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

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? 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As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.