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.

Interested in applying to be in the upcoming Class of 2026?

Applications open in June and close in mid-September, with a review period lasting approximately four weeks. To be eligible, applicants must be 29 years old or younger at the time the award is recognized at Convening Leaders. PCMA membership is not required. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience in the business events industry, either as an event organizer or supplier.

For more information about the program, please contact Maggie Simkin at [email protected] or 312.423.7248.

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.

Maraika Black
Public Health Programme Manager, European Association for the Study of the Liver

Jillian Bowdring
Destination Services, Meet Boston

Julia Catanese, CMP
Senior Meetings Events and Trade Shows Planner, Cardinal Health

Dan Cornock
Front End and Product Lead, CrowdComms

Sierra Davey, M.Ed
Event Manager, MCI USA

Halee Grimsdale
Experience Coordinator, e=mc2 events

Chloe Hanna
Growth and Operations Lead, Lightbulb Teams

Kaylee Harris, CMP
Meeting Event Manager (I), Maritz

Nathaniel Holic
Manager, Meetings & Registration, BOMA International

Jordan Lacey, CMP
Project Manager: Technology Events and Conferences, Capital One

Priscillia Lau
Manager, Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd.

Lillian Nguyen, M.S.
Event Security Planner, Meta (via Milestone Technologies)

Kelly Parkinson
Resource Development Manager, Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting

Samie Peckinpaugh
Senior Sales Manager, Access DMC

Caroline Pekar
Assistant Events Manager, Freeman

Iva Popova
Senior Social Media Manager, Kenes Group

Amber Prothero
Client Executive, SongDivision

Lucie Sagne
Event Designer, MCI Group Canada

Abby Skinner
Chapter Manager, YPO Southern 7 Chapter

Emily Zientek, M.S.
Sustainability Coordinator, SodexoLive!

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%)

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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