Sexton Takes PCMA Helm From Kushner
Chicago exec hired after current leader's contract not extended
By Margo McCall -- Tradeshow Week, 2/28/2005
Deborah Sexton won't have to travel far to reach her new job. The former president of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau will only have to move to a different office at McCormick Place to take the reins as president and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Assn. next month.
Sexton moves to the top of the organizational chart at PCMA about a year after being mentioned as a possible replacement for Jim Reilly, who announced last October he would resign as CEO of CCTB when his contract expired. The CCTB board ended up hiring United Airlines executive Christopher Bowers as the new CEO after a four-month nationwide search.
"Of course," said Sexton, when asked if she was excited about the opportunity to lead an organization. "The bureau has been a wonderful opportunity. I've enjoyed all 10 1/2 years building the team. But this is an opportunity that couldn't be passed up."
Sexton replaces David Kushner, who was hired as PCMA president and CEO in mid-2002 to engineer an organizational turnaround. Kushner, who had 12 years of association-management experience when he joined PCMA, stepped down Feb. 25 after the board declined to renew his contract, which expires in July. Rumors that Kushner would leave PCMA were swirling around the association's annual meeting in Honolulu last month.
Recently appointed board Chairman Gregg Talley credited Kushner with putting policies and procedures in place that will serve the organization well. "David delivered in every single area," he said. When asked what was next for Kushner, however, Talley said, "He will go on with his life."
Sexton said she is eager to begin implementing PCMA's new strategic plan, which calls for increased educational offerings and cooperation with other meetings-industry groups. She added that since she was on the PCMA Education Foundation board, she was already familiar with the plan.
Indeed, Sexton's knowledge of PCMA and its new strategic plan were key to her being tapped to lead the association. "I think the board is tremendously excited about the opportunity that Deborah joining us presents. It will align the next generation of leadership with the next-generation plan," Talley said. "We were looking for someone who had an intimate knowledge of PCMA."
Sexton joined the CCTB in 1994 as vice president of sales and services. She was promoted to executive vice president in 2000 and president in February 2002. Before joining the CCTB, Sexton was principal of Sexton Hospitality Services, which provided sales and marketing consulting to hotel management companies. Prior to that, she was vice president of sales and marketing for Coastal Hotel Group, Sonesta Intl. Hotels, Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Midland Hotel Chicago.
Talley said Sexton's volunteer activities were also a factor in her hiring. Sexton is a member of the Convention Industry Council's housing panel and the Intl. Assn. of Convention & Visitor Bureaus foundation board. She is also a member of the American Society of Assn. Executives and the Intl. Assn. for Exhibition Management.
Sexton said executing the new strategic plan will be her top priority. Cooperating with other industry groups is important, she said. PCMA's recent joint multiculturalism project with Meeting Professionals Intl. is an example of the type of cooperative efforts she would like to embrace.
"I frankly think we can work more closely together," she said.
While Sexton said she supports elimination of duplicate efforts — such as the compensation studies conducted recently by four separate associations — she doesn't see a need for merging industry associations.
Talley also doesn't believe there is an excess of groups. For example, he said, ASAE, PCMA and Meeting Professionals Intl. all cater to different niches within the meetings industry.
"They do fundamentally different things. That's not a natural fit. Is there enough funding and energy and time for everyone to continue the Heinz 57 membership? I'm not sure. But if you ask, 'What can we do together?' we're interested."
