PCMA
PCMA is a non-profit professional association founded in 1956 that connects, educates, and serves business events strategists worldwide through membership, conferences, certifications, publications, and AI tooling.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PCMA does
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1956 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It serves business events strategists worldwide through a portfolio of membership services, conferences, education, certifications, and media. PCMA's core offering centers on Convening Leaders, the flagship annual conference running since 1956, complemented by regional events (Convening EMEA, APAC, and LATAM), the Business Events Summit, CEMA Summit, and the Convene 4 Climate sustainability initiative. The association maintains a network of 17 North American chapters and regional headquarters in Singapore (APAC) and Northern Ireland (EMEA), reaching 9,200+ professional and student members across 72 countries and approximately 55,000 business event stakeholders globally.
The organization monetizes through tiered annual membership dues ($120-$535 USD), event sponsorships and registrations, advertising and content through the multi-award-winning Convene Magazine (36,000+ subscribers since 1986), annual partnerships, and education/certification revenue from PCMA Institute and the Digital Event Strategist (DES) credential. Technology assets include the PCMA Axis community platform, regional digital newsletters (EMEA Connect, APAC Exchange, LATAM Conecta), the Convene Podcast, and the Spark AI tool developed for event professionals. Governance rests with an elected board under President & CEO Sherrif Karamat, CAE, with regional managing directors in EMEA, APAC, and LATAM. Subsidiaries include Convene Magazine, PCMA Institute, PCMA Foundation (501(c)(3)), CEMA, Digital Experience Institute, and the 2023-acquired Event Leadership Institute and Event Marketing Association UK.
PCMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PCMA
- Legal name
- Professional Convention Management Association
- Website
- https://pcma.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PCMA is a non-profit professional association founded in 1956 that connects, educates, and serves business events strategists worldwide through membership, conferences, certifications, publications, and AI tooling.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PCMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association and Business Events Industry Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Conference Communications, Marketing & Community Engagement (THAHACAN)
Keywords
Where PCMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
PCMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across multiple tiers: Business Events Organizer/Strategist ($395), Corporate Event Marketer ($395), Supplier/Partner ($535), Faculty ($225), and discounted Next Gen ($120) and developing economy rates. Students join free.
- Annual Partnerships: Ongoing collaboration programs with partners including marketing benefits across PCMA's portfolio of face-to-face events, thought leadership platforms, and member programs.
- Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities at PCMA portfolio events including brand exposure, networking, thought leadership development, and lead generation.
- Advertising & Content: Digital and print advertising in Convene Magazine plus custom content campaigns and sponsored articles through the Engage platform.
- Education & Certification: Revenue from PCMA Institute courses, professional development programs, and certifications including the Digital Event Strategist certification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Business Events Organizer / Strategist |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Event Marketer |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Events Supplier / Partner |
| Subscription | Annual | Faculty |
| Freemium | Annual | Student |
| Subscription | Annual | Next Gen |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
PCMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PCMA is the world's largest professional membership association for business events strategists, offering tiered annual memberships, flagship and regional conferences, professional education and certifications (including CMP and DES), industry publications through Convene Magazine, and community engagement via chapters, Collectives, and digital forums. The organization serves event organizers, corporate event marketers, suppliers, faculty, and students across 72 countries.
Product overview
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) is the world's largest network of business events strategists, offering a comprehensive platform and module-based portfolio of products and services. The core offering centers on Convene Magazine, the leading publication in the business events industry with 36,000+ subscribers, complemented by the PCMA Institute for education and certificate programs, and the PCMA Foundation for scholarships and industry recognition. Key certifications include the Digital Event Strategist (DES) and offerings from the Digital Experience Institute. Regional presence is maintained through flagship events (Convening Leaders, Business Events Summit), regional conferences (Convening EMEA, APAC, LATAM), and specialty events (Convene 4 Climate, CEMA Summit). The organization also offers the Spark AI tool for event professionals, the Convene Podcast for audio content, an On-Demand Library for continuing education, and community platforms including PCMA Axis, PCMA Circles, and PCMA Collectives for member networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Convene Magazine: Multi-award-winning print and digital publication that is the leading publication in the business events industry
- PCMA Institute
- PCMA Foundation
- CEMA (Corporate Event Marketing Association)
- Digital Experience Institute
- Spark
- Ascent
Products and services
- Convene Magazine Multi-award-winning print and digital magazine started in 1986, serving as the leading publication in the business events industry with an audited circulation of 36,000 qualified meeting organizer subscribers.
- PCMA Institute Provides inclusive, practical learning experiences and certificate programs that help business events leaders grow, lead, and advance their careers, including 260+ courses.
- PCMA Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization supporting the industry through education, research, and charitable giving, including scholarships for students, faculty, and professionals, and the annual Visionary Awards.
- CEMA (Corporate Event Marketing Association) A subsidiary community of PCMA, CEMA is the eminent community for senior event executives, association peers, and industry partners focused on corporate event marketing.
- Digital Event Strategist (DES) Certification Professional certification program enabling event professionals to design and execute virtual and hybrid events, offered in multiple languages including Spanish.
- Spark, AI for Event Professionals AI tool designed by event professionals for event professionals, providing a platform to understand and define how AI will shape the business events industry, including content generation and event planning assistance.
- Convening Leaders PCMA's flagship annual signature conference, first held in 1956, bringing together business events professionals for senior-level education, networking, and industry thought leadership.
- Business Events Summit Annual summit convening industry leaders to explore the future of strategic event leadership.
- Convening EMEA Regional conference for Europe, Middle East, and Africa bringing together business events professionals for education and networking.
- Convening APAC Regional conference for the Asia Pacific region offering premier education and networking opportunities for business events professionals.
- Convening LATAM Regional conference for Latin America connecting event professionals across the LATAM region.
- Convene 4 Climate Event focused on sustainability and climate action in the business events industry, supporting industry-wide sustainable transformation, with the inaugural C4C Global Awards launched in 2026.
- CEMA Summit Annual summit for the CEMA community focusing on corporate event marketing and professional development.
- Digital Experience Institute Authority on livestreaming, digital events, and hybrid meeting strategy and production, supporting the Digital Event Strategist certification program.
- PCMA Membership Tiered annual membership program for business events professionals across categories including Business Events Organizer/Strategist ($395), Corporate Event Marketer ($395), Supplier/Partner ($535), Faculty ($225), Next Gen ($120), with free Student membership and discounted developing economy rates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 68% of members have at least a decade of industry experience
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use PCMA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PCMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
PCMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, regional and minor.
- IAPCO, AIPC, AMC Institute, ICCA, IFESmajorPCMA participated in IAPCO's Global Socio-Political Impact Survey 2026, conducted with five partner organizations, collecting responses from 130 organizations worldwide.
- Event Marketing Association UKcoreAcquired by PCMA in January 2023 as part of strategy to expand industry education and global community involvement. Strengthened PCMA's presence in the UK market.
- Event Leadership InstitutecoreAcquired by PCMA in January 2023 to enhance educational resources and innovation for the event industry. Aims to develop new training tools, support industry adaptation, and foster growth amid rapid change.
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)majorPartnership formed during Convening Leaders 2023 to expand industry collaboration and community reach.
- National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP)majorPartnership formed during Convening Leaders 2023 to promote diversity and inclusion in the business events industry.
- Marriott InternationalcoreCollaboration on Six Truths for Innovative Event Strategies research study, combining PCMA Foundation, Marriott International, CEMA, and Storycraft Lab expertise.
- CEMA (Corporate Event Marketing Association)coreA subsidiary of PCMA, CEMA is the eminent community for senior event executives, association peers, and industry partners.
- PCMA Foundationcore501(c)(3) organization supporting the industry through education, research, and charitable giving. Funds scholarships and recognizes industry accomplishments at Visionary Awards.
- PCMA InstitutecoreProvides inclusive, practical learning experiences and certificate programs for business events leaders.
- Digital Experience InstitutemajorAuthority on livestreaming, digital events, and hybrid meeting strategy and production. Supports Digital Event Strategist certification.
- Korea MICE AssociationregionalCollaboration on APAC webinar exploring AI integration in events.
- NTUC LearningHubregionalSingapore-based training partner for APAC region educational initiatives.
- ITE (Institute of Technical Education)regionalSingapore educational institution partner for industry talent development.
- Business Events SarawakregionalRegional destination marketing organization partner for business events in Sarawak, Malaysia.
- AC ForummajorStrategic alliance with Associations & Conferences forum for industry collaboration.
- ECA (Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance)majorStrategic alliance for exhibitions and conferences industry advocacy and standards.
- Destinations InternationalmajorStrategic alliance with global destinations organization for industry advocacy.
- The Iceberg LegaciesminorKnowledge sharing partnership for business events industry insights and legacies.
- LGBT MPAminorStrategic alliance supporting LGBTQ+ meeting professionals community.
- EMA SpainregionalRegional partner for Spain and Spanish-speaking markets.
- CocalminorLatin American meetings industry coalition partner.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PCMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): ICCA is the leading global association for the international meetings industry, focused on association meetings, congress organizers, and suppliers — directly competing with PCMA for senior event strategist mindshare, especially in EMEA and APAC where both have strong presences.
- Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA): ECA is a strategic alliance partner of PCMA focused on advocacy and standards for the exhibitions and conferences industry, serving an overlapping supplier and organizer base with policy and industry-wide representation work.
- Meeting Professionals International (MPI): MPI is the closest direct competitor to PCMA — a global association serving meeting and event professionals with membership, education (CMP), and chapter-based community across roughly 70+ countries, overlapping heavily on PCMA's core planner audience and conference business.
- Event Industry Council (EIC): EIC is the umbrella organization behind the CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) credential and industry-wide standards, competing with PCMA's PCMA Institute and DES certification for ownership of professional credentials and event industry thought leadership.
- Destinations International: Destinations International is the global trade association for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and a strategic PCMA alliance partner, serving an overlapping buyer base (DMOs/venues) on the supplier side of the business events ecosystem PCMA also serves.
Emerging players
- IMEX Group: IMEX operates flagship trade shows (IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America) for the meetings and incentive travel industry — a peer events organizer that competes for sponsorship revenue and senior planner attendance alongside PCMA's Convening Leaders and Business Events Summit.
- Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE): SITE is a niche global association for the incentive travel and meetings industry, overlapping PCMA's membership on corporate incentive events — a partial-competitor with shared education, certification, and chapter-based community but a narrower industry vertical focus.
- Cvent: Cvent is a leading events management technology platform that increasingly serves the same business events strategist audience as PCMA, including its own user conferences and buyer communities that compete for sponsorship dollars and direct planner mindshare.
- International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO): IAPCO represents professional congress organizers globally and co-partnered with PCMA on the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey — a peer association serving an overlapping PCO audience with education, accreditation, and global advocacy, primarily EMEA-centric in legacy focus.
Broad incumbents
- American Society of Association Executives (ASAE): ASAE is a broader incumbent serving association executives across all verticals, including the association-meeting planner segment that PCMA's 'Association Event Professionals' segment targets — overlapping on professional development, certifications, and DC-based advocacy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PCMA social profiles
Digital presencePCMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PCMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
PCMA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
PCMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PCMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PCMA
What does PCMA do?
PCMA is the world's largest professional membership association for business events strategists, offering tiered annual memberships, flagship and regional conferences, professional education and certifications (including CMP and DES), industry publications through Convene Magazine, and community engagement via chapters, Collectives, and digital forums. The organization serves event organizers, corporate event marketers, suppliers, faculty, and students across 72 countries.
Is PCMA a public or private company?
PCMA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PCMA founded?
PCMA was founded in 1956. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PCMA based?
PCMA is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does PCMA make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are annual Partnerships, event Sponsorships, advertising & Content and education & Certification.
Who are PCMA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Event Industry Council (EIC) and Destinations International. Emerging players are IMEX Group, Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE), Cvent and International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO). American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does PCMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for PCMA.
What industry is PCMA in?
PCMA's product category is Professional Association and Business Events Industry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of THAHACAM, Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management. Its NAICS code is 813920 and its SIC code is 8600.