October marks the start of Q4 with only three more months remaining in 2025. Time flies.

Time has a way of moving quickly, sometimes so fast we hardly notice until we look back and see how far we’ve come. With each day, time gives the opportunity to grow, to learn, to deepen relationships, to heal, and to embrace new opportunities. Managing time with intent supports creating a life with purpose, resilience, and possibility.

For meeting professionals, time is both the challenge and the opportunity. Events are built around schedules, deadlines, and countless moving parts, making it feel like every minute matters. Time allows us to create transformation by turning months of planning into unforgettable experiences, building trust with partners, and helping attendees grow through shared moments. Each event teaches us something new, sharpening our skills and strengthening our ability to adapt.

For destination sales representatives, time is at the heart of building meaningful connections and driving long-term success. It takes time to cultivate trust with clients, showcase the true value of a destination, and grow an initial conversation into a lasting partnership. Time is a key to turning opportunities into thriving partnerships and achieving sales goals.

Key highlights within this months newsletter include:

Upcoming Events:

• October 21 Behind the Scenes Educational Event
• Strategic Plan Update
• Sponsorship Opportunities

Be Better, Do Better… Kindness Speaks, Empathy Listens.

Thank you for being a member of the PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter.

Dawn Amaskane, CAE, CMP
President, PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter

​​​Vice President, Governance and Meetings
American Osteopathic Association

As previously noted, the GMC Board has been constructing the 2026-2030 strategic plan based on setting a consistent foundational framework.

The five-year goal is focused on financial profitability to provide education and networking opportunities for the members we serve by creating consistent year-over-year events for the next five years. Annually, by December of the previous year the dates and locations of these events will be published.

The events that will consistently take place annually from 2026-2030 are as follows:

This award was created by the Greater Midwest Chapter to recognize a gracious and generous supplier partner who provides mentoring, demonstrates integrity, and shows consistent respect for colleagues.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE FOR AN AWARD 

​​​​Award Criteria:

• Annually awarded
• Nomination by PCMA GMC member in good standing or self-nomination
• Minimum 10 years total membership in PCMA and 5 years membership in PCMA GMC
• Minimum of 15 years employment in the hospitality industry recommended
• Not a current member of the PCMA GMC Board of Directors, GMC Awards Committee nor a previous recipient of this award
• Established supplier in the industry and represents exceptional service
• Has history of active volunteerism in the Greater Midwest chapter level the past 5 years and is an active industry volunteer overall

Congratulations to Ellen Snipes for being named the GMC Q3 Star of the Quarter. Ellen is leading the charge in planning a student event on November 7 at Michigan State. She is working alongside the Michigan State University Meeting and Events Club to determine the agenda, speakers, F&B, sponsorships, etc. to create a memorable event and get students excited about the Hospitality Industry. Thank you for all of your hard work Ellen!

Are you a student OR new to the industry and looking for someone to share their experiences and help you make connections?

The PCMA GMC mentorship program can be your secret weapon for breaking into the world of events and hospitality. By connecting with a mentor you
can expect to gain insider knowledge, practice interview skills, and start building that all- important network.

Are you an industry professional with a depth of knowledge that you are eager to share with
others that are just getting started? This could be your chance to give back and help mentees navigate the ins and outs of our industry.

Our mentee/mentor program is open and we are looking for mentees
and mentors to sign up ​​NOW!

Please visit the mentee/mentor page to learn more about the program and fill out the
appropriate form to get involved!

Mentorship Program – Greater Midwest Chapter (pcma.org)

Thanks to all who joined us Tuesday, September 23 from 12:00 pm– 1:00 pm CDT for a virtual PCMA GMC Webinar: No More Smoke and Mirrors: Navigating the New Era of Pricing Transparency!

This eye-opening webinar pulled back the curtain on hidden fees! Participants learned to:

• Decode the nuts and bolts of the FTC’s new rules and its impact on their bottom line.
• Play ball with the hotels and venues in a new landscape of upfront pricing.
• Master the art of crystal-clear event ticket pricing.
• Turn pricing transparency into their secret weapon for success. ​​​​

CHECK OUT THE RECORDING HERE

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL

SCHEDULE:
10am Check in
10:30am – 11:30am Tour
11:30am – 12:30pm Panel & Lunch – McCormick Place East Building, 271
12:30pm – 1pm – Wrap up & Networking

Diamond
  

Platinum