ART CREDIT

Mark Your Calendar PCMA Events

Global Medical Summit London

July 17–20

Convene Live Ottawa, Ontario

July 28–30

Global Professionals Conference – Asia Pacific Honolulu

Aug. 26–29

Industry Events

ASAE Annual Meeting Atlanta

Aug. 3–6

GBTA Convention 2013 San Diego

Aug. 4–7

IncentiveWorks 2013 Toronto

Aug. 20–21

PCMA President Deborah Sexton Honored for Leadership

As PCMA continues to lead the meetings indus- try forward, the rest of the association world is taking notice. This year, the Association Forum of Chicagoland named PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton the 2013 recipient of the Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Execu- tive Achievement. Sexton will officially accept the award at Association Forum’s Honors Gala at Navy Pier in Chicago on June 20. Under Sexton’s leadership, PCMA’s mem-

bership base has grown from 4,600 to more than 6,000, and attendance at the organiza- tion’s annual meeting has increased by nearly 30 percent. In her seven years as president and CEO, Sexton has also taken an active role in laying the foundation for the future of PCMA as a mentor to many college students. “I’m lucky to have a group of colleagues and

staff members at PCMA who share my commit- ment to PCMA’s strategic vision,” Sexton said.

“That commitment has paved the way toward a membership base that’s more engaged than ever before.”

PCMA Technology Think Tank

With rapid technological growth becom- ing the new normal, now is the time to get ahead — so you don’t need to sprint to catch up later. This year’s PCMA Technology Think Tank — in Vancou- ver, B.C., on Aug. 14–15 — will focus on engagement strategies and monetiza- tion through the use of technology. Participants will be given real-world scenarios within the events world and work with selected industry technology experts to devise solutions and best practices to increase attendee engage- ment and ROI. The Think Tank is sponsored by

the Vancouver Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Vancouver Convention Centre. If you’re interested in attending, contact Jason Paganessi, CAE, PCMA’s vice president of business innovation, at jpaganessi@pcma.org.

Big City, Big Possibilities

NYC & Company recently hosted 2013 PCMA Chair- men’s Scholarship winner Casey Carignan for four days of site visits and net- working in New York City. During her stay on April 28–May 1, Carignan visited venues such as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Cen- ter and The Plaza Hotel.

CHAPTER CORNER North by Southwest

On April 23, 85 meeting professionals came out for North by Southwest, the first-ever joint education conference held by PCMA’s Northern California and Southwest & Pacific chapters. PSAV Presentation Services pre-

sented on using audiovisual technol- ogy to engage audiences, while the closing panel included an interactive discussion with representatives from Oracle, VMware, and Cisco about their conferences. The chapters plan to hold the joint

event every April. “A lot of times we’re in silos, so this is a good way to get ideas and best practices from the [different chapters],” said Northern California Chapter President Stephanie Law. For more information about the

event, visit convn.org/north-southwest. PCMA.ORG JUNE 2013 PCMA CONVENE 13

Carignan recently took a job as meetings and events coordinator for jewelry retailer Lia Sophia. She credits landing that position to the network- ing opportunities that resulted from the scholar- ship. “I have learned so much about the industry,” Carignan said, “things I wouldn’t have been able to learn in the classroom.” To anyone considering applying for the scholar- ship, she said: “Go for it. You never know unless you try.”

For more information about PCMA’s scholarship opportunities, visit convn

.org/edu-scholarships. For more information about NYC & Company, visit nycgo.com.