Veteran Journalist Cristi Kempf Joins PCMA-Convene As Executive Editor


PCMA-Convene has named veteran journalist Cristi Kempf as Executive Editor. Kempf joins PCMA-Convene from the Chicago Tribune and tronc (formerly Tribune Publishing), where she was in the masthead position of Associate Managing Editor for Editing and Presentation, and then Executive Director of tronc’s new Design and Production Studio.

Reporting to PCMA-Convene Editor-in-Chief Michelle Russell, Kempf will play a key role in PCMA-Convene’s content and engagement strategy. With a view of content across the editorial, education, events and marketing departments, she will oversee a daily and long-term editorial calendar across channels, including helping to plan and execute the print edition of Convene.

“Cristi adds a deep experience and expertise to our award-winning PCMA-Convene editorial team,” said Joycelyn Winnecke, Executive Vice President and General Manager/Media Group. “She comes at an exciting time, as we develop new ways to engage with our audiences.”

Kempf previously worked at the Chicago Sun-Times as Assistant City Editor and Features Editor, and as a reporter at Radio Vatican and Editor-in-Chief for E-Systems and Networking Magazine when she lived in Rome for several years. She’s written and overseen coverage of food, travel, entertainment and national and international news.

Kempf will be based in the Chicago headquarters office, bringing her love of travel, coffee and Rome to her PCMA-Convene features.


For media queries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA, and requests for interviews with Sherrif Karamat, please contact: Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications

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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 59 countries. 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.

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