Educate, Rejuvenate, and Motivate: Annual 2-Day Educational Program
July 9– July 10
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PCMA Southeast is proud to present our flagship summer event — Educate, Rejuvenate, and Motivate — a 2-day education program filled with education, collaboration, and connection with fellow industry professionals. Join us July 9-10 in Raleigh, NC, at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley.
This annual event is designed to provide impactful learning experiences, dynamic speakers, and meaningful opportunities to grow your network within the business events community. Whether you’re a planner, supplier, student, or faculty member, this program will offer insights and inspiration for every stage of your career.
2025 EDUCATION EVENT PROSPECTUS
EVENT DETAILS
Date: July 9-10, 2025
Location: Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
4500 Marriott Dr, Raleigh, NC 27612
AGENDA
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Registration, Networking, Exhibitors
2:00pm – 2:15pm: Welcome
2:15pm – 3:15pm: MASTER YOUR MORNING with Mindset Mastery Mentor, Keynote Speaker & author of BEST.LIFE.EVER. Joanna Rajendran
Are you waking up excited and going to bed satisfied? Or, is it more accurate to say that when your alarm goes off, you are immediately responding to life; dodging bullets and putting out fires only to fall into bed, overwhelmed and exhausted, before doing it all again the next day? What if there was a way to stop REACTING to life and begin CREATING it… with purpose, with passion and with power? Joanna Rajendran, creator of the course and the book that have taken the world by storm, BEST.LIFE.EVER. , will share practical tips that even the busiest of us can implement to take back control over how our life unfolds. Joanna’s talk will highlight simple, actionable steps to reclaim your peace, enhance your positivity and activate your power- as the very first act of your day. The result? You will find that with intention, and with very little time, you can experience an increase in your levels of joy, capacity for peace, moments of inspiration and feelings of satisfaction. By mastering your mornings, you begin to create the days, months and years that result in you living your BEST.LIFE.EVER.
3:15pm – 3:25pm: Chapter updates
3:30pm – 5:00pm: Mastering Uncertainty: Turning Challenges into Opportunities with Amy Gerhartz
Uncertainty can be unsettling, but it’s also where true leadership is born. In this dynamic keynote and workshop, you’ll learn how to turn uncertainty into your greatest opportunity for growth. Explore proactive strategies that empower you to respond with confidence, creativity, and clarity—no matter what challenges arise. Through engaging exercises and group collaboration, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to tackle your toughest problems and lead with purpose in times of uncertainty. Get ready to transform obstacles into stepping stones and lead your team with unwavering confidence.
5:30pm – 7:30pm: Welcome Reception
Thursday, July 10, 2025
8:00am – 9:00am: Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors
9:00am – 9:10am: Morning Welcome
9:15am – 10:15am: Panel Discussion on Current Trends with local Industry Experts
10:20am – 11:45am: The Art of Difficult Conversations: Role Playing & Communication Tactics to Navigate Challenging Situations with Sherron Washington
Conflict is an unavoidable regular occurrence in many organizations. It can be both healthy (shedding light on an issue) or detrimental (creating tension) in organizations. Regardless, problems not properly addressed do not go away; they fester and get worse, creating added stress and hurting productivity. By understanding how to effectively address negative conflict initiators like poor communication and bias, leaders can turn difficult situations into problem-solving opportunities that create an open an inclusive environment. This interactive session will help you to assess and identify how to respond to conflict to help to build connectivity and maintain efficient communication.
11:45am – 12pm: Awards, Giveaways & Closing Remarks
REGISTRATION PRICING
Early Bird Pricing (Register by May 28, 2025):
Student: $99
Member: $175
Non-Member: $200
Member Exhibitor: $375 (includes registration)
Non-Member Exhibitor: $425 (includes registration)
Regular Pricing (After May 28, 2025):
Student: $109
Member: $190
Non-Member: $250
Member Exhibitor: $425 (includes registration)
Non-Member Exhibitor: $475 (includes registration)
VENUE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Location:
Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
4500 Marriott Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27612
Accommodations:
Book your group rate for 2025 PMCA Southeast Chapter Educational Meeting
169.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book is Wednesday, June 25, 2025!
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Amy Gerhartz, CLC, MNLP, CHt, DISC Trainer, Founder & CEO, A Higher Way of Living
Amy is a transformative coach, speaker, and trainer with a mission to help individuals and organizations overcome barriers to leadership and communication excellence. With over two decades as a professional performer, Amy brings a unique blend of creativity and insight to her coaching, empowering clients to break through self-doubt and unlock their full potential. Certified as a Life Coach, DISC Trainer, Master of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), and Hypnotherapist, Amy specializes in guiding clients toward clarity, confidence, and authentic leadership. Her background in performance and public speaking allows her to coach individuals on mastering their presence, whether on stage, in the boardroom, or during day-to-day interactions. Amy is passionate about helping her clients to trust their voices, embrace their authenticity, and step boldly into leadership roles across industries and communities.
As Founder & CEO of A Higher Way Of Living, and host of the “RISE UP Buttercup” podcast, Amy has also been seen on the cover of Las Vegas Entrepreneurs Magazine, Best Holistic Life Magazine, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and was recently recognized as a “Leading Expert” by Powerful Professionals, and the winner of the 2022 Scale Fast Global Business Pitch Contest, receiving rave reviews from Mr. Wonderful himself, Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank.
Joanna Rajendran, Mindset Mastery Expert and Author of Best. Life. Ever.
Joanna Rajendran is a renowned Mindset & Meditation Expert, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Spiritual Badass. With over two decades of experience learning directly from Master Teacher Tao Porchon-Lynch, a world-renowned yogi and Guinness World Record holder, Joanna brings a unique and transformative perspective to personal growth and empowerment. Her journey with Tao is immortalized in her acclaimed book, My Guru Wears Heels, a must-read that illuminates the power of resilience, grace, and positivity.
As a mindset expert, Joanna helps individuals overcome limiting beliefs, shift their perspectives, and unlock their highest potential. Her coaching sessions are a blend of practical strategies and spiritual wisdom, empowering her clients to create meaningful, lasting change. Joanna’s retreats are immersive experiences designed to inspire self-discovery and transformation, set in breathtaking locations that enhance the journey of personal growth.
Joanna’s keynote speeches captivate audiences with her authenticity, humor, and relatable insights. With engaging storytelling and a commanding presence, she provides actionable tools that empower individuals and organizations to stop reacting to life and begin creating it. Her signature talks transform employees into inspired leaders. Joanna has collaborated with Tony Robbins, leading breathwork, meditation, and vision sessions for his private coaching group, The Platinum Lions. Other notable speaking clients include Boston Magazine, Kim Crawford, Athleta, Mercy College, IAPD, Brown & Brown, Boss Lady, The Bedford Playhouse, The Women’s Alliance Committee, GPS Gifter X Talks, and LifeTime Fitness.
Whether she’s leading a retreat, delivering a keynote, teaching her life-changing course BEST.LIFE.EVER., or hosting her highly rated podcast, The Manifest Station, Joanna’s mission is clear: to inspire as many people as possible to embrace their true potential and live with purpose, passion and peace. Joanna’s second book, BEST.LIFE.EVER., was released in Spring 2025.
Media Reel: https://youtu.be/7nUXumaE28Y
Speaker Reel: https://youtu.be/5Cjrlc6Lxok?list=TLGGZzOVwKzVWOUyMzAzMjAyNQ
Website: www.joannarajendran.com
Instagram: @joanna.rajendran
Podcast: The Manifest Station Podcast (co-host with Jen Rubinetti)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YoPNrwKXeOlhitWXhh0To?si=a33cd7a8b3fd4b36
YouTube: Jen Rubinetti & Joanna Rajendran – YouTube
Get your copy: BEST.LIFE.EVER. the book
Sherron Washington, M.A., Chief Executive Officer, Marcomm Training Strategist & Professor, The P3 Solution
Sherron Washington, M.A., is a dynamic force in the world of marketing and communication (marcom). With over two decades of experience, she has honed an extraordinary ability to craft simple, innovative, and results-driven strategies that transform brands and businesses. As the founder and CEO of The P3 Solution, a training and curriculum development firm based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Known as a leading expert and author in the marcomm industry, Sherron’s superpower lies in delivering solution-driven insights that create real, measurable results. She effortlessly combines strategy, learning theory, and cutting-edge technology to fuse communication, marketing and leadership into one powerful package that drives growth.
Her energy is contagious! Sherron is a sought-after international speaker, trainer, facilitator, and professor, who has ignited audiences around the globe. Whether she’s on stage presenting for Event Executives or training with Alberta Economic Developers in Canada, her “simply communicate” philosophy leaves a lasting impression.
Sherron doesn’t just talk the talk—she delivers. She’s trained multi-million-dollar corporations like Goldman Sachs and Events DC, guiding them through everything from tackling complex challenges like, bias and conflict resolution to generating leads and creating a sustainable presence. In addition to her corporate work, Sherron is also a professor at Trinity Washington University and Temple University, where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in marketing and communication. She specializes in developing comprehensive training and curriculum for professionals, helping students and businesses master the art of communication, marketing and leadership using real-world applications.
An author and marcomm talk show host, Sherron is a trailblazer. Her books, Market Simple: The Blueprint to a One-Page Marketing Plan and The Oops Moment: Eliminating Marketing Mistakes, Mishaps, and Missteps, are must-reads for businesses looking to execute quick and effective marketing solutions. She even brought her passion for simplicity into the kitchen with her latest book, Keep Calm, Cook Simple, which serves up easy recipes with a side of marketing wisdom. She is widely regarded as a leading authority on mastering effective communication and streamlining marketing efforts that make a real impact.
But perhaps one of Sherron’s most unique gifts is her ability to connect people. As a global connector, she’s mastered the art of creating environments where authentic interactions and synergy flourish, leading to countless opportunities and vibrant results. She blends her deep marcomm expertise with a magnetic personality, fostering relationships that drive engagement and amplify success.
Sherron’s mission is clear: to empower professionals to develop and execute inclusive marketing and communication strategies that deliver exceptional outcomes. With a Master of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, along with minors in Business and Media Technology, Sherron continues to lead with purpose and passion, inspiring others to communicate and market—simply and effectively.
LinkedIn: Sherron Washington
Facebook: thep3solution or Sherron Washington
Instagram: @theswlife
Website: www.sherronwashington.com
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