Twenty-eight leaders selected for new advocacy leadership program to help amplify the business and professional events industry’s voice
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, today announced the launch of the ECA Ambassadors Circle, a new program designed to recognize, empower, and engage the industry’s most committed advocates.
As part of ECA 2.0, the ECA Ambassadors Circle will provide a select group of industry leaders with access to specialized year-round programming, advanced advocacy training, and new opportunities to help amplify the industry’s voice with policymakers, peers, and the broader business and professional events community.
“The future of our industry will be shaped by decisions made in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals across the country,” said Fernando Fischer, President, Americas, for RX and Chair of the ECA Board of Directors. “The ECA Ambassadors Circle will give our most committed advocates the tools, access, and year-round opportunities to help ensure those decisions reflect the importance of business and professional events. It is exactly the kind of deeper industry engagement that ECA 2.0 is all about.”
The inaugural ECA Ambassadors Circle cohort includes 28 business and professional events industry leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy and public policy engagement. Ambassadors will play a leadership role in advancing ECA’s advocacy efforts throughout the year. In return, ambassadors will receive access to specialized advocate education and professional-development opportunities, VIP access at select ECA events, invitations to private roundtables with policymakers, and recognition for their important contributions throughout the year.
The inaugural ECA Ambassadors Circle members are:
- Mary Bender, Vice President, Sales & Corporate Operations, Taffy Event Strategies
- Alexis Berggren, General Manager, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
- Jay Blankenship, Principal Owner, Breakpoint Growth
- Marie Browne, Senior Vice President, RX Global
- Andre Burns II, Vice President, Material Handling & Logistics, Shepard Exposition Services
- Shawn Cheng, Regional Director, North America, International Congress and Convention Association
- Rob Cohen, Co-Founder, Evolving Strategies and Xperiential Marketplace
- Rich Curran, Chief Executive Officer and President, Expo Convention Contractors
- Robyn Davis, Owner, Exhibitors WINH and Author of Exhibit Smarter
- Carrie Ferenac, Owner and President, CNTV
- Marc Ghafoori, Senior Vice President, Client Experience, HERITAGE
- Kate Hawley, Event Director, Snowbound Expo, Raccoon Media Group
- Liz Irving, Chief Executive Officer, Clarion Events North America
- Matthew Little, Vice President, Nuvista Event Services
- Megan Martin, Founder and Principal, M Squared Dynamics
- Michelle Metter, Partner & Co-Founder, Fast Forward
- Abby Nero, Regional Vice President, Map Your Show
- Don Pietranczyk
- Lynn Reves, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Results, Exhibitus
- Steve Riches, Chief Executive Officer and Principal, Laguna Displays
- Damon Ross, Senior Group Vice President, CORT Events
- Stephanie Selesnick, President, International Trade Information
- Mark Shadwick, Director, Business Development, GES
- Rich Stone, Chief Executive Officer, 3e by EXPOCAD
- Rich Vallaster III, Senior Director, Industry Relations & Thought Leadership, Momentive Software
- Steve Walker, Executive Director, City Wide Sales, MGM Resorts International
- Rachel Wimberly, Senior Vice President, M&A and Business Development, Easyfairs US
- Sandy Yi-Davis, Founder, Strategic Meeting International
“ECA is thrilled to welcome this first cohort of ECA Ambassadors,” said Tommy Goodwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of ECA. “Each of these leaders has already demonstrated a steadfast commitment to ensuring that our industry is heard by policymakers. Their participation in the ECA Ambassadors Circle will help ECA amplify the case for policies that strengthen the industry’s ability to create new jobs, reduce economic uncertainty, safeguard affordability, and ensure that the U.S. remains the premier global destination for business and professional events going forward.”
ECA would like to recognize Austin O’Boyle and Andrew Swick for their important contributions to the establishment of the ECA Ambassadors Circle.
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is the unified public policy voice of the business and professional events industry. Its members include the Consumer Technology Association, Experiential Designers & Producers Association, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association, International Association of Exhibitions & Events, International Association of Venue Managers, International Congress and Convention Association, PCMA, Society of Independent Show Organizers, and UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
