The Emanuel M. Katten Award

Manny Katten was a restructuring accountant in the Chicago area whose career encompassed both large and small cases. He was part of the original group that formed what would eventually be AIRA. In 1979 a series of meetings were held in Minneapolis by professionals wanting to start an association for accountants interested in working in the bankruptcy area under the new legislation. In 1982, the NAAI was formed. In 1984, the steering committee decided the organization would be based in Chicago and changed its name to Association of Insolvency Accountants (AIA). The current title, Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, was adopted in 1999 to reflect the broadening of its identity as an association of professionals involved with distressed businesses. Manny Katten was one of the original board members and was the 23rd person to complete the requirements for the CIRA designation. He was also the Chairman of the first AIA Annual Conference.

The Manny Katten award was approved by the board of directors in 1999 following Manny’s passing from cancer. The award is bestowed annually to an individual selected by the Board who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and service to the bankruptcy, restructuring, and turnaround field. Past winners are listed below:

2024 David Berliner
2023 William A. Brandt, Jr.
2022 Kenneth Malek
2021 David S. Mork
2020 Thomas Morrow
2019 Jay Alix
2018 Robert Bingham
2017 Jay Crom
2016 Grant Newton and Valda Newton
2015 Walter Greenhalgh
2014 Grant Stein
2013 Alan Holtz
2012 Dan Armel
2011 Jack Almquist
2010 Robert Remian
2009 Robert Medlin
2008 Michael Policano and Ron Sutter
2007 Dennis Bean
2006 Barry Monheit
2005 Tracy Gopal
2004 Alexander Knopfler
2003 Alan Gittelson
2002 Matt Schwartz
2001 Elmer Heupel
2000 Steve Cooper

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