Press Releases

BizBash Inducts PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton

CHICAGO, IL, August 15, 2008--Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) president and CEO Deborah Sexton will be inducted into the BizBash Chicago Hall of Fame at the BizBash Event Style Expo at the Merchandise Mart on Aug. 20, 2008.
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PCMA CASE® Program Enhances Cancun’s Service Infrastructure for Meetings and Conventions

CHICAGO, IL, August 14, 2008-The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has partnered with Cancun to customize PCMA's Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE®) Online Course™ for Cancun's meetings industry suppliers.
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PCMA and ACTE Announce Plans for Industry Collaboration

August 13, 2008, CHICAGO, IL--Continuing in the well-received and positive trend of collaboration between hospitality industry organizations, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) announced plans to collaborate for important industry-advancing charges, including educational initiatives and future research programs.
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MeetingMetricsSM Offers No-Cost 30-Day Trial License Program | August 6, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, August 6 , 2008--The Professional Convention Management Association's (PCMA) partner in meeting results measurement, MeetingMetrics, is now offering meeting managers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the easy-to-use online measurement tools at no cost through the MeetingMetrics 30-Day Trial License Program.
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Convene® Magazine Earns Two More Gold Awards

CHICAGO, IL, July 23, 2008--The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) announces that Convene magazine has been recognized with two more gold awards in addition to the two top honors the magazine received from the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) in June.
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Dynamic Technology Broadens Convene® Magazine’s Reach

CHICAGO, IL, July 10, 2008—The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced the launch of a digital version of its flagship monthly magazine, Convene, opening up the award-winning, content-rich magazine to a wide global audience.
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PCMA Member Relations Director Christine Melendes Earns Certified Association Executive Credential

CHICAGO, IL, June 27, 2008 - The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced that Christine Melendes has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE ™) credential, awarded by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
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PCMA and MeetingMetrics Announce Availability of Paperless Session Evaluations

CHICAGO, IL, June 25, 2008--The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and MeetingMetrics have announced the availability of a new online session evaluation survey as part of the online meeting results measurement system.
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PCMA Names Gail Fairhall Vice President of Research

CHICAGO, IL, June 20, 2008--The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced that Gail Fairhall has joined the organization as vice president of research.
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PCMA’s Convene Wins Coveted SNAP Awards

CHICAGO, IL, June 19, 2008--It turns out you can judge a magazine by its cover. Convene, the four-color, monthly magazine of the Professional Convention Management Association, has won two awards for the cover of its May 2007 issue as part of the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) 2008 EXCEL Awards program. SNAP’s annual EXCEL Awards program singles out association publications and communications vehicles that demonstrate a commitment to excellence.
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PCMA Announces 2008 Achievement and Recognition Awards Call for Nominations

CHICAGO, IL, June 17, 2008--Each year the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to PCMA and the meetings and hospitality industry. Nominations for the 2008 PCMA Achievement and Recognition Awards are being accepted now through July 31, 2008. The prestigious awards are presented at the PCMA Annual Meeting, January 11-14, 2009, in New Orleans, LA.
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2008 PCMA Leadership Conference

CHICAGO, IL, May 23, 2008--Adding some Hollywood flair to its annual educational event, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is bringing the 2008 PCMA Leadership Conference to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, June 8-10.
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Meetings Executives to Hear the Latest on “Word-of-Mouth Marketing” at The Masters Series in Washington, D.C. | May 9, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, May 9, 2008—The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) will hold its second stand-alone Masters Series program of 2008 on Thursday, May 15th from 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. At "Word-of-Mouth Marketing,” John Moore, the marketing mastermind behind Starbucks and Whole Foods, will lead a dynamic presentation on word-of-mouth marketing strategies that meetings executives can use to grow their events.
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PCMA Education Foundation Awards Industry Grants and Scholarships | April 30, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, April 30, 2008 – The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation has approved two grants for meetings industry research projects and awarded nine PCMA student members with scholarships. The Foundation also announced the winner of the 2008 Chapter Challenge: the PCMA Heartland Chapter.
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PCMA Names Mark Holmes New Chief Financial Officer | April 23, 2008

April 23, 2008, CHICAGO, IL—The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced that Mark Holmes has joined the organization as chief financial officer, effective Monday, April 21.
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PCMA Launches 30-Minute "On-the-Go!" Webinar Series | April 18, 2008

April 18, 2008, CHICAGO, IL – The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced the launch of a significant new educational offering: the 30-minute “On-the-Go!” PCMA Webinar Series. The webinars are funded in part by the PCMA Education Foundation and Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
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Michelle Russell Appointed Editor in Chief of Convene | April 17, 2008

April 17, 2008, CHICAGO, IL--The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has named Michelle Russell the editor in chief of Convene—the official magazine of PCMA. Before being promoted to editor in chief, Russell held the position of editor for five years.
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More Than 1,100 Industry Leaders Gather to Celebrate the Meeting Profession’s Finest | April 15, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, April 15, 2008--On April 2nd, the 2008 PCMA Education Foundation Dinner in Washington, D.C., drew more than 1,100 meetings industry professionals to recognize the accomplishments of three remarkable individuals. Honorees Joan Eisenstodt; Charles Ahlers; and Debra Rosencrance, CMP, CAE, have all made an incredible impact within the meetings industry.
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Sherrif Karamat Named New PCMA Chief Operating Officer

CHICAGO, IL, April 11, 2008 –The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is proud to name Sherrif Karamat as its new Chief Operating Officer. Karamat has been with PCMA for more than four years, formerly serving as PCMA’s Chief Partner Relations Officer and overseeing PCMA’s strategic partnership program and print and digital advertising for PCMA and PCMA Convene magazine.
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Meetings Industry Executives Find Out "What’s Next" at PCMA Masters Series in New York

CHICAGO, IL, March 14, 2008—The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) held its first stand-alone Masters Series program of 2008 on Wednesday, March 5th in New York City. At "Our Age of Transformation: What’s Next in Our High-tech, Global, 21st Century World,” technology and future trends expert Peter Leyden led a positive discussion about the extraordinary transformation the world is experiencing right now.
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Results of 17th Annual PCMA Convene® Meetings Market Survey Released

Chicago, IL, March 14, 2008 - For almost two decades, the Annual Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Convene Meetings Market Survey has been a bellwether report for the industry. This month, the findings of the 17th annual survey, produced in partnership with American Express, are published in Convene magazine, and thousands will be scanning the pages to get a bead on the industry.
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PCMA to Launch Updated CMP® Online Prep™ Course

CHICAGO, IL, March 14, 2008 – In an effort to stay on top of the latest industry trends and continue its support of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP®) designation, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has updated all of its CMP® educational resources and tools to correspond with new material covered in the Convention Industry Council (CIC) Manual, 8th edition.
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PCMA Announces Sites of 2011 and 2012 Annual Meetings: Las Vegas and San Diego!

CHICAGO, IL, March 12, 2008 – The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is excited to announce the sites for its 2011 and 2012 Annual Meetings. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, will host the 2011 Annual Meeting and San Diego, CA, will host the 2012 Annual Meeting.
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PCMA Education Foundation Kicks of Annual Individual Giving Campaign in Seattle | January 15, 2008

Seattle, Washington, January 15, 2008-The PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Education Foundation launched a new Annual Individual Giving Campaign at this morning's General Session at the 2008 PCMA Annual Meeting in Seattle.
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Orlando Donates Meeting Space for 2008 PCMA Convention Center Auction | January 15, 2008

Seattle, Washington, January 15, 2008—The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Orlando CVB) sponsored this morning’s General Session at the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) 2008 Annual Meeting and announced an exciting opportunity for meeting professionals. The OCCC and the Orlando CVB have partnered with PCMA for the 2008 PCMA Convention Center Auction, marking the second time a convention center has auctioned its meeting space to benefit PCMA.
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PCMA I-Zone at the 2008 Annual Meeting: Innovations in Action | January 12, 2008

Seattle, Washington, January 12, 2008 - For a second year, attendees of the Professional Convention Management Association's (PCMA) Annual Meeting, January 13 - 16, 2008 in Seattle, will have an opportunity to view some of the latest innovations in the meetings and events industry. At the PCMA I-Zone, demonstrations by Microsoft Corporation, PolyVision®, Freeman , VisionaryFX, and MeetingMetricsSM will givemeeting attendees a sneak peek at what lies on the horizon for meetings and events.
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Greening the 2008 PCMA Annual Meeting | January 12, 2008

Seattle, Washington, January 12, 2008 - The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) continues to work hard to reduce its environmental footprint. At the 2008 PCMA Annual Meeting, January 13 - 16 in Seattle, both PCMA and the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (WSCTC), will carry out several initiatives to maintain their positions as industry leaders in the green movement.
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PCMA Members Give Back to Seattle, Host City of the 2008 Annual Meeting | January 10, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, January 10, 2008 - The Aloha Inn, Food Lifeline, Dress for Success of Seattle, and The Moyer Foundation's Camp Erin all stand to benefit from the hard work, talents and fundraising efforts of PCMA members and sponsors attending PCMA's 52nd Annual Meeting in Seattle, January 13-16, 2008.
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Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein to be Honored with PCMA's Chairman's Award | January 3, 2008

CHICAGO, January 3, 2008 - Some people start new hobbies after they retire. Others take the opportunity to travel more. And then there's Gerald Grinstein - who came out of retirement in 2004 to get Delta Airlines back on its feet, restoring the trust of its employees, providing a positive example of corporate responsibility and CEO pay, and preserving healthy competition in the airline industry for millions of business and leisure travelers.
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Toronto Brings Industry Leadership, International Flair to New Strategic Partnership With PCMA | December 17, 2007

CHICAGO, December 17, 2007 - Making it the first Canadian city to become a Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Strategic Partner, Toronto - a joint collaboration between Tourism Toronto and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) - has signed on with PCMA at its highest partnership level. The three-year commitment begins in January, 2008.
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PCMA’s First Student Career Fair Draws Ten Top Meetings Industry Organizations | December 17, 2007

CHICAGO, December 17, 2007 - The first-ever Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation Student Career Fair piloting at the PCMA Annual Meeting in Seattle, Jan. 13-16, 2008, has drawn ten national meetings industry employers.
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PCMA, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and MeetingMetrics Introduce New Meeting ROI Service Enhancement Tool | November 28, 2007

CHICAGO, November 28, 2007 - The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), MeetingMetricsSM and the ROI Institute, Inc., have announced the release of a major addition to the MeetingMetrics online meeting measurement service: a new post-meeting ROI survey with online Return on Investment (ROI) reports.
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PCMA Shares Insights from International Focus Group at Mexico Ministry of Tourism Conference | November 12, 2007

CHICAGO, November 12, 2007 - Drawing largely from a recent PCMA focus group on international meetings, Brad Lewis - Vice President, Marketing and Communications for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) - was a featured speaker at the Mexico Ministry of Tourism Conference held Oct. 18 in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.
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Slate of 2008 PCMA Education Foundation Trustees | October 31, 3007

CHICAGO, October 31, 2007 - The PCMA Education Foundation Nominating Committee has reviewed all nominations submitted for the 2008 Board of Trustees and the following slate was prepared for review and approval by the Board of Trustees. On October 25th, the slate was approved and deemed elected by the Board.
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PCMA Announces 2007 Achievement Award Winners | October 31, 2007

CHICAGO, October 31, 2007 - Each year the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) honors outstanding members for their contributions to PCMA and the meetings and hospitality industry. PCMA is proud to announce the winners of the 2007 Achievement Awards, who will be recognized at the 52nd PCMA Annual Meeting, January 13-16, 2008, in Seattle.
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American Express Upgrades Its PCMA Partnership to Highest Level | October 22, 2007

Chicago, October 22, 2007 - Signaling an increased commitment to the meetings industry and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Express has upgraded its PCMA partnership to the Strategic Partner level. Effective immediately, the change makes American Express one of only 11 organizations in the highest tier of PCMAs partner program.
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2008 PCMA Nominating Committee Adds New Director to Proposed Slate | October 16, 2007

CHICAGO, October 16, 2007 - The PCMA Nominating Committee has reconvened to select a candidate to fill a seat left open on the 2008 PCMA Board of Directors when Michael Polin passed away on September 25th. After careful deliberation, the committee extended Robin Preston, CEM, Assistant Executive Director, Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships for the National School Boards Association, a professional director position on the 2008 Board of Directors.
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Debra Rosencrance, Charles Ahlers and Joan Eisenstodt to be Honored at the 2008 PCMA Education Foundation Dinner | April 2, 2008

CHICAGO, October 10, 2007 - Debra Rosencrance, CMP, CAE; Charles Ahlers and Joan Eisenstodt will be honored at the 2008 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation Dinner Celebrating Professional Achievement, April 2nd, 2008, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C.
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Proposed Slate of 2008 PCMA New Board Officers and Directors | September 4, 2007

CHICAGO, September 4, 2007 - The PCMA Nominating Committee, chaired by Gregg H. Talley, CAE , past Chairman of the Board, met on August 28th in Chicago, IL and reviewed, in detail, an impressive number of nominee applications. After careful deliberation, the committee offers the following slate of candidates for leadership positions on the 2008 PCMA Board of Directors.
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