The Member Lowdown Newsletter - ILEA Columbus
The Member Lowdown
Sept. 2026 Newsletter
Photograph by Nicole Dixon Photographic
The Lowdown from the Board
Happy September, Columbus Members!
How’s your fall season looking? Are you busy with work events, personal celebrations, or maybe a little bit of everything?
We’re excited to share the very first edition of The Member Lowdown, ILEA Columbus’ new monthly member newsletter! Our goal is to keep you in the loop on what’s happening around the chapter — from upcoming events and educational opportunities to member and business spotlights and a look at what we’ve been up to.
We have some exciting programs coming your way this fall, and we hope you’ll join us, connect with fellow members, and make the most of your ILEA membership.
See you at the next one!
— The ILEA Columbus Board
Your ILEA Columbus Board
2026-27
Chapter President Elaine McLoughlin-Overholt
President Elect Joy Walker
VP Programs Tori Easton
Director Mike Salone
Director Nick Hancart
Committee Bryan Wright
VP Membership Corey Perham
VP Marketing & Communications Cne' Mitchell
Director Jessica Miller Ingraham
Director at Large Adam Yezzi
Board Member Spotlight
Jessica Miller Ingraham of Jessica Miller Photography represented ILEA Columbus at ILEA Live 2026 in Chicago, August 24–26, where she was nominated for an ESPRIT Award in Best Capture for Weddings.
And she won!
The ESPRIT Awards recognize creativity, innovation, and excellence throughout the international live events industry, making this an incredible achievement for Jess and a proud moment for our Columbus chapter.
For Jess, the experience was made even more meaningful by the location.
“I went to college in Chicago, so this city will always be so special to me. The awards ceremony was at my alma mater which made it even more special!”
The full-circle moment feels especially fitting for someone whose career is built around capturing meaningful moments for others.
Jess has also been an important part of the ILEA Columbus leadership team for the past three years.
During her time on the board, she has served as
VP of Membership,
VP of Marketing & Communications, and Director of Marketing & Communications, helping strengthen our chapter, connect our members, and tell the story of Columbus’s event community.
Her ESPRIT win is not only a celebration of beautiful work behind the camera — it is also a reminder of the talent, creativity, and industry leadership that exists right here within our own chapter.
Member Spotlight
Highlighting our outstanding members who contribute to the success of ILEA Columbus every single day.
Nicole Dixon, Owner
Nicole Dixon Photographic
Hi, I’m Nicole, a wedding, portrait photographer with two decades of experience capturing hundreds of celebrations.
My work is rooted in artful documentary storytelling—blending elevated whimsy with timeless, honest moments. I’m endlessly inspired by love, color, light, and the in-between moments that make each story unique. My goal is to create imagery that feels both sophisticated and full of life—photos that reflect not just how it looked, but how it felt.
I’m a member of ILEA because I value the relationships, inspiration, and sense of community it brings within such a creative industry.
*Have a promotion, award, incredible event, new project, or other industry win we should know about? We want to celebrate our members! Send your news our way for a chance to be featured in an upcoming ILEA Columbus newsletter.
ON DECK Upcoming ILEA events
Experience Columbus Downtown: A Night with The Vue
Get Ready for a great night of networking at The Vue! Complimentary headshots from 5-6p with Azyllyn Studios, wonderfood eats and drinks from Gourmet Fresh.
Location: 95 Liberty St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
When: September 16, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
OCTOBER
ILEA Columbus Halloween Event
Halloween Networking Event - More Details to come!
Interested in hosting an upcoming ILEA Columbus event at your venue or becoming an event sponsor? We’re always looking for great spaces and event partners to help bring our programs to life, and we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@ileacolumbus.org to learn more.
Event Recaps
EVENT WARS 2026: THAT’S A WRAP!
Three venues. Three creative visions.
One seriously fun night.
Event Wars 2026 brought together The Joseph, The Ellis, and The Revery for an evening of friendly competition, creative event experiences, and plenty of bites, drinks, and good vibes.
And the winners are…
BEST BITE: 🏆 The Joseph BEST VIBE: 🏆 The Revery BEST DRINK: 🏆 The Revery
A huge thank you to everyone who came out, competed, sponsored, volunteered, and helped bring Event Wars to life. We love seeing our Columbus events community come together to celebrate creativity, connect with one another, and — of course — have a little friendly competition.
Congratulations to all three venues, and especially our 2026 winners!
Missed Event Wars? Don’t worry — there’s plenty more on deck with ILEA Columbus. We hope to see you at the next one!
Photography by Nicole Dixon Photographic
Job Opportunities:
Director of Food & Beverage
The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center is looking for a Director of Food & Beverage to join their team!
Green Room Gossip:
Did you know? Columbus was named one of the top cities for creative professionals in 2024! Stay curious.
ILEA Columbus Chapter
info@ileacolumus.org
