Giving back to the community was important for these two attendees, taking part in repackaging food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. PCMA also raised money for its Education Foundation at Party With A Purpose on Monday at the House of Blues, with 1,200 in attendance.

PCMA took over Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park for a rousing opening reception. Two attendees are caught taking a selfie.

Enjoying the opening reception at the Museum of Science and Industry (from left): Sherrif Karamat, chief operating officer, PCMA; Gary Schirmacher, CMP, 
chair of the PCMA Education Foundation and senior vice president, association sales and marketing, Experient, A Maritz Travel Company; Christopher Wehking, CMP, chairman of the PCMA board; Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO; Dave Lutz, managing director, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting; and Johnnie White, a past chairman of the PCMA board

TV journalist and Chicago news anchor Bill Kurtis welcomed attendees to Chicago and McCormick Place West on Monday morning. He turned the stage over to Don Welsh, president and chief executive officer of Choose Chicago, shown here, who welcomed PCMA back after a 21-year hiatus. He outlined some of his city's news, including the opening of 1,300 rooms this year, adding to the 37,000 rooms already in the Central Business District. Construction also begins this year on a new 10,000-seat Event Center at the McCormick Place complex.

Christopher Wehking, CMP, chairman of the board during the conference, was delighted to welcome the audience to his home town at the opening general session. He is chief program officer, American Society of Anesthesiologists.

“20 in Their Twenties” is designed to engage the best and brightest in the meetings, conventions, and business events industry in the world. These individuals, who were elected by a committee, have a PCMA platform to showcase their talents and how they will shape the meetings industry of the future. The class of 2015 included Kristina Simkins, product director, onPeak | GES, shown here. Award winners receive a number of benefits, including a free trip to Convening Leaders.

Union leaders and rank-and-file members were at MPW to greet attendees as they got off the shuttle buses on the opening morning. Shown (from left) are Christopher Wehking, PCMA chairman of the board; Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO, and Don Welsh, president and CEO of Choose Chicago.

John Austin, author, researcher, and faculty member at Georgetown University, spoke Monday morning about “Strategy Under Uncertainty.” He was one of a number of professors from top business schools in the country who spoke at the meeting.

Jack Patronski, executive vice president of Global Experience Specialists (GES), welcomes guests to the Chairman’s Reception on Monday evening.

Diana Nyad, long-distance swimmer and sports broadcaster, delighted the general session audience on the second morning with her poignant story of fulfilling her lifelong dream to swim from Cuba to Florida. She made it on her fifth attempt, at age 64.

Ray Kopcinski, CMP, took over as the new chair of the PCMA board of directors Wednesday morning. He is senior director, Million Dollar Round Table.

Clare Smith, vice president, sales and marketing, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre; and Dave Gazley, vice president, Vancouver Convention & Visitors Bureau, whetted attendees’ appetites for next January’s Convening Leaders in Vancouver at the 2016 Kick-Off brunch.