ART CREDIT

PCMA TODAY JULY 2013

PCMA is the leading resource and premier educator for professionals in the meetings and conventions industry.

Speaking From the Heart Tamela Blalock shared with the Education Foundation Dinner audience how the Foundation has helped her attain her goals as a meeting professional.

Just the Push She Needed

Tamela Blalock thanks the PCMA Education Foundation for giving her the confidence, connections, and financial aid that enabled her to start her career.

W

hen Tamela Blalock, MTA, CMP, was just one year away from graduating with her

master’s in tourism administration from George Washington University, she hit a roadblock. She wasn’t sure how she was going to pay for her final year of education. Blalock, who now serves as manager of consulting ser- vices at Courtesy Associates, and who helped emcee the PCMA Education Foundation’s 2013 Dinner Celebrat- ing Professional Achievement, held in Washington, D.C., on May 15, told the audience: “I was actively involved with PCMA as a student, and fortunately, I

10 PCMA CONVENE JULY 2013

was very lucky to have two outstanding mentors who helped point me toward the scholarship opportunities that the Education Foundation offers.” Following her mentors’ advice,

Blalock ended up winning Student Planner of the Year in 2009, receiving a scholarship and the opportunity to plan a session at Convening Leaders 2010 in Dallas. After the Education Foundation

scholarship gave her the confidence and financial wherewithal to pursue her dream of working for a CVB, Blalock went on to become a national sales manager at Team San Jose.

“I credit PCMA and the PCMA Edu-

cation Foundation with giving me a leg up as I entered the industry,” she said,

“and helping me to distinguish myself from other emerging meeting profes- sionals. The connections, the education, and the opportunities have all been invaluable.” Blalock’s confidence shone through

as she spoke from the stage about her experiences and introduced speakers during the dinner. For photo highlights of the 2013

Education Foundation Dinner, visit convn.org/efd-photos.

. PCMA.ORG