As PMA celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we want you to get to know the people behind the scenes that have contributed to PMA’s success. Each month we will feature a key PMA staff member on our blog.
This month we are highlighting Ilene Schwartz! Ilene is celebrating 10 years with PMA this month! Read on to get to know more about Ilene and her role in helping PMA hit 80 years in business.
Name, title and time at PMA.
Ilene Schwartz. Canada, East & Southeast U.S. Regional Manager. 10 years this November
What made you want to work at PMA?
I’ve always worked in industrial publishing and B2B marketing, formerly at Penton Media. A lot of former Penton employees now work at PMA, so it seemed like a good fit for me, and it was.
How has PMA changed over the years since you started?
As an association, I think we’ve gotten more focused in terms of identifying and pursuing specific goals, strategies and tactics. We’re more cohesive as an association, with much more collaboration between events, membership and publishing. We’ve also streamlined and updated some of our technology and have more updates to come.
First event/meeting that you worked on/attended.
My first day of work at PMA, I headed for FABTECH in Las Vegas. I’d been to dozens of tradeshows in the past, but none like FABTECH. The size and scope of the machinery and equipment on display was exciting to see.
Favorite PMA memory?
The day I started! I was very happy to get a new job at PMA!
What does PMA mean to you?
PMA is a community that works together to advance manufacturing.
What is your favorite part of your job? What excites you about working at PMA?
I love talking to members/prospective members and hearing their stories, how they got started in the business, how and why they started their companies, and what’s next for them. I’m incredibly amazed and humbled by their entrepreneurial spirit, how engaged they are in their communities, and how much knowledge they have and are willing to share. It’s very exciting when I can get people to open up and talk with me.
What has been your biggest achievement/success while at PMA?
Anytime I get a new member, particularly a manufacturing member, or sell an ad, I get very excited. But probably my biggest achievement, and one of the most challenging, was pulling off a few successful Sourcing Solutions events when I first started.