Chapter News

PCMA PNW Chapter Member Highlight – Amy Jolene Sjodin, Independent Meeting Planner based in Anchorage, Alaska

What was your first job?
My first job out of college was a culinary instructor assistant. We were a small, core culinary team creating fun and engaging programming in an interactive environment. The team was focused on making the daily chores of cooking, cleaning, and washing, easier and more fun for our guests and consumers. Teaching strong organizational skills ensured a smooth seamless hospitable experience.

How did you get to your current position?
After earning my degree in hospitality and culinary arts, I immediately started planning events and found comfort gathering ideas and assembling the information into a cohesive experience. With each event, it requires a different sort of creativity, including spatial arrangement, agendas, and itineraries and a hundred little details like place cards, style of glasses and flatware, and lighting, all necessary to be super creative with strong aesthetic. I am successful at event planning because of my academic success and how it makes me feel to be part of my client’s success. For over a decade now, I’ve planned hundreds of events working closely with the Anchorage Tourism Industry.

What is the advice you have for other professionals in career success?
My advice for other professionals is to find the time to go out and plan more events. These opportunities will give you the ability to achieve a purpose. The purpose of event planning is to shape the event for the good of all. If you are a leader, make the people around you better.

Why did you join PCMA?
I became a member of PCMA in 2018 to meet other dedicated professional meeting planners who likely share similar academic endeavors and goals. This past January, I met Billie Jean King at Convening Leaders: Disrupt & Deliver in Pittsburg, PA this experience meeting leaders and networking with hoteliers, buyers and suppliers was rewarding and makes a memorable experience that will be fondly remembered for years to come.

What do you do on the weekends or when you have free time?
To get my creative juices flowing, I enjoy skiing, bike riding, visiting farmers markets and spending time with family, friends and neighbors.

What is your favorite app?
Evernote is one of my favorite tools of all time; its mobile application makes it extremely easy to continue to stay organized and production while on the road.

What is your New Year’s Resolution?
My new year’s resolutions is to ace the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam in hopes to secure a remote job that will include travel and participation in industry related conventions, conferences, and meetings.

Amy Jolene Event Landing Page

Donica YoungPCMA PNW Chapter Member Highlight – Amy Jolene Sjodin, Independent Meeting Planner based in Anchorage, Alaska