Black Voices

Women Leading the Way at Convention Centers: T. Taubie Motlhabane at CTICC

A desire “to make a meaningful change” led T. Taubie Motlhabane to her role as the CEO of Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst May 2, 2022

How This Groundbreaking Event Professional Remains an Eternal Learner

Yolanda Simmons Battle, senior manager, meetings at AHIMA and one of this year’s PCMA Groundbreaker Award nominees, shares how she has found success through asking questions, listening, and bringing her own seat to the table so others can follow.

BY Casey Gale January 31, 2022

Making Climate Change Personal

Social justice issues have everything to do with the environment, environmental justice advocate Wanjiku ‘Wawa’ Gatheru told the PCMA Convening Leaders 2022 audience in Las Vegas, ‘and the environment has everything to do with me.’

BY Barbara Palmer January 11, 2022

How This Sustainability Leader Found Purpose In Her Field

Kimberly Lewis, board chair of clean energy nonprofit Groundswell, spoke with Convene about finding her calling, uplifting diverse communities into leadership roles, and making events people-centric.

BY Casey Gale November 11, 2021

Being a ‘Part of the Solution’

Visit Baltimore President and CEO Al Hutchinson is grateful for the opportunities he has had in the travel and tourism business. At the same time, he’s seeking ways to make CVBs — and the communities they serve — more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

BY Michelle Russell November 1, 2021

Allyship and Inclusion Shouldn’t Be ‘Heavy’

The second edition of Uplifting Impact’s inclusion and allyship summit will be held virtually Oct. 4-6, with an emphasis on sparking joy.

BY Michelle Russell September 30, 2021

Telling the Stories of Underrepresented Communities

Melissa Cherry has made a career out of telling destinations’ often overlooked stories of diverse communities. In her new role with Miles Partnership, she’s using her 25 years of tourism experience to help organizations make DEI part of every conversation.

BY Casey Gale September 27, 2021

Michelle Mason Comes Full Circle

After stumbling into association management, Mason turned barriers into opportunities and used her platform to elevate others who are underrepresented. She now leads ASAE as president and CEO.

BY Curt Wagner September 20, 2021

In a Brand-New Role, Sonya Bradley Looks to ‘Make a Bit of a Mark’

As Visit Sacramento’s chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sonya Bradley is applying her marketing and communications background at the bureau she has served for 19 years to social justice issues — locally and more broadly.

BY Michelle Russell September 15, 2021

Dzidra Junior: ‘The Hybrid Workforce Helps With Work-life Integration’

Earlier this year, Dzidra Junior left her long-term and high-level position at MGM Resorts International for a new role at the charitable nonprofit YMCA of the Rockies. She spoke with Convene about her time in the industry and her big career move.

BY Casey Gale August 18, 2021

‘Be Yourself, and Everybody Else Can Adjust to You’

PCMA Groundbreaker Ashlee Ammons, president and co-founder of event tech company Mixtroz, on how she and her mother found funding — and their way — in a white, male-dominated industry.

BY Casey Gale July 26, 2021

Who’s in Charge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

An HR services company found that diversity, equity, and inclusion is not anyone’s responsibility at 17 percent of nearly 400 companies it recently surveyed. PCMA EduCon Main Stage speaker Janet Stovall says it’s everyone’s responsibility — and business has the power to solve racial inequity.

BY Michelle Russell July 22, 2021

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