of existing recognition awards. Mollee grew up in the East Bay of Northern California, and received a B.S. degree from Saint Mary's College of California with a major in Industrial Psychology (a skill that often comes in handy with the cast of characters at Bennett Awards). Throughout college she worked with Nordstom, which helped both fill her closet and fuel her creativity! After college she worked in the advertising industry, and then took a break while she and her husband started a family. Mollee went back to school to receive a degree as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, and had a Life Coaching business for over two years. As a mom of two girls, she and her husband continually enjoy horseback riding, running, hiking and weekends on their family cattle ranch. One of the things Mollee enjoys best about Bennett Awards is working with clients to turn their award dreams and ideas into reality, and the reaction clients have when the see the finished product. Mollee is also Bennett Awards’ “chief party planner” (so, if you need some ideas for your event in addition to your awards, she’s your gal).
Karen McCrea
Account Director
Karen helps manage our sales activities and clients’ award projects – from initial design conception and selection all the way through final production. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Communications, Karen worked in the advertising industry for ten years. She then took an "extended break" from the working world and stayed home to take care of her three kids and volunteer for the school and community. Karen's happy to be back working in a creative field and enjoys brainstorming unique award ideas with the wide variety of clients that Bennett Awards attracts. Karen's favorite pastimes are watching her kids out on the soccer field or track, and volunteering her time at the local high school. When she's not watching sports, she's usually up in the Sierras skiing and hiking with her husband Jim, who thinks she is the “greatest” (as do we all).
Perry Tow
Account Director
As one of our Account Supervisors, Perry specializes on working on new custom award projects for clients. Perry grew up locally in the Sierra Nevada foothills and has over 20 years experience with customer service and office management. Prior to Bennett Awards, Perry was the project coordinator and office manager for a national conservation company where he oversaw numerous conservation programs and developed customer database reporting tools and website applications. People and art are two of Perry’s passions, making Bennett Awards a perfect fit for his skill set. Nothing thrills him more than to exceed our customer’s expectations while assisting the team with our design projects. In his spare time, Perry enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Veronika and two children, Gavin and Kenzie. Perry’s hobbies include woodworking, fixing broken things, fishing with his father and brother, discovering new music, and playing softball with his daughter.
Carmen Leal
Account Manager
When you call Bennett Awards, chances are the friendly voice that you hear on the other end of the line is Carmen. Carmen is the “face” of Bennett Awards, and the first person you see when you enter our office. Carmen enjoys communicating with all of the folks that cross Bennett Awards’ path – from vendors through customers…unless, of course, they are Dodger fans. (Did we mention that Carmen is a die-hard SF Giants fan, and perhaps the only person on earth that still has a Jason Schmidt jersey?). Carmen also helps manage customer award projects, so you may cross paths with her at multiple points of engagement with Bennett Awards. Like many of the other folks at Bennett Awards, Carmen moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she worked for a major water utility. In her time away from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her son play baseball, and exploring the many beautiful areas surrounding her in the foothills. Oh, and cheering for the Giants.
Kim Remeto-Spacek
Account Manager
As an Account Manager, Kim develops client projects from initial design conception all of the way through production. Born and raised in a small town on the eastern shore of Maryland, Kim moved out west in 2007 with a desire to pursue the fields of design and art. After graduating from Sacramento State with a BA in Marketing Design, Kim has continuously worked closely with clients to learn how to creatively tailor products to meet their key needs and desires. Her career has included owning her own designer consignment boutique, being a lead stylist for Stitchfix, and working as a freelance journalist, securing placements in publications like British Vogue. Most recently, Kim worked as a Visual Merchandiser at Nordstrom, where she enjoyed the challenge of creating designs that take up space in an appealing, yet functional, way. In her current role at Bennett Awards, Kim is super excited and inspired by her coworkers. She’s also especially passionate about the new product line, Awardology and the future of more sustainably-driven recognition products. Outside of the office, Kim enjoys reading, watching British TV, beading, hanging out with her husband and two stepkids, and hiking with her terrier mix rescue puppy, Dewey.
Mollie Marie McDearmid
Project Manager
Mollie Marie manages the complex details of our design projects. Raised in Sacramento, and a Sacramento High graduate, Mollie Marie has enjoyed the Placerville area for the past four years. She nurtured her artistic inclination by pursuing a career as a hair stylist in her twenties. She then spent fifteen years as an executive assistant and office manager for technology companies. Mollie Marie has a wonderful son, one dog and two cats. She enjoys hiking, gardening, small home improvement projects, yoga, getting crafty and exploring new places around California
Rachel Rus
Account Manager
Rachel works with clients to develop creative recognition awards. In the midst of Placerville's charm, Rachel's background unfolded against the backdrop of Northern California's scenic beauty. Her Sports Management degree from Washington State University propelled her into the vibrant life of Seattle. From diverse customer service roles in retail to the dynamic world of professional sports, Rachel's professional trajectory led her to the heart of Bennett Awards. Now firmly rooted in Midtown, Sacramento, Rachel takes delight in immersing herself in the local scene—exploring the neighborhood, making regular stops at the farmer’s market, and savoring the flavors of nearby restaurants and breweries. A passionate reader, she's diligently building her own library. Rachel's deep connection with sports, particularly the Kings and the 49ers, echoes her love for the great outdoors. In the familial atmosphere of Bennett Awards, she appreciates the unique nature of each day, guiding individuals through the design and production process and witnessing the culmination of their recognition efforts.
Design & Marketing
Ryan Rivas
Design Director / Sketchbook Snob
Ryan is a design jack-of-all-trades for Bennett Awards, and finds himself involved in both external client design projects, as well as internal design and marketing projects. Fresh out of school in the mid 2000’s, Ryan first cut his teeth in the world of design working alongside an Architect/Developer locally based in Northern California. After several years, and dozens of homes later, he eventually shifted his design focus and moved into the industrial design world. He began designing/building/prototyping/branding small consumer products and furniture for both himself, as well as by contract. Ryan lives for design and technology, and is fascinated by their social implications. He also has an unhealthy addiction to Spotify. Ryan joined the Bennett team in the late summer of 2012, and loves the creative, team-oriented environment that exists at the studio. His position gives him the opportunity to apply, on a daily basis, the words he lives by: “No one ever learned anything new by coloring inside the lines.” -Thomas Vasque
Sarah Swedlow
Marketing Director
Sarah develops all aspects of marketing at Bennett Awards. A Sacramento native, Sarah graduated from UCLA with a degree in Interpersonal Communications. After graduation, she worked for a tour operator, managing logistics and marketing for groups traveling to the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. She then spent two years building relationships with bloggers as the Community Relations Coordinator for Ecomom, an online retailer startup that was purchased by Etailz. Prior to joining Bennett Awards, Sarah pursued her passion for Yoga, which led her to teaching full-time for five years. Sarah currently lives in Rocklin with her husband, stepdaughter, and baby boy. She is delighted to be a member of the Bennett awards team where she enjoys the creative culture in the office.
James Shoemaker
Sculptor / Illustrator / Designer
James started his career as an artist for Disney. He later branched off and began creating three-dimensional art, in the form of puppets, for a variety of organizations in the United States, including Disney Parades, Disney Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Parks, Nike and Universal Studios. James switched gears in the mid 2000’s and refocused his artistic talents on the animation field, working on various projects for companies like Sesame Street and Scholastic Books. James moved from Florida to Placerville in 2012, and began working with people with disabilities, a move that has helped shape James in many positive ways. James began working with Bennett Awards as a side project, and has now transitioned to a full member of the Bennett Awards team, where he feels right at home.
Matthew Tucker
Production Artist / Production Assistant
Meet Matthew Tucker, a native of Placerville, whose artistic spirit and passion for creation have shaped his unique journey. Residing in vibrant Sacramento, Matthew is a multifaceted individual with a deep love for drawing, painting, and sculpture, reflecting his artistic role at Bennett Awards. From globe-trotting adventures to performing as a drummer in diverse musical projects worldwide, Matthew finds inspiration in the intersections of cultures. Whether immersed in the world of books and coffee, playing various musical instruments, or maintaining a keen eye for aesthetics while obsessively cleaning his computer screen, Matthew's diverse interests help inspire the creativity around the office. With a meditative spirit, Matthew contributes to client projects through his commitment to artistic exploration and continuous self-improvement.
Operations
Jonnie Saich
Operations Director
Jonnie keeps all the operational aspects of Bennett Awards running smoothly, from initial material procurement all the way though final award shipment. This role takes advantage of her versatility and exceptional organization skills. Jonnie came to Bennett Awards after several years of being a stay-at-home mom for her three boys. During that time, Jonnie was also involved in a variety of volunteer and work-at-home activities, including serving on a number of different boards, working for an environmental company, and acting as a “team mom extraordinaire” (no, really!) for her sons’ many sports teams. Jonnie’s prior work experience was with a high-tech company, where she worked in their sales, marketing and HR departments. Jonnie first became familiar with Bennett Awards from the many years that her boys and the Bennett kids went to school and played sports together – Bob was even a coach for her boys when they were young. Jonnie feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to join the Bennett “family” and spend time with people that are fun and special to be around. In her off time, Jonnie continues to stay busy with her family, mostly in the sports arena as all her boys play sports year-round.
Frank Seifert
Production Manager
Frank performs the shipping and assembly component of the operations at Bennett Awards. Frank is the last person to touch the finished awards before they ship, and takes great pride in making sure our customers receive the right item in excellent condition. Frank started his career working for manufacturing companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, fabricating and shipping rare and expensive metals for the high tech and aerospace industries. Frank met his wife at the turn of the century, while partying like it was 1999 (which it was). Soon after, they moved to the Sacramento area and opened a fly fishing store. After about 10 years of fishing all day and becoming a certified trout nerd, Frank realized that he was going to have to get a “real” job, so back to shipping and manufacturing he went. When Frank is not at work, you can often find him looking for native and wild trout, bass fishing on his local lake, or home brewing a delicious IPA.
Who’s Really In Charge?
Our Four-Legged Friends
Company Mascots
Meet Dewey, Henry, Ollie, Parker and Woody. Collectively, they hold a number of vital roles here at Bennett Awards, including chief greeters, backup alarm system, creative muses, smile generators, and treat consumers. They love coming into work each day, and their infectious joy helps inspire us all!
