Each year the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) honors outstanding members for their contributions to PCMA and the meetings and hospitality industry.
PCMA announced the winners of the 2009 Achievement Awards, who will be recognized at the 54th PCMA Annual Meeting, January 10-13, 2010, in Dallas, TX.
"The winners of the 2009 PCMA Achievement Awards make PCMA the outstanding organization that it is. We’re proud to recognize these exceptional members—and meetings industry leaders—through the annual Achievement Awards program," said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton.
“These professionals represent the best and brightest talent in our industry. I look forward to January 11th in Dallas when we will celebrate the accomplishments of this select group of individuals and organizations,” said Francine Pepitone, PCMA Achievement Awards and Recognition Committee Chair.
2009 Distinguished Member of the Year Award - The recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Member of the Year Award is Deborah L. Richardt, CMP, Senior Director of Meeting Services for the American Thoracic Society (ATS). For more than 20 years, this award has honored members who have made exemplary contributions to PCMA.
Richardt has been actively involved in meeting planning for more than 28 years, with 24 of those years spent planning medical conventions for the ATS. A PCMA member since 1987, in 1991 she helped incorporate the New York Area Chapter, later serving as chapter president.
She is currently working with the New York Institute of Technology to help them develop a 4-year curriculum for Hospitality Management. “Debbie has given generously of her time not only in advising programs that train future meeting professionals, but in working directly with interns and advisees whether at the ATS or elsewhere,” said Stephen Crane, PhD, MPH, Executive Director of the ATS.
“She does this with a style and grace that adds luster to her profession and the industry as a whole. She remains an able and articulate spokesperson for her profession and the hospitality industry.”
2009 Distinguished Meeting Professional of the Year Award - The 2009 Distinguished Meeting Professional of the Year Award winner is Teri Elliott Jarvie, CMP, Director of Meeting Services for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).
The award acknowledges a meeting professional who excels professionally, personally and within his or her community.
Jarvie has been involved with PCMA in numerous ways since joining in 1997. She served on the PCMA Board of Directors from 2004-2006 and was Greater Midwest Chapter President from 2007-2008.
Jarvie also sat on the PCMA Foundation Board of Trustees. From 2006 - 2007 she chaired the Hospitality Industry Relief Fund, which helped disburse $225,000 to assist hospitality industry employees in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.
“Teri has been untiring in the service and consulting she has provided to the Greater Midwest Chapter, as noted in her advancing through the ranks of leadership ahead of traditional time frames and continuing to serve in an advisory capacity on the board as a member of the Chapter Leadership Task Force,” said Michael McCurry, CMP, President Greater Midwest Chapter.
2009 Distinguished Convention Services Manager of the Year Award - Michael Narkewicz, CMP, Senior Event Manager, Logistics at the San Francisco Marriott, is this year’s winner of the Distinguished Convention Services Manager Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of convention services.
Since it’s opening in 1989, Narkewicz has dedicated 20 years of unparalleled experience to ensuring quality service at the San Francisco Marriott. During his time with Marriott, Narkewicz has received 10 President’s Service Awards and four “Spirit to Serve” Awards.
2009 Outstanding Service to a Chapter Award - The winner of the 2009 Outstanding Service to a Chapter Award is Donna M. Young, CMP, Meetings Manager for the American College of Physicians. Young was chosen for this honor because of her many contributions to the PCMA Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
Young has served as chapter president and had been on the chapter’s board of directors on more than one occasion. She currently chairs the Network for the Needy Headquarter Committee.
“Donna has helped shape a once-struggling chapter into a successful and financially solvent organization in the Philadelphia area. Over the years, our chapter has done a lot of great things for members and charitable organizations in the community that would not have been possible without her drive and commitment,” said Michael Brennan, CMP, Director of Conventions and Meetings for Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc.
2009 Educator of the Year Award - The 2009 Educator of the Year is Loretta Lowe, CMP. The Educator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of meetings and hospitality industry education.
Lowe assisted in the creation of the PCMA student club at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and currently serves as faculty advisor. In spring of 2009 Lowe helped develop and implement a bachelor’s degree emphasis in meetings and convention management at SFSU.
Volunteering is a requirement in the courses she teaches, and over the past 12 years, 1,200 of her students have contributed more than 3,000 hours of work to local non-profit organizations.
2009 Spirit Award - The winner of the 2009 Spirit Award is New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB). The Spirit Award recognizes an organization that has significantly affected lives in a charitable or humanitarian way through the meetings and convention industry.
Since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the NOMCVB has consistently showed exceptional leadership under crisis, dedication to service, and a commitment to community service. The NOMCVB has undergone extensive efforts to re-brand New Orleans, while at the same time helping the city recover and re-build.
Since Katrina, volunteerism has become an even larger part of their mission. They help organizations meeting in New Orleans and their attendees realize the benefits of social responsibility programs through their meetings.
2009 Environmental Leadership Award - The PCMA Environmental Leadership Award honors progressive ‘greening’ efforts in the meetings industry. The 2009 Environmental Leadership Award winner is The Willard InterContinental.
The hotel has developed a program called “Willard InterContinental – The Next 100 Years.” This three pronged sustainable initiative focuses on addressing economic prosperity, social responsibility, and environmental protection.
The hotel’s commitment to sustainable hospitality practices has led to being powered by 100% wind energy, a composting program recycling 37 tons of waste in 2008, and the “adoption” of a local park by employees.
The hotel also reaches outside its local community to help sponsor water pumps in South Africa through voluntary guest donations of $1 per night.
For more information, visit PCMA
Related Article:
