Tommy Goodwin

Vice President

Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Thomas F. (Tommy) Goodwin is the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), a newly-formed association dedicated to the recovery and advancement of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s advocacy on behalf the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the $396 billion business events landscape.

 Prior to joining ECA, he spent more than 20 years leading a wide range of government relations, public affairs, and issue advocacy efforts for several globally-recognized associations and corporations, including Oracle Corp., AARP, and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Additionally, he was a research fellow at Harvard Business School focused on the international political and legal environment in which business operates.

 Recognized by The Hill in its 2020 and 2021 lists of association “Top Lobbyists,” he has a B.B.A. from The George Washington University, an M.B.A. from Auburn University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Union Law from King’s College London. He also holds a Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and a Project Management Professional certification from PMI. He is Past President of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and a Past Chair of ASAE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council.

From Washington, DC to the Show Floor: Advocacy Engagement and Your Leadership Journey

• Jeff Quade, President, GES Exhibitions
• Chris Schimek, Chief Operating Officer, Event & Exhibit Services, Freeman

Moderator:

• Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Leaders from across the exhibition services and contractors ecosystem actively advocate on behalf of the U.S. business events industry to policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. Why? Because what happens on Capitol Hill and in state capitals nationwide directly impacts all of us on the show floor.

But why is advocating so important for industry leaders? What policies do ESCA and the industry more broadly support? How can you get involved and make a difference? To answer these questions and more, join business leaders from GES Exhibitions and Freeman as they share why they believe that advocacy is critical to the industry’s future… and why rising leaders like you should make sure your voice is heard.