PCMA Foundation Visionary Awards

WHEN: Spring 2026
WHERE: Washington, DC

Nominations Open Soon!

Get ready to recognize excellence in the business events industry! Nominations for the 2026 Visionary Awards will open in early June. Stay tuned for updates and prepare to honor the trailblazers who are shaping our community.

Professional Excellence Awards

The PCMA Foundation annually recognizes exceptional individuals across the business events industry and their significant contributions to the industry.

Award Categories:

  • Business Events Strategist of the Year
  • Business Events Supplier of the Year
  • Outstanding Service to a Chapter or Region
  • Groundbreaker Award Experience
  • Design of the Year – Team or Individual
  • Digital Experience Strategist of the Year – Team or Individual
  • Impact Award – Team, Individual or Group

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

Stay in the loop with Visionary Awards updates.

Visionary Awards 2026

Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Lifetime Achievement Honorees & finalists for the Professional Excellence Awards will be announced at Convening Leaders 2026.

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

Past Honorees & Winners

Visionary Awards 2025 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 2025 playlist.

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

2025 – Carol McGury
2025 – David Peckinpaugh
2025 – Donald Getz, PhD
2025 – Elliott Ferguson
2025 – Lyn Lewis-Smith
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

2025 – AAPA Team, led by Anthony Maggiore, CMP
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

2025 – Visit Detroit Team, led by Claude Molinari
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

2025 – Lisa Astorga, CMP
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

2025 – Laurie Nelson-Choice, CGMP
2024 – Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP Fellow, CAE
2023 – Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP Fellow, CMM, DES
2022 – Melissa Cherry

Supplier of the Year

2025 – Alison LaFollette, CMP
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

2025 – Brian Zambotti
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

2025 – Annette Suriani
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

Business Events Industry Week (BEIW)

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.

Nick TannVisionary Awards