
About 20 in Their Twenties
Members of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties are proven leaders with a lot of ideas for the business events industry.
For more information about the program, please contact Madeline Schimeck at [email protected] or 312.235.7235.
Meet the Class of 2023
The “20 in Their Twenties” class of 2023, supported by PCMA Foundation and Experience Columbus, were honored at PCMA Convening Leaders 2024, Jan. 7-10 in San Diego.
Nikki Bibbero
Founder, Event Manager, Bibbero Meetings and Events
Laura Caprioli
Acting Business Events Manager, VisitBritain/VisitEngland
Sarah Chen
Marketing Manager, Global Destinations, Sojern
Malcolm Farrell-Mitchell
Senior Business Development Manager – UK & Europe, Business Events Perth
Kate Fries
Meeting Manager and Business Development Manager, Bostrom
Nikki Gonzales
Chief of Staff, Soundings
Sibley Guilianelli
Registration Manager, Customer Experience & Insights, Creative Group, Inc.
Tomell Harbison
Meeting & Event Coordinator, Talley Management Group
Eimear Hone
Senior Association Account Manager, ICC Belfast
Anna Lommatzsch
Event Manager, Informa Markets, Global Licensing Group
Mary Kate McBurney
Conference Manager, Meeting Expectations
Siena Manoogian
Annual Meetings Coordinator, American Urological Association
Ashley Montoya
Chief Staff Executive & Membership Manager, Civica Associations Conferences & Exhibitions
Kadejah Pearson Omokaro
Manager of Conferences and Events, National Head Start Association
Mara Rodas
Sales Coordinator, Global Sales & Service, Destination Toronto
Cole Sales
Marketing Manager, eShipping
Taylor Savage
Regional Director, Experience Columbus
Jenna Sopko
Manager, Business Meetings and Events, National Association of REALTORS
Heather VanderVoet
Event Coordinator, Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s
Diana Zarate
Client Relationship Manager, Shocklogic
Award Information
- PCMA membership not required
- Must be 29 years old or younger at the time the award is presented (January 7 – 10, 2024)
- Open to Event Organizers and Suppliers meeting age requirements
- Must be employed full-time or seeking full-time employment 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)
- Complimentary registration, four (4) nights of housing and round-trip airfare for Convening Leaders 2024 in San Diego, CA
- 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 2024
- 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 will be reviewed and candidates selected by a diverse PCMA member task force, including 20 in their Twenties program alumni and other PCMA volunteers.
- A maximum of 20 applicants will be selected each year.
- Candidates will be selected based on the following:
- Content and Quality of Video (30%)
- Overall Written Application Quality (30%)
- Demonstration of Leadership (15%)
- Career Goal (15%)
- References (10%)
- 2023 Application requirements:
- Insert the link to your LinkedIn profile. Be sure it is up to date and includes work and volunteer experience.
- Attach a current photo or selfie (professional photo not required)
- Insert a link to a short video clip (max 2 minutes). Tell us why you’re among the best and brightest – describe your distinct and unique leadership talents. Be creative!
- What is your ultimate career goal within the business events industry?
- To date, what has been your biggest professional achievement?
- Write a letter to yourself one year in the future to discuss all of the accomplishments, insights and benefits that you hope to have gained and achieved as a member of the PCMA 20 in their Twenties Class of 2023.
- Identify two advocates (one must be a member of PCMA) who can provide an assessment of your leadership skills and send them the unique reference link provided in the application email from PCMA.
Past Recipients
- Pauline Cheong, Case, DES
- Gladys Goh, DES
- Elyse Harris
- Josh Henry
- Kendra Maclure, CMP
- Elizabeth Miranda
- Katharina Path
- Jessica Rohe, DES
- Kelsey Secules, CMP, CSEP, DES
- Carina Stihl, CMP, DES
- Christina Strohschneider
- Lauren Stroud
- Erica Teddone, CMP, PMP
- Suzanne Thibeault
- Julianne Touhy
- Maeva Truchi
- Megan Walsh, CMP, DES
- Khadijah White, DES
- Brooke Wilson, CMP
- Jennifer Yau
- Taylor Nicole Abbate, CMP
- Colleen Bingle
- Robert Chain
- Carolyn Cooper, CMP, DES
- Ben Cramer, DES
- Byanca Ellul, CMP
- Basha Ferdinand
- Stephanie Geddis
- Mariya (Nikodimova) Georgieva
- Rachel Keyes
- Simona Milenkova
- Bree Nidds, CTA
- Dan Noyce
- Jack Owens
- Farah Parkinson
- Christina Pino, CMP, DES
- Jean Thomae, CMP
- Marcus Urquhart, CMP
- Derrick Williams
- Felix Willert
- Marie-Claire Caldwell
- Jillian Cardinal
- Derica Clarke
- Rebecca Doser
- Diana Frederiksen
- Julia Hachenthal
- Kimberly Hoffman, CMP, DCMP
- Lisa Jeller
- Alexandra Larach
- Rebecca Lino
- Robert Lutz
- Shanae McFadden, CMP
- Joy McIntyre, CMP
- Lindsay Miller
- Hannah Poyo, MBA
- Meagan E. Prescott, CMP
- Jaclyn Rosenberg
- Kelly Thomas
- Lauren Washburn
- Krista Whaley
- Edward Bagsic, CMP, DES
- Raul Cavazos-Binder
- Jared Chambers
- Emily Dietrich
- Molly Holt, CMP
- Kara Hsu
- Veronika Ivanova
- Andrea Lane, MTA
- Janelle Lewis
- Chad Manhertz, MTA
- Femke Morelisse
- Greg Morris, CMP
- Laura Neufeld
- Khadijah Nimrod
- Olivia Pelzer
- Gita Pun
- Giulia Ineke Sarri
- Erin Simcox
- Kevin J. Thompson
- Lindsay Williams
- 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