The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Nominating Committee, chaired by Johnnie White, 2014 past Chair of the Board, selected a new line-up of candidates for leadership positions on the 2016 PCMA Board of Directors after meeting in Chicago to review applications.
2015 Proposed Slate of New Officers and Directors
Chair:
William F. Reed, FASAE, CMP
Senior Director of Meetings and Community Engagement
American Society of Hematology
Term: 2016
Chair-Elect:
Mary Pat Heftman
Executive Vice President, Convention & Strategic Alliances
National Restaurant Association
Term: 2016
Secretary-Treasurer:
Claire Smith, CMP
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Vancouver Convention Centre
Immediate Past Chair:
Raymond John Kopcinski, Sr., CMP
Senior Director
Million Dollar Round Table
Term: 2016
The following individuals will begin serving three-year terms (2016-2018):
Tonya Almond, CMP
Vice President, Meetings & Continuing Education
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Tamela D. Blalock, MTA, CMP
Director of Membership
National Association of Wholesale Distributors
Ben Hainsworth
Executive Director Associations
KIT Group
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP
Director, Global Sales
MGM Resorts International
Carol C. Wallace
President & CEO
San Diego Convention Center Corporation
The following individuals are currently serving terms as directors:
George Aguel
President & CEO
Visit Orlando
Term: 2014-2016
Oscar Cerezales
Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific
Group Director Association Relations
MCI
Term: 2014-2016
Nancy DeBrosse, CMP
Senior Vice President, Sales and Account Management
Experient, Inc.
Term: 2014-2016
Ann Godi, CMP
President & CEO
Benchmarc360, Inc.
Term: 2014-2016
Bill Grusich, CMP, FASAE
Senior Vice President
Associated Luxury Hotels International
Term: 2015 – 2017
Phelps R. Hope, CMP
Senior Vice President, Meetings & Expositions
Kellen Meetings
Term: 2015 – 2017
Kristin K. Mirabal, CMP
Director, Global Events
Association of Corporate Travel Executives
Term: 2014-2016
Kirsten Olean, CMP, CAE
Director of Meetings
American Society of Microbiology
Term: 2015 – 2017
David J. Olender
Founder
DMO Associates
Partner
BOB.tv
Term: 2014-2016
Stuart L. Ruff, CMP
Director, Meetings, Exhibitions, & Events
RIMS – The Risk Management Society
Term: 2015 – 2017
Charles L. Starks
President & CEO
Music City Center
Term: 2015 – 2017
According to the PCMA Bylaws, this official announcement of the proposed slate is to be sent to the membership by October 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 5% of the members from the respective membership category appropriate to that position, and submitted to the President and CEO no later than Nov. 1, 2015.
If you are interested in submitting a petition, please contact Deborah Sexton, President and CEO, at 312.423.7262 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 60th PCMA annual meeting, Convening Leaders, in Vancouver, BC, on January 14, 2016.
Convening Leaders takes place January 10 – 13 and will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
About Professional Convention Management Association
PCMA is the multi-channel professional resource and premier educator for leaders in the meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries. PCMA provides their 6,500+ members with a community of likeminded colleagues, innovative education and creative global solutions to enhance both their professional development and their organization's face-to-face and virtual connections. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with members in more than 39 countries.
