We’re so grateful for the planners and suppliers who make up RCMA’s vibrant community. As we often say, we’re more than an association—we’re a family. It’s the people who define us: individuals of remarkable depth, integrity, and heart. Spirituality is the thread that connects us, shaping authentic relationships and a deep sense of care for one another.

We hope you enjoy getting to know more about some of our members and the faith that inspires their lives and work.

Michele Pondexter
Choose Chicago

Describe your faith journey, from past to present.
My faith journey began with my baptism as an infant. My parents and grandparents (on both sides) had a very wholesome spiritual faith. They continuously encouraged the reading of God’s word. We went to church on Sundays; we prayed at bedtime and over every meal. I have continued with those habits. I believe, rather I know that it’s those habits that contribute to having a positive outlook on life. Faith and prayer have the power of doing that.

How does your faith shape your work as a meeting professional?
My faith encourages and motivates me in my work daily. Even when I feel discouraged or circumstances are not going as intended or the way I would like them to be, I lean heavily on my faith. When things aren't going perfectly, I lean on my faith. Faith helps me to focus on my blessings and gives me the mental support needed to get through all situations.

What helps you to grow and strengthen your faith?
I grow in my faith by focusing on others, not just myself. My faith is strengthened as I make myself available to be of service to my family, my friends and my community. My faith builds on knowing and understanding God’s word, and having mantras within and around myself daily, like taking vitamins for good health.

Lorenzo Harrison
Church of God in Christ, Inc.

Describe your faith journey, from past to present.
I grew up in a church where faith wasn’t just believed, it was lived. I watched my elders lean on God for strength and guidance, and I learned to pray, serve, and worship through both joy and struggle. As I got older, I realized that borrowed faith had to become personal. It was no longer enough to repeat what I had been taught—I had to walk it out for myself.

Through loss, leadership, and life transitions, my faith has become my foundation. It’s not just a belief system but the lens through which I see the world. I’ve wrestled with doubts, endured silence, and trusted God in the unknown. Yet still, I stand—rooted in grace, driven by purpose, and grateful for how God weaves each chapter of my life into something greater. Faith hasn’t made life easier, but it has made me stronger, steadier, and more compassionate.

How does your faith shape your work as a meeting professional?
Faith shapes everything I do. It sets the tone, drives excellence, and centers my intentions. As a meeting professional, I see my work as ministry. It may not take place in a pulpit, but every conference and every detail is an opportunity to reflect God’s order, peace, and presence. When I plan a meeting, I want people to feel seen, valued, and connected. For me, excellence honors God and serves people.

Even when timelines are tight or budgets stretched, I know I’m not alone—God is in the details. My decisions are guided by prayer, my leadership anchored in humility, and my goal is always impact over applause. Meetings become more than logistics. They become sacred opportunities for transformation.

What helps you to grow and strengthen your faith?
My faith grows through intentional time with God and connection with community. Worship keeps me centered, whether in a sanctuary or on a quiet drive. Scripture is my anchor, shaping my boldness as much as my beliefs. Prayer keeps me honest—it’s where I lay down pressure and plans and receive peace in return.

I also grow through serving. Every time I mentor, encourage, or join a vision bigger than mine, my faith expands. Faith was never meant to be hidden; it’s meant to be lived out loud. I grow when I trust beyond my comfort and love people as Christ loves us. That’s the kind of faith that sustains a lifetime of purpose.

Wilma Taylor
Wilma Taylor Ministries

Describe your faith journey, from past to present.
I had a sense of spirituality at a young age—a knowing, a discernment—that my mother said was beyond my years. She gave me a Bible and a book called Understanding the Scriptures. My mother taught me that prayer is the answer to meeting God’s desires. And I learned that “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”

Even at 89, my faith says that there is still an assignment for me presently. I am enjoying the things that are happening in my life now and the things that God is revealing to me. I continue to increase my faith even as I grow older. I am still learning and growing in my relationship with God, understanding each day more of what God desires for my life at this present time.

How does your faith shape your work as a meeting professional?
An important thing I’ve learned is that listening is an art. As you listen to people, you can understand more of who they are and their needs, even without them directly telling you. Listening is my guide and starting point to live out my faith. It opens up all kinds of opportunities to encourage people.

I’ve also found that as I’ve gotten older, my influence has grown. People say that younger generations don’t listen, but they do. They especially do if you respect their abilities. Sometimes we think we’re listening, but we’re really not hearing. If you really hear someone and pay attention to their innermost intentions, I think we can help them make changes, encourage them, and give them tools that cause them to think about who they are. That is how I share my faith.

What helps you to grow and strengthen your faith?
First, being grateful. I’ve lived long enough now to see some of the results from what I call my “God assignments.” Getting to see and enjoy those things gives me strength.

Second are the people who God has assigned to me—like my friends at RCMA. The relationships I have made with the RCMA team and other planners are very important. They have strengthened me and triggered me to think differently and more creatively. It has added quality to my life and my ministry.

God has placed people in my life’s journey who are my support system and help me carry on. I believe people have been designated to play a certain part in my life and in my destiny and journey, and it’s beautiful.

Stuart Katz
TAL Tours

Describe your faith journey, from past to present.
My faith journey has been a path of discovery, resilience, and purpose. I grew up with a strong spiritual foundation that emphasized compassion, community, and responsibility. Over time, life’s challenges—both personal and professional—have deepened my understanding of faith as something far greater than belief alone. It is a daily practice of presence, of holding hope when others cannot, and of showing up with empathy in the moments that matter most.

In recent years, my work in mental health advocacy and trauma healing has brought my faith into sharper focus. I have learned that faith is less about having the right answers and more about standing with others in their uncertainty, pain, and hope. It is trusting that even in moments of hardship, there is a greater story being written—one where compassion and service create ripples of healing and connection.

How does your faith shape your work as a meeting professional?
For me, faith transforms the way I view my work. Every meeting, every event is more than a logistical exercise—it’s a chance to create meaningful connections and shared experiences that uplift and inspire. My faith encourages me to see every person as carrying their own story, and to create spaces where they feel seen, valued, and welcomed.

It also provides resilience when challenges arise. In a world where details and deadlines often dominate, faith keeps me focused on the bigger picture: the impact these moments have on people’s lives. Success, to me, is not just in flawless planning but in the feeling attendees take with them—the sense of connection, purpose, or renewal that lingers long after the event ends.

What helps you to grow and strengthen your faith?
My faith grows strongest when I am serving others. Whether through initiatives that support mental health, mentoring, or simply being present for someone who needs to be heard, I feel closest to my faith when I can help create hope and belonging. Those moments remind me that faith is not something static but something that is lived and shared.

I also draw strength from intentional reflection—pausing to notice gratitude, to pray, and to find meaning in both challenges and triumphs. Faith deepens when we allow ourselves to wrestle with life’s hard questions and still choose to lead with kindness, humility, and hope. It’s a continual process of renewal that keeps me grounded and inspired in every part of my life and work.

Willie B. Clay
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile

Describe your faith journey, from past to present.
I was raised on the West Side of Chicago, the proud son of a United Methodist preacher. From an early age, faith was not just something I heard about on Sundays, it was a way of life modeled in my home every day. The church was my foundation, a place where I first learned the power of prayer, service, and community. Growing up under the guidance of a pastor father, I saw firsthand the responsibility and humility that came with serving others. That upbringing rooted me in a deep sense of purpose, and those early lessons stayed with me as I left home to attend Wiley College in Marshall Texas, a historically Black institution steeped in faith and tradition, where I continued to grow spiritually and intellectually.

At Wiley College, my faith matured as I faced new Challenges and opportunities, and it continued to shape the choices I made in life. When I began my career with Marriott International, I carried those same values of integrity, compassion, and service into the workplace. In every role and every city, I’ve leaned on my faith to guide me whether navigating success or adversity. My journey has been one of learning to trust more deeply in God’s timing, leaning on grace in moments of uncertainty, and staying grounded in the belief that my work, no matter the setting, is part of a greater calling to serve others with excellence and heart.