About 20 in Their Twenties

Each year, the PCMA 20 in Their Twenties program recognizes 20 emerging leaders who are shaping the future of the business events industry with fresh ideas and innovative thinking.

Questions? Contact Maggie Simkin at [email protected] or 312.423.7248.

Applications are now closed for the Class of 2026.

Award Information

  • PCMA membership not required
  • Must be 29 years old or younger at the time the award is presented (January 2026)
  • Open to event organizers and suppliers who are employed full-time in the meetings, conventions and business events industry
  • Demonstration of leadership (application must address at least 3 of these):
    • Creative thinking and problem solving
    • Challenges the status quo
    • Leading a team or project to achieve a common goal
    • Elevating an industry network into business relationships
    • Effective communicator
    • A positive role model for PCMA’s Code of Ethics
    • Leadership in organizations (inside or outside the industry)
  • If selected, applicants must agree to give back to the PCMA Foundation through service on a volunteer committee
  • Complimentary registration, four (4) nights of housing and round-trip airfare (up to $500 USD) for Convening Leaders 2026
  • Exclusive opportunities to participate in PCMA events and programs
  • Discounted registration to attend Convening Leaders for the two years following your award
  • Complimentary registration for EduCon 2026
  • Complimentary PCMA membership for one year
  • Recognition in a Convene magazine feature article and through a PCMA-issued press release to other industry publications
  • Crystal award to display

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Content and Quality of Video (25%)
  • Overall Written Application Quality (30%)
  • Demonstration of Leadership (15%)
  • Career Goal (15%)
  • References (15%)

20 in Their Twenties Class of 2026

Holly Barnett
Project Manager
Touchpoint Meeting Services

Anasthassia Bohne-Gattesco
Sales Manager Locations
Messe München

Rilee Bradshaw, CEM
Client Relationship Manager
Freeman

Makenzie Brown
International Associations Sales Manager
The Scottish Event Campus

Katie Croy
Manager, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales
RE+ Events

Jaden DiMeo
Event Coordinator
Events DC

Giulia Ferrero
Director of Event Marketing
Swapcard

Saïda Florexil
CEO
Imanyco

Katharina Fressner
Sales Manager
Austria Center Vienna

Juan Pablo Garcia
Chief Sales Officer
OZUM Events

Shimal Jaykant, DES SEPC
Conference & Events Manager
Medical Conference Partners

Hannah Jennings
Convention Sales Coordinator
Visit Denver

Sydney Lowe
Senior Manager of Events
Heartland Forward

Abby Melville
Executive Meeting Planner
BCD Meetings & Events

Sadie Noland
Marketing & Sales Specialist
Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting

Kaitlin Payne, CMP
Meetings and Events Manager
National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)

Ashlen Rosenbaum
Content and Program Coordinator
Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting

Anna Schelling
Manager, Events
GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.

Rachel Smith
Meeting Coordinator
Optica

Blake Waravdekar, DES
Meeting Planner
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Past Recipients

  • Alexandra Adsit, CMP, CEM
  • Chloe Armstrong
  • Sina Bünte, DES
  • Erica Critzer, CMP
  • Patrick Crosson, CMP
  • Carmen Ferrari, CMP
  • Idil Findikoğlu
  • Karin Hagemann
  • Caitlin Hume, CMP
  • Chloe Lai
  • Annamarie Luccarelli
  • Samantha Mele
  • Cahal Mowery, MBA, CMP, CTA
  • Brittany Saylor, CMP
  • Barrie Schwartz
  • Allison Shebek
  • Kyle Smith, DES
  • Sara Stehle, CMP
  • Andrew Sykes
  • Rasheena Wilson, CMP
  • Meet the 2018 class
  • Derek Anderson
  • Vanessa E. Bass, CMP, HMCC
  • Alexandra Deering
  • Matthew B. Fox
  • Christine Frye, CTA
  • Tessa Kalfell
  • Eric Kincaid
  • Holly Lammert
  • Amanda Marochko, DES, TQ
  • Megan Martin, CMP
  • Johnny Martinez
  • Kaitlyn Palatucci
  • Allison Perrelli, CMP
  • Morgan Prewitt, CMP
  • Katherine Sinnen, CMP
  • Nichole Steele
  • Naida S. Struyk, CMP
  • Weini Tan
  • Lindsey Walker
  • Andrias White, MBA, CMP, CSEP
  • Meet the 2017 class
  • Kalee E. Barnhardt
  • Jamie Bruce
  • Edward Byers
  • Shannon DeSouza, MBET
  • Michael Doane
  • Bianca E. Ferrer
  • Jessica Fitting, CMP
  • Sarah Gould-Stotts
  • Juraj Holub
  • Irena Jelenova  MA, Msc.
  • Noreen E. Leahy
  • Victoria  Lee
  • Alexander David Plaxen, MTA
  • Claire Repass, CMP
  • Lauren M. Santarone
  • Peter T. Simonelli
  • Jenny C. Stanfield, BA, ICM Certification
  • Havovie  Suraliwalla, BTM
  • Erin Elizabeth Sweeney
  • Julia Yong
  • Meet the 2016 class
  • Ashley H. Akright, CMP
  • Magdalina A. Atanassova
  • Madeleine Bart
  • Michael W. Cubbage, CGMP
  • Katrina L. Dunn
  • Danielle E. Foster, MBA
  • Katharine L. Gausmann
  • Kacie Hackett
  • Kristine Koonts
  • Jennifer Kuchenbecker, CMP
  • Alana K. Mallory, CWP
  • Leucepe Martinez
  • Madeja M. Metcalf
  • Samantha L. Moore
  • Janet Partlow, CMP
  • Cara Pratt, DMCP
  • Lindsay K. Pund
  • Kristina Simkins
  • Jessica L. Smith, MTA, CMP
  • Jennifer Vaseleck
  • Meet the 2015 class
  • Ryan Barth, CMP
  • Jascha Bergman
  • Casey Carignan
  • Shawn Cheng
  • Katie Dolan
  • Vivian Fleet
  • Rosa Garriga Mora
  • Mindy E. Halpert
  • Rick Hyland
  • Alexis Kereluk
  • Sam NcNeill
  • Elisa Sandoval
  • Astrid E. Schrier, CMP
  • Kathleen A. Smith
  • Megan Tate
  • Marcela V. Torres Vargas
  • David Wagner
  • Rachel E. Walsh, CMP
  • Alleeshia Williams
  • Leslie Wong
  • Meet the 2014 class

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