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PCMA ANNOUNCES 2026 VISIONARY AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE FINALISTS
Annual Industry Celebration to be Held May 7 in Washington, D.C.
CHICAGO, IL — The 2026 Visionary Awards Lifetime Achievement Honorees and Professional Excellence Awards Finalists will be celebrated on May 7 in Washington, D.C. – fittingly scheduled as the closing event for Business Events Industry Week (BEIW), where leaders from across the global meetings and events community gather to recognize excellence, strengthen connections, and celebrate the power of business events to drive meaningful impact.
The Visionary Awards spotlight individuals and organizations whose ideas, leadership, and commitment to excellence are advancing the global business events community. From strategic event leadership and innovative experience design to digital transformation and corporate event marketing, the awards celebrate professionals who are redefining what business events can achieve.
Funds raised from the annual celebration support the PCMA Foundation, which for decades has invested in the future of the global business events community through scholarships for emerging professionals and students, industry research, leadership development programs, and global initiatives that expand access and representation across the profession.
“The Visionary Awards are more than a celebration of individual achievement—they are a reflection of the collective progress and purpose of our global community,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA. “Each of this year’s Honorees and Finalists represents the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and service that defines our community. Through the PCMA Foundation, we are proud to recognize these leaders while investing in the next generation of professionals who will carry our community forward.”
2026 Lifetime Achievement Honorees
The following Lifetime Achievement Honorees have made a lasting impact on the business events community through leadership, mentorship, and sustained contributions to advancing the profession. Collectively, these leaders have helped shape industry standards, champion innovation, and mentor generations of professionals while advancing the strategic value of business events.
- Carolyn B. Pund, CMM, DES — Consultant, Strategic Meetings Management, OneMoreEvent Consulting
- Dave Lutz — Managing Director, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
- Angie Ranalli, CMP — Senior National Sales Director, San Diego Tourism Authority
- Charles Starks — President & CEO, Music City Center
Professional Excellence Awards Finalists
The Professional Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements across several key disciplines. Finalists were selected for their exceptional contributions to strategy, marketing, experience design, digital engagement, and industry leadership.
Business Events Strategist of the Year
- Mindy Grubb, CMP — Vice President, Events, eXp Realty
- Kyle B. Morris — Vice President, NMR Events Inc.
- Liz Nacron — Partner, President of Creative & Production, Live Marketing
Corporate Event Marketer of the Year
- Adele Durham — Senior Director, Global Events, Veeam Software
- Kim Hastings, CMM — Director, Event Marketing, Procore Technologies
- Keri Ibbitson, MBA — Senior Director of Global Scientific Engagements & Events, Danaher
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year
- Uzi Drori — Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Kenes Group
- Dahlia El Gazzar — Chief Ruckusmaker, DAHLIA+Agency
- Kimberly Inniger, DES — Senior Events & Outreach Manager, ORCID
Experience Design of the Year
- Sina Bünte, CMP, DES — Founder, DigitalMind.events
- Kimberly Keating, MA — Director of Conference Education, Viticus Group
- David T. Stevens, PMED — Wellness Architect, Olympian Meeting
Groundbreaker Award
- Bianca DeStout – Senior Sales Manager, Visit Cincy
- Kyle Jordan, CAE, CEM-AP, CMP Fellow, DES, CMM – Director of Meetings, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
- Nuria Fernández Roldán – Online Learning Specialist, Kenes Group
Impact Award
- Bianca DeStout – Senior Sales Manager, Visit Cincy
- Elena Fis, SEPC – Sustainability Manager, Kenes Group
- Joyce Leveston, CMM, CVP – CEO, Javits Convention Center
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
- Carine M. Desroches, MMP, HMCC – Meetings & Events Director, National Kidney Foundation
- Melissa Peticolas, CEM, CMP – Account Executive, Vista Convention Services
- Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM – Senior Manager, Business Development, GES
Supplier of the Year
- Lori Adlesick – Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Events, Choose Chicago
- Joy Cmiel – Senior Vice President, ConferenceDirect
- Karen Staples, CMP, CASE – Managing Director of Sales, Visit Salt Lake
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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