PCMA Announces Proposed Slate of 2018 Board Officers and Directors

August 5, 2017
Claire Smith

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Nominating Committee met on Aug. 25 in Chicago to determine the final slate from the extraordinary nominee applications for the 2018 open board officer and director positions.

After vigilant due diligence and deliberation, the committee offers the following slate of candidates for leadership positions on the 2018 PCMA Board of Directors.

According to the PCMA Bylaws, this official announcement of the proposed slate is to be sent to the membership by Oct. 1.

The nominating process, according to the Bylaws (Article XII, Section 1(d)), allows for additional nominations for any officer or director position by members who submit a petition. The petition is required to be signed by five per cent of the members from the respective membership category appropriate to that position, and submitted to the President and CEO no later than the close of business Nov. 1.

If you are interested in submitting a petition, please contact Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO, at +1 312 423 7264 or deborah.sexton@pcma.org for petition details and procedures.

Unless there are additional petition nominations from the membership, the following officers and directors will be deemed elected and will take office immediately following the 62nd PCMA annual meeting, Convening Leaders, in Nashville, Tenn.

Convening Leaders takes place in Jan. 7-10 in Nashville and will be held at the Music City Center.

2018 PROPOSED SLATE OF NEW OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Chair:

Claire Smith, CMP

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Vancouver Convention Centre

Term: 2018

Chair-Elect:

Gregory A. O’Dell

President & Chief Executive Officer

Events DC

Term: 2018

Secretary-Treasurer:

Stuart Ruff-Lyon, CMP, DES

VP, Events & Education

Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)

Term: 2018

Immediate Past Chair:

Mary Pat Heftman

Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances

National Restaurant Association

Term: 2018

The following individuals will begin serving three-year terms (2018-2020):

Neil Brownlee

Head of Business Events

VisitScotland

Carolyn Pund, CMP, CMM

Sr. Mgr, Global SMM & Event Business Operations

Cisco Systems Inc.

Kathleen Ratcliffe

President

Explore St. Louis

Megan Tate, CMM, DES

Vice President, Meeting & Events Planning Manager

Wells Fargo Bank

Christine Trimmer

Executive Director

International Society for Infectious Diseases

The following individuals are currently serving terms as Directors:

Tonya Almond, CMP

Vice President, Meetings & Continuing Education

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Term: 2016 – 2018

Tamela D. Blalock, MTA, CMP

Executive Director

Section of Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association

Term: 2016 – 2018

Kerry Crockett, MBA, CMP, CAE, DES

Associate Executive Director

International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Term: 2017 - 2019

Ben Hainsworth

Executive Director

K.I.T. Group GmbH

Term: 2016 – 2018

Leonard Hoops

President & CEO

Visit Indy

Term: 2017 - 2019

Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP

Director, Global Sales

MGM Resorts International

Term: 2016 – 2018

Weemin Ong, CMP

Executive Director

Marina Bay Sands

Term: 2017 - 2019

Janeé Pelletier

VP of Communications & Events

MdBio Foundation

Term: 2017 – 2019

Kelly M. Ricker

Executive Vice President, Events & Education

CompTIA

Term: 2017 – 2019

Danielle Urbina, CMP

Director of Meetings and Exhibits

American Society of Anesthesiologists

Term: 2017 – 2019

Carol C. Wallace

President & CEO

Carol Wallace & Associates Inc.

Term: 2016 – 2018

Add new comment

Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.