Join us in recognizing our members’ achievements and discover who has recently changed positions.
Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Chris Wehking, CMP, 2019 Business Event Strategist Honoree
Wehking is highly respected by his peers as an executive in the medical society, global association, strategic business event, exposition and hospitality industry for his experience, strategic leadership and emphasis on collaborative and fair business partnership and relations. Wehking has been a PCMA member since 1999 and has served on the Board of Directors and as a PCMA Chair. He has also served as a trustee of the PCMA Foundation.
Eduardo Chaillo, CMP, CMM, CASE, 2019 Supplier Honoree
Chaillo has been recognized by Successful Meetings magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry”. He founded Global Meetings and Tourism Specialists consultancy company in Northern Virginia as a bridge builder between the global meetings community and business events industry members from Mexico and Latin America. He has served as a PCMA Foundation Trustee and the international representative to the CMP Board of Directors within the CIC umbrella and was awarded the JMIC’s Profile and Por Award.
Lauren Kramer, CAE, MTA, CMP, 2019 Educator Honoree,
Kramer’s advocacy for face-to-face events, her passion for mentoring and significant experience with developing educational program formats and global business event management made her an ideal recipient for the Educator award. She is the Founder and Principal of Meeting Priorities, LLC. Meeting Priorities has served clients in many facets of the business events industry from developing unique program delivery methods, onsite management, back end results analysis, future planning and more. An active PCMA member for many years, she has served on the PCMA Board of Directors and as Chair of PCMA Convening Leaders. Kramer is also a founding member of the Legacy Society as well as the Capital Chapter where she served as president.
Awards
Cookie Walner, CMP, CEM, CMM, CAE, HMCC, Global Program Manager, ConferenceDirect
Cookie Walner received the Volunteer of the Year Award from International Association of Exhibitions and Events. She is recognized for dedicating her time to the progress and fulfillment of a committee or task force on which she serves.
Janet Cooper, CMP, Director of Meetings and Convention Services, RSNA
Jane Cooper, CMP is the Professional Excellence Award finalist for the Digital Event Strategist of the Year.
Members on the Move
Barbara Connell, CAE, CMP, Chief Executive Officer, ASGE
Barbara Connell, CAE, CMP, is the newly appointed CEO of ASGE. Additionally, she was the 2018 recipient of the GMC PCMA Broad Shoulders Award and previously won the Pillar Award for Excellence in Association Leadership in 2016.
Catherine McKenna, CMM, Vice President of Hospitality Partnerships, Five Star
Catherine McKenna, CMM, is newly appointed Vice President of Hospitality Partnerships at Five Star.
Jenny Lynch, National Sales Manager, VisitIndy
Jenny has recently been appointed National Sales Manager for VisitIndy. In this new role, she will cover the Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis markets. She was previously the regional director of sales for the Midwest at VisitDallas and national convention sales manager for the Midwest at VisitNorfolk.
New or Renewing Members
Welcome all the new or renewing GMC PCMA members this month:
Rachel Zeidman
Dana Hahn
Rajeev Brown
Elizabeth Warner
Cindy Doyle
Baylee Johns
Helene L. Lum
Michelle Olewinski
Keith Murphy
Paige Brackin
David Clark
Tina Gerson
Elizabeth Hayson
Michael Corrigan
Dina Velasquez
Whitnie Andrews
Erin Williams
Joe Hirsch
Noor Elgallad
Dawn Bugalski
Margaret Walker
Greg Foster
Diana Vela
Karen Hamm
Santa Avalier
