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Honorees and professional excellence finalists toasted each other during Convening Leaders 2026 in January in Philadelphia. Photo by Jacob Slaton / Whatever Media Group
Capping off Business Events Industry Week, May 5-7, the PCMA Foundation will single out the remarkable work of industry professionals at its annual Visionary Awards. This year’s event will be hosted by Events DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Thursday evening, May 7.
The awards ceremony will recognize four Lifetime Achievement Honorees and more than 20 Professional Excellence Finalists across seven categories for their extraordinary contributions to their own organizations, which in turn is raising the bar for the entire business events industry.
Presented by Visit Austin and the Austin Convention Center, the black-tie event will kick off with a red-carpet arrival experience, segue into an awards program, and keep the celebration going at an after-party. Proceeds benefit the PCMA Foundation, which gives more than $1 million each year to projects and groups working to advance the business events community and awards more than 200 annual scholarships to industry leaders, students, faculty, and professionals.
“The Visionary Awards celebrate the exceptional individuals whose ideas, leadership, and commitment are helping move our industry and profession forward,” said PCMA Chief Community Officer and PCMA Foundation Executive Director Meredith Rollins. “This year’s honorees and finalists represent an inspiring group of leaders who are making a meaningful impact across our community. We’re also deeply grateful to our Awards Selection Committees for the time, care, and thoughtful review they dedicated to evaluating an outstanding pool of nominees and helping us recognize those most deserving of this year’s honors.”
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Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Carolyn B. Pund, CMM DES, Consultant, Strategic Meetings Management, OneMoreEvent Consulting
As a pioneer of SMMP and co-founder of the Meetings Competitive Advantage Forum, she has spent more than three decades driving measurable event impact inside Fortune 500 organizations while shaping industry best practices that continue to influence how events are designed, governed, and valued.
Dave Lutz, CMP, Managing Director, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
After 22 years at Conferon (now Maritz) serving as President and board member, he built a leading firm that helps conference and tradeshow organizers grow and transform major face-to-face events while also writing a column for Convene.
Angie Ranalli, CMP, Senior National Sales Director, San Diego Tourism Authority
Thanks to senior roles with global hotel brands and long-term leadership advancing San Diego as a convention destination, she has delivered lasting economic impact while earning her clients’ trust. Ranalli is also a longtime PCMA and PCMA Foundation Board leader.
Charles Starks, President and CEO, Music City Center
In addition to shaping Nashville’s meetings landscape by leading the development of the 2.1-million-square-foot facility, he is a former PCMA Chair.
Business Events Strategist of the Year
Mindy Grubb, CMP, Vice President, Events, eXp Realty
Kyle B. Morris, Vice President, NMR Events Inc.
Liz Nacron, Partner, President of Creative & Production, Live Marketing
Corporate Event Marketer of the Year
Adele Durham, Senior Director, Global Events, Veeam Software
Kim Hastings, CMM, Director, Event Marketing, Procore Technologies
Keri Ibbitson, Senior Director of Global Scientific Engagements & Events, Danaher
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year
Uzi Drori, Chief Information Officer (CIO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Kenes Group
Dahlia El Gazzar, Chief Ruckusmaker, DAHLIA+Agency
Kimberly Inniger, DES, Senior Events & Outreach Manager, ORCID
Experience Design of the Year
Sina Bünte, CMP, DES, Founder, DigitalMind.events
Kimberly Keating, Director of Conference Education, Viticus Group
David T. Stevens, CMP, PMED, Wellness Architect, Olympian Meeting
Groundbreaker Award
Bianca DeStout, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Cincy
Kyle Jordan, CAE, CEM-AP, CMP Fellow, DES, CMM, Director of Meetings, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Nuria Fernández Roldán, Online Learning Specialist, Kenes Group
Impact Award
Bianca DeStout, Senior Sales Manager, Visit Cincy
Elena Fis, SEPC, Sustainability Manager, Kenes Group
Joyce Leveston, CMM, CVP, Javits Convention Center
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
Carine M. Desroches, MMP, HMCC, Meetings & Events Director, National Kidney Foundation
Melissa Peticolas, CEM, CMP, Account Executive, Vista Convention Services
Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM, Senior Manager, Business Development, GES
Supplier of the Year
Lori Adlesick, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Events, Choose Chicago
Joy Cmiel, Senior Vice President, ConferenceDirect
Karen Staples, CMP, CASE, Managing Director of Sales, Visit Salt Lake
Kate Mulcrone is Convene’s digital managing editor