4 days ago
Inspired By Five Generations, The Vineyard Icon Awards Were Created To Honor Island's Legacy
Gayle King had no intention of visiting Martha's Vineyard last week. 'I didn't think I would be around—I was supposed to be on vacation. But plans change. And I came in specifically for one event,' she said.
That event was the Vineyard Icon Awards.
'The other events I attended just fell into place,' said King, who was seen throughout the island at other fete's.
The Vineyard Icon Awards debuted this year and were created by a homegrown resident who felt something was missing: Erin Goldson.
Born and raised in Martha's Vineyard, Goldson grew up surrounded by family and friends. 'As a young girl, I looked up to my family as though they were icons. They were personable around each other, respected, and taller than me,' she said.
It wouldn't be until Erin was older that she'd realize those around her weren't icons in only her eyes, but actual icons in business, medicine and law. Her aunties were music producer and CEO of Epic Records, Sylvia Rhone, one of the most influential executives in music history, and Suzanne de Passe, the record executive who helped Motown find talent like The Jackson 5. At home, her father, Dr. Alfred Goldson, was chair of the cancer department at Howard University, and her mother, Amy Goldson, Esq., was a prominent DC attorney who represented the Congressional Black Caucus, among others.
Beyond her family, Goldson was inspired by the annual summer atmosphere and energy she felt across Martha's Vineyard, where she was able to mingle and mix with scores of accomplished professionals who chose to vacation on her quaint island. 'As I got older, I had the privilege—and not one that I take lightly—of spending my summers on the porches and in the homes of politicians, executives, musicians and artists who would all come to Martha's Vineyard in August. I would see them again and again, year after year. From the time I was sixteen working at Black Dog and Giordano's (which is still my favorite pizza place!), I would always hear, 'Erin, meet, blank he's the first to accomplish this… '
Goldson would eventually go off to college before entering the workforce in marketing. 'As I began to move up the corporate ladder, I started to realize how unique my upbringing was and how special of a place Martha's Vineyard was. And what makes it special is the people. The people who chose it as their happy place. The people who come here as a place of rest. I always wanted to honor them in some way—or acknowledge them for not only the fullness that they brought to my life but for what they added to the DNA of the Vineyard.'
Today, Goldson sits at the intersection of beauty and commerce as an accomplished fifteen-year brand marketing executive. This past June, while attending an exhibition on the island, she realized she wanted to create something for those people who helped make the Vineyard what it is today. 'I've been asked for many years to help others curate their events or to support their ideas,' Goldson shared. 'And my close friends nudged me and thought it was time to bring my own vision to life.'
The Vineyard Icon Awards Were Born
It was those thoughts, along with an image of her near 99-year-old grandmother that sat in her living room, and the memory of her father, who passed when she was in high school, that spurred her to take the leap to create The Vineyard Icon Awards to celebrate the legacy of those on the Vineyard.
'All these annual corporate events were missing, in some ways, what makes the Vineyard special—the cross sections of men and women, multigenerational, family-first business leaders and personal connections—all tied into one. Each August, I found myself switching between universes on the island, and I wanted to combine them into a singular moment.
'I took a grassroots approach and followed my heart. I self-funded everything with my savings, and committed to use my executive experience to play all of the roles so no detail would go unnoticed. I reached out to every honoree, every guest, every contractor,' Goldson explained, also speaking of her involvement with other details, down to writing the program, organizing the event planning and selecting the flowers. 'We had to have hydrangeas,' she said.
'It would have been easy to let the thought pass me by and not do it this year,' Goldson said, 'and I got a lot of feedback on why I shouldn't move ahead, from it's not the right corporate and political climate, to companies are not doing sponsorships, to there are too many conflicting events and no one needs another event.'
So, instead of asking for sponsorships she simply shared her vision with her circle of friends, family and associates. 'I truly put my heart on my sleeve,' she admitted. 'I was willing to take all the nos needed to get yeses of support. There was a pitch deck, but the deck had no faces, no races, just purpose.' While it was a lot of work, in one month's time companies such as Le Mer, Crown Royal and McKinsey & Company stepped up and agreed to be sponsors to help build her vision. Individuals she called, who were drawn to the Vineyard in some way, even if they couldn't attend, were willing to contribute donations from $150 to $10,000.
In less than 60 days, Erin took her idea from concept to execution.
'She is not an event person: she's a business person. And to pull this off in the time that she did with the caliber of people she did—I was in awe. I was numb,' said Gayle King.
'You have to know the type of person Erin Goldson is—she doesn't do anything half-ass. She jumped in with both feet and decided with herself: I will do whatever it takes to make this happen and to get it right,' King said. 'This is her baby and her brainchild—and she pulled it all together. And the more that people heard about it the more they said, 'I want to do something for this event.''
'I liked the reason why she was doing it, to honor what happens at the Vineyard. To honor legacy. The Vineyard is a very special place. And I think for her to highlight the people who are so key to the community, I have never seen any event like that pointing that out. And I wanted to do anything I could to support it. I have been going to the Vineyard for a very long time, since my children were 4 and 5 years old; they are now 38 and 39. This was special because you know you were paying tribute to those who have come before you, and those who are still doing things to make this the special place that it is,' King said.
Notable Guests Flew In From Far And Wide
Over 300 people came out to attend and honor the First Annual Vineyard Icon Awards, whose first-year honorees included music mogul Troy Carter, senior executive Shelley Stuart III, trailblazers Floyd and Stephanie Rance, director Dawn Porter and politician Keesha Lance Bottoms.
Notable guests read like the who's who from across industries, from author Elaine Welteroth and Senator Corey Booker to venture capitalist Chris Lyons, to name a few. Also in attendance were her niece Shane and nephew Conrad, the fifth generation of her family lineage. The room was at capacity, full of changemakers and icons creating an impact far beyond, who entered through a doorway of flowers and left with Le Mer gift bags.
'And the event just looked so good—as did the people. Everyone understood the assignment,' said King.
Speeches were given while attendees enjoyed champagne and mimosas, freshly shucked oysters and chilled shrimp while sitting outside under a tent in the same location that her 99-year-old grandmother was standing on in the picture that inspired Erin in her living room years ago.
'This moment materialized my dream and allowed me to rediscover legacy through the many others that love the Vineyard,' said Goldson.
'I wore a dress and said, This will be perfect for Erin's event,' and I was very excited about it!' King added.
When I asked what was next, Goldson was quick to share that this year she had received interest for the 2026 Vineyard Icon Awards event from sponsors who loved this idea, but their summer 2025 budget had already been allocated.
And she wants build out the Vineyard Icon Foundation, to give back to the island and attach a Next Generation Summit for 50 future icons, to ensure that those coming up are visible, with their own space to learn and develop.
'The beauty of what she is doing now, she's already thinking how to make it better—and it was already a classy, classic really well-thought-out event,' said King.
'All I can say is, I can't wait for next year,' she added.
When I asked Erin her thoughts on next year's potential honorees, she already had ideas.
'Former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama would be wonderful, since they have been here they have added so much visibility and class and elegance to the island, and I would love them to stand on the stage and get their flowers.'
Just as long as they're hydrangeas.
