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Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce today
announced that Chamber President and CEO James E. Rooney will be honored with a 2016
Lifetime Achievement Award by the Professional Convention Management Association
(PCMA) Education Foundation.
Rooney will be recognized for his contributions to the meetings industry in North America and
across the globe and as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
(MCCA), where he spent a total of 14 years and led Boston to top-tier status in a very
competitive marketplace, before leaving to become head of the Greater Boston Chamber in July.
He will receive the award, together with two other honorees, at the PCMA Education
Foundation’s Visionary Awards event in Washington, D.C. next April.
In announcing the award, the PCMA Education Foundation said, “In addition to his work leading
a top 10 meetings and conventions city, Jim is also an international thought leader in the study of
the benefits of meetings and conventions beyond the traditionally measured tourism metrics,
including economic development. Jim is also a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility,
including the creation of Boston’s successful and renowned Conventions C.A.R.E. program
which encourages planners and exhibitors to donate unused event materials and supplies to local
nonprofits, instead of paying to ship them back to the office”
“Our Honorees each have career paths and accomplishments that both inspire and guide their
peer communities. We are honored to recognize Jim Rooney in this prestigious group and his
many contributions to PCMA and the industry”, said PCMA President & CEO, Deborah Sexton.
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Jim Rooney for a lifetime achievement award,”
said Charles Starks, President & CEO, Music City Center, Nashville. “He is truly a visionary
and has personally inspired me every day to advance not only our commitment in Nashville to be
the very best convention facility that we can be, but to work within our community and exceed
expectations of meeting planners and their attendees.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition especially from PCMA, the leading global
convention association,” said Rooney. “I hope that during my time at the MCCA, I was able to
contribute to a broader understanding of the role that the meetings industry plays in regional
economic development, city building, destination branding, business activity and in bringing
people together to break down barriers, learn, exchange knowledge and information. And
finally, I share this recognition with an outstanding MCCA team of industry professionals who
have put Boston on the global conventions industry map over the past decade.”
PCMA is the multi-channel professional resource and premier educator for leaders in the
meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries. PCMA provides their 6,500+ members
with a community of likeminded colleagues, innovative education and creative global solutions
to enhance both their professional development and their organization’s face-to-face and virtual
connections. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17 chapters throughout the United States,
Canada and Mexico with members in more than 35 countries. For additional information, please
visit the PCMA Web site at pcma.org.
The role of the Education Foundation of the Professional Convention Management Association
(PCMA) is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on
scholarships, education and research that will advance the meetings and conventions industry.
Established in 1985, the Foundation fuels advancement, nurtures professional development and
shapes tomorrow’s meeting and convention leaders. Learn more at pcma.org/foundation.
Katie Hauser
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]617-557-7354
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