
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.
Applications for the Class of 2026 are now open through September 15
Learn more about benefits, eligibility, and the selection process below—and take the next step in your career.
Questions? Contact Maggie Simkin at [email protected] or 312.423.7248.
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 2025
The class of 2025 represents business event organizers and suppliers from several PCMA regions, including APAC, Canada, EMEA, and the United States.
Past Recipients
- Shayna Asgill
- Sarah Banks
- Arielle Barlage
- Cierra Belin
- Rachel Bruce
- Chase Brunson
- Alexis Dick
- Katie Eike
- Sofia Niebles Evilla
- Sulena Gómez
- Lily Harris
- Matthew Johnson
- Sophia Koutsandreas
- Lindsay Krehbiel
- Laura Matley
- Alison Melvin
- Meagan Miller
- Rachael Molyneux
- Shamera Stewart, MBA, CMP, DES
- Jenna Wiese
- Nikki Bibbero
- Laura Caprioli
- Sarah Chen
- Malcolm Farrell-Mitchell
- Kate Fries
- Nikki Gonzales
- Sibley Guilianelli, Csep, Cis
- Tomell Harbison
- Eimear Hone
- Anna Lommatzsch, Cmp, Des
- Mary Kate Mcburney
- Siena Manoogian
- Ashley Montoya
- Kadejah Omokaro, Des
- Mara Rodas
- Cole Sales
- Taylor Savage, Des, Cta, Cfmp
- Jenna Sopko, Des
- Heather Vandervoet
- Diana Zarate
- 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