CLASS OF 2025 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

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.

20 in Their Twenties Class of 2025

20 in Their Twenties recognizes the best and brightest young professionals in the business events industry. Applicants must submit a full application, short video and references (one reference must come from an active PCMA member).

Applications Are Now Open

Application Deadline: September 16, 2024

Award Information

  • PCMA membership not required
  • Must be 29 years old or younger at the time the award is presented (January 12-15, 2025)
  • Open to Event Organizers and Suppliers meeting age requirements
  • Must be 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 as a member of the Class of 2025, applicant 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 2025 in Houston, TX
  • 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 2025
  • 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
  • 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 2024

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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