Mentoring Through PCMA Pays Off for Megan Leek

Megan Leek, CMP, might be kidded about being "The Poster Child of PCMA," but this young meeting professional is serious about making mentoring work for her.

Her professor at Indiana University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), Amanda Cecil, CMP, Ph.D., was an early mentor who told Leek about the PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter student scholarship to attend PCMA’s 2003 Annual Meeting in Anaheim. Leek joined PCMA, and received the scholarship. "That’s where I got my taste for PCMA and the industry and got hooked," she said.

Cecil and Leek then formed a PCMA student chapter at IUPUI. Throughout college, Leek worked as an event coordinator for a wedding planner and was able to obtain the experience needed to cinch the CMP exam at only 22. The next year she was named PCMA’s Student Planner of the Year, assisting meeting professionals at the 2004 Indianapolis Annual Meeting.

She was serious about making job contacts and had her resume and business cards in hand during the meeting. She introduced herself to Lise Puckorius, CMP, senior vice president of convention and tradeshow services, and David Weil, a senior director, both of SmithBucklin. "SmithBucklin and association management — that was my dream starting job; to get all that exposure and learn so much, and work with some of the premier planners and pros in the industry," she said.

A few months later, Leek took advantage of another opportunity at the Greater Midwest PCMA chapter meeting. The chapter assigns student members a mentor, and she was matched with Mitchell Eaton, CMP, director of national accounts for Illinois at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. He introduced her to Anita O’Boyle, director of convention and tradeshow services for SmithBucklin, and Weil, whom she had met before. Smith- Bucklin hired her a month later, before she even graduated."It was all because of the connections I made through PCMA," she said.

As with any first job, Leek needed advice and was fortunate to have PCMA member Catherine McKenna, CMP, national sales manager, Midwest region for Visit Charlotte, as a mentor.

After two years at SmithBucklin, Leek decided she really wanted to focus on working for one association instead of multiple associations. She applied for an education specialist opening at PCMA, and spoke to Member Relations Specialist Christine Baron. In April, Leek officially became a member of PCMA’s staff, focusing on the continued development of the online learning programs. "Staying involved in PCMA,that’s how I was able to get this position," she said.