Visionary Awards | PCMA Foundation
Visionary Awards | PCMA Foundation
WHEN:
May 7, 2026, from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. EST
WHERE:
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW,
Washington, DC 20001
Registration launching soon!
The PCMA Foundation Visionary Awards
celebrate outstanding leaders and innovators whose work has made a meaningful impact on their organizations and the global business events community. This premier black-tie event brings together more than 1,000 industry professionals for an evening that includes a red carpet reception, awards presentation, and post-show celebration. Proceeds from the Visionary Awards support the PCMA Foundation’s work to strengthen the industry and create opportunities for students and professionals at every stage of their careers.
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Nominations Now Open!
Celebrate excellence in the business events industry—nominations for the 2026 Visionary Awards are officially open! Submit your nominations today and help us recognize the individuals and teams shaping our community.
Submit a Nomination
Submit a Nomination
Professional Excellence Awards
In recognition of outstanding achievement and innovation, the PCMA Foundation honors individuals and teams who are shaping the future of the business events industry. These awards spotlight excellence across a variety of roles and disciplines, celebrating those who are driving progress, elevating experiences, and setting new standards within their organizations and the broader community.
Business Events Strategist of the Year
This award recognizes an individual business event organizer who has demonstrated exceptional event strategy and execution.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate professionalism and excellence in business interactions
Proactively solve event challenges
Continuously evolve and improve events to drive positive outcomes
Demonstrate adaptability and thought leadership
Prioritize strong, respectful vendor/supplier relationships
Who can be nominated:
An individual business event organizer, responsible for the leadership, design and delivery of an event
Can be at any level within an organization—examples include VP of Events, Director/Manager of Meetings, Independent Organizer, Chief Events Officer, and more
Business Events Supplier of the Year
This award recognizes an
individual business event supplier
who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to their clients.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate excellence by anticipating and exceeding client needs
Balance client goals and business priorities effectively
Partner with clients to solve event challenges and drive positive outcomes
Show adaptability and provide thought leadership
Who can be nominated:
An individual business event supplier responsible for supporting the successful delivery of events
Can be at any level within an organization—examples include Manager/Director/VP of Sales, Client Services, Business Development, Industry Relations, Speaker Bureau, Consultant, and more
Corporate Event Marketer of the Year
Recognizes
an individual
who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and innovation in using events as a strategic component of their organization’s marketing efforts.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate professionalism and excellence in all business interactions
Strategically integrate events into broader marketing goals and brand identity
Create innovative, engaging event experiences that evolve year over year
Collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners
Show leadership and thoughtfulness in shaping corporate event strategy
Who can be nominated:
An individual at the Director level or above, responsible for event marketing strategy, attendee acquisition, and brand engagement at corporate-owned or brand-hosted events
Examples include: VP of Event Marketing, Director of Event Strategy, Head of Brand Events
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year (Team or Individual)
This award aims to recognize an
individual
or
team
who have demonstrated exceptional event strategy and execution for digital events. These are the professionals who transcend geographical borders, balancing event integration with engagement in either face-to-face extensions or standalone digital events.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate professionalism and excellence in digital event execution
Seek and execute solutions to digital event challenges
Evolve and improve digital events year over year, leading to positive outcomes
Demonstrate adaptability and thought leadership
Who can be nominated:
An individual or team responsible for the leadership, design, and delivery of a digital event
Open to any role or title within an organization—examples include VP of Events, Director/Manager of Meetings, President/Founder, Director of Business Development, Account Executive, etc
Experience Design of the Year (Team or Individual)
This award aims to recognize an
individual
or
team
for their unique and innovative ideas implemented through experience design.
Nominee should:
Develop and showcase new trends in experience design with a focus on participant engagement
Work within event budget to create innovative and experiential designs
Who can be nominated:
An individual, team, or organizer/supplier partnership responsible for successful experience design
Can include business event organizers, suppliers, or collaborations across both
Examples of experience design could stage sets, education formats, digital or in-person engagement, etc
Groundbreaker Award
This award recognizes industry trailblazers who represent diverse sectors of the business events community. This award will recognize an
individual
who has made significant contributions to their organization or a program that advances diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and/or accessibility in the industry.
Nominee should:
Create meaningful impact for a marginalized community through their work
Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and/or accessibility through business events, activities or cultural change
Demonstrate leadership and/or mentorship for diverse industry professionals
Who can be nominated:
An individual in any role or title within the business events industry
Impact Award (Team or Individual)
This award aims to recognize an
individual, team or group
making a positive difference through their work in the business events industry.
Nominee should:
Execute a program that gives back to a local community or the broader industry—through sustainability, advocacy, innovation, charitable work, or similar efforts
Demonstrate meaningful impact through outcomes such as financial, social, or community benefit
Advance PCMA’s mission of driving social and economic transformation through business events
Who can be nominated:
An individual, team, or group in any role or title within the business events industry
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
This award recognizes exceptional
individuals
across the business events industry for their significant contributions to their chapter or region.
Nominee should:
Make a significant contribution to their chapter or region
Provide exceptional service to their chapter or region through efforts such as member growth, thought leadership, collaboration, partnerships, event design, etc
Who can be nominated:
Any individual actively involved in a PCMA Chapter or Region – including the 17 North American chapters or EMEA, LATAM, and APAC regions
Both the nominator and nominee must be active PCMA members
Lifetime Achievement Honorees
In celebration of industry legacy and leadership, the PCMA Foundation annually recognizes esteemed colleagues whose careers have been defined by leadership, service, and lasting impact. These honorees are celebrated for a lifetime of contributions that have shaped the business events industry, inspired peers, and elevated the profession through their vision and mentorship.
Business Events Organizer Honoree
Recognizes an individual who has made a lasting impact as a business event strategist, advancing the profession through leadership, innovation, and service.
Who can be nominated:
An individual with a distinguished career as a business event organizer , recognized for their long-standing leadership and contributions to the industry.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate leadership within their organization and the business events community
Contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the business events industry
Support the professional development of others
Show involvement in PCMA, the PCMA Foundation, and/or Chapters
Supplier Honoree
Honors
an individual supplier
who has demonstrated excellence in service, collaboration, and industry leadership within the business events landscape.
Nominee should:
Exhibit outstanding leadership within their company and the supplier community
Play a significant role in advancing the business events industry
Mentor and support the growth of industry professionals
Be an engaged leader within PCMA, the PCMA Foundation, and/or Chapters
Who can be nominated:
An individual with a long-standing career as a business event supplier, recognized for their sustained contributions and influence across the industry
Educator Honoree
Celebrates
an individual educator
who has significantly influenced the business events industry through teaching, research, and mentorship over the course of their career.
Nominee should:
Demonstrate leadership in education and curriculum development
Advance the business events industry through scholarship or training
Mentor and shape the next generation of professionals
Contribute to PCMA, the PCMA Foundation, and/or Chapter initiatives
Who can be nominated:
An individual with a distinguished career in education or research who has significantly shaped the business events industry through teaching, scholarship, and mentorship.
Scenes from BEIW 2025
Click the
button above to watch more videos in the
2025
playlist.
VIDEOS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
VIDEO PRODUCTION BY
Stay in the loop with Visionary Awards updates.
Presented By
Hosted By
Visionary Awards 2026
Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Carolyn Pund is a transformational leader whose work helped define modern strategic meetings management. A pioneer of SMMP and co-founder of the Meetings Competitive Advantage Forum, she has spent more than three decades driving measurable event impact inside Fortune 500 organizations while shaping industry best practices that continue to influence how events are designed, governed, and valued.
Carolyn B. Pund, CMM DES
Consultant, Strategic Meetings Management
OneMoreEvent Consulting
Dave founded Velvet Chainsaw Consulting in 2006, building a leading firm that helps conference and tradeshow organizers grow and transform major face-to-face events. Previously, he spent 22 years at Conferon (now Maritz), serving as President and board member. A Global Hall of Leaders inductee, Dave is also a longtime Convene columnist and respected industry voice.
Dave Lutz
Managing Director
Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Angie Ranalli is a respected leader whose career has shaped both destinations and people. Through senior roles with global hotel brands and long-term leadership advancing San Diego as a top-tier convention destination, she delivered lasting economic impact while earning deep client trust. A longtime PCMA and Foundation board leader, Angie’s legacy is defined by mentorship, service, and paying it forward to the next generation.
Angie Ranalli, CMP
Senior National Sales Director
San Diego Tourism Authority
Charles Starks is President & CEO of Music City Center, where he plays a defining role in shaping Nashville as a premier meetings destination. He led the development of the 2.1-million-square-foot facility and continues to guide its growth with steady, values-driven leadership. A former PCMA Chair and dedicated civic leader, Charles’ impact spans destination development, industry service, and community stewardship.
Charles Starks
President and CEO
Music City Center
Professional Excellence Awards Finalists
Business Events Strategist of the Year
Brought to you by United Airlines
Recognizes individuals who lead business events with clear strategic intent, aligning vision, execution, and measurable outcomes to advance organizational goals and elevate the attendee experience.
Mindy leads a global, $10M+ events portfolio, delivering large-scale conventions with speed, precision, and impact. Known for decisive leadership and smart risk-taking, Mindy reimagined eXp’s annual meeting format and produced eXpcon Miami for thousands of agents in just 90 days; balancing innovation, budget discipline, and people-first design to elevate agent experience and business results.
Mindy Grubb, CMP
Vice President, Events
eXp Realty
Kyle leads large-scale brand experiences by uniting creative ambition with technical precision. He led the creative and production vision for Disney Upfront 2025, delivering a four-floor immersive experience at the Javits Center that redefined live storytelling. He helped scale the company from $26M to nearly $100M and created NMR Connect, a partner learning platform focused on technology, design, and audience impact.
Kyle B. Morris
Vice President
NMR Events Inc.
Leader. Strategist. Execution specialist. Liz is a driving force at Live Marketing, a B2B event powerhouse. Known for a relentless focus on the big picture and microscopic details, she leads a team turning bold concepts into seamless, world-class events. Beyond her “day job”, she recently launched the Partners in Success Summit and reimagined EDPA’s conference, with record turnout and performance.
Liz Nacron
Partner, President of Creative & Production
Live Marketing
Corporate Event Marketer of the Year
Brought to you by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Honors professionals who use corporate events as a core marketing channel, driving brand visibility, audience engagement, and business impact through intentional event-led strategy.
Adele leads Veeam’s global event marketing portfolio, aligning flagship programs to support brand awareness, pipeline results, and community building. Over the past year, she built a global Center of Event Excellence, redefining how teams operate and collaborate through shared tools, playbooks, and measurement frameworks. The work delivered above-benchmark satisfaction scores and a 21% year-over-year increase in event-driven pipeline.
Adele Durham
Senior Director, Global Events
Veeam Software
Kim leads Procore’s flagship event strategy, blending creativity and operational excellence with long-term strategic planning. Last year, she transformed Procore’s Groundbreak conference, delivering a 27% increase in attendance, record sponsorship and registration revenue, and a 14% lift in brand sentiment, while securing long-term venues to support future growth.
Kim Hastings, CMM
Director, Event Marketing
Procore Technologies
Keri leads corporate event marketing as a strategic growth driver, blending operational excellence with strategic insight to elevate brand perception. Over the past year, she helped transform Danaher’s approach to scientific engagement, uniting teams across brands to tell a shared innovation story. Her work strengthened collaboration and elevated how Danaher shows up across life sciences and diagnostics.
Keri Ibbitson, MBA
Senior Director of Global Scientific Engagements & Events
Danaher
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year
Brought to you by Heritage
Celebrates individuals who advance the role of digital experiences in business events, using technology to expand engagement, accessibility, and effectiveness.
Uzi leads digital strategy at Kenes Group, designing technology that enhances learning, engagement, and value for global congresses. Over the past year, he advanced proprietary platforms and AI tools that expanded access to scientific content, streamlined exhibitor ROI, and improved the delegate journey. His work has set new standards for scalable, data-driven hybrid experiences.
Uzi Drori
Chief Information Officer (CIO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Kenes Group
Dahlia leads digital experience strategy with a human-centered approach, using technology to create inclusive, engaging, and meaningful events. Over the past year, she shaped large-scale digital programs including PMI’s Virtual Expo, reaching more than 85,000 global participants. Her work redefined virtual engagement through interactive formats that made digital experiences feel personal, energizing, and impactful.
Dahlia El Gazzar
Chief Ruckusmaker
DAHLIA+Agency
Kimberly leads ORCID’s digital and hybrid events, designing accessible programs that build trust and strengthen global research communities. Over the past year, she created data-driven programming like Ask Me Anything: Librarians Leading ORCID Adoption, responding to audience feedback with practical guidance and high interaction. She also expanded ORCID’s on-demand library to extend impact beyond live sessions.
Kimberly Inniger, DES
Senior Events & Outreach Manager
ORCID
Experience Design of the Year
Brought to you by Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Recognizes individuals or teams who craft standout event experiences by translating creative ideas into intentional, cohesive moments that resonate with audiences.
Sina designs event experiences that turn participation into community, blending creativity, storytelling, and connection. In the past year, she led engagement design for the ISPIM Innovation Conference in Norway, transforming a limited budget into a high-impact experience. Her Viking-inspired social campaign and peer tribes helped 92% of first-time attendees feel welcomed and connected.
Sina Bünte, CMP, DES
Founder
DigitalMind.events
Kim designs immersive learning experiences that turn education into active participation for veterinary professionals. Over the past year, she introduced game-based learning at WVC Vegas, including interactive side quests and a collaborative escape room. These designs boosted engagement, improved knowledge retention, and helped thousands of attendees apply learning directly to clinical practice.
Kimberly Keating, MA
Director of Conference Education
Viticus Group
David designs human-centered event environments that boost performance and business results. He led the creation of Circadian Cove, the only circadian rhythm programmed wellness lounge activated at IMEX America, aligning space, movement, food, and recovery with human energy patterns. It increased dwell time, session engagement, and lead outcomes by designing for physiology, not hype.
David T. Stevens, PMED
Wellness Architect
Olympian Meeting
Groundbreaker Award
Brought to you Visit Oklahoma City
Recognizes individuals who challenge the status quo by introducing bold ideas, new approaches, or first-of-their-kind initiatives that advance equity, access, and inclusion across the business events industry.
Bianca is a groundbreaker for creating the Accessibility Exchange, a first-of-its-kind, open forum where event professionals can openly learn, ask questions, and build confidence around accessibility. By removing stigma and making accessibility practical and approachable, she has shifted how the industry talks about – and applies – accessibility in real event settings.
Bianca DeStout
Senior Sales Manager
Visit Cincy
Kyle is a values-driven leader advancing inclusion, belonging, and organizational stewardship across the business events industry. As Chair of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association during a pivotal transition, he helped rebuild trust, strengthen governance, and stabilize operations. While the association serves LGBT+ meeting professionals, his leadership extended its impact across the industry, influencing more inclusive events and environments for LGBT+ communities.
Kyle Jordan, CAE, CEM-AP, CMP Fellow, DES, CMM
Director of Meetings
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
Nuria is a groundbreaker advancing equity and access through first-of-its-kind AI-powered simulation training. By challenging traditional education models, she created an award-winning program that helps healthcare professionals recognize and reduce weight and diabetes stigma, build empathy, and strengthen inclusive communication—setting a new standard for human-centred learning.
Nuria Fernández Roldán
Online Learning Specialist
Kenes Group
Impact Award
Honors individuals or teams whose work delivers clear, measurable outcomes that create meaningful change for communities, organizations, or the broader business events ecosystem.
Through the Reach Back Project, Bianca has created meaningful pathways into the business events industry by introducing middle school students from underrepresented communities to career opportunities they may not have otherwise seen. The program has already led to mentorships, internships, and expanded access to future careers in hospitality and events.
Bianca DeStout
Senior Sales Manager
Visit Cincy
Elena Fis has delivered measurable environmental and community impact through her leadership of the Kenes Sustainability Dream Team. From launching the Kenes Forest in Tanzania to embedding sustainability across global events, their work turns purpose into action. By engaging communities, partners, and delegates, this volunteer-led team has created a scalable model for real environmental and social impact.
Elena Fis, SEPC
Sustainability Manager
Kenes Group
Joyce Leveston drives lasting impact by building talent pipelines and strengthening the business events ecosystem through inclusive leadership. Over the past year, she has expanded mentorship and career development for emerging professionals of color, creating access to training, certifications, and leadership opportunities that strengthen the industry overall.
Joyce Leveston, CMM, CVP
Javits Convention Center
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
Recognizes individuals whose service and leadership have strengthened a PCMA chapter or region through meaningful contributions, engagement, and dedication to the member community.
Carine Desroches strengthens the NYPCMA community through thoughtful service and member-focused leadership. Over the past year, she elevated the chapter’s marketing and social presence, launched informal meetups and member spotlights, and helped create accessible ways for members to connect, engage, and feel a strong sense of belonging within the chapter.
Carine M. Desroches, MMP, HMCC
Meetings & Events Director
National Kidney Foundation
Melissa delivers outstanding service to the Capital Chapter through hands-on board and committee leadership. She has led chapter-wide SOP development, driven member-facing marketing campaigns like the All Access Pass, streamlined event processes and supported management company transitions. She also serves as a local leader for the HQ Collective program in Southern New Jersey.
Melissa Peticolas, CEM, CMP
Account Executive
Vista Convention Services
Lindsay Williams has provided outstanding service to the GMC Chapter through sustained volunteer leadership, board service, and financial stewardship as Treasurer. She built pipelines for emerging professionals, helped launch the GMC Mentorship Program, and strengthened financial oversight, budgeting, and transparency to ensure long-term stability and confidence in chapter operations.
Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM
Senior Manager, Business Development
GES
Supplier of the Year
Brought to you by Miles Partnership, Meetings & Events
Recognizes industry partners who consistently elevate client outcomes through innovation, reliability, and collaborative leadership – setting a high standard for service and impact across the business events ecosystem.
Lori is a trusted destination partner who delivers results at scale. Over the past year, she executed IPW 2025 and partnered with clients and stakeholders to deliver neighborhood activations for Maritz ESN Together, Black-owned business activations for NAACP attendees, and a once-in-a-lifetime Wrigley Field dinner for ELX – combining creativity, reliability, and collaborative leadership.
Lori Adlesick
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Events
Choose Chicago
Joy Cmiel is known for showing up as a true extension of her clients’ teams. This past year, she combined strategic sourcing, thoughtful advocacy, and hands-on support to solve complex challenges, strengthen hotel partnerships, and ensure seamless execution—earning lasting trust from clients who rely on her well beyond the contract.
Joy Cmiel
Senior Vice President
ConferenceDirect
Karen Staples is a trusted destination partner known for pairing strategic leadership with thoughtful, high-touch service. In the past year, she guided clients through complex planning challenges in Salt Lake City with transparency, creativity, and care—curating memorable site experiences, protecting client trust, and delivering solutions that balanced destination priorities with long-term client success.
Karen Staples, CMP, CASE
Managing Director of Sales
Visit Salt Lake
Tickets, Tables & Lounges
Feature
Individual Ticket
VIP Reserved Table
Signature Lounge
Premier Lounge
Price
$395
$8,500
$17,500
$25,000
Number of Tickets
10
10
20
Red Carpet Experience
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
Awards Show Access
✔️
✔️ (reserved row)
✔️ (reserved row)
✔️ (reserved row)
After Party Access
✔️
✔️ (reserved table)
✔️ (15x15 lounge)
✔️ (20x20 lounge)
Lounge Furniture & Signage
Standard package
Premium package
Food & Beverage Enhancements
Optional add-on
One upgrade included
Website, Program, Signage & Convene Recognition
✔️
✔️
✔️
Individual Ticket – $395 USD
Includes access to the Red Carpet Experience, Awards Show, and After Party, with dinner and a hosted bar throughout the evening. Enjoy live entertainment, red carpet photo ops, and the opportunity to connect with peers, finalists, and honorees during a night celebrating industry excellence.
VIP Reserved Table – $8,500 USD
Ideal for hosting clients or colleagues. Includes ten (10) tickets with a reserved row of seats during the Awards Show and a reserved table with seating for ten during the After Party. Guests enjoy full event access, along with recognition as a Visionary Awards supporter across event materials and PCMA’s
Convene
magazine.
Signature Lounge – $17,500 USD
Showcase your brand with a custom-designed VIP lounge during the After Party. This package includes a 15’x15’ branded lounge space for up to ten guests, standard furnishings, and signage, plus ten (10) tickets with preferred seating during the Awards Show. Supporter recognition is included across the Visionary Awards website, onsite materials, and
Convene
magazine.
Premier Lounge – $25,000
The most elevated Visionary Awards experience. Includes a 20’x20’ branded lounge space for up to twenty guests with premium signage, enhanced food and beverage service, and preferred Awards Show seating. This package includes twenty (20) tickets, high-impact brand visibility throughout the event, and comprehensive supporter recognition across digital, onsite, and post-event platforms.
Schedule at a Glance
5:00 – 6:00pm – Red Carpet Experience
6:00 – 6:30pm – Awards Show Seating
6:30 – 7:30pm – Awards Show
7:30 – 10:00pm – After Party
List as of April 16, 2026
Lounge Sponsors
Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center
Events DC
Visit California
Hilton
Freeman
Access
VIP Table Sponsors
ACCOR
AFR Furniture Rental
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and Georgia World Congress Center
Caesars Entertainment
Choose Chicago
Convene Magazine
Destination Cleveland
Destination DC
Destination Toronto
Destination Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre
Encore
Explore Edmonton
GES | On Peak
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Houston
Hyatt Convention Alliance
IHG® Hotels & Resorts
Javits Center
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
Louisville Tourism
Maritz
Meet Boston
Meet Long Beach
Meet Minneapolis
MGM Resorts International
Music City Center
Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
New Orleans & Company and The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New York City Tourism + Conventions
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando
Ottawa Tourism
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Projection
San Diego Tourism Authority
Smart City Networks
Visit Anaheim
Visit Cincy
Visit Denver
Visit Fort Worth
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Visit Indy
Visit KC
Visit Lauderdale
Visit Oklahoma City
Visit Omaha
Visit Salt Lake
Visit San Antonio
Visit Tampa Bay
Visionary Awards 2025 Highlights
The PCMA Foundation Visionary Awards honors the exceptional stars for their significant contributions to their organizations. This premier industry black-tie recognition event, from the red carpet reception to the awards show and after-party is the ultimate place to see and be seen.
Click the
button above to watch more videos in the
2025
playlist.
Visionary Awards 2024 Highlights
The PCMA Foundation Visionary Awards honors the exceptional stars for their significant contributions to their organizations. This premier industry black-tie recognition event, from the red carpet reception to the awards show and after-party is the ultimate place to see and be seen.
Click the
button above to watch more videos in the
BEIW 2024
playlist.
Visionary Awards 2023 Highlights
Visionary Awards 2025
Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Business EventS Strategist
Carol McGury
Retired Executive VP, Event & Education Services
Smithbucklin
Business EventS Strategist
David Peckinpaugh
President & CEO
Maritz
Educator
Donald Getz, PhD
Professor Emeritus
University of Calgary
Supplier
Elliott Ferguson
President and CEO
Destination DC
Supplier
Lyn Lewis-Smith
CEO
Business Events Sydney (BESydney)
Professional Excellence Awards Finalists
Business Events Strategist of the Year
Brought to you by Houston
WINNER
Lisa Astorga, CMP
Director of Meetings
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
Jennifer Ragan-Fore
Chief Experience Officer
ISTE and ASCD
Nneka St. Gerard, CMP
Chief Program Officer, Meetings, Membership, and Marketing
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year
Sina Bünte, CMP, DES
Founder
DigitalMind.events
Mahoganey Jones, CMP, DES, HMCC
Founder & CEO
Event Specialists Inc.
WINNER
Brian Zambotti
Vice President, Business Development
Conexiant
Experience Design of the Year
Brought to you by Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
WINNER
Anthony Maggiore, CMP
Senior Director, Conference & Meetings
American Academy of Physician Associates
(Team)
Katie McCormick
Executive Director, Meetings, Events, & Convention
NECA
Stuart Ruff-Lyon
Chief Events and Sales Officer
RIMS – the risk management society
(Team)
Groundbreaker Award
Brought to you by Visit Oklahoma City
Jeffrey Fehr
Client Engagement Manager, Business Events
Destination Canada
Lori Jenaire, CMP, CDS, MBE
Vice President, Global Accounts
ConferenceDirect
WINNER
Laurie Nelson-Choice, CGMP
Director of Diversity & National Sales
Visit Baltimore
Impact Award
Christine Cleaver
Associate Professor of Instruction – Event and Entertainment Management
School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University
Mackenzie Loy
Founder & CEO
Homemade in DC
WINNER
Claude Molinari
President and CEO
Visit Detroit and Co-Chair of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the NFL Draft
(Team)
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
Krista Cameron, DES
Vice President, Industry Relations, Canada
Encore
(Canada East Chapter)
Sara McWilliams
Senior Director, Global Accounts
HelmsBriscoe
(Greater Philly Chapter)
WINNER
Annette Suriani
Principal and Chief Meeting Strategist
AMS Meeting Solutions
(Capital Chapter)
Supplier of the Year
Carrie Ferenac
Co-Founder and President
CNTV
WINNER
Alison LaFollette, CMP
Director, Mid-Atlantic Region
Visit Seattle
Ronnette Phillips
Director – Hilton Direct
Hilton Worldwide Sales
Lisa Astorga, CMP
Director of Meetings
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
Jennifer Ragan-Fore
Chief Experience Officer
ISTE and ASCD
Nneka St. Gerard, CMP
Chief Program Officer, Meetings, Membership, and Marketing
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Tables & Tickets
Individual Ticket – $375 USD
Group of 10 Tickets – $4,500 USD
VIP Reserved Table – $8,000 USD
Schedule at a Glance
5:00 – 6:00pm – Red Carpet Experience
6:00 – 6:30pm – Awards Show Seating
6:30 – 7:30pm – Awards Show
7:30 – 10:00pm – After Party
Presented By
Host Venue
Participating Organizations
After Party and Champagne Bar Sponsor
Style Lounge and Red Carpet Experience Sponsor
Late Night Bites Sponsor
Mocktail Bar Sponsor
Glambot Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Award Sponsor
Thank You to Our Table Hosts
Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center
Visit Anaheim
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visit Baltimore
Caesars Entertainment
Tourism Calgary
Visit California
Choose Chicago
Experience Columbus
Destination DC and Events DC
Visit Detroit
Dominican Republic Tourism Board
Fairmont
Freeman
Visit Fort Worth
GES / onPeak
Heritage
Hilton Worldwide
Visit Houston
Hyatt Convention Alliance
IHG® Hotels & Resorts
Visit Indy
Visit Lauderdale
Meet Long Beach
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Louisville Tourism
Maritz
Marriott International
McCormick Place
MGM Resorts International
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Music City Center
Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
New Orleans & Company / Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New York City Tourism + Conventions
Oak View Group
Visit Oklahoma City
Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando
Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
PCMA Convene Magazine
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
VisitPITTSBURGH
Travel Portland
Projection
Discover Puerto Rico
RIMS
Visit San Antonio
Smart City Networks
Sodexo Live!
Visit Tampa Bay
Destination Toronto
Destination Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Late Night Bites & Live from the Red Carpet brought to you by
Style Lounge & Red Carpet Experience brought to you by
Corporate Event Marketer of the Year Award presented by
Groundbreaker Award presented by
Experience Design of the Year Award presented by
Supplier of the Year Award presented by presented by
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year Award presented by
Business Events Strategist of the Year Award presented by
Past Honorees & Winners
Previous Lifetime Achievement Honorees
2025 – Carol McGury
2025 – David Peckinpaugh
2025 – Donald Getz, PhD
2025 – Elliott Ferguson
2025 – Lyn Lewis-Smith
2024 – Elizabeth Tovar
2024 – Stuart Levy
2024 – Butch Spyridon
2024 – Greg O’Dell
2023 – Bill Reed, FASAE, CMP
2023 – Ray Bloom
2023 – M.T. Hickman
2022 – Mary Pat Heftman
2022 – Kitty Ratcliffe
2022 – Dr. Eric D. Olson
2021 – Ben Goedegebuure
2021 – Lisa Delpy Neirotti
2021 – Bill Grusich, CMP Fellow – Emeritus, FASAE
2019 – Chris Wehking
2019 – Eduardo Chaillo
2019 – Lauren Kramer
2018 – Carrie Freeman Parsons
2018 – Godwin Charles Ogbeide, PhD, MBA
2018 – Ray Kopcinski, CMP
2017 – Barry L. Smith
2017 – Carol Krugman, MEd, CMP, CMM
2017 – Martin D. Balogh
2016 – Johnnie C. White Jr., CMP, MBA, CAE
2016 – Janet L. Jakobsen, CMP, MBA
2016 – James E. Rooney
2015 – Kati S. Quigley, CMP
2015 – Anne Hamilton
2015 – George G. Fenich, PhD
2014 – Sue M. Dykema, CAE
2014 – Janet Sperstad, CMP
2014 – Carol C. Wallace
2013 – Lisa Block
2013 – Cynthia Vannucci, PhD, CHME, CHSP, CMP
2013 – Gino Giancola
2012 – John Lisack, Jr., CAE
2012 – Amanda K. Cecil, PhD, CMP
2012 – George Aguel
2011 – Gregg H. Talley, CAE
2011 – Glen Ramsborg, PhD, CMP
2011 – Brian Stevens
2010 – Sheila Stampfli
2010 – William R. Host, Jr., CMP
2010 – Liz Erikson
2009 – Bruce Harris, CMP
2009 – Tyra Hilliard, J.D., CMP
2009 – John Patronski
2008 – Debra L. Rosencrance, CMP, CAE
2008 – Joan L. Eisenstodt
2008 – Charles W. Ahlers
2007 – Michael L. Payne
2007 – Deborah Breiter, PhD
2007 – Susan Iris
2006 – J.D. Andrews
2006 – Peter Shure
2006 – Reint Reinders
2005 – James Sweeney
2005 – Patti Shock
2005 – Christie Hicks
2004 – James H. Youngblood
2004 – Richard B. Green, CASE
2003 – H. Cris Collie, CAE
2003 – JoAnn Bedrosian Ryan
2002 – Daniel E. Weber, CEM
2002 – Mickey Schaefer
2001 – Bob Donovan
2000 – Roy B. Evans Jr., CAE
1999 – David J. Noonan
1998 – Charlotte St. Martin
1997 – Anthony J. Jannetti
1996 – PCMA Past Presidents
1995 – JoAnn Hoffman
1994 – David R. Evans
1993 – Lois Stratemeier, CAE
1992 – William D Nelligan, CAE
1991 – William Applegate
1991 – Donald S. Freeman Jr.
1990 – Robert E. Hobart III
1989 – William F. Snyder
1988 – Kathleen D. Bryan
1987 – James C. Collins
Previous Professional Excellence Award Recipients
The Professional Excellence Awards are announced annually at the PCMA Education Foundation Visionary Awards. These awards honor a PCMA member who exemplifies excellence in the business events industry in their given year.
Event Designer of the Year
2025 – AAPA Team, led by Anthony Maggiore, CMP
2024 – Jasmine and Tyra Dyson
2023 – Megan Finnell, CMP
2022 – Darren Mendola, CMP, DES
2019 – Jennifer Gardner
2018 – Phelps Hope
2017 – Megan Tate
2016 – Allyson O’Connor
Community Advocate of the Year
2025 – Visit Detroit Team, led by Claude Molinari
2024 – Dana Johnston
2023 – Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad
2022 – Molly Witges, CMP, DES
2019 – Christine Faiman
2018 – Jeff Chase
2017 – Peter O’Brien
2016 – Christine Phelps
Business Event Strategist of the Year
2025 – Lisa Astorga, CMP
2024 – Stuart Ruff-Lyon
2023 – Kristi Casale, CMP, DMCP
2022 – Kai Hattendorf
2019 – Senthil Gopinath
2018 – Wanda Johnson
2017 – Danielle Urbina
2016 – Kirsten Olean
Groundbreaker Award
2025 – Laurie Nelson-Choice, CGMP
2024 – Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP Fellow, CAE
2023 – Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP Fellow, CMM, DES
2022 – Melissa Cherry
Supplier of the Year
2025 – Alison LaFollette, CMP
2024 – Doug Bennett
2023 – Tim Mathy
2022 – Carson Edwards Jr. MBA, CASE, CDMP
2019 – Greg Bogue
2018 – Chris Lynn
2017 – Jennifer Erney
2016 – Rachael Riggs
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year
2025 – Brian Zambotti
2024 – Shawn (Yih-Hsiang) Cheng
2023 – Jodi VanWoerkom, CMP
2022 – Mary Pat Cornett, CAE, CMP
2019 – Janet Cooper
2018 – Nicole Armstrong
Outstanding Service to a Chapter
2025 – Annette Suriani
2024 – Marcus Eng, CMP Fellow, DES
2023 – Leah Lewis, CMP, DES
2022 – Megan Martin, CMP, DES
2019 – Elisa Sandoval Wong
2018 – Rebecca Ramsey
2017 – Missy Johnson
2016 – John Rubsamen
Previous PCMA Award Recipients
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Sherrif Karamat, President and Chief Executive Officer
Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and Chief Executive Officer of PCMA. Karamat also serves as President of the PCMA Foundation and Publisher of Convene magazine.
As CEO, Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. Karamat serves the greater business events industry as a prominent business architect, enabling our community to become a catalyst for economic and social progress, organizational success, and personal and professional development.
In his previous role as Chief Operating Officer, Karamat led the development and implementation of PCMA’s new vision: driving global economic and social transformation through business events. In addition to his responsibilities at executive level, Karamat also directed streamlining of PCMA’s content creation and delivery channels into one organization. He oversaw partnership, business services, membership, business development and technology teams.
As part of PCMA’s growth strategy, Karamat has led a major data intelligence program and played a key role in the 2017 acquisition of Incentive Conference & Event Society Asia Pacific (ICESAP).
A leader in the business events industry, Karamat previously served as Vice President of Business Sales and Services for Toronto Convention & Visitors (Tourism Toronto). He has served on various boards and is currently a director on the Destination International Board of Trustees.
Karamat is a life-long learner. In addition to completing his bachelor’s degree and Masters of Business Administration from York University in Toronto, Canada, he has completed postgraduate certificate programs at Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. At Harvard Business and Law School, he completed a program on strategic negotiations for senior executives and a program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one on data intelligence and big data.
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Robert Haas, Chief Innovation Officer
Robert Haas supports PCMA’s new product and service initiatives as its first Chief Innovation Officer. He utilizes data, content and personalized experiences to help PCMA better understand its members’ needs and develop an audience-focused strategy.
Haas has more than 15 years of database marketing, product development and consulting experience from working in business-to-business and business-to-consumer industries. He understands how innovation, research and technology intersect and evaluates what is leading edge versus cutting edge.
Haas will leverage data to determine best practices in business events and how the industry can drive global economic and social transformation.
He previously served as PCMA’s Vice President of Business Development and Data Intelligence. Prior to joining PCMA, he was Senior Vice President of Strategic Product Development and Marketing at Scranton Gillette Communications Inc. Haas has also worked in direct response marketing for Tribune Direct.
He has a bachelor’s degree in international business from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Mona Cotton, Chief Development Officer
As Chief Development Officer, Mona Cotton leads the Business Development, Client and Member Services, and Business Services teams. She has more than 20 years of business leadership experience in the areas of partnership, sponsorship, business development, media publishing and business services.
Cotton, a PCMA leader for more than 15 years, takes a strategic approach to transforming PCMA’s client relationships and business opportunities. Her role at PCMA is to facilitate connections between business-to-business organizations and business-to-consumer operations, identifying opportunities to fuel economic and social progress and success for PCMA and its members, customers and clients.
While she has watched as business events shifted from logistics to engagement, Cotton said the value of relationships remains steadfast in the industry.
Prior to PCMA, Cotton led and supported various sales efforts at the National Association of REALTORS, Airborne Express (now DHL) and Fox Associates, a Chicago-based magazine representative firm. She received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and advertising from Indiana University.
Michelle Crowley, Vice President, Global Growth and Business Transformation
Michelle Crowley oversees regional brand development and content outreach as PCMA’s Vice President of Global Growth and Innovation. Crowley’s responsibilities include overseeing acquisitions and operations in Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
She leads PCMA’s global growth strategy by evaluating and identifying how the organization can deliver value to its members through new and existing business models.
Crowley began her career at PCMA and continues to work with global travel brands, build strategic relationships and partnerships with key markets, and design year-round engagement campaigns. She has held various positions at PCMA including Senior Director of Global Strategy and Manager of Global Development.
Crowley is an MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She received her bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Meredith Rollins, Executive Director, PCMA Foundation
Meredith Rollins is Executive Director of the PCMA Foundation, working to empower individuals and advance innovations in the business events industry.
She manages Foundation operations including social impact projects, research, awards and recognition, fundraising and individual giving. She works with a talented PCMA team and passionate group of leaders on the PCMA Board of Trustees to make an impact each year.
The PCMA Foundation aims to advance lives through education, networking and scholarships and to foster personal connections through face-to-face interactions.
Rollins joined PCMA in 2007 and held roles in project management, global development and account management with the PCMA partnership program. She was Director of Strategic Development for the Association for Corporate Growth, a global community for middle-market M&A business leaders from 2012 to 2015. Rollins become Executive Director of the PCMA Foundation since 2015.
Rollins received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Joycelyn Winnecke, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer
Joycelyn Winnecke is PCMA’s first Chief Marketing and Experience Officer. She oversees global marketing and communications, content creation and delivery, and audience development for events, media channels and education products.
A veteran journalist, media executive and civic leader, Winnecke formerly was President of Tribune Content Agency where she spearheaded a financial turnaround of the legacy content syndication and licensing business. Prior to that role, she was Vice President and Associate Editor of the Chicago Tribune where she helped engineer the digital transformation and led the creation of several successful audience and revenue initiatives including Blue Sky Innovation and Trib Nation, staging as many as 100 live events each year. As a journalist, she reported and led coverage of politics, lifestyle and culture.
Winnecke was Managing Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times and City Editor at the Indianapolis Star before joining the Chicago Tribune. She worked as a Washington correspondent in the Scripps Howard News Service bureau and for 10 years also wrote a weekly column on food and cooking for Scripps Howard.
Her leadership has been recognized by many, including Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40’’ and the Today’s Chicago Woman list of “Most Influential Women in Chicago.’’ She serves as President of the YWCA board of directors and on the President’s Advisory Board for Governors State University. She is a member of The Chicago Network, the Economic Club of Chicago and the International Women’s Forum.
Winnecke earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana in her hometown of Evansville and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Gina Meier, Director, Human Resources
Gina Meier is Director of Human Resources for PCMA, a position she has held since 2006. She is responsible for helping PCMA execute its vision of driving global economic and social transformation through its human capital.
Her responsibilities including professional development, culture, talent development, employee integration and employee engagement.
Meier began her human resources career in 1999 as human resources manager for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide LLC, now a subsidiary of Marriott International Inc. She previously worked as director and manager in Starwood’s housekeeping division.
Meier received a bachelor’s degree in hotel/motel administration and management from Eastern Illinois University.
Bruce MacMillan, Chief Marketing Officer
Bruce MacMillan is responsible for PCMA’s global brand development and marketing strategies as PCMA’s Chief Marketing Officer. He leads the marketing, events and print and digital teams, which includes Convene magazine.
MacMillan has more than 30 years of experience in the global business events and tourism industry and has worked with business enterprises on every continent. His past leadership roles include CEO of VisitDFW, a regional consumer content marketing venture, CEO of Meeting Professionals International and CEO of Tourism Toronto.
He developed and led Vancouver, B.C.’s successful national bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. MacMillan also runs BANDWIDTH consultancy, advising destinations on event sales and marketing strategies and served as consortium consulting partner in the Destinations International DestinationNEXT global initiative.
MacMillan has received numerous awards including twice being named one of the Top Twenty most influential people in the global MICE industry.
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