PCMA announced the “20 in their Twenties Class of 2018,” which is supported by the PCMA Education Foundation and Visit Seattle. The annual recognition “is designed to engage the best and brightest young professionals in the business event industry ... and support a new generation of [strategists].”
“The ‘20 in their Twenties’ program is a great way to recognize and engage rising stars in the industry,” said Rob Hampton, senior vice president of convention sales and services for Visit Seattle. “It gives young professionals the opportunity to build camaraderie among their peers and gives us—the veterans in the industry—a chance to hear fresh ideas and perspectives and nurture new talent.”
Following is the “20 in their Twenties Class of 2018.”
Alexandra Adsit, CMP, CEM
Meeting Planner
AAMC, Charlottesville, Va.
Chloe Armstrong
Bid Executive
Melbourne Convention Bureau, Melbourne, Australia
Sina Bünte, DES
Events Manager
ICCA, Amsterdam Netherlands
Erica Critzer, CMP
Regional Director of Sales
Visit Dallas, Arlington, Va.
Patrick Crosson, CMP
Producer
agencyEA, Chicago
Carmen Ferrari, CMP
Events and Marketing Manager
European Photonics Industry Consortium, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Idil Findikoğlu,
Marketing Manager
Kenes Group, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Karin Hagemann
Head of Convention Bureau
Montreux-Vevey Tourisme & Convention Bureau, Bern Area, Switzerland
Caitlin Hume, CMP
Business Events Manager
Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc (RIMS), New York
Chloe Lai
Conference Producer
Medical Conference Partners, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Annamarie Luccarelli
Project Coordinator, Conferences and Educational Programs
Harborside Press, Trenton, N.J.
Samantha Mele
Proposal & Product Developer
JPdL, Toronto
Cahal Mowery, MBA, CMP, CTA
Director of Sales & Catering
JW Marriott Houston Downtown, Houston
Brittany Saylor
Senior Meeting Planner
Right Hand Events, San Diego
Barrie Schwartz
Founder/CEO
My House Social, New Orleans, La.
Allison Shebek
Associate Director of Experience Design
AlliedPRA, Phoenix
Kyle Smith, DES
Digital Event Strategist
Conference Consultancy South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sara Stehle, CMP
Conference Specialist
International Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington, D.C.
Andrew Sykes
Assistant General Manager
FMAV, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Rasheena Wilson, CMP
Meeting and Exhibits Coordinator
American Society of Nephrology, Washington, D.C.
“This is our fifth class of the twenty brightest talents in the industry worldwide,” said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton. “Each year, we continue to be inspired by the passion and insights these individuals bring to the business events community. It is our honor to recognize these [leaders].”
Applicants for the “20 in their Twenties” needed to be employed full time in the business events industry, be 29 years old or younger at the time of recognition and demonstrate ways they consider themselves to be industry leaders. Applicants were not required to be PCMA members.
A committee made up of veteran industry professionals and 20 in their twenties alumni reviewed approximately 50 applications in detail before deciding on the class, according to the association.
The individuals selected will receive a scholarship registration to attend PCMA’s signature event, Convening Leaders this January in Nashville, Tenn.; complimentary registration for PCMA’s June conference in Cleveland, Ohio, in June 2018; as well as one year of PCMA membership. In addition, recipients will receive membership and registration discounts for the next two years.
Recipients will be recognized at Convening Leaders in January 2018.
