Our Leadership

PCMA is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board guides and monitors PCMA’s strategic planning and contributes insight towards staff endeavors. In addition, PCMA Committees and Task Forces work to support PCMA’s goals and objectives.

Management Leadership Team

Sherrif Karamat, CAE

President & CEO

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Meredith Rollins

Chief Community Officer, PCMA
Executive Director, PCMA Foundation

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Bruce MacMillan

Chief Operating Officer

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Junior Tauvaa

Junior Tauvaa

Chief Business Officer

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Jaimé Bennett

Managing Director, EMEA

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Flo Chua

Flo Chua

Managing Director, APAC

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Lucio Vaquero

Regional Director, LATAM

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Howard Givner

Senior Vice President, Knowledge & Innovation

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Vir Guiang, CPA

Vir Guiang, CPA

Vice President, Finance

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Gina Meier

Director, Human Resources

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Board of Directors and Trustees

Desirée Knight, CAE, CMP, DES - Chair -

Senior Director, Meetings & Events
American Psychological Association

Leonard Hoops - Chair-Elect -

President & CEO
Visit Indy

Neil Brownlee - Secretary-Treasurer -

Director of Business Events
VisitScotland

Charles Starks - Immediate Past Chair -

President & CEO
Music City Center

Colleen Bisconti - Director/Trustee -

Vice President, Events & Experiences
IBM

Gregg Caren - Director/Trustee -

President & CEO
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

Dr. Amanda Cecil, PhD, CMP - Director/Trustee -

Professor
Indiana University

Fernando Fondevila, MBA - Director/Trustee -

CEO
PROMTUR Panama

Veemal Gungadin - Director/Trustee -

Founder & CEO
GEVME

Shameka Jennings, MTA, CAE, CMP, DES - Director/Trustee -

Principal & Chief Events Officer
EventsNoire

Brian Landers, CDS - Director/Trustee -

Senior Vice President / Team Director
ConferenceDirect

Gladys O’Mahony - Director/Trustee -

Vice President, Global Sales Organization - CALA
Marriott International

Peter O’Neil, FASAE, CAE - Director/Trustee -

Chief Executive Officer
ASIS International

Lauren Parr - Director/Trustee -

Senior Vice President, Meetings & Learning
American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Annalisa Ponchia, CMP, CMM - Director/Trustee -

Director of Innovation and Customer Experience
AIM Group International

Stephen Rose - Director/Trustee -

Head of Global Communication Services
Siemens AG

Chantal Sturk-Nadeau - Director/Trustee -

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Destination Canada

Panos Tzivanidis - Director/Trustee -

Corporate Events & Services Director
International Olympic Committee

Kathleen Warden - Director/Trustee -

Director of Conference Sales
Scottish Event Campus (SEC)

Past Board of Directors

Chair
Claire Smith
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Chair – Elect
Gregory A O’Dell
President & Chief Executive Officer
Events DC

Secretary – Treasurer
Stuart L. Ruff-Lyon CMP, DES
Vice President, Events and Education
Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances
National Restaurant Association

Director
Tamela D. Blalock, MTA, CMP
Executive Director
Section of Women’s Health

Director
Neil J. Brownlee
Head of Business Events
VisitScotland

Director
Kerry Crockett, MBA, CMP, CAE, DES
Associate Executive Director
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Director
Ben Hainsworth
Executive Director
K.I.T. Group GmbH

Director
Leonard Hoops
President & CEO
Visit Indy

Director
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM

Director, Global Sales
MGM Resorts International

Director
Kirsten Olean, CMP, CAE
Director of Meetings
American Society for Microbiology

Director
Weemin Ong, CMP
Executive Director
Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd

Director
David G. Peckinpaugh CMP, CIS
President
Maritz Global Events Inc.

Director
Janeé Pelletier, MBA, CMP, DES
VP of Communications & Events
MdBio Foundation

Director
Carolyn Pund, CMP, CMM
Sr. Mgr, Global SMM & Event Business Operations
Cisco Systems Inc.

Director
Kathleen M. Ratcliffe
President
Explore St. Louis

Director
Kelly Ricker
Executive Vice President, Events & Education
CompTIA

Director
Megan Tate, CMM, DES
Vice President, Meeting & Event Planning Manager
Wells Fargo

Director
Christine Trimmer
Executive Director
International Society for Infectious Diseases

Director
Danielle Urbina, CMP

Independent Business Event Strategist

Director
Carol C. Wallace
President & CEO
Carol Wallace & Associates

Chair
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances
National Restaurant Association

Chair – Elect
Claire Smith, CMP
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Secretary – Treasurer
Gregory O’Dell
President & Chief Executive Officer
Events DC

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP 
Senior Director of Meetings
American Society of Hematology

Director
Tonya Almond, CMP
Vice President, Meetings & Continuing Education
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Director
Tamela D. Blalock, MTA, CMP
Director of Membership
National Association of Wholesale Distributors

Director
Kerry Crockett, MBA, CMP, CAE, DES
Associate Executive Director
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Director
Bill Grusich, CMP, FASAE
Senior Vice President Sales
Associated Luxury Hotels International

Director
Ben Hainsworth
Executive Director, Associations
K.I.T. Group GmbH

Director
Leonard Hoops
President & CEO
Visit Indy

Director
Phelps Hope, CMP
Senior Vice President, Meetings & Expositions
Kellen

Director
Phillip Jones
President & CEO
VisitDallas

Director
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM

Director, Global Sales
MGM Resorts International

Director
Kirsten Olean, CMP, CAE
Director of Meetings
American Society for Microbiology

Director
Weemin Ong, CMP
Executive Director
Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd

Director
Janeé Pelletier, MBA, CMP, DES
VP of Communications & Events
MdBio Foundation

Director
Kelly Ricker
Executive Vice President, Events & Education
CompTIA

Director
Stuart Ruff-Lyon, CMP, DES
Vice President, Events and Education
Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)

Director
Charles Starks
President & CEO
Music City Center

Director
Danielle Urbina, CMP

Director of Meetings & Exhibits
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Director
Carol C. Wallace
President & CEO
Carol Wallace & Associates

Chairman of the Board
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP 
Senior Director of Meetings
American Society of Hematology

Chair- Elect
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances
National Restaurant Association

Secretary – Treasurer
Claire Smith, CMP
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Ray Kopcinski Sr., CMP
Senior Director
Million Dollar Round Table

Director
George A. Aguel, FASAE
President & CEO
Visit Orlando

Director
Tonya Almond, CMP
Vice President, Meetings & Continuing Education
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Director
Tamela D. Blalock, MTA, CMP
Director of Membership
National Association of Wholesale Distributors

Director
Oscar Cerezales
Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific
Group Director Association Relations
MCI

Director
Nancy DeBrosse, CMP
Senior Vice President, Sales and Account Management
Experient, Inc.

Director
Ann Godi, CMP
President & CEO
Benchmarc360, Inc.

Director
Bill Grusich, CMP, FASAE
Senior Vice President Sales
Associated Luxury Hotels International

Director
Ben Hainsworth
Executive Director, Associations
K.I.T. Group GmbH

Director
Phelps Hope, CMP
Kellen
Senior Vice President, Meetings & Expositions

Director
Kristin K. Mirabal, CMP 
Director, Global Events
Association of Corporate Travel Executives

Director
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM

Director, Global Sales
MGM Resorts International

Director
Kirsten Olean, CMP, CAE
Director of Meetings
American Society for Microbiology

Director
David J. Olender
Founder
DMO Associates

Director
Stuart Ruff-Lyon, CMP, DES
Vice President, Events and Education
Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)

Director
Charles Starks
President & CEO
Music City Center

Director
Carol C. Wallace
President & CEO
Carol Wallace & Associates

Deborah Sexton
President & CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Raymond John Kopcinski, Sr., CMP 
Senior Director
Million Dollar Round Table

Chair- Elect
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP 
Senior Director of Meetings
American Society of Hematology

Secretary- Treasurer
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention
National Restaurant Association

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Chief Program Officer
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Director
George Aguel 
President  & CEO
Visit Orlando

Director
Martin D. Balogh 
Director of Meetings & Travel
American Bar Association

Director
Oscar Cerezales
Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific
Group Director Association Relations
MCI

Director
Nancy DeBrosse, CMP
Senior Vice President, Sales and Account Management
Experient, Inc.

Director
Kristin Gibson, CMP, CHSP
Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations
J. Spargo & Associates, Inc.

Director
Ann Godi, CMP
President & CEO
Benchmarc360, Inc.

Director
Bill Grusich, CMP, FASAE
Senior Vice President Sales
Associated Luxury Hotels International

Director
Phelps Hope, CMP
Kellen
Senior Vice President, Meetings & Expositions

Director
Wanda M. Johnson, CMP, CAE
Senior Director, Meetings & Education
Endocrine Society

Director
Larry Luteran
Senior Vice President, Group Sales and Industry Relations
Hilton Worldwide

Director
Kristin K. Mirabal, CMP 
Director, Global Events
Association of Corporate Travel Executives

Director
Kirsten Olean, CMP, CAE
Director of Meetings
American Society for Microbiology

Director
David J. Olender
Founder
DMO Associates

Director
Stuart Ruff-Lyon, CMP, DES
Vice President, Events and Education
Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)

Director
Claire Smith, CMP  
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Director
Charles Starks
President & CEO
Music City Center

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Chief Program Officer
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Chair- Elect
Raymond John Kopcinski, Sr., CMP
Senior Director
Million Dollar Round Table

Secretary- Treasurer
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP
Senior Director of Meetings
American Society of Hematology

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Johnnie C. White, CMP

Director
George Aguel
President & CEO
Visit Orlando

Director
Martin D. Balogh
Director of Meetings & Travel
American Bar Association

Director
Oscar Cerezales
Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific
Group Director Association Relations
MCI

Director
Nancy DeBrosse, CMP
Senior Vice President, Sales and Account Management
Experient, Inc.

Director
Kristin Gibson, CMP, CHSP
Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations
J. Spargo & Associates, Inc.

Director
Ann Godi, CMP
President & CEO
Benchmarc360, Inc.

Director
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention
National Restaurant Association

Director
Wanda M. Johnson, CMP, CAE
Senior Director, Meetings & Education
Endocrine Society

Director
Roberta A. Kravitz
Executive Director
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Director
Larry Luteran
Senior Vice President, Group Sales and Industry Relations
Hilton Worldwide

Director
Kristin K. Mirabal, CMP
Director, Global Events
Association of Corporate Travel Executives

Director
Gregory A. O’Dell
President & CEO
Events DC

Director
David J. Olender
Founder
DMO Associates

Director
Amanda S. Rushing, CMP
Director of Conferences & Meeting Services
American Society of Civil Engineers

Director
Barry L. Smith
President & CEO
Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Director
Claire Smith, CMP
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Johnnie C. White, CMP
Executive Director, Center for Education
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Chair-Elect
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Director of Meetings & Exhibits
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Secretary-Treasurer
Raymond John Kopcinski, Sr., CMP
Senior Director
Million Dollar Round Table

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Kent E. Allaway, CEM, CMP
Vice President, Meetings and Trade Shows
Produce Marketing Association

Director
Martin D. Balogh
Director of Meetings & Travel
American Bar Association

Director
Oscar Cerezales
Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific and Americas
MCI Group

Director
Laurie Fitzgerald, CMP
Senior Meeting Manager
Allstate Insurance Company

Director
Kristin Gibson, CMP, CHSP
Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations
J. Spargo & Associates, Inc.

Director
Ben Goedegebuure
Director, Sales
Scottish Exhibitions & Conference Centre

Director
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention
National Restaurant Association

Director
Wanda M. Johnson, CMP, CAE
Senior Director, Meetings & Education
Endocrine Society

Director
Christine M. Klein, CMP
Vice President of Meetings and Business Partnerships
Institute of Food Technologists

Director
Roberta A. Kravitz
Executive Director
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Director
Larry Luteran
Senior Vice President, Group Sales and Industry Relations
Hilton Worldwide

Director
Gregory A. O’Dell
President & CEO
Events DC

Director
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP
Director of Meetings
American Society of Hematology

Director
James E. Rooney
Executive Director
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority

Director
Amanda S. Rushing, CMP
Director of Conferences & Meeting Services
American Society of Civil Engineers

Director
Barry L. Smith
President & CEO
Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Director
Claire Smith, CMP
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Kent E. Allaway, CEM, CMP
Vice President, Meetings and Trade Shows
Produce Marketing Association

Chair-Elect
Johnnie C. White, CMP
Executive Director, Center for Education
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Secretary-Treasurer
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Director of Meetings & Exhibits
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Susan R. Katz
Director of Corporate Events & Travel
True Value Company

Director
Martin D. Balogh
Director of Meetings & Travel
American Bar Association

Director
Willie L. Benjamin, II
Senior Meeting Manager
International Reading Association

Director
Laurie Fitzgerald, CMP
Senior Meeting Manager
Allstate Insurance Company

Director
Carrie Freeman Parsons
Vice Chair
Freeman

Director
Ben Goedegebuure
Director, Sales
Scottish Exhibitions & Conference Centre

Director
Richard B. Green, FASAE, CASE®
Vice President of Association Sales and Industry Relations
Marriott International

Director
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention
National Restaurant Association

Director
Wanda M. Johnson, CMP, CAE
Senior Director, Meetings & Education
Endocrine Society

Director
Christine M. Klein, CMP
Vice President of Meetings and Business Partnerships
Institute of Food Technologists

Director
Raymond John Kopcinski, Sr., CMP
Director, Meeting Services
Million Dollar Round Table

Director
Roberta A. Kravitz
Executive Director
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Director
Gregory A. O’Dell
President & CEO
Events DC

Director
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP
Senior Vice President, Strategic Sales
Experient

Director
James E. Rooney
Executive Director
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority

Director
Amanda S. Rushing, CMP
Director of Conferences & Meeting Services
American Society of Civil Engineers

Director
Barry L. Smith
President & CEO
Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Susan R. Katz
Director of Corporate Events & Travel
True Value Corporation

Chair-Elect
Kent E. Allaway, CEM, CMP
Vice President, Meetings and Trade Shows
Produce Marketing Association

Secretary-Treasurer
Johnnie C. White, CMP
Executive Director, Meetings and Educational Services
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Kati S. Quigley, CMP
Director, Event Marketing
Microsoft Corporation

Director
Willie L. Benjamin, II
Senior Meeting Manager
International Reading Association

Director
Hunter Clemens, CMP
Vice President
Association Management Group/
Meetings Management Group

Director
Laurie Fitzgerald, CMP
Senior Meeting Manager
Allstate Insurance Company

Director
Carrie Freeman Parsons
Vice Chair
Freeman

Director
Ben Goedegebuure
Director, Sales
Scottish Exhibitions & Conference Centre

Director
James S. Goodman, CMP
Managing Vice President
Division of Conference and Meeting Services
American Dental Association

Director
Richard B. Green, FASAE, CASE®
Vice President of Association Business Development and Strategic Partnerships
Marriott International

Director
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention
National Restaurant Association

Director
Christine M. Klein, CMP
Meeting Industry and Business Development Consultant

Director
Raymond John Kopcinski Sr., CMP
Director, Meeting Services
Million Dollar Round Table

Director
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP
Senior Vice President, Strategic Sales
Experient

Director
James E. Rooney
Executive Director
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority

Director
Randall Tanaka
Assistant General Manager
Hawaii Convention Center

Director
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Director of Meetings & Exhibits
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Director
Don Welsh
President and CEO
Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau

Director
David L. Williams, CMP
Executive Director
International Association for Energy Economics

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Chairman of the Board
Kati S. Quigley, CMP
Director, Event Marketing
Microsoft Corporation

Chair-Elect
Susan R. Katz
Director of Corporate Events
True Value Corporation

Secretary-Treasurer
Kent E. Allaway, CEM, CMP
Vice President, Meetings and Trade Shows
Produce Marketing Association

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
John Folks
President and Principal
Minding Your Business, Inc.

Director
Willie L. Benjamin, II

Director
Jack Chiasson, CMP, CAE
Executive Director
National Association of Independent Life
Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA)

Director
Hunter Clemens, CMP
Vice President
Association Management Group/Meetings Management Group

Director
Betty A. Ford
Director of Meetings
Scientific Societies

Director
Carrie Freeman Parsons
Vice Chair
Freeman

Director
Richard B. Green
Vice President of Association Business Development and Strategic Partnerships
Marriott International

Director
James S. Goodman, CMP
Managing Vice President
Division of Conference and Meeting Services
American Dental Association

Director
David Little
Assistant CEO
Western Veterinary Conference

Director
David G. Peckinpaugh, CMP
Vice President, Business Development
HelmsBriscoe

Director
Robin Preston, CEM
Assistant Executive Director, Conf., Exhibits, Sponsorships
National School Boards Association

Director
Randall Tanaka
Assistant General Manager
Hawaii Convention Center

Director
Greg Van Dyke
Senior Vice President, Marketing
PSAV Presentation Services

Director
Christopher J. Wehking, CMP
Director of Meetings & Exhibits
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Director
Don Welsh
President and CEO
Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association

Director
Johnnie C. White, CMP
Executive Director, Meetings and Educational Services
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Director
David L. Williams, CMP
Executive Director
International Association for Energy Economics

Deborah Sexton
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

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