PCMA Education Foundation Announces the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Honorees

December 13, 2016

More than 1,000 industry professionals will gather this spring at the 2017 Visionary Awards to honor these luminaries’ extraordinary contributions.

Attendees will experience an Oscars-like evening with red carpet arrival, awards show, and after party, hosted by the PCMA Education Foundation and presented in partnership with the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and Austin Convention Center.

“The event last year was an incredible success.” said Chair of the Board of Trustees, Tina Wehmeir. “We are thrilled we have the opportunity to celebrate these three extraordinary individuals who have given so much to the industry.”

2017 Educator Honoree: Carol Krugman, MEd, CMP, CMM

Carol Krugman is Chair of the Department of Hospitality, Tourism & Events at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Carol has 36 years’ experience within the industry, starting her career as corporate meeting manager and now serving as an educator.

Krugman, who has been a PCMA member since her transition to academia, is very active within the association and has contributed extensively to the professional community both in Denver and nationally.  She shows her love of the industry and PCMA passion by accompanying both MSU Denver faculty colleagues and student chapter members to Convening Leaders annually. Krugman has been a key contributor to the Faculty Task Force and to the development of the textbook, Professional Meeting Management, 6th Edition, on which she served as a member of the editorial team.  She has received several awards recently, including PCMA’s Educator of the Year award in 2013 and induction into the CIC Hall of Leaders in 2016. Carol’s passion for raising the level of professionalism in the industry and her ability to mentor students coming into the workplace is legendary.

2017 Meeting Professional Honoree: Martin Balogh

Martin Balogh, Associate Executive Director - Meetings and Travel Group at the American Bar Association (ABA), has served on both the PCMA Board of Directors and the PCMA Foundation Board of Trustees. Balogh has served on countless committees and led many throughout the years.   He was instrumental in reviewing and improving governance practices on both Boards. Balogh has helped define what the industry comes to expect from a true professional having served the ABA for decades rising through the ranks to hold one of the top positions. 

Balogh is a role model to many outside of his organization. He exemplifies the importance of building balanced relationships between meeting organizers and the supplier community, he is consistent in holding his organization and staff to a high-level of ethical behavior while supporting them in being engaged in PCMA and give back to the industry.

2017 Supplier Honoree: Barry Smith

Barry Smith, President and CEO of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre has been a pioneer in the industry through his roles on the PCMA Board, PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees and as the President and CEO of one of the leading convention centers in North America. Smith was instrumental in corralling other suppliers to understand the value of PCMA; engaging them to support the Foundation and the importance of education within our industry. Smith was also integral in assisting PCMA to balance and expand the role of suppliers on the board and within the organization.

Smith is the gold standard for excellence as a supplier in the convention and meetings industry. His work in Toronto was ground-breaking for attracting international business to North America; his willingness to take risks, explore new markets and employ new technology has garnered a well-deserved reputation throughout the industry, all of which has been carried out with grace and humility second to none.

Add new comment

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? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. 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.