Two CMP Board Members Honored by PCMA

The Convention Industry Council would like to congratulate two members of the CMP community – CMP Board Members Phelps R. Hope, CMP and Janet Sperstad, CMP – who were recently honored by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) for their contributions to the industry.

Phelps R. Hope, CMP, Vice President, Meetings & Expositions, Kellen Meetings is the recipient of the Global Executive of the Year Award, which, presented annually in conjunction with IMEX, celebrates meeting executives who demonstrate a vision, commitment and passion for the advancement and education of the global meetings industry.

"Phelps’ commitment to the industry is unmatched. He is constantly searching for ways to penetrate new markets and implementing global strategies for his clients and for PCMA. I’m extremely proud he is being honored this year," said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, Chief Operating Officer, PCMA.

Hope epitomized the spirit of this award, having planned meetings and conferences in 27 different countries on six continents, and overseeing 50 global meetings per year. During his 30 year career, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to successfully move his clients into new global arenas and help achieve organizational successes. Read more on his honor here.

Janet Sperstad, CMP, the Program Director for the Meeting and Event Management Degree Program at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin, was recognized as the 2014 Educator Honoree at the 2014 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation Dinner Celebrating Professional Achievement at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

According to the press release, "Sperstad’s professional history includes more than 25 years as a meeting professional and executive leader. She founded the Meeting and Event Management Associate degree in 2002 at Madison Area Technical College and is currently pursuing an advanced degree in the neuroscience of leadership. She is also the co-principal investigator on a research effort to evaluate the impact of hosted buyer programs on decision making behavior and attitudes in the industry.

Sperstad is a member of the International Event Qualifications Framework Global Advisory Group for the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, Director on the CIC CMP Board, member of Faculty Task Force for both PCMA and IAEE and just completed a term on the GMIC Board of Directors."

Also honored at that dinner were Sue M. Dykema, CAE, and Carol C. Wallace. "It is a privilege to honor these three tremendous women. Their leadership has helped advance our industry and continues to ensure the meetings and events space has a bright future," said PCMA President & CEO Deborah Sexton. Read more on this honor at PCMA.

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
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