The principal purpose of the Greater Midwest Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association shall be to increase the effectiveness of meetings and conventions through member industry education and promotion of the value of the meetings industry in the Midwest Region.
Board of Directors
Yolanda Simmons Battle - President -
Associate Director, Meetings and Events American Psychological Association
Dawn Amaskane, CMP, CAE - President-Elect -
Vice President, Governance and Meetings American Osteopathic Association
Phillip Ridley, CMP - Secretary -
Director, Meetings & Events Emergency Nurses Association
Lindsay Williams, CMP - Treasurer -
Senior Manager, Business Development GES
Kelly Jena, CMP, DES - Immediate Past-President -
Meeting Manager American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Bonnie Stetz - Director -
Director, Conference Experience Strategy National Association of Realtors
Joni Opperman - Director -
Assistant Managing Director, Association Group Sales Hilton Worldwide Sales
Jenny Lynch - Director -
National Account Director Visit Indy
Michelle Scherer, CMP, DES - Director -
Strategic Event Manager American Association of Endodontists
Sherry Vale - Director -
Director of Sales, Midwest Visit Baltimore
Erin Ciavarella - Director -
Associate Director, Meetings & Events American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Kent Anderson - Administrator -
Executive Director Impact AMC
Committee Leadership
Awards Committee:
Co-Chair, Jennifer Pesicka, Hilton Worldwide
Co-Chair, Shalini Dsouza
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee:
Co-Chair, Michael Deisting, MongoDB
Co-Chair, Ronnette Phillips, Hilton Worldwide Sales
Member Engagement Committee:
Co-Chair, Kathy Sinnen, Wespath Benefits and Investments
Co-Chair, Jaime Smith, Event EQ
Marketing Committee:
Co-Chair, Anthony Molino, Choose Chicago
Co-Chair, Jen Salerno, CMP, DES, The Room Block
Professional Development Committee:
Co-Chair, Tamara Jones, Choose Chicago
Co-Chair, Sheila Provenzano, Visit Denver
Sponsorship & Industry Relations Committee:
Co-Chair, Angela Jonker, Emergency Nurses
Co-Chair, Chirag Patel, SmithBucklin
Co-Chair, Erin Cannon, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Past Presidents
2023 Kelly Jena
2022 Kristi Casale
2020 Rachael Riggs
2018 Murray Ryan
2016 Hilary Rosenthal
2014 Julie Mullins
2012 Katie Bender
2010 Scott Romane
2008 Paul Miller
2006 Andrea Field
2004 Lora Stanley
2002 Louise Polchelski
2000 Nancy Kay Olson
1998 Dick Barton
1996 Paul Jay
1994 Charles Watts
2021 Molly Witges
2019 Douglas Dvorak
2017 Sandy Reynolds
2015 Catherine Mills
2013 Colleen Donohoe
2011 David Almond
2009 Michael McCurry
2007 Teri Jarvie
2005 John Folks
2003 Teri Tonioli
2001 Laurie Fitzgerald
1999 Laurie Behncke
1997 Lisa Sykes
1995 Diane Dale
1993 Barbara Connell