To honor International Women’s Day 2019, Meetings Today reached out to one of the legacy companies in the meetings and events industry, 70-year-old SmithBucklin, to ask some of their key female executives to reveal their secrets for success in a high-stress industry, and how they balance a demanding career with their personal life.

SmithBucklin, an association management company, released its annual publication, Circuit. The report, now in its 16th year of publication, includes the company’s “20 for 2019,” a series of articles about key trends, issues and developments that will impact associations in the coming year and beyond.

Karen Kotowski resigned as CEO of the Events Industry Council (EIC), a post she has held for 10 years.

As PCMA Convening Leaders 2019 continues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the association announced that it became a signatory of The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism, in partnership with ECPAT-USA, also known as The Code.

Michael Sam, a star college football defensive end, became the first openly gay NFL player to be drafted in the league. Sam now speaks about his experience through Keppler Speakers including the keynote at Association Forum’s 30th annual Holiday Showcase, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Carol McGury, executive vice president, event and education services for association services company SmithBucklin, has been elected as chair of the PCMA Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which governs the organization. McGury will assume the role following PCMA’s Convening Leaders meeting January 6-9, 2019, in Pittsburgh. She will replace Maritz Global Events President David Peckinpaugh.

Unicorns? Check. A wizard? Check. Dance breaks? Check. Bingo pajama party? Check. Game-changing sessions and connections? That’s definitely a check.

Association services company SmithBucklin acquired 360 Live Media in a move that will significantly augment both companies’ meetings offerings in an environment that increasingly demands a high level of experiential elements, immersive attendee experiences and other format disruptions.

The public profile of LGBT+ people in the meetings industry has grown by leaps and bounds in just the past decade and a half, advancing from what some early adopters describe as the “secret handshake” days to a consolidation into the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (LGBT MPA).

IMEX America 2018 is nearing the finish line, and in addition to the earlier announcement that it had broken previous records for exhibitors, at 3,500, the industry-leading event and exhibit shattered the buyer attendance record as well.