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KARIN BAGNALL
PRESIDENT
Karin Bagnall is associate director
of convention programs at the Modern Language Association, whose members teach
languages and literatures at colleges and universities throughout the United
States and abroad. She joined the MLA's convention department in 2000 and PCMA
soon afterward. An active member of the New York Area
Chapter from the beginning, Karin cut her teeth on the Communications
Committee. She served as co-chair of the Membership Committee for three years, edited
articles for the chapter's newsletter, and worked with the University of New
Haven's students to create their student chapter. Excited about leading the
energetic 2010 NYPCMA Board of Directors, she looks forward to hearing your
ideas on how the chapter can better serve you.
While
work, family, and friends provide her with the opportunity to travel across the
country and across the Atlantic, Karin can't imagine living anywhere other than
Brooklyn. From the restaurants, museums, and now the Tot Lot in Prospect Park where
she plays with her favorite nephew, there's no place like home!
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AMANDA CIARLONE
VICE PRESIDENT
Amanda Ciarlone represents the great city of Dallas
as Director of National Accounts for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. She started
her career eleven years ago with the New Orleans Convention and
Visitors Bureau, and worked at two
hotels in Dallas before joining the DCVB
convention sales team in 2003. In 2004, Amanda relocated from Dallas to New York
to open a remote office for the CVB and handle the Northeast territory.
Over
the past few years, she has held various leadership positions in MPI and PCMA,
and currently serves on the board for the Junior League of Northern
Westchester (an organization of women dedicated to building better communities).
Amanda resides in Peekskill, NY with her husband Tom, almost
3-year-old daughter Cate, newborn son Jack Thomas, and Weimeraner Sophia. In
her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, and yoga. She frequently travels to
Texas and the south where she catches up with her family and friends. Amanda is
delighted to be a part of the PCMA board and looks forward to increasing her
involvement in the chapter serving as President Elect.
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ANNE SHEERIN
TREASURER
Anne C. Sheerin,
CMP has her own independent meeting planning company. ACS Inc. is a boutique
company that offers contract negotiations, on site conference management and
best practice solutions in the meetings industry.
Anne's meeting planning experience, attention to detail and
excellent people skills allow her to be successful. Her goal is to provide
clients with personalized solutions to address their business needs.
Anne Sheerin served as department manager and senior
conference planner during her 18-year career at the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Anne earned her Certified Meeting
Professional designation in 1996, and successfully trained many conference
planners during her tenure at the Institute.
Anne is an active member of PCMA on both the local and
national level.
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MARGARET SCHWAB
SECRETARY
Margaret Schwab
currently works for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), where
she oversees their Next Generation, Leadership Development initiative, a
program designed for professionals entering the global retail real estate
industry. Most recently she was the Meeting Planner for the ICSC Southern
Division, planning networking and educational events and trade shows in the
Southeast region of the United States. Prior to joining ICSC, Margaret worked
as a Senior Meeting Manager for MBK Associates and at the Cato Institute, a
Washington, DC think tank organizing their Public Policy forums and Capitol
Hill briefings. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While in Washington, DC, Margaret
also attended George Washington University, taking courses in Event Management.
Margaret has been active with PCMA for 3 years, starting as
a volunteer with PCMA's Network for the Needy committee and is a "big sister"
with the national mentor program, Big Brothers Big Sisters. She now works out
of Manhattan and resides in Jersey City, NJ with her husband, Erick,
and one year old boxer.
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DAWN ROCKAS
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Dawn D. Rockas, CMP, is a sixteen-year veteran
of the hospitality industry. Rockas is
responsible for all corporate and association business out of New York state,
Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Ohio for the San Diego CVB. Prior to relocating to New York city
in 2003, Rockas was a member of the former SDCVB Citywide Convention Sales,
steering citywide business to
the destination. From 1994 through 1999, she rose through the sales ranks at
the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, leaving as National Sales Manager for the
Mid-Altantic region. Rockas' hospitality
career has taken her from San Diego to New York city and now Cleveland, Ohio.
When not working, Rockas she can be found
walking with her miniature schnauzer, Spenser, teaching Sunday School, and enjoying the seasons with her family & local
neighbors.
A graduate of Cleveland
State University, Rockas also holds a Master of Business
degree
from National University in San Diego.
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DEAN D'ANNA
DIRECTOR, AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Dean D'Anna, Associate Director of Sales and
Marketing, Starwood Hotels
& Resorts Global Account office, has been working in the
hotel industry for over
20 years. Dean started at the Ascutney Mountain Resort in
Vermont as a reservation agent. He then moved to the Boston area to become sales
manager for Ocean Edge Resort & Conference Center, Brewster,
Massachusetts. In the early 90's Dean worked at Plaza Hotel in New York City as Director of
Convention Services working for Donald and Ivana Trump. Dean spent the next 10
years based in New York with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts as National Sales
Manager. A year as a sales manager at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in
Connecticut followed. In 2003, Dean joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts as a
Director of National Accounts and in 2005 was promoted to the Associate Director of Sales
for the Northeast Global sales Office. Throughout his career, Dean has been active member of both
PCMA and Meeting Professionals International.
Dean resides in Milford, CT with his wife Tracy and
his 11 year daughter Olivia. When not working, you can find Dean skiing, running,
coaching youth basketball and supporting the Boston Red Sox.
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HANNAH WAI
DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Hannah Wai is
currently Senior Account Executive at the New York Marriott East Side located
in midtown Manhattan. Starting in 2010, she will assume a new sales position
with Marriott, Area Account Executive, and will represent seven midtown hotels
including Marriott, Renaissance and Courtyard brands.
Hannah started her career with Marriott in 1989; she was one of the opening
team members for the first Marriott Hotel in Asia Pacific. She also gained
global hotel sales experience in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean before she
joined the New York Marriott East Side. This will be Hannah's second
consecutive year on the board as Director of Marketing and Communications with
NYPCMA.
Hannah relocated from Canada 9 years ago, and now lives in New Jersey with her
husband Peter and two daughters, Edwina and Christina.
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AMBER LEVY
DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP
Amber Levy is the
National Sales Director for the Northeast regional office of the San Diego
Convention & Visitor's Bureau.
A seven-year veteran of the
hospitality industry, Levy was most recently director of sales for The Hyland
Group, based in New York City and Arlington, VA. Amber handles the
Northeast market, including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Amber has been
actively involved within PCMA for the last several years, most recently a volunteer
for the Membership committee.
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MICHELLE JAMES
DIRECTOR, NETWORK FOR THE NEEDY
Michelle James, CMP is a Meeting Planner for the
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), a trade association serving
the global retail real estate industry.
ICSC produces more than 200 conferences, local programs and trade shows
each year. Michelle's conferences mostly focus on specific professional and
business sectors within the shopping center industry.
Prior to joining ICSC, Michelle was Manager of Conferences
and Special Events for the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA)
of New York City.
Michelle is a graduate of Elon University where she received
a BA in Political Science. Since
moving to New York, Michelle attended NYU Event Management classes and received
her CMP in September 2009.
Michelle currently resides in Manhattan.
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KENNETH LETAVISH
DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS
Kenneth Letavish, Regional Conference Manager for International Baccalaureate for eight years, is responsible for planning conferences and meetings throughout the United
States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Kenneth has earned a
Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University.
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ROCCO LA FORGIA
DIRECTOR, SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING
Rocco La Forgia, Director of Sales
Worldwide Accounts with Hilton Worldwide,
has been an active member of the hotel industry forover 20 years. After graduating from Pace
University with a BBA in Marketing, he started as a night auditor at the Hilton
Woodcliff Lake in NJ. He then moved
into various sales positions, and since 2005, he has been representing
Worldwide Sales.
Rocky is very active in
the industry, from a former Board of Director for ESSAE, as well as a member -
and Chairman of various
committees - for MPI NJ, MPI WestField, GNYMPI, NYSAE, and now NYPCMA.
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