The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has hired several new executives, promoted others, and restructured its membership department.

Susan Salem Euritt has been hired as executive director of the PCMA Education Foundation. Since 2000, she served as managing director of strategic marketing partnerships for the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB).

During that time, Euritt worked to identify assets and create meaningful sponsorship packages for the CCTB that resulted in multi-year corporate partnerships, resulting in significant new revenues for the CCTB and valuable extended marketing initiatives.

She also oversaw the bureau’s Sales Promotions and Special Events Department and was responsible for all fundraising efforts. She began her career with the CCTB in 1994 as director of sales for Navy Pier and McCormick Place, selling and marketing to national association and corporate accounts.

“Susan is an accomplished fundraiser who will help the Foundation explore non-traditional funding sources in addition to the strong support we already receive from the meetings industry,” explained PCMA President & CEO Deborah Sexton.

The Membership Department is now led by Member Relations Director Jennifer Kingen Kush, who was promoted from assistant director, marketing and resource development. She joined PCMA in early February from the CCTB, where she was director of strategic services and bureau services.

Steven Oberhoffer II also joined the department as member relations specialist. He was previously membership services coordinator at the American Association of Law Libraries.

Mary Lou Sarmiento, who was previously membership vice president, has moved over to PCMA’s Convene magazine, where she is focusing on international markets, primarily Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Michael Halle and Ken Torres, the two top executives of 10GATES Destination Management Solutions, have also joined PCMA and Convene magazine to further develop the Mexico, Latin American and Caribbean markets. Halle and Torres co-founded 10GATES in 2003 and will continue to operate the company while providing advertising sales services to Convene.

“All of these individuals bring unique strengths to their new positions, and they are ideally suited to their new roles,” Sexton said. “Each of them will be a key player in our overall sales and marketing effort, which is vital to helping PCMA grow.”

Reggie Swanigan has also joined the Information Technology Department as director of technology. He was previously director of information technology for the American Association of Law Libraries.