Professional Convention Management Association Launches "Industry Business Forum for Local Leaders" Series

October 29, 2012

The Professional Convention Management Association, with support from the PCMA Education Foundation, announced the launch of the “Industry Business Forum for Local Leadersseries.

The invitation-only program is designed for global convention center and DMO executives and their local board members and policy makers, with programming focused on how strategic industry business issues impact their organizations and local communities, according to PCMA officials.

The Forum program content was developed by PCMA staff and leadership, along with the professional support and guidance from Bruce MacMillan, CEO of Bandwidth Management - his new business venture focused specifically on DMOs, and Roger Rickard, founder of Reventand known industry advocate.

MacMillan and Rickard also will function as the program moderators and will lead the panel discussions with noted industry leaders and client executives.

“Bruce and Roger are the ideal contributors and facilitators for this program,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO.

She added, “Bruce is particularly plugged into the challenges of DMOs and their constituents, backed by his years of industry experience and his previous CEO position in Toronto; Roger is a well-respected industry advocacy expert and excels in the development and deployment of actionable campaigns.”

Forum invited participants will be able to take part a series of direct confidential and informational dialogues with top industry experts, as well as through group format discussions and case studies with their peers, according to PCMA officials.

Attendees will leave the forum with key business knowledge on global industry trends and tools to articulate and deploy messaging on the value of the meetings industry in their respective community leadership roles as well as an enriched and ongoing network of global industry contacts.

The first “Industry Business Leader Forum for LocalLeaders” will be held Jan. 13 at the Hilton Orlando and is sponsored by IMEX America.

Subsequent “Industry Business Forums for Local Leader”will be held throughout 2013 with future dates to be announced in early 2013.

In addition, PCMA will also host their 4th annual CEO Summit immediately following the forum on Jan. 13.

The CEO Summit brings together leaders in destination and facility management for high-level collaboration and sharing of information.

“In the dynamic global economic environment coupled with increasingly sophisticated needs of a changing meetings industry, the CEO Summit offers leaders a unique opportunity to share ideas, examine options and listen to experts on various topics that will equip Convention Center and DMO leaders” Sexton said.

She added, “This is an extremely important annual gathering where many topics, including the Industry Business Forum for Local Leaders, have been advanced for the betterment of the industry. PCMA will continue to hold this meeting each January.”

The summit is sponsored by the Destination Marketing Association International.

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