PCMA elects new 2-Year board member

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) recently announced that the PCMA Board of Directors has elected Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president of Conventions for the National Restaurant Association, to fill the 2-year Board seat vacancy for 2011 and 2012. Heftman was elected by the PCMA Board on January 12, 2011. The seat was vacated by David Little who resigned effective December 31, 2010.


A recognized industry leader, Heftman has full responsibility for planning, production and promotion of the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA Show) and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event at the NRA Show, the largest food and beverage tradeshow in North and South America.

Heftman joined the National Restaurant Association in 1990 and has held positions of progressively increasing scope and responsibility related to the NRA Show. Her expertise in all aspects of the very successful the Show has led to the development of new and innovative Show events.

Heftman served as the Co-Chair of the 2010 PCMA Exhibits and Trade Show Task Force and on various committees of the Midwest Chapter of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). She has been chairperson of the Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO), and serves on the Board of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). She has also served as a member of the Council of Hotel & Restaurant Trainers (CHART) Advisory Council. Tradeshow Week named her among the magazine’s Power Pack – the 100 Most Influential People in the Tradeshow Business in 2006. In 2009, Heftman won the Trade Show Exhibitors Association’s new “Exhibitors’ Choice” Red Diamond Award for Favorite Show Manager, and Tradeshow Week named her one of the Top 15 Association Show Managers.