Home NEWS PCMA members approve 2027 Board of Directors

PCMA members approve 2027 Board of Directors

A defining moment for PCMA and the global business events industry

Sep 30, 2026

PCMA members have approved the 2027 Board of Directors and Trustees slate for PCMA and PCMA Foundation, Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA announced today. Members first received the proposed slate on August 28, 2026. The incoming Directors and Trustees will take office on January 13, 2027, the closing day of Convening Leaders 2027 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Effective January 13, 2027, the Executive Officers serving a one-year term include:

Chair: Robin Preston, CEM, DES, Vice President, Meetings and Exhibits, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Chair-Elect: Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Global Events, Bank of America
Secretary-Treasurer: Ong Wee Min, CEM, CMP, Vice President of Sales and MICE, Marina Bay Sands
Immediate Past Chair: Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer, Global Technology Industry Association

The confirmed Executive Officers represent an important moment for PCMA, with Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Global Events at Bank of America, confirmed as Chair-Elect, and Ong Wee Min, Vice President of Sales and MICE at Marina Bay Sands, confirmed as Secretary-Treasurer. Both are the first executive officers from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in PCMA’s history.

“The incoming Board of Directors and Trustees step in at a defining moment for PCMA and the global business events industry,” said Karamat. “As we continue to advance towards PCMA’s 2030 Vision and the future of the business events community, their support and guidance are essential. These leaders will help PCMA turn that vision into results.”

CEMA Advisory Board appointee serving a one-year Director and Trustee term:

Leslie Hasvold, Senior Director, Corporate Events Programs and Customer Advocacy, Cloudflare

The following leaders will begin serving a two-year Director and Trustee term (2027–2028):

Vanessa Claspill, Chief Sales Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Aleta Harris, EMBA, CMP, Director of Conferences, Meetings and Travel, American Medical Association
Vicki Hawarden, CMP, Vice President, Meetings and Events, American Geophysical Union
Kit Lykketoft, Director of Conventions, Wonderful Copenhagen
Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development, Fáilte Ireland
Ben Nazario, Chief Growth Officer, MC²
Joey Nevin, Vice President, Giants Enterprises, San Francisco Giants
John Rubsamen, Vice President, Events, Out & Equal

The following leaders will serve a second two-year Director and Trustee term (2027–2028):

Ari Goldsmith, Vice President of Marketing and Digital Media, KeHE Distributors
Ori Lahav, CEO, Kenes Group
Walt Leger III, President and CEO, New Orleans & Company

The following leaders are serving the final year of a two-year Director and Trustee term (2026–2027):

Michael Barnett, CEO, InGo
Patrick Espinoza, Vice President of Business Development, New Orleans & Company
John Hawley, Executive Director, Association, Hilton Worldwide Sales
Elizabeth Tovar, PCO, CMM, CMS, CIS, CCM, CASE, DES, President, Turenlaces
Lindsay Williams, CMP, CEM, Director of Business Development, GES

In addition, the President & CEO of PCMA and CEMA serves as a Director and Trustee:

Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA and CEMA

Learn more about PCMA here.