CHICAGO, IL — Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA, and CEMA President & CEO, announced receipt of the 2026 Board of Directors and Trustees Slate from Immediate Past Chair and Nominating Committee Chair, Leonard Hoops, President & CEO of Visit Indy. The slate includes leaders for PCMA, the PCMA Foundation, and CEMA.
A record 57 individuals were nominated, underscoring the community’s strong engagement in shaping PCMA’s future. “This milestone year demonstrates the strength of our community and its belief in the impact,” said Hoops. “The breadth and caliber of this year’s candidate pool was truly impressive. We are confident this Board will continue to push us forward.”
The proposed slate reflects PCMA’s global reach, with nominees representing APAC, EMEA, LATAM, and North America, and includes a next-generation leader.
“The enthusiasm represented through this year’s nomination process speaks volumes about the passion and commitment within our global community,” said Karamat. “We are honored to welcome this incoming slate of leaders, whose diverse expertise and perspectives will guide us in advancing our mission.”
The following leaders will begin serving a one-year Executive Officer term (2026): Chair: Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer, Global Technology Industry Association
Chair-Elect: Robin Preston, CEM, DES, Managing Director, Events, The American Institute of Architects
Immediate Past Chair: Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events, VisitScotland
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leader will begin serving a one-year Executive Officer term (2026):
Secretary-Treasurer: Panos Tzivanidis, Director of Corporate Events and Services, International Olympic Committee
The incoming CEMA Advisory Board Chair will begin serving a one-year Director and Trustee term (2026):
Bridgette Birdie, Senior Director, Global Events and Outreach, Moody’s
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leaders will begin serving a two-year Director and Trustee term (2026–2027):
Michael Barnett, CEO, InGo
John Hawley, Executive Director, Association, Hilton Worldwide Sales
Elizabeth Tovar, PCO, CMM, CMS, CIS, CCM, CASE, DES, President, Turenlaces Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM, Senior Manager, Business Development, GES
Upon PCMA membership approval, the following leaders will begin serving a second two-year Director and Trustee term (2026–2027):
Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific Head of Global Events, Bank of America, Patrick Espinoza, MBA, CMP, Director of Sales, Caesars Entertainment, Inc., Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, President and CEO, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
The following leaders are serving the final year of a two-year Director and Trustee term (2025–2026):
Gregg Caren, President and CEO, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dr. Amanda Cecil, PhD, CMP, Professor, Department of Tourism, Event and Sport Management, Indiana University
Ari Goldsmith, Vice President of Marketing and Digital Media, KeHE Distributors, Dr. Edward Koh, Executive Director, Singapore Tourism Board
Ori Lahav, CEO, Kenes Group
Brian Landers, CDS, Senior Vice President / Team Director, ConferenceDirect Walt Leger III, President and CEO, New Orleans & Company
Stephen Rose, Head of Global Communication Services, Siemens AG
Heather Seasholtz, CMP Fellow, DES, Vice President, Operations, CM Event Solutions
In addition, the President & CEO of PCMA and CEMA serves as a Director and Trustee: Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA and CEMA President & CEO
The slate will be deemed confirmed by PCMA members at close of business 1 October 2025 @ 1700 hours Chicago time.
Directors and Trustees will assume office immediately following PCMA’s Convening Leaders annual meeting, 11-14 January 2026, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
About PCMA
PCMA, PCMA Foundation, and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose, and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA, and LATAM, and members and communities throughout 72 countries. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a subsidiary of PCMA, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org.
