Welcome to September GMC! This fall will be very different than what our typical fall event season, but 2020 is not a typical year. My head spins daily with all that happens in our business and in the world. As someone who focuses on well-being personally and professionally, I find that I am having to
The GMC PCMA Student Committee hosted the first National Student Insight Series on August 26th. There was a fantastic turnout with over 100 students, recent grads, and industry professionals. The highly experienced panelists included Terrance Frederick, Brad Kent, Chirag Patel, Julie Smith, and Joy Womack. Phillip Ridley, the moderator, facilitated the conversation that lead to
The Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity task force kicked off their community conversations webinar series on August 20 with a session titled “Bold & Brave: Telling Our Stories.” Moderator Cherai Lewis engaged with fellow task force members on how they have seen and experienced racism in the business events industry, and how the events of the
Congratulations to Kaleigh Gipson, GMC Q3 Star of the Quarter Receipient! Each quarter, our chapter recognizes one committee volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Our Q3 Recipient of the Star of the Quarter award is Kaleigh Gipson from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Kaleigh is active on the GMC Student Membership
Why do you keep seeing encouragement to nominate a colleague – or yourself – for an award? There are so many reasons to submit a nomination for the 2020 GMC PCMA awards. The nominee receives validation that their time, efforts, and hard work are recognized and appreciated. A public “thank you” goes a long way.
The GMC Community Services committee encourages all members to support the Big Shoulders Fund, which serves 20,000 students at 75 elementary and high schools throughout Chicago. “We are thrilled to announce that we have set up e-volunteering opportunities to help support our network of schools and students during this time. Our goals include uploading two
Author: Jennifer Sommers, 2020 GMC PCMA Secretary Hopefully by now you’ve read or heard about several positive changes being implemented by the Greater Midwest Chapter this year. Making these changes gives us the ability to continue laying the foundation of a steady path in 2020 which sets the course to achieve new goals in 2021.
The newly created Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity Task Force of the Greater Midwest Chapter has been formed to engage the GMC community in open and honest conversations on racial bias and diversity in the industry, and the experiences of Black and POC business event professionals. The task force will host a series of webinars in the coming months,
Recognize the contributions of your colleagues—nominate them for a GMC PCMA Award Nominations for GMC awards are open NOW through November 15. Start planning now to nominate your GMC colleagues. It’s quick and easy, and nominations are powerful. Here are thoughts from a few former GMC award winners about their nomination: When I learned I
Hello GMC Members! Where has summer gone? At times, this summer feels like it is dragging on and other times it is flying by. Thinking about back to school just seems odd to me as a mom. I am not sure why…maybe it is the fact that we did not close out last year like
GMC PCMA is seeking nominations from chapter members for the 2020 Board of Directors and Officers.
Hello GMC Members! We made it through half of 2020! July is here. It sure has been a rough year for all of us. No matter what your situation, none of us in this business has had an easy time in 2020. Who could imagine six months ago we would be in this situation? It
The Awards Committee would like to present a virtual award to each member, friend, and associate of GMC-PCMA for having the strength and the courage to maneuver through these unchartered waters. Although we cannot control the past, we can decide how we will progress forward. Congratulations on your strength, resilience, perseverance, your courage and to
Voting is now closed. The resolution passed with 25% of eligible members voting and a 95% acceptance rate. View the recording of our July 15th Town Hall Meeting: https://youtu.be/1GNMOnKGtnk In an effort to further engage our membership and gain flexibility to meet our chapter’s strategic goals, we are suggesting a bylaw change for your
Thanks to all of our wonderful members, we were able to raise almost $7000 for our beloved GMC! Thanks again to our prize donors: Ocean View Bracelet donated by Rhonda Chesney and Blythe Chesney Caesars Entertainment Store Sweepstakes – $150 value Sip in Style: A toast to GMC-PCMA Set of Tiffany Wine Glasses donated by
Make sure to follow GMC PCMA’s newest addition to social media- our Instagram account! Follow @pcmagreatermidwestchapter on Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Hello GMC Members! June is here and summer is upon us. These months of 2020 will be very different from summers past. Whatever your plans are, please take some time for yourself. Our industry professionals have taken on more stress than anyone should bear, and it takes a toll. I have seen it firsthand and
Each quarter, our chapter recognizes one committee volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Our Q2 Recipient of the Star of the Quarter award is Robert Lutz with CSI DMC! Robert is active on the GMC Events Committee. His committee chairs shared that he has been instrumental in planning our educational
Get your chances to win here. Our largest online fundraiser EVER is on now! Purchase your tickets and be entered to win any of the over 50 fabulous prizes collectively valued over $10,000*. Tickets are $20 each, 3 for $50, or 7 for $100. *The Sweepstakes is open to residents of the 50 United States excluding New
April Fools was no joke for the GMC PCMA Student Committee! The Student Committee hosted two Virtual Panels on April 1, 2020. We are working hard to stay connected with the students during these uncertain times. The first panel was with Northern Illinois University. There were 19 students on the virtual meeting. We had fellow
Back 2 School Illinois has launched its “Notes of Inspiration” Program for the homebound. This is a great program that people can do from the comfort and safety of their own homes. It is a fun activity that encourages creativity as well as allows folks stuck at home to do something rewarding and impactful. For
April showers bring May flowers! Looks like it is happening, and I am personally happy to see some green. I hope this spring experience is lifting your spirits. Weather in the Midwest can test all our nerves this time of year and then add COVID-19 on top of it…it is pushing everyone’s buttons. My hope
How can you protect your business and still be a good partner? How has COVID-19 forever changed the way we do business? How are we planning for the rest of the year and early 2021 in the absence of a crystal ball? Join us on June 4 for a free virtual education event to reflect
The PCMA Foundation Industry Relief Fund will support individuals in the events industry whose health has been impacted by COVID-19. Funds will be distributed through our partner, SEARCH Foundation. We will track these donations separately from Australia/Puerto Rico collections. Text to: 41444 Keyword: COVIDFUND Sample: COVIDFUND 50 Jane Doe
April is here! I love the longer days and hope it gives you energy as we go through a very challenging time. As we settle into our new reality whatever it may be as there are so many stories…newly working from home, being furloughed/laid off, kids being schooled at home, filing for unemployment for the
From Jeff Gassaway Director of Convention Sales – Midwest Region at Visit Salt Lake Virtual can be fun, but the real experience is better. First and foremost, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy while adhering to the guidelines to stay indoors to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic. Like you, I am anxious for
The sponsorship committee would like to thank all of our sponsors who make everything we do for GMC possible. Times are tough right now, but we are all in this together and will get through this all together. Check out our current sponsors.
Happy Spring GMC! As I write this letter, I am reflecting on the week we have all had. So many adjectives and not enough space in this article. Thank you to everyone who attended the March Education Program and Awards Luncheon on Tuesday. It was a true testament to our industry by showing up. We
Direct Flights, Diverse Wildlife Make Anchorage a Larger-Than-Life Meeting Destination Finding the ideal meeting venue means answering a long list of key questions: What potential locations are both within reach and within budget? Which of those destinations features both high-quality urban accommodations and an exhilarating range of unique entertainment and recreation opportunities? The
Join us in recognizing these GMC PCMA members on their outstanding accomplishments.
Happy February Greater Midwest Chapter! Time flies when you are having fun. We have done so much in the last month to get ready for a fun year. The Board of Directors and Committee Chairs/Co Chairs have been hard at work for the Chapter. For the month, we have been focusing on Calendar of Events
Meet Molly Witges, GMC 2020 President-Elect! Molly loves the weather and the outdoors, even studied meteorology at Purdue until hospitality seemed like a better fit. Tornado chasing in Kansas is on her bucket list!
Happy New Year Greater Midwest Chapter! Can you believe it is 2020? I am honored to serve as your President in this new decade. There are so many things to look forward to in 2020 for GMC and I can wait to share these experiences with you – the greatest chapter within PCMA. I wanted
This Month’s Featured Leader: Becky Svienteck Meeting Planner at American Academy of Sleep Medicine GMC Education Committee Chair Fun Fact about Becky: I’ve been to 14 zoos in 9 states (plus one internationally!) and I’m hoping to visit a zoo in each of the 50 states during my lifetime. Executive Committee President Rachael Riggs,
Nearly 5000 business events professionals gathered in San Francisco from January 5-8 to kick of the year at the industry’s premier event of the year, PCMA Convening Leaders. The Greater Midwest Chapter was well represented at our reception on Sunday night, with over 400 members in attendance at the InterContinental San Francisco. For highlights from
Mark Henry was a friend to many in the meetings industry. He was a long time GMC member and a wonderful volunteer leader. Sadly, he passed away in December 2017. To honor his legacy, GMC PCMA has created the Mark Henry Scholarship, the purpose of which is to help members new to the industry (10
Season’s Greetings to all GMC PCMA members! It was terrific to see many of you at the Holiday Mixer as well as Holiday Showcase. It is always befitting this time of year for us to assemble, celebrate and finish the year on a delightful note. This will be my final letter as President of the
Three Experiences. Fort Worth VIP Style. You Choose! Meeting planners, enter to win one of three Fort Worth VIP experiences! Music lovers, hang out at Niles City Sound, the studio that launched Leon Bridge’s career then spend an evening backstage at Billy Bob’s Texas—the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk. Adrenaline junkies, fulfill your need for speed on
Why Chicago Meeting Planners Still Choose San Francisco San Francisco is a premier meeting destination famous for fostering new ideas and drawing record-breaking attendance. The city is always changing, and now The Moscone Center has also changed, too. Its expansion, which created more than 500,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space, is mindful of
The Backstory of Montréal’s Ground-Breaking New Guarantees Montréal is one of North America’s most creative cities—and they’ve innovated once again. With the recent launch of a new pledge that offers guarantees to event professionals, the charming Canadian city is planting a firm flag as one of the best destinations in the world to host events.
Data Scientists, Lawyers, Cranes, and Police All Fit in Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska is the best of both worlds. The city’s meeting venues have the versatility to host a wide array of groups, each with specific needs. At the same time, being the largest community in Alaska makes it an alluring spot for delegates as
Chicago Student Day at Wrigley Field and Hotel Zachary On Friday September 27, 2019 over twenty students and industry professionals enjoyed a unique Student Day at Wrigley Field and Hotel Zachary. They were given a behind the scenes tour of Wrigley Field and saw the new event spaces including Club 1914 and the Catalina Club.
