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
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 -
-- 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