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.

BY Casey Gale January 8, 2024

‘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. 

BY Barbara Palmer November 17, 2023

A Fundraiser With Soul — and New Soles

How Association Forum made its awards gala a less stuffy affair.

BY Michelle Russell October 12, 2023

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.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst June 19, 2023

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.

BY Michelle Russell February 1, 2023

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.

BY Casey Gale January 9, 2023

Looking Inward at Our Biases

Inclusive leadership expert Melissa Majors’ three steps to follow to mindfully mitigate your own biases.

BY Curt Wagner January 4, 2023

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.

BY Barbara Palmer December 5, 2022

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.

BY Barbara Palmer September 28, 2022

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.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst July 25, 2022

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.

BY Barbara Palmer June 13, 2022

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.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst June 8, 2022

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