Congratulations to our Chapter member, Taylor Abbate, CMP, who recently was named and awarded one of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties’ Class of 2021.

In PCMA’s announcement, it said the 2021 class represents 20 of the brightest and most talented global professionals from the next generation of business events leaders.

“Each of these emerging leaders has demonstrated an extraordinary gift for leadership that spans creative thinking, problem solving, and spearheading teams that achieve ambitious goals,” said Meredith Rollins, PCMA’s chief community officer and executive director of the PCMA Foundation.

Today, Taylor answered these questions for us, reflecting on her honor and her future:

What is your couple sentences “acceptance speech”?
I want to say thank you to everyone who has believed in me since day one. I am blessed to have really great mentors, near and far, that have helped me grow professionally and personally over the years. I could not have done this without them. I am incredibly honored to be selected as one of the twenty incredible people from all over the world who are leaders in this industry and have the same fiery passion for this industry as I do. I can’t wait to get to know the others in the class of 2021.

What does winning the honor mean to you?
This honor means so much to me – personally and professionally. On a personal level, I am so proud of myself. This is one of the biggest accomplishments I have done for myself since graduating college (aside from earning my CMP). On a professional level, I am so honored to be seen as a leader in this industry. I have always said I want to make a name for myself in this industry and I believe this is a great first step in doing so!

What is the most valuable thing about being a PMCA member?
The most valuable thing about being a PCMA Member is the network of people you get to build for yourself by becoming involved and interacting with other members from all over the country. The industry professionals I have met over the years have become some of my closest friends and mentors.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself still working in the events industry that will be thriving again! I see myself moving up in this industry and still having a lot of love for event planning. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds!

What business tip would you share with your colleagues in their 20’s?
Find yourself a mentor (or two) that you have calls with regularly. These could be quick thirty-minute phone calls you set up weekly, biweekly, or even monthly to just check in, talk about work, goals you have, or anything else on your mind. This will keep you motivated, allow you to build your network, have someone you can bounce ideas off of, and learn – professionally and personally. You’re never too old to stop learning and growing.

What is the best advice you’ve received from a former teacher?
I graduated from the Hospitality Management program at Mizzou in 2016. One of my professors, Dr. Amanda Alexander, who is still one of my dear friends to this day, taught me to never stop learning. There is only so much about this industry you can learn in a classroom. The real learning is by experience and learning from others through professional organizations – like PCMA!

What is the best advice you’ve received from a current or past mentor?
The best advice I’ve received from current and past mentors is to get involved and stay involved with PCMA. The opportunities PCMA offer are endless. You learn so much, build up your network, and it’s fun!

When I am not working, I am…at the gym! Working out is my favorite way to clear my head and to destress!

Taylor is a Meeting Planner, American Public Works Association.