Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Chairman of the Board Gregg H. Talley, CAE, announced that Deborah Long Sexton has been named President & CEO of PCMA.

Sexton, who is currently President of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB), has 30 years of experience in the convention and meetings industry.

“We are thrilled to have Deborah aboard as our President and CEO,” said Talley, who also serves as president of Talley Management Group. “She has extensive meetings industry experience and a demonstrated level of management expertise with a not-for-profit organization. We are confident that she is an insightful, energetic leader who will enable PCMA to achieve the objectives as outlined in the strategic plan.  I look forward to working with her.”

Sexton added, “This is a fantastic opportunity for me – I look forward to leading PCMA into the future.”

Sexton joined the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) in 1994 as Vice President of Sales and Services. Under her leadership, the Bureau’s sales team broke all former sales production figures and the services department successfully expanded the benefits available to customers.

She was promoted to Executive Vice President in February 2000, where she oversaw the Bureau’s membership, sales, and services departments, and then became president in February 2002.

Before joining the CCTB, Sexton was principal of Sexton Hospitality Services, a sales and marketing consulting firm for hotel management companies. From 1987-1989, she was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Coastal Hotel Group. Throughout her career, she also has held sales and marketing positions with Coastal Hotel Group, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, the Hyatt Regency Chicago, and the Midland Hotel Chicago.

Sexton currently serves on the Convention Industry Council Housing Panel, the Foundation Board of Trustees of the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and was President of the Parkways Foundation in Chicago. She also is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives and the International Association for Exposition Management. She formerly was an officer of the Board of Directors of the Meeting Professionals International.

She also served on the PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees at the time of her appointment as PCMA President & CEO, and is a longtime member of PCMA.

Sexton has received many industry awards, including the Chicago Society of Association Executives Distinguished Service Award in 1986, the Chicago Hospitality Community Hotel Woman of the Year Award in 1988, and the Meeting Professionals International-Chicago Area Chapter Presidents Award in 1990.

She is a 1969 graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, is married to William M. Sexton, and resides in Chicago.

Sexton succeeds David Kushner, CAE, CMP, who served as President & CEO of PCMA since July 2002. She will begin her new position on or before March 15, 2005.