Black Voices
Outgoing PCMA Chair on Year of Growth, New Alliances, Evolving Education
Desirée Knight reflects on her year as chair of the 2023 PCMA Board of Directors and Trustees and shares her insights about what’s next for the business events industry.
‘Let’s Have These Conversations’ About Civil Rights
An annual summer event produced by the Big Ten Conference for student athletes brings the United States’ civil rights history to life.
A Fundraiser With Soul — and New Soles
How Association Forum made its awards gala a less stuffy affair.
The Long-Awaited Opening of a New Museum Coincides with Juneteenth
Two decades in the making, the International African American Museum and gathering space in Charleston, South Carolina, will trace the untold stories of enslaved Africans brought to the U.S.
There’s No Shortage of Black Speakers
Two resources — Black Speakers Collection and Black Executives Collection — continue to grow. Here’s an update to a story we published in December 2021 about the directories.
New PCMA Board Chair Focuses on Inclusivity, Sustainability, and Development of Future Leaders
Desirée Knight, chair of PCMA’s 2023 Board of Directors and Trustees, talks about her goals during her term and the challenges facing the events industry.
Looking Inward at Our Biases
Inclusive leadership expert Melissa Majors’ three steps to follow to mindfully mitigate your own biases.
How Diversity in Design Collaborative is Working to Bring Equity to Design Industry
Black designers are coming together to address the lack of Black representation in the design industry, and the events industry is part of that effort.
How This CVB Executive Is ‘100-percent Focused on Inclusion’
Hilina Ajakaiye draws on her experience as an immigrant — and conference organizer — to invite everyone to the table in the Boston hospitality and events industry.
The Talent Crisis at Convention Centers
OVG360’s Joyce Leveston reflects on three-plus decades of working in convention centers, the war on talent, and coming together during the eye of the pandemic storm.
Celebrating Juneteenth — and Fort Worth’s Opal Lee
Sometimes the long haul is long, said 95-year-old activist Opal Lee, who worked for four decades for the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday.
Making Shifts to Meet the Evolving Needs of Convention Groups
“Groups want options and they want to feel confident that we can accommodate them,” said Monique Wise, director of sales and marketing at Indiana Convention Center, in the latest profile from our series highlighting female leaders at event facilities.