Chapter News
2023 Proposed Board Slate
2023 Board of Directors PCMA Gulf State Chapter Per the PCMA Gulf States Chapter bylaws, the official announcement of the proposed slate is now being sent to the membership,
Member Spotlight – Dana Freker Doody
Dana Freker Doody – Vice President, Marketing & Communications, JUNO How long have you been a member of PCMA? I’ve been a member for about 10 years. I became
Member Spotlight – Selina Cooper
Selina Cooper, Office Manager, Texas Floodplain Management Association How long have you been a member of PCMA? Over 5 years What do you love most about PCMA? Or how
Member Spotlight – Samantha James
Samantha James, Event Design & Experience Management Major- PCMA Student Club at the University of North Texas How long have you been a member of PCMA? I have been
Member Spotlight – Andy Ramirez
Andy Ramirez, Travel Coordinator – GameStop How long have you been a member of PCMA? I have been a member since Fall 2021! What do you love most about
Member Spotlight – Lynn Bjostad, CMP
PCMA Gulf States Chapter includes outstanding members all of whom experience many of the same successes and challenges in their professional lives. PCMA has built a community that can share
Recap: Convening Leaders
Thank you to everyone who attended our Chapter Reception and Convening Leaders as a whole! Because of our attendees’ and sponsors’ generosity and support, Gulf States PCMA can strengthen our meeting planning community through educational programming, networking, and charitable giving.
Announcing the Confirmed 2022 Board of Directors Slate
PCMA Gulf States has selected a strong list of individuals whom we believe have the skills, dedication, and integrity to provide outstanding leadership to our chapter during their term of office. The proposed slate has remained uncontested for 30 days. As of this morning, December 10, 2021, the proposed slate has shifted to confirmed.
Announcing the Proposed 2022 Board of Directors Slate
PCMA Gulf States has selected a strong list of individuals whom we believe have the skills, dedication, and integrity to provide outstanding leadership to our chapter during their term of office.
Chapter Challenge
The PCMA Chapter Challenge is here! PCMA Foundation is hosting the annual PCMA Foundation Raffle. To get everyone excited for Convening Leaders 2022, PCMA Foundation has added some extra fun.
Fall Letter from 2021 President, Amy Brown
Happy Spring, PCMA Gulf States Members! I hope this finds you well and feeling optimistic. Vaccine rollouts are underway, successful GMID celebrations happened last week and hotels & destinations are beginning to see leisure and group travel increase. We’ve come a long way since this time last year!
Recap: Podcast 101 Digital Event – How to Add Podcasts to Your Program to Engage Your Audience
Your conference is a hotbed for content for many podcasts that your group could execute to engage your audience throughout the year. That was just one of the solutions Will
Recap: Hotel Vin Networking Event
Gulf State Chapter members enjoyed meeting in person and networking with their colleagues as they gathered at the Hotel Vin last Thursday in Grapevine, Texas. Past chapter president Arron Brooks
Successful F2F Meetings: What to Expect and How to Hybrid Panel Discussion
PCMA Gulf States Chapter celebrated its first face-to-face meeting in over 16 months as members gathered last Wednesday at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth for fellowship and
ASIAN GOLD RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Show Solidarity Against Anti-Asian Racism by Wearing a Gold Ribbon this May
ASIAN GOLD RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Show Solidarity Against Anti-Asian Racism by Wearing a Gold Ribbon this May Asian Gold Ribbon Day takes place on Thursday, May 20, 2021, corresponding with Asian
Virtual Bingo Happy Hour Recap
B-I-N-G-O led to F-U-N for over 50 players at PCMA Gulf State Chapter’s Virtual Bingo Happy Hour last Thursday. There were 15 individual winners of over $2,500 worth of prizes which included luxury hotel stays, sports event tickets, gift cards and much more.
Mind and Body Wellness Discussed
Mental health and sleep disorder seem to be at the top of many people’s challenges in the meeting and hospitality industry. These were two of the topics focused on by Dr. Taunya Kiefer during her talk, Mind & Body Wellness: Balancing it all in the “New Norm” at a recent PCMA Gulf States Chapter roundtable.
PCMA Gulf States Chapter President-Elect Named 2021 Colleen Rickenbacher Leadership Award
Congratulations to one of our own, Amanda Wells, CMP, currently serving the PCMA Gulf States Board as President-Elect, was recently named the 2021 Colleen Rickenbacher Leadership Award recipient by the MPI Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter at its 19th Annual CMP/CMM Breakfast last week.
Recap: Bite-Sized Goal Setting in our New Reality
Feeling overwhelmed? Feel like your to-do list is just too much to tackle? Well, Sherron Washington, Founder and CEO of P3 Solution, shared some methods and solutions during her high-energy
Letter from 2021 President, Amy Brown
Happy Spring, PCMA Gulf States Members! I hope this finds you well and feeling optimistic. Vaccine rollouts are underway, successful GMID celebrations happened last week and hotels & destinations are beginning to see leisure and group travel increase. We’ve come a long way since this time last year!
March Winner for Resume Review
Congratulations to PCMA Gulf States Chapter member Amy Simon of Dallas who is the March recipient of a free resume review as part of a contest for posting on the Gulf States Chapter social media platforms.
Recap: Crafting a Budget for Your Virtual Events
While many groups have already had their first taste of virtual meetings and many have had multiple shots at it, identifying the type of engagement you want for a specific
Student Apprentice Program Opportunity
A New Collective Impact Approach Offers Inclusive Entry-Level Opportunities for the Meetings and Events Industry Our industry is committed to providing more job opportunities for all individuals. For those interested
Recap: Contracting in a Post COVID World
Contracts with facilities and other vendors are usually the most intimidating part of a meeting planner’s job as it relates to selecting a location and event partners. These same contracts
Fireside Chat Recap: Building a Resume & LinkedIn Profile That Get Results
Trying to grab an employer’s attention in today’s world is daunting for most job seekers that’s why Gina Meier says she likes job candidates that make their resumes visually appealing.
Member Spotlight: Jason Ware
Meet Jason Ware, Vice President, Convention Housing Operations & Contracting When interacting with Jason Ware, one can’t miss his upbeat personality, his passions for many things in life and his
Gulf States Chapter First 2021 Roundtable Recap
Sharing Engagement Successes Shorter sessions, more breaks and chat games were just some of the virtual audience engagement successes Tracy Lake, CMP, shared with the Gulf States viewers at the
Member Spotlight: Alicia Miller
Meet Alicia Miller, Director of Sales and Marketing at Courtyard & Residence Inn, Austin Coming from a family of teachers, educators and family service providers, Alicia Miller saw her future
PCMA Gulf States Reception Kicks off 2021
Using their fingers and phones, participants in PCMA Gulf States Chapter’s first meeting in 2021 enjoyed guessing what each other was drawing as much as their own creation. This activity,
Letter from 2021 President, Amy Brown
Happy New Year and CHEERS to 2021! I am honored to serve as your President, alongside a phenomenal Board, as we adjust to the changes in our industry and the
December Letter from the President
Greetings Gulf States PCMA Members, What a wild ride 2020 has been! Never would I have imagined what the year would have in store, for both our industry and Chapter.
A Tasty Board Meeting: December Virtual Happy Hour Recap
Charcuterie boards are much more than meats and cheeses as on-line members learned when they took part in last week’s PCMA Gulf States Chapter Happy Hour which was highlighted by
Approved: Gulf States 2021 Board of Directors
PCMA Gulf States Chapter has selected the listed individuals whom we believe have the skills, dedication, and integrity to provide outstanding leadership to our chapter during their term of office.
Gulf States 2021 Proposed Board of Directors
PCMA Gulf States Chapter has selected the listed individuals whom we believe have the skills, dedication, and integrity to provide outstanding leadership to our chapter during their term of office.
September Program Provides Tips for Virtual Events
Start preparing early, have plenty of staff assigned to specific areas, and have a back-up plan were just some of the hot tips put forth by the Red Velvet team
Member Spotlight: Lori A. Carper
Meet Lori A. Carper, Director of Meetings and International, Houston Association of Realtors. Lori Carper is in her 22nd year working for the Houston Association of Realtors. She leads a
August Program Provided Suggestions and Hope for the Meeting Industry
Be flexible. Be creative. Expand your knowledge. Show your value. These were just a few of the suggestions put forth by the expert panelists in the PCMA Gulf States Chapter
Member Spotlight: Leslie Petro, CMP
Meet Leslie Petro, CMP, Supervisor, People, Growth and Engagement with HORNE LLP. As an event supervisor for her firm, Leslie Petro really enjoys the meetings and conventions she helps plan
Member Spotlight: Marla Roe
Meet Marla Roe, Executive Director, Visit Frisco If you will drive seven hours for a baseball game or a football game, you probably are a pretty big sports fan. Marla
Member Spotlight: Sarah Kokernot, CEM, CMP
Meet Sarah Kokernot, CEM, CMP, Director of Meetings & Events for Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society. Sarah Kokernot hopes she will be lying on a nice, hot beach in
Member Spotlight: Kimberly Castanuela
Meet Kimberly Castanuela, Senior Logistics Manager, for Vizient, Inc. Kimberly Castanuela has just finished an hour-and-a-half virtual meeting about clinical skills for her members and later today she will be