Each year the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) honors outstanding members for their contributions to PCMA and the meetings industry. PCMA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 Achievement awards, who will be recognized at the 55th PCMA annual meeting: Convening Leaders, January 9-12, 2011, in Las Vegas.
“PCMA is proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these exceptional members and meetings industry leaders,” said Deborah Sexton PCMA president and CEO. “The 2010 Achievement award winners were selected for their commitment to excellence. They have demonstrated their passion for our industry, going above and beyond what is expected of them, and in doing so have made a significant contribution to their profession and the meetings industry as a whole. We are thrilled to honor them during Convening Leaders, in Las Vegas on January 10.”
Distinguished Member of the Year award
Annette M. Suriani, CMP, director of meetings, Meetings Management Group. For more than 20 years, this award has honored members who have made exemplary contributions to PCMA.
Suriani has dedicated thousands of hours of service through her 15 years as a member. She has planned and produced the Capital Chapter’s annual meeting for the last three years, writes articles for the chapter’s monthly newsletter, and mentors young planners, all while serving as an active member on three committees and sitting on the chapter’s board of directors.
Distinguished Meeting Professional of the Year award
Lora J. Di Padova-Tannehill, CMP, director of scientific meetings, American Society of Neuroradiology. The award acknowledges a meeting professional who excels professionally, personally and within his or her community.
Padova-Tannehill has worked in the association industry for more than 20 years. She is known for leading by example, making a point to implement industry guidelines into her association. A dedicated member of the PCMA’s Greater Midwest Chapter for 10 years, Padova-Tannehill has served on her chapter’s board of directors, held treasurer, secretary, and other liaison positions, as well as been a member of many committees.
Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the Year award
Jeffery S. Pinkley, CMP, senior event manager, San Diego Convention Center Corporation. He has been recognized for outstanding achievement in the field of convention services.
Pinkley is dedicated not only to his clients, but also to the students he mentors at San Diego State University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. He shows extreme interest in each of his clients and is well versed in their needs before their first meeting.
Always staying one step ahead of the planners he works with. Pinkley actively provides solutions for problems quickly and efficiently.
Outstanding Service to a Chapter award
Nancy DeBrosse, vice president-Washington D.C., Experient. DeBrosse was chosen for this honor because of her tireless dedication to the PCMA Capital Chapter. She has served the Capital Chapter as president, treasurer, secretary, board member, and as a member on many committees.
Always active, DeBrosse has participated in every Service in Sync Day since its inception, mentors new members, participates in membership drives, and serves as moderator and speaker at chapter education programs. She promotes member engagement as much as possible and is strong supporter of growing volunteers within the chapter.
Educator of the Year award
B.J. Reed, CMP, APR, and professor at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville won. The Educator of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of meetings industry education. Dr. Reed is passionate about meetings education and her students. She helped create a meetings management concentration at UW Platteville and oversees her department’s internship program, helping around 100 students each year.
She has been involved in the industry for two decades and helped create the instructor’s manual for Professional Meeting Management, 5th Edition (PMM5), serving as an editor and proofreader. She continues making valuable contributions to PCMA, working on a project to make the PMM5 resource center easier for faculty to use and sitting on the PCMA Faculty Task Force.
Spirit award
The winner of the 2010 Spirit award is Association Management Center (AMC) for their work with the Solid Rock Carpenters program. Following Hurricane Katrina, AMC started Solid Rock Carpenters, helping provide shelter for those affected by the storm.
To date, AMC has positively impacted 125 families, through the construction of 21 homes and the mobilization of 2,500 volunteers. The Spirit award recognizes an organization that has significantly affected lives in a charitable or humanitarian way through the meetings and convention industry.
Environmental Leadership award
The PCMA Environmental Leadership award honors progressive greening efforts in the meetings industry. The 2010 Environmental Leadership award winner is the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The Vancouver Convention Centre is committed to being an industry leader in sustainability. Its new West building was recently awarded the prestigious LEED® Platinum certification, the world’s first convention center to receive the highest LEED rating.
Features of the centre’s comprehensive sustainable design include a restored marine habitat built into the buildings foundation, green electricity purchased from low impact renewable sources, a water recovery system reducing potable water use by 72 percent, and more.
