WHEN: April 10, 2025, from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: Washington, DC

Professional Excellence Awards

The PCMA Foundation annually recognizes exceptional individuals across the business events industry and their significant contributions to the industry. This year, we will be introducing the recognition of teams in several of our Professional Excellence Awards categories.

Award Categories:

Impact Award – *NEW* Team, Individual or Group (previously the Community Advocate of the Year)
Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
Business Events Strategist of the Year
Business Events Supplier of the Year
Groundbreaker Award
Experience Design of the Year – *NEW* Team or Individual (Previously the Event Designer of the Year)
Digital Experience Strategist of the Year – *NEW* Team or Individual

Lifetime Achievement Honorees

The PCMA Foundation annually recognizes our colleagues with distinguished lifetime career accomplishments and significant contributions to the business events industry. Individuals must be or have been a business event organizer, supplier or educator.

Award Categories:

Business Events Organizer Honoree
Supplier Honoree
Educator Honoree

Registration launching soon!

Stay in the loop with Visionary Awards updates.

Visionary Awards 2025

Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Business Event Strategist

Carol McGury

Retired Executive VP, Event & Education Services
Smithbucklin

Business Event Strategist

David Peckinpaugh

President & CEO
Maritz

Educator

Donald Getz, PhD

Professor Emeritus
University of Calgary

Supplier

Elliott Ferguson

President and CEO
Destination DC

Supplier

Lyn Lewis-Smith

CEO
Business Events Sydney (BESydney)

Professional Excellence Awards Finalists

Business Events Strategist of the Year

Brought to you by Houston

Lisa Astorga, CMP
Director of Meetings
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

Jennifer Ragan-Fore
Chief Experience Officer
ISTE and ASCD

Nneka St. Gerard, CMP
Chief Program Officer, Meetings, Membership, and Marketing
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Digital Experience Strategist of the Year

Sina Bünte, CMP, DES
Founder
DigitalMind.events

Mahoganey Jones, CMP, DES, HMCC
Founder & CEO
Event Specialists Inc.

Brian Zambotti
Vice President, Business Development
Conexiant

Experience Design of the Year

Anthony Maggiore, CMP
Senior Director, Conference & Meetings
American Academy of Physician Associates
(Team)

Katie McCormick
Executive Director, Meetings, Events, & Convention
NECA

Stuart Ruff-Lyon
Chief Events and Sales Officer
RIMS – the risk management society
(Team)

Groundbreaker Award

Brought to you by Visit Oklahoma City

Jeffrey Fehr
Client Engagement Manager, Business Events
Destination Canada

Lori Jenaire, CMP, CDS, MBE
Vice President, Global Accounts
ConferenceDirect

Laurie Nelson-Choice, CGMP
Director of Diversity & National Sales
Visit Baltimore

Impact Award

Christine Cleaver
Associate Professor of Instruction – Event and Entertainment Management
School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University

Mackenzie Loy
Founder & CEO
Homemade in DC

Claude Molinari
President and CEO
Visit Detroit and Co-Chair of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the NFL Draft
(Team)

Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region

Krista Cameron, DES
Vice President, Industry Relations, Canada
Encore
(Canada East Chapter)

Sara McWilliams
Senior Director, Global Accounts
HelmsBriscoe
(Greater Philly Chapter)

Annette Suriani
Principal and Chief Meeting Strategist
AMS Meeting Solutions
(Capital Chapter)

Supplier of the Year

Carrie Ferenac
Co-Founder and President
CNTV

Alison LaFollette, CMP
Director, Mid-Atlantic Region
Visit Seattle

Ronnette Phillips
Director – Hilton Direct
Hilton Worldwide Sales

Lisa Astorga, CMP
Director of Meetings
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

Jennifer Ragan-Fore
Chief Experience Officer
ISTE and ASCD

Nneka St. Gerard, CMP
Chief Program Officer, Meetings, Membership, and Marketing
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Tables & Tickets

Individual Ticket – $375 USD

Group of 10 Tickets – $4,500 USD

VIP Reserved Table – $8,000 USD

Schedule at a Glance

5:00 – 6:00pm – Red Carpet Experience

6:00 – 6:30pm – Awards Show Seating

6:30 – 7:30pm – Awards Show

7:30 – 10:00pm – After Party

Presented By

Participating Organizations

After Party and Champagne Bar Sponsor

Style Lounge and Red Carpet Experience Sponsor

Award Sponsor

Thank You to Our Table Hosts

Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center
Visit Anaheim
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visit Baltimore
Caesars Entertainment
Tourism Calgary
Visit California
Choose Chicago
Experience Columbus
Destination DC and Events DC
Visit Detroit
Dominican Republic Tourism Board
Fairmont
Freeman
Visit Fort Worth
GES / onPeak
Heritage
Hilton Worldwide
Visit Houston
Hyatt Convention Alliance
IHG® Hotels & Resorts
Visit Indy
Visit Lauderdale
Meet Long Beach
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Louisville Tourism
Maritz
Marriott International
McCormick Place
MGM Resorts International
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Music City Center
Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
New Orleans & Company / Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New York City Tourism + Conventions
Oak View Group
Visit Oklahoma City
Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando
Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
PCMA Convene Magazine
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
VisitPITTSBURGH
Travel Portland
Projection
Discover Puerto Rico
RIMS
Visit San Antonio
Smart City Networks
Sodexo Live!
Visit Tampa Bay
Destination Toronto
Destination Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre

AFTER PARTY BAND

The hypest party band in Austin! PDA Band has been the most high-energy Austin-based party band for over 8 years. They specialize in performing popular dance music from the 90s, 2000s, and current hits. The band is constantly entertaining audiences with their extravagant singers and talented musicians.

Brought to you by Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center

Presented By

Past Honorees & Winners

Visionary Awards 2024 Highlights

The PCMA Foundation Visionary Awards honors the exceptional stars for their significant contributions to their organizations. This premier industry black-tie recognition event, from the red carpet reception to the awards show and after-party is the ultimate place to see and be seen.

Click the button above to watch more videos in the BEIW 2024 playlist.

Visionary Awards 2023 Highlights

Previous Lifetime Achievement Honorees

2024 – Elizabeth Tovar
2024 – Stuart Levy
2024 – Butch Spyridon
2024 – Greg O’Dell
2023 – Bill Reed, FASAE, CMP
2023 – Ray Bloom
2023 – M.T. Hickman
2022 – Mary Pat Heftman
2022 – Kitty Ratcliffe
2022 – Dr. Eric D. Olson
2021 – Ben Goedegebuure
2021 – Lisa Delpy Neirotti
2021 – Bill Grusich, CMP Fellow – Emeritus, FASAE
2019 – Chris Wehking
2019 – Eduardo Chaillo
2019 – Lauren Kramer
2018 – Carrie Freeman Parsons
2018 – Godwin Charles Ogbeide, PhD, MBA
2018 – Ray Kopcinski, CMP
2017 – Barry L. Smith
2017 – Carol Krugman, MEd, CMP, CMM
2017 – Martin D. Balogh
2016 – Johnnie C. White Jr., CMP, MBA, CAE
2016 – Janet L. Jakobsen, CMP, MBA
2016 – James E. Rooney
2015 – Kati S. Quigley, CMP
2015 – Anne Hamilton
2015 – George G. Fenich, PhD
2014 – Sue M. Dykema, CAE
2014 – Janet Sperstad, CMP
2014 – Carol C. Wallace
2013 – Lisa Block
2013 – Cynthia Vannucci, PhD, CHME, CHSP, CMP
2013 – Gino Giancola
2012 – John Lisack, Jr., CAE
2012 – Amanda K. Cecil, PhD, CMP
2012 – George Aguel
2011 – Gregg H. Talley, CAE
2011 – Glen Ramsborg, PhD, CMP
2011 – Brian Stevens
2010 – Sheila Stampfli
2010 – William R. Host, Jr., CMP
2010 – Liz Erikson
2009 – Bruce Harris, CMP
2009 – Tyra Hilliard, J.D., CMP
2009 – John Patronski
2008 – Debra L. Rosencrance, CMP, CAE
2008 – Joan L. Eisenstodt
2008 – Charles W. Ahlers
2007 – Michael L. Payne
2007 – Deborah Breiter, PhD
2007 – Susan Iris
2006 – J.D. Andrews
2006 – Peter Shure
2006 – Reint Reinders
2005 – James Sweeney
2005 – Patti Shock
2005 – Christie Hicks
2004 – James H. Youngblood
2004 – Richard B. Green, CASE
2003 – H. Cris Collie, CAE
2003 – JoAnn Bedrosian Ryan
2002 – Daniel E. Weber,CEM
2001 – Bob Donovan
2000 – Roy B. Evans Jr., CAE
1999 – David J. Noonan
1998 – Charlotte St. Martin
1997 – Anthony J. Jannetti
1996 – PCMA Past Presidents
1995 – JoAnn Hoffman
1994 – David R. Evans
1993 – Losi Stratemeier, CAE
1992 – William D Nelligan, CAE
1991 – Donald S. Freeman Jr.
1990 – Robert E. Hobart III
1989 – William F. Snyder
1988 – Kathleen D. Bryan
1987 – James C. Collins

Previous Professional Excellence Award Recipients

The Professional Excellence Awards are announced annually at the PCMA Education Foundation Visionary Awards. These awards honor a PCMA member who exemplifies excellence in the business events industry in their given year.

Event Designer of the Year

2024 – Jasmine and Tyra Dyson
2023 – Megan Finnell, CMP
2022 – Darren Mendola, CMP, DES
2019 – Jennifer Gardner
2018 – Phelps Hope
2017 – Megan Tate
2016 – Allyson O’Connor

Community Advocate of the Year

2024 – Dana Johnston
2023 – Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad
2022 – Molly Witges, CMP, DES
2019 – Christine Faiman
2018 – Jeff Chase
2017 – Peter O’Brien
2016 – Christine Phelps

Business Event Strategist of the Year

2024 – Stuart Ruff-Lyon
2023 – Kristi Casale, CMP, DMCP
2022 – Kai Hattendorf
2019 – Senthil Gopinath
2018 – Wanda Johnson
2017 – Danielle Urbina
2016 – Kirsten Olean

Groundbreaker Award

2024 – Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP Fellow, CAE
2023 – Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP Fellow, CMM, DES
2022 – Melissa Cherry

Supplier of the Year

2024 – Doug Bennett
2023 – Tim Mathy
2022 – Carson Edwards Jr. MBA, CASE, CDMP
2019 – Greg Bogue
2018 – Chris Lynn
2017 – Jennifer Erney
2016 – Rachael Riggs

Digital Experience Strategist of the Year

2024 – Shawn (Yih-Hsiang) Cheng
2023 – Jodi VanWoerkom, CMP
2022 – Mary Pat Cornett, CAE, CMP
2019 – Janet Cooper
2018 – Nicole Armstrong

Outstanding Service to a Chapter

2024 – Marcus Eng, CMP Fellow, DES
2023 – Leah Lewis, CMP, DES
2022 – Megan Martin, CMP, DES
2019 – Elisa Sandoval Wong
2018 – Rebecca Ramsey
2017 – Missy Johnson
2016 – John Rubsamen

Previous PCMA Award Recipients

Presented by:

After Party brought to you by

Red Carpet & Style Lounge brought to you by

Community Advocate of the Year Award Presented by

Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) is not just another industry event; you’re becoming part of a global movement that celebrates our industry’s purpose—bringing people together to make a difference for our businesses, our communities and our audiences.

Embrace the power, the camaraderie, and the inspiration firsthand in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC with us all. Because, what we do matters. Collectively, we can make a difference.

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Business Event Strategist Award Presented by

Event Designer of the Year Award Presented by

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AFTER PARTY BAND

Tomar Williams got his start singing lead on the Chitlin Circuit with his family band in the late 1980s. After several decades as a side man on the Austin scene, Tomar decided to return to his roots as a frontman in 2015. He was introduced to a local instrumental band, the FCs, and Tomar and the FCs was born. They were selected by NPR Music to represent Austin for the Tiny Desk Concert Series, played the Austin City Limits Music Festival and, in 2022, performed at Bonnaroo. The band have three recordings, “Day by Day”, “Heart Attack”, and the latest, “Rise Above”, on Splice Records.

Brought to you by Visit Austin and Austin Convention Center