Get to know PCMA Member Sarah Schatz, Strategic Account Director, AV Concepts.

What initially led you to becoming involved with PCMA?
It all started when I was a student at Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management. The energy at Penn State is contagious, and from the moment I arrived at our involvement fair, I knew I wanted to get involved. I joined the Meeting and Events Club, where our advisor, Jackie Golas, first introduced us to PCMA and the Philadelphia Chapter. We were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to attend Convening Leaders beginning in 2020. As a student, when I first heard “travel to a conference,” I won’t lie, I thought that sounded pretty cool. Of course there was the networking and education, but getting to go to Vegas was definitely a perk! But after day one at Convening Leaders, my “why” for being part of PCMA completely changed. I suddenly understood that this was so much bigger than attending a conference or getting to travel somewhere new. I was surrounded by people who were passionate about this industry, eager to share what they knew, and genuinely excited to connect with the next generation. I remember realizing that this was a community I wanted to be part of long after college. Little did I know just how much that first experience, and becoming involved with the PCMA Philadelphia chapter, would shape the trajectory of my career. What started as an exciting college trip became access to an entirely new world of people, ideas, opportunities, and relationships. Over the years, PCMA has become a foundation of who I am, both professionally and personally. It has given me mentors, friendships, confidence, and a community that has continued to grow alongside me throughout my career. Looking back at that college student who was just excited to go to Vegas, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, in the best possible way.

How has your career developed as a result of being a PCMA member?
My career has been shaped and mentored by the professionals I have met through PCMA, both those with decades of experience and those who are just a few steps ahead of me. The relationships, education, and community I have found through PCMA have given me the confidence to advocate for myself, support my clients, and trust myself professionally, even when I felt like the new kid fresh out of college. I remember being at Convening Leaders in 2023 in Columbus, Ohio, when we had a Penn State lunch meetup with students and alumni. As students, we were able to sit down with professionals who had once been exactly where we were and hear their advice about entering the industry. What stuck with me most was how much they believed in us at a time when I was not even sure I fully believed in myself yet. I left knowing that when I graduated, staying involved with PCMA was something I needed to do. When I started my first job with Encore, I joined the New York Chapter. I was nervous. I was a new graduate, in a new city, starting my career and joining an entirely new chapter where I barely knew anyone. People like Adrien Aloi welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I belonged there. Through the chapter, I continued meeting people and attending educational sessions that genuinely changed the way I approached my career. One that has always stuck with me was Phil Putnam’s session about working with colleagues across generations. It completely shifted my perspective on generational differences in the workplace and taught me how those differences can actually be an incredible strength when we take the time to understand one another. But some of the most valuable resources PCMA has given me are the people themselves. I met Belinda Harvey at Convening Leaders in 2023, and later, when I found myself needing career guidance, I reached out to her. We had only met once, but she never skipped a beat. Within two days, we were on the phone, and she was mentoring me through how to navigate a career move. You do not come across people like that everywhere. You find them at PCMA. PCMA has given me education, connections, mentorship, and opportunities, but more than anything, it has given me a community I know I can turn to at every stage of my career. I could go on and on about the people who have impacted me, and I wish I could name every person I hold in such high regard and admiration, but I would probably end up naming about 9,000 PCMA members. That, to me, says everything about the impact this organization has had on my career.

Why would you tell others it’s important to be involved in PCMA?
I would tell others that being involved in PCMA is important because you truly get out of it what you put into it. It is so much more than attending conferences or adding another organization to your resume. It is about surrounding yourself with people who want to see you grow and succeed. PCMA gives you access to people you can learn from, education that challenges the way you think, and relationships that can stay with you throughout your entire career. Some of the people I admire most professionally started as someone I met at a PCMA event and became mentors, friends, clients, and people I know I can call when I need advice. My biggest advice is to actually get involved. Go to the events, introduce yourself even when it feels uncomfortable, join your local chapter, ask questions, and follow up with the people you meet. You never know which conversation is going to change the trajectory of your career. PCMA has certainly done that for mine.

What do you like to do in your free time?
My favorite way to spend my time outside of work is honestly just being surrounded by the people I love. I am definitely someone who gets my energy from being with my friends and family, especially my group of girls, most of whom just so happen to work in hospitality too… funny how that works! I guess we really do find each other. I LOVE food and will pretty much try anything. I am not a picky eater at all, so I’m always down to try a new restaurant, order something I’ve never had before, find a fun cocktail, or try a new wine. I also love going to the movies, and yes, my friends and I are all very committed AMC A-Listers. We take it seriously! As much as I love going out, I also really love cooking and baking at home. I’m always finding something new I want to make and convincing the people around me to try it. And after all of that, when my social battery has officially hit zero, I have a long Excel spreadsheet of movies and TV shows I want to watch. I’ll pick something off the list, get comfortable on the couch with my cat Basil, and that is pretty much my perfect way to recharge