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CHICAGO, IL — Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA and CEMA President & CEO today announced the receipt of the 2027 Board of Directors and Trustees slate from Immediate Past Chair and Nominating Committee Chair, Neil Brownlee.
The proposed slate represents an important moment for PCMA, with Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Global Events at Bank of America, nominated as Chair-Elect, and Ong Wee Min, Vice President of Sales and MICE at Marina Bay Sands, nominated as Secretary-Treasurer. If elected, they would become the first executive officers from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in the Association’s history.
The Board of Directors and Trustees for PCMA and PCMA Foundation represent the global business events community and bring industry expertise, strategic leadership and diverse perspectives required to advance PCMA’s mission, Vision 2030 and the future of the profession.
“Our industry continues to evolve, and PCMA’s vision of being the platform for the global business events industry requires strategic leaders who anticipate change, bring people together and create value for the communities we serve,” said Brownlee. “This proposed slate reflects the depth of talent across our industry and the leadership needed to move PCMA and the global business events community forward.”
The proposed slate will be presented to PCMA members for consideration, bringing together leaders whose collective experience will help guide the Association’s continued progress and strategic priorities.
“PCMA is strongest when we bring together leaders from across the globe who are committed to a bold vision for the business events industry,” said Karamat. “The proposed slate brings experience, strategic insight and a clear commitment to service. Collectively, their leadership will help us advance Vision 2030, deepen the value we deliver to our community and continue shaping PCMA’s next chapter.”
The following leaders will begin serving a one-year Executive Officer term (2027):
- Chair: Robin Preston, CEM, DES, Vice President, Meetings and Exhibits, American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Immediate Past Chair: Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer, Global Technology Industry Association
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leaders will begin serving a one-year Executive Officer term (2027):
- Chair-Elect: Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Global Events, Bank of America
- Secretary-Treasurer: Ong Wee Min, CEM, CMP, Vice President of Sales and MICE, Marina Bay Sands
The incoming CEMA Advisory Board Vice Chair will begin serving a one-year Director and Trustee term (2027):
- Leslie Hasvold, Senior Director, Corporate Events Programs and Customer Advocacy, Cloudflare
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leaders will begin serving a two-year Director and Trustee term (2027–2028):
- Vanessa Claspill, Chief Sales Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
- Aleta Harris, EMBA, CMP, Director of Conferences, Meetings and Travel, American Medical Association
- Vicki Hawarden, CMP, Vice President, Meetings and Events, American Geophysical Union
- Kit Lykketoft, Director of Conventions, Wonderful Copenhagen
- Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development, Fáilte Ireland
- Ben Nazario, Chief Growth Officer, MC²
- Joey Nevin, Vice President, Giants Enterprises, San Francisco Giants
- John Rubsamen, Vice President, Events, Out & Equal
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leaders will begin serving a second two-year Director and Trustee term (2027–2028):
- Ari Goldsmith, Vice President of Marketing and Digital Media, KeHE Distributors
- Ori Lahav, CEO, Kenes Group
- Walt Leger III, President and CEO, New Orleans & Company
The following leaders are serving the final year of a two-year Director and Trustee term (2026–2027):
- Michael Barnett, CEO, InGo
- Patrick Espinoza, Vice President of Business Development, New Orleans & Company
- John Hawley, Executive Director, Association, Hilton Worldwide Sales
- Elizabeth Tovar, PCO, CMM, CMS, CIS, CCM, CASE, DES, President, Turenlaces
- Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM, Director of Business Development, GES
In addition, the President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA serves as a Director and Trustee:
- Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA and CEMA
The slate will be deemed confirmed by the PCMA membership at close of business (5:00 pm CDT) on September 27, 2026.
Directors and Trustees will assume office immediately following PCMA’s Convening Leaders taking place January 10–13, 2027, in Miami Beach, Florida.
For media inquiries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA and LATAM, please contact: Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 72 countries and communities. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org. The role of the Foundation of PCMA is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant-giving focused on scholarships, education and research that will advance the business events industry. Annually the Foundation funds over $900K in impact, and since 1985 has funded over 2,500 scholarships, 100 research studies and education programs, and $2.7M in charitable giving.About PCMA
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