PCMA restructures for greater focus on education

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) announced a reorganization in continuing efforts to align the activities of the PCMA Education Foundation and PCMA.


The reformation consolidates the top positions of the foundation and PCMA education into one post to be headed by current PCMA executive team member, Brad Lewis.

In addition, the new 2011-2013 PCMA strategic plan will become more member and education focused.

In recent years the organization has worked to strategically align the goals, objectives and activities of the PCMA Education Foundation and PCMA; each group is dedicated to delivering the best in meetings industry education.

The PCMA Education Foundation also supports industry education and development through fundraising for grant giving, scholarships, research, and continued industry education innovation.

The revitalized education focus is reflected in the new annual meeting program committee structure, designed to deliver a higher level of education on topics of crucial interest to PCMA’s membership and the industry. This is coupled with redoubled efforts to focus on critical skills needed for members to excel in the meetings industry and develop their careers. This effort stems from the new PCMA 2011-2013 strategic plan.

The updated key tenets focused on PCMA members and industry education are:
•Educating our profession
•Building community
•Leading the industry
•Achieving financial and operational success

“We believe having the PCMA Education Foundation and the PCMA education department strategically aligned under singular leadership is a very smart move,” said Deborah Sexton, president and CEO, PCMA and PCMA Education Foundation. “Brad has been extensively involved throughout PCMA in almost every area. He’s done an incredible job for PCMA and I look forward to the insights he’s able to bring to this opportunity and to the contributions I know he’ll make. This move allows the Foundation to not miss a beat while energizing the continued, renewed focus on education we’re always trying to do at PCMA.”

The elevation of Lewis to this new role has created other staff changes and promotions at PCMA. Robert Zak, director of marketing and communications, will now assume the lead marketing and communications role as senior director of marketing and communications. Kristin Crane, manager, education will now become director of education. PCMA team members Stacey Shafer and Erin Shamus will also take on additional foundation responsibilities.

To help build upon the building community principle of the new strategic plan, Dorothy Kolpak, formerly a 24-year veteran executive director of regional sales at Sonesta Hotels and Resorts, was hired as associate director of membership development.