Economic progress, social prosperity goals of PCMA's first Leadership Summit

Civic and corporate leaders from four continents will gather January 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a unique two-day discourse on how business events can create diversified and sustainable opportunities for economic and social prosperity.

The Jan. 6 and 7, 2019 program was created by Chicago-based PCMA to bring together a core international group of association CEOs, corporate leaders and municipal leaders. Participants include representatives from McDonald’s Corp.; Caesars Entertainment; Melbourne Convention Bureau; Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew Ginther and International Association of Public Transport.

“PCMA is a platform for the business events industry and we wanted to create a session where different civic and corporate stakeholders can freely discuss the role of business events in every community and how business events can drive global economic and social transformation”, said Sherrif Karamat, PCMA president and CEO. “The business events industry accounted for $1.03 trillion in 2017 direct spending. If the sector was a country, it would be part of the G20 international forum.”

The Leadership Summit on Jan. 6, 2019 will focus on accelerating success for those organizing and hosting business events by gaining critical knowledge in transformational leadership during disruptive times. Speakers include innovator Peter Sheahan of the Karrikins Group, thought leader and global voice for education Heather McGowan and MyGrowthFund CEO Vusi Thembekwayo. See the program at conveningleaders.org/go/cl19-summit-forum/.

The Forum on Economic and Social Progress on Jan. 7, 2019 will include the expanded participation of influential community stakeholders from economic development, mayors and civic officials to discuss the importance of business events to economic planning, industrial strategy and sector development. Forum sessions include “The fourth industrial revolution”; “How the world and the role of cities are changing”; “Leveraging the power of communities for real progress” and “Driving social and economic progress through business events”.

The Leadership Summit and Forum will precede Convening Leaders, PCMA’s signature annual event, which takes place from Jan. 6-9, 2019 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The “Disrupt & Deliver” themed event brings education sessions and networking opportunities to thousands of professionals in the business events industry. Convening Leaders speakers include tennis legend Billie Jean King, marketing guru Seth Godin, diversity expert Anka Wittenberg, millennial entrepreneur Nadya Okamoto and television personality Karamo Brown.

Visit conveningleaders.org for more information, including 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders registration.