Why wait? If you want to honor and encourage some of the best and brightest leaders in the industry today, and give their colleagues and peers something to aspire to tomorrow, why wait to recognize them when they’re at the top of the heap?
That’s the thinking behind PCMA’s new 20 in Their Twenties program, whose first class of winners were honored at PCMA Convening Leaders 2014 in Boston this month. “Too often great leadership isn’t recognized until the latter portion of careers,” said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton. “20 in Their Twenties allowed PCMA to engage and acknowledge a talented group of young professionals for their skills and provide incentive for them to lead our industry into the future.”
Supported by the PCMA Education Foundation, the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Austin Convention Center, 20 in Their Twenties invited young meeting professionals to submit an application — including a video — showing how they demonstrated their leadership in at least three of these areas: creative thinking and problem solving, challenging the status quo, leading a team or project to achieve a common goal, elevating an industry network into business relationships, serving as an effective communicator, serving as a positive role model for PCMA’s Code of Ethics, and demonstrating leadership in organizations (inside or outside the industry). Applicants were judged by a diverse task force of PCMA members. Winner benefits included registration, airfare, and hotel for PCMA Convening Leaders 2014; free PCMA membership for 2014 and discounted membership until age 30; and mentoring opportunities with PCMA’s and the PCMA Education Foundation’s volunteer leaders.
“We are privileged to have the opportunity to strategically partner with PCMA, the PCMA Education Foundation, and their 20 in Their Twenties initiative,” said Austin CVB President and CEO Bob Lander. “Developing new initiatives to involve and engage emerging leaders that promote innovation within the industry is critical to its proactive growth and continuing success. This is a focus in our city, and we all feel a sense of responsibility to attract, recruit, and retain talented, motivated, and productive young professionals to keep moving our industry forward.”
Read what this year’s honorees have to say about their accomplishments and ambitions, and you’ll feel pretty good about the industry’s forward motion.
Marcela Torres
Marketing Intelligence Manager, Guadalajara Convention & Visitors Bureau Guadalajara, Mexico
What do you like most about your job?
The opportunity to represent my country around the world and share with people our meetings industry professionalism, the kindness of our people, the unique value of our traditions, our art, our flavors, and the full range of colors and contrasts that Mexico represents. The purpose of my job is to contribute to each family that depends on this industry and consequently acquire a better quality of life.
In addition, my job and our industry have allowed me to network with people from other cultures; through this I have reconfirmed the wonderful experiences our world offers.
Finally, I am thankful to have the opportunity to contribute and inspire my industry and society through the development of inclusive projects. I strongly believe that our meetings industry should aim to protect the natural and cultural capital of the world, and contribute to improve our community’s quality of life, subsequently benefiting the destination where events are hosted.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I have had several “best days.” However, the latest wonderful experience I have had was my recent participation during the bidding process for the 67th International Astro nautical Congress. For this event, it was necessary to make a monumental strategic plan, from creating a strategic promotion plan, training speakers, develop a bidding book, and lobbying with government authorities and members of the International Astro nautical Federation, to encouraging a whole delegation to become proud ambassadors of Mexico, Latin America, and a whole industry. I had the opportunity to share the value that my country has to offer in front of an audience that included prime ministers, innovation and technology secretaries, scientists, and academics from over 62 countries. This experience encompassed soul, heart, strong teamwork, decisive character, great leadership, and inspiration from each team member.
Where would you like your career to go?
In the medium term, I want to be part of the Mexico Tourism Board team. In the long term, I want to represent my country as the secretary of tourism for Mexico, and eventually retire as a college teacher and support or establish a nonprofit association dedicated to advocating education, so I can share with future generations the experience that life has given me. Through my passion and commitment to the MICE segment, I hope to inspire them to give the best of themselves and to continue to strengthen our industry by promoting projects with values like social responsibility, sustain ability, and serving as a vanguard.
Yasha Bergmann
Project Manager, uba GmbH Hamburg, Germany
What do you like most about your job?
As an event planner, I appreciate the variety of work I am doing. Every spring when our first events of the season kick off, I cannot wait to leave my desk and get out there and meet all the people I only knew from phone calls or emails so far.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
One of my most memorable experiences was at one of our largest events this year, when I happened to be at the main entrance the minute we opened, and hundreds of people carrying an incredible energy with them streamed past me into our event site.
Where would you like your career to go?
Our company is mainly active in the north of Germany; however, our bosses are looking into acquiring another company, which would benefit us greatly, and I would have the opportunity to enter the project teams of events with a much larger scale. PCMA has inspired me as a student and helped open the vast world of event planning for me. The expansion of our company will get me a little closer to one day play in the same league as the international heavyweights of the industry.
Shawn Cheng
Team Lead, Experience Vancouver Vancouver, Canada
What do you like most about your job?
It is different every day. I’m facing different challenges, meeting different people, and learning different things every day. It is also really satisfying to be able to assist visitors/guests to have a great experience while they visit Vancouver or attend the event I organized.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I see myself still in the process of building my career, so it’s a bit hard to find a “best day.” I enjoy every day in the industry, but like Rick Antonson, our CEO from Tourism Vancouver, always says: “The best is yet to come.” I do, however, have a proud moment so far, which was in 2012, when I received the Rising Star Award from MPI’s British Columbia Chapter, nominated by industry peers.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would love to know more about different sides of the CVB operation. I believe tourism business can create a big impact for a city, culturally and economically. On the other side, my short-term career interest is in Meeting Architecture. Knowing how to create/design a meeting/event that is meaningful rather than to just “arrange” it is the area I’m working on now.
Casey Carignan
Meetings and Events Coordinator, lia sophia Wood Dale, Ill., USA
What do you like most about your job?
I love that every day is different and that I am continuously learning. All of my co-workers, especially my boss, encourage me to think outside of the box and challenge me to take my creativity to a higher level.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
The best day that I have had in the meetings industry so far has to be June 29, 2013, the last day of the annual lia sophia Conference. I had been in my current position for just over a month, and for that past month I had been applying everything I had learned in school, feverishly, to the fast-approaching conference. After many long days and nights at the conference site, being there that last day and seeing the tasks that I was a part of come to fruition completely reaffirmed my decision to go into the meetings industry. I look forward to having many more great days in the meetings and events industry.
Where would you like your career to go?
Right now, I’m not sure where my career will take me, but my dream is to someday be the director of meetings and events for a corporate company.
Katie Dolan
Convention Services Manager, Ottawa Tourism Ottawa, Canada
What do you like most about your job?
I’m a people person; my job affords me opportunities that make me feel like I’m in my element. I love networking, building relationships, and meeting new people.
I also feel strongly that tourism and meetings are individually rewarding industries; combining them makes for a career that I’m excited to be a part of.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I was accepted into the ICCA Forum for Young Professionals in Barcelona in 2012. The excitement and pride I felt to arrive and represent Ottawa was something I had never quite experienced before. I was thrilled to meet the other 19 people in the class, from around the world. I considered myself extremely fortunate that I was given the opportunity to learn from them, along with the amazing mentors on site. I was honored to be there, and rejuvenated about our industry. I had never been so focused to take something all in and make the most of a professional experience. I can honestly say that I have never learned so much; the three days of sessions were extremely beneficial to me, both professionally and personally. I came home with fresh/new ideas, and ready to take on more. This experience made me more certain that I wanted to continue evolving my career in the meetings industry.
Where would you like your career to go?
I have the drive to keep moving up the ladder within my organization, and will strive to lead my department one day. Perhaps even lead our destination marketing organization down the road. A more immediate goal for me is to move into a sales-manager position, as right now my duties are focused mostly on convention services. I have been exposed to, and have gained, experience on the sales side, and it’s an area I am currently being mentored to move into. My ultimate goal is to be viewed as an influential leader in tourism and in the meetings industry. I believe that working for a destination marketing organization gives me the best of both these industries that I am passionate about.
Vivian Fleet
Sustainability Officer, Metro Toronto Convention Centre Toronto, Canada
What do you like most about your job?
I love how every day is different, and that I get to work with fabulous people. My imagination and creativity are always being called upon, and there is great support from the company to drive ahead with our sustainability and environmental programs.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
That’s a hard one! I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one, but I love it when programs such as our Recycling Ambassadors (when teenagers volunteer to educate and guide attendees as to how to recycle properly during a show) are positively received by our guests and clients.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would like to work with building operators and architects to develop entirely sustainable and net-positive venues — hotels and convention centers that not only run efficiently, but actually improve the surrounding environment and are healthy work spaces for all those that pass through their doors.
Megan Tate
Manager of Event, Meeting, and Travel Management, Petco Animal Supplies Stores San Diego, USA
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most about my job is that no two days are the same. I have the opportunity to work on such a wide variety of meetings and events, and I’m constantly challenged to be more strategic and improve upon the work that I do.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
The final day of any big event that I am responsible for brings such an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and success as well as pride in the incredible team I work with.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would like my career to continue to stretch my abilities, broaden my skill set, and provide continued leadership roles. I’m excited to see what opportunities for progression are ahead.
Ryan Barth, CMP
Sales Manager, Visit Indy Indianapolis, USA
What do you like most about your job?
Selling Indianapolis is a dream come true, because this is my hometown and I love everything it’s become over the last 20-plus years.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis, when we hosted Super Bowl XLVI. The entire country was focused on Indy, and we hosted the most successful Super Bowl the NFL has ever experienced.
Where would you like your career to go?
How about the future owner of the Indianapolis Colts! I’d settle for an executive position here at Visit Indy, too.
Rosa Garriga Mora
Event Designer Barcelona, Spain
What do you like most about your job?
I love the fact that by being involved in meeting design, I help clients solve business problems, rather than just planning the logistics of a meeting (which is also a very challenging task, but very different). By helping them increase the value of their meetings and measuring it, I feel like I really contribute to their business and the industry in general.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
It’s probably the day I made my debut as keynote speaker. I thought it was going to be the worst day of my life — my first time on stage, facing 150 meeting professionals and university staff at a Spanish business school, giving a 45-minute presentation on ROI for meetings and events. Nearly all were older and more experienced than me; why should they even listen? I must have practiced the entire presentation more than 30 times; for the last couple of weeks I delivered it on Skype to my mother every day. When I walked on stage, my heart was pumping like mad, until I noticed they were all looking at me, paying attention, like I was the big expert! After less than a minute, I felt really calm, like the audience gave me an injection of a tranquilizer, and I just enjoyed it. I really knew my stuff, just did what I had done so many times already, and it really worked!
Where would you like your career to go?
I have found my passion in meeting design, creating meeting value by applying a whole range of social sciences, from psychology and social neurology to the theater, education, and communication. Combining all this with the ROI Methodology, setting proper meeting objectives and measuring the results, I feel I have an emerging insight into the creation of really powerful and valuable meetings. I am still just a novice; I want to learn from the experts and apply in practice as a meeting designer. I want to share with others as I learn, teaching at universities, which I really enjoy, and to write and publish what I learn on my journey.
Mindy Halpert
Conference Manager, Consortium for School Networking Washington, D.C., USA
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most about my job and working in the meetings industry is that I get to learn a little bit about many different things. Each meeting has so many different parts and pieces that I am constantly learning. For example, one day I had to teach myself some HTML code to fix the conference website, and the next day I learned about the hundreds of different postage options and regulations for nonprofit mailings. With meeting requirements and trends constantly changing, I will always be learning something new!
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I think the best day I have had in the meetings industry so far was the first day I arrived at my most recent large conference. After working for months and months, it was so rewarding to see everything start to come together. I also got to meet face-to-face some of the members I had been emailing with for almost a year and see their excitement for spending a few days focusing on a subject they are so passionate for. I look forward to many more “best days” in my career.
Where would you like your career to go?
My ultimate career goal is to be a thought leader in my organization and the industry as a whole. I want to be the one creating the trends and initiatives, with an eye on the future. I can do this as a leader in my organization, such as strategic planner of meetings, as well as in the meetings community by being an elected chapter president or PCMA chairwoman. I have come a long way in just three years — in my job (meetings assistant to conference manager) and industry organizations (committee volunteer to committee chair). The possibilities seem endless!
Rick Hyland
Exhibitor Services Supervisor, Orange County Convention Center Orlando, USA
What do you like most about your job?
I love how fast-paced and dynamic my job is every day. I’m a part of over 200 events on an annual basis, so I see just about every type of event you can imagine. With such vast differences between this many shows, my job is never repetitive. It keeps me refreshed and engaged — I love it. It’s also great to meet and work with so many different individuals in our industry on a daily basis.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some of the most influential events in our industry. It’s hard for me to pick an exact day, but I’ve had a lot. My best days are when I can go home with a sense of accomplishment, an empty inbox, and satisfied exhibitors, attendees, clients, and employees.
Where would you like your career to go?
No matter where my career ends up, I hope I’m on the forefront of integrating new technologies into the events industry. I’m passionate about learning new web technologies and services to leverage them in my daily operations. I think we’re only in the infancy stages of integrating these services into the events industry, so I hope I’m a part of fostering and maturing these technologies.
Leslie Wong, CMP
Creative Account Manager, Blueprint Studios San Francisco, USA
What do you like most about your job?
The part I love most about my job is seeing my clients’ expectations exceeded. There is no other feeling that makes the work worth it.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
So far, my best project was working on a fundraiser for The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund. It’s an incredible philanthropy organization that creates jobs and employment opportunities for people facing great barriers to work. It was powerful to see the impact this event and the organization had. The event was held in a gorgeous, historic San Francisco theater venue, The Warfield, so designing a 300-person, formal, seated dinner was also an exciting challenge.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would like to work on interesting, innovative events that impact lives through disruptive information and learning, on a global scale.
Sam NcNeill
Creative Director, Song Division Sydney, Australia
What do you like most about your job?
I really love the holistic nature of meetings and events — receiving a brief, designing a unique and exciting proposal, working with the client and other suppliers on the process, and being part of the execution as a host, emcee, or facilitator. Having an idea and witnessing it come to life is one of the most exciting and empowering feelings in any industry.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
Hard to go past our event with Sir Richard Branson and 1,500 Virgin Australia [VA] employees. We helped them surprise Richard by writing and performing a completely original song about how much they love VA. He ended up crowdsurfing, and personally gave me a big kiss on stage for my efforts!
Where would you like your career to go?
I just want to keep meeting extraordinary people, learning from the best, and experiencing all this industry has to offer. I already get to travel a lot (including PCMA Convening Leaders in Boston this month, all the way from Sydney!), but hopefully I will be able to work overseas at some stage as well.
It would be nice to be remembered as someone who gave back to the industry and to people less fortunate, too. Plus a Nobel Peace Prize, an Oscar, and a Grammy (just joking…. or am I?).
Elisa Sandoval
Sales Manager, Hotel Nikko San Francisco San Francisco, USA
What do you like most about your job?
I am very fortunate that I have the opportunity to work for a hotel that fosters professional growth, education, and finds value in organizations like PCMA. Hotel Nikko San Francisco has definitely made all aspects of my job enjoyable. However, if I had to narrow it down, it would be networking and learning. I love making new connections and building professional relationships with others through conventions or trade shows. I also love learning something new every day. Whether it is understanding a new contract clause or learning about a new industry trend, I know that my mind is constantly stimulated.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
About a year ago, after two months of intense negotiations, I received an email with a signed contract attached. That day definitely sticks out in my mind. The booking was my largest in revenue at the time, and certainly assisted in a successful month for our sales team. The accomplishment from my first big win and the satisfaction of knowing that my hard work had paid off will reign in my mind forever.
Where would you like your career to go?
About ayear ago at a Q&A with my general manager, Anna Marie Presutti, I asked, “What advice would you give a young professional on how to become successful in their career?” She replied, “You can’t look too far ahead. You need to focus on being the master of your current job before you think about the next step.” I find her advice extremely relevant and tremendously wise. I have taken her words to heart and implemented its suggestion. While it is still important to have a clear idea of an ultimate goal, her advice speaks to the importance of being responsible and accountable along the way. By adhering to this mantra, I am confident that success will follow me. With that being said — for my career goal, the sky is the limit. I want to continue learning and advancing. I have a long road ahead of me, and am excited for every good or bad experience that will shape my career and my personality.
Astrid Schrier, CMP
Meeting Manager, Association Headquarters Inc. Mt. Laurel, N.J., USA
What do you like most about your job?
The part of my job that I like the most is the ability to interact with so many different people throughout the planning and implementing of the meetings that I work on. Between members, volunteers, hoteliers, vendors, and colleagues, I have the opportunity to interface with so many people that I do not think that I would have the opportunity to otherwise.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
The best day that I have had in the meetings industry so far was the last day of my most recent meeting that I worked on, the 2013 Annual Meeting for the American Neurological Association in October. We began working with this association after a management changeover only in July, and had a large amount of work to do in order to catch the association up with where they needed to be 3.5 months prior to their Annual Meeting. There were a lot of challenges, I was training a brand-new-to-associations meeting coordinator, and was working with a very high-profile keynote speaker, former President Clinton, for the very first time. The last day of the meeting, after President Clinton completed his keynote, I was able to let out a huge sigh of relief that the meeting somehow managed to come together beautifully and that we were done. I received a great amount of very encouraging feedback, which made the very hectic 3.5 months that the team had leading up to the meeting worthwhile.
Where would you like your career to go?
My ultimate career goal within the meetings industry would be to become a director of a very large, standalone-association meetings department, overseeing a full staff of meeting planners and coordinators. I would not want this to be a medical or nursing association, as I would want a change of pace from the types of meetings that I have already done and would want to experience new challenges and different components to a large annual meeting.
Rachel Walsh, CMP
Director of Meetings, Sentergroup Inc. Chicago, USA
What do you like most about your job?
As a planner at an association management company, I get to work with lots of clients, planning lots of different types of meetings. While this often means that no two days in a row are the same, there is a common thread — the constant build toward the next event. Regardless of the client, the place, or how big the event, the best part is seeing all the pieces come together. Before you know it, though, it’s over and on to the next. I consistently try to focus on enjoying the event as it unfolds, however many twists and turns may unravel. After all, this is why we put in all the work!
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
One of my best days was day one of a big meeting early in 2013.I had been wanting to do a mobile meeting app with a client for some time, but the right opportunity had not arisen. Finally, circumstances aligned and it was feasible. I pushed hard to get the app approved, and the client even agreed to go 100-percent paperless. Needless to say, I was nervous, especially since we combined surveys and CE collection in the app. When attendees were arriving at the registration desk with the app already downloaded, I knew it was a win. We ended up with an over 75-percent download rate, which is huge for first-time adoption.
Where would you like your career to go?
My dreams are constantly evolving, but I am most recently inspired by my hometown of Indianapolis. I would love to be involved in an event as impactful as Super Bowl XLVI has been for the city. The ability to have an immediate effect on event participants while also leaving a lasting mark on a host city is not only a true achievement, but would also be extremely meaningful on a personal level.
Alleeshia Williams
Coordinator of Meetings and Business Partnerships, Institute of Food Technologists Chicago, USA
What do you like most about your job?
Member and attendee interaction is my favorite part of my job. I enjoy bringing happiness and satisfaction to the meetings that I manage.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
The best day that I’ve had in the meetings industry thus far was receiving the call that I was accepted into the inaugural class of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties program. It’s amazing to be recognized within the meetings industry, and I am elated for the opportunities this will provide.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would ultimately like to become the founder and CEO of an organization that focuses on mentoring and developing young professionals, tailored to the training and development of inner-city, urban youth who have less of an opportunity to access the meetings industry.
Kathleen Smith
Marketing Manager, etech events Orlando, USA
What do you like most about your job?
Event technology is so flexible — you can use it to create any type of brand experience or environment. My favorite part of my job is speaking at conferences about event technology and getting people to think strategically about using technology to create experiences that achieve their objectives. It’s awesome to see the light bulb go on when people start to think differently about their technology systems and then realize that they can use it as a blank canvas for any type of digital content. And even more so, they start to think about how to use it to encourage attendee behaviors like engagement and interaction.
Where would you like your career to go?
I’m a technology marketer, so I’m passionate about tech and its application for improving experiences. Wherever my career takes me, it will have something to do with leveraging technology. I have a personal goal of holding a leadership role by the time I’m 30, because I enjoy driving progress, solving problems, and motivating people.
I thrive on using technology to defy the limitations of what can be done and increasing expectations relative to the value it brings to the bottom line.
I have a passion for technology, and I see myself in the midst of this world of rapid creation at a leadership level. I enjoy motivating people to create amazing products, experiences, and events. I want to have a career that reflects that energy.
David Wagner
Meetings Manager, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Alexandria, Va., USA
What do you like most about your job?
I love many parts about my job — from working with volunteers to the nitty-gritty details of a contract. I’m not sure that I could be happier in another position. One part of my job that is unique requires me to learn and integrate myself into a different culture, Deaf culture. All of my meetings take place in American Sign Language (ASL), so the problem-solving aspect to my position is abundant with sight lines and communication access. Solving these types of problems to ensure that everyone has equal access truly makes my position worthwhile and keeps me going at the end of a long day on site.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
A single day?! Any day that has a positive, measurable outcome is a good day in my book. However, the best day I’ve had in the meetings industry was certainly Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013. This was the last day of our 50th-anniversary conference in Indianapolis. I joined the organization five months prior to the meeting, and had to very quickly pull together all the different parts to put together a positive conference experience that was memorable to celebrate our organization’s 50th anniversary. With an abundance of help from my fellow staff members, many volunteers, and all of our suppliers, the conference was a success. Anyone who has planned a conference or been involved i with the process of taking on an anniversary conference knows the amount of stress that is purely historic in nature. Knowing that your work will be etched in the memories of your attendees forever, that is pressure to succeed if I have ever seen it. After the dust settled and survey results were tallied, we were met with ovations of joy and gratitude. Finally, I stopped holding my breath — five months later.
Where would you like your career to go?
I thoroughly enjoy working in the association world. In my past life having been a sales manager, I do appreciate that aspect of our industry as well. At the end of the day, I believe that planning meetings in an advocacy setting fits my personality and the inner urge to advocate for others. Related to this includes my want to educate the meetings industry on accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. How can we look around us and learn from the trials of other groups to enhance the overall product we are providing? This is a fascinating question that I think we all can benefit from asking ourselves, and in the future I see myself helping organizations answer this question to improve their meetings as well.
Alexis Kereluk
Manager of Association Relations, MCI Group Vancouver, Canada
What do you like most about your job?
I like being involved in such an evolving and competitive industry where there is so much opportunity to develop new client solutions, provide industry input, and grow clients’ organizations. I am consistently provided with the opportunity to grow as an individual, as an organization, and as an industry.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
Attending my first meetings convention in 2010, where I made a large base of my connections, began to understand what the industry is all about, how global the industry actually is, and how many people work together and assist others to make a meeting come to fruition.
Where would you like your career to go?
I would like to make sure that I am continuously involved in the evolution of the industry within North America. I am lucky to be with an international organization that is continuously growing and able to bring new ideas, processes, and procedures to North America; I hope to continue being part of these implementations to continue enhancing an already-strong meeting and convention industry within North America.
