The Chicago-based Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced the winners of its 2010 Achievement Awards, who will be honored for their contributions to the meetings and events industry at the 55th PCMA Annual Meeting, taking place Jan. 9-12, 2011, in Las Vegas.
"PCMA is proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these exceptional members and meetings industry leaders," PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton said in a statement. "The 2010 Achievement Award winners were selected for their commitment to excellence. They have demonstrated their passion for our industry, going above and beyond what is expected of them, and in doing so have made a significant contribution to their profession and the meetings industry as a whole. We are thrilled to honor them."
PCMA will recognize individuals and companies in seven different award categories, including:
• Distinguished Member of the Year Award: PCMA will honor Annette M. Suriani, CMP, director of meetings for Meetings Management Group, who has dedicated thousands of hours of service through her 15 years as a member.
• Distinguished Meeting Professional of the Year Award: PCMA will honor Lora J. Di Padova-Tannehill, CMP, director of scientific meetings at the American Society of Neuroradiology, who will be recognized for both personal and professional achievements in her community.
• Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the Year Award: PCMA will honor Jeffery S. Pinkley, CMP, senior event manager for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, who is being recognized for his dedication not only to clients, but also to hospitality students at San Diego State University, where he's a mentor.
• Outstanding Service to a Chapter Award: PCMA will honor Nancy DeBrosse, vice president of Experient's Washington, D.C., operations, who was chosen for her contributions to PCMA's Capital Chapter, of which she has been president, treasurer, secretary, a board member and a committee member.
• Educator of the Year Award: PCMA will honor B.J. Reed, CMP, APR, professor at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, who helped create a meetings management concentration at her university, where she oversees her department's internship program.
• Spirit Award: PCMA will honor Glenview, Ill.-based Association Management Center, which is being recognized for its charitable contributions, made via its Solid Rock Carpenters program, created following Hurricane Katrina to help provide shelter for those affected by the storm.
• Environmental Leadership Award: PCMA will honor the Vancouver Convention Centre, which will receive PCMA's newest award for its progressive "greening" efforts.
For more information about PCMA and its Achievement Awards, visit www.pcma.org/awards.