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PCMA ANNOUNCES 2026 CLASS OF 20 IN THEIR TWENTIES
Class to be Celebrated at Convening Leaders 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CHICAGO, IL — PCMA has selected 20 emerging leaders from the next generation of global business events professionals for its annual “20 in Their Twenties” program. This highly competitive program – in its 12th year – honors young professionals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a clear commitment to advancing the global business events community.
The class of 2026 represents organizers and suppliers from several PCMA countries, including Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Malaysia, Scotland and the United States.
Supported by the PCMA Foundation and Experience Columbus, the 2026 class will be introduced during Convening Leaders 2026 (CL26) January 11-14 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties program stretches beyond individual recognition,” said Meredith Rollins, PCMA Chief Community Officer and Executive Director, PCMA Foundation. “These young professionals are already shaping how our global business events community learns, connects, and creates economic and social progress. When we invest in future leaders, we invest in a stronger future for our community.”
The PCMA “20 in Their Twenties” class of 2026 includes:
Holly Barnett
Project Manager
Touchpoint Meeting Services
Anasthassia Bohne-Gattesco
Sales Manager Locations
Messe München
Rilee Bradshaw, CEM
Client Relationship Manager
Freeman
Makenzie Brown
International Associations Sales Manager
The Scottish Event Campus
Katie Croy
Manager, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales
RE+ Events
Jaden DiMeo
Event Coordinator
Events DC
Giulia Ferrero
Director of Event Marketing
Swapcard
Saïda Florexil
CEO
Imanyco
Katharina Fressner
Sales Manager
Austria Center Vienna
Juan Pablo Garcia
Chief Sales Officer
OZUM Events
Shimal Jaykant, DES SEPC
Conference & Events Manager
Medical Conference Partners
Hannah Jennings
Convention Sales Coordinator
Visit Denver
Sydney Lowe
Senior Manager of Events
Heartland Forward
Abby Melville
Executive Meeting Planner
BCD Meetings & Events
Sadie Noland
Marketing & Sales Specialist
Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting
Kaitlin Payne, CMP
Meetings and Events Manager
National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)
Ashlen Rosenbaum
Content and Program Coordinator
Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting
Anna Schelling
Manager, Events
GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.
Rachel Smith
Meeting Coordinator
Optica
Blake Waravdekar, DES
Meeting Planner
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
The Class of 2026 receives a variety of benefits, including a scholarship to participate in PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, complimentary registration for edUcon 2026, a one-year complimentary PCMA membership, and a feature profile in PCMA’s Convene magazine.
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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