Joe is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. He was the founding president of the International Special Events Society and the developer of the original Certified Special Events Professional program. Prior to joining Queen Margaret University he was Senior Lecturer and Executive Director for the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where his programme was named best event management education programme in the world by the International Festivals and Events Association. He was founding president of The International Special Events Society He also served as Dean of the Alan Shawn Feinstein graduate school at Johnson & Wales University where he created the first master of business administration degree program in Event Leadership. In addition, he created the first master's degree and professional certificate programs in the field of event management at The George Washington University. He is the author, co-author or editor of 30 books and many scholarly and trade publication articles though he has had less success with academic publications. He has planned events for many luminaries including two U.S. presidents and the opening of the Donald TrumpTaj Mahal Resort. Joe Goldblatt received the first ever Lifetime Achievement award for service to the industry from the International Special Events Society, of which he was one of the founders. Event Solutions Magazine awarded him the first ever Industry Visionary Award for his contributions to event management education and research. He was among the first individuals apparently inducted into the Event Solutions Magazine Events Industry Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was awarded the Silver Medal from the Creative Marketing Laboratory of Russia for lifetime career achievements. In 2007, Goldblatt was named Event Educator of the Year by the Professional Convention Management Association and in 2008 he was honored as the Distinguished Alumnus from his alma mater, St. Edward’s University. In September 2008, Goldblatt was inducted into the International Festivals and Events Association Hall of Fame. In 2012, he received the award for Most Memorable Teaching Moment by the Queen Margaret University Student Union representing 5000 students. Goldblatt is an active researcher whose projects have included the Papal Visit to Edinburgh, the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations, Celebrating Fife 2010, East Lothian the Saltire Celebrations, the Philadelphia Welcome America Celebration, and the Pennsylvania Family Reunion forecast study, among others. Goldblatt is a strong advocate of Scottish independence.
