Sherron Washington, M.A. is the founder and CEO of The P3 Solution a full-service marketing and communication (marcomm). She has built her firm around the principle of “marketing simple,” which instruct clients to embrace simplified methods to promoting their business. She has imparted her marketing wisdom and expertise for nearly 20 years and has been deemed by many as “The Marketing Whisperer” due to her uncanny ability to assist clients in developing innovative, results driven, yet simple solutions for their business. Sherron has written two books Market Simple: The Blueprint to a One-Page Marketing Plan, and The Oops Moment which teaches businesses how to develop quick and effective marketing tactics. 

As a speaker, trainer and professor, Sherron has an energetic style that captivates and educates simultaneously, sharing expert marketing insight in fun interactive sessions that engage the participants and enhance the learning experience. Sherron has presented at several conferences around the world including Inbound, Expo! Expo! and the International Baking Industry Expo. Sherron currently teaches Marketing and Communication courses at Trinity Washington University and for Goldman Sachs National 10,000 Small Business program.

Sherron’s overall goal is to educate businesses on how to develop and execute better marcomm strategies that will help communicate and promote their brand effectively. 

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 of 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.

 In 2020, The Hill included him in its annual list 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 currently serves as President of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and the Immediate Past Chair of ASAE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council.

Kristin brings 17+ years of event management experience to the Fast Forward team with a background in a variety of events across multiple industry sectors. She spent her downtime during COVID earning her CMP and recently earned her CEM.  As an Event Director, Kristin takes on the operational aspects of creating the events and experiences along with cross-departmental coordination with sales and marketing efforts to ensure the delivery of the promises and integrity of their brands. She curates content for her portfolio of consumer and trade hows; orchestrating every detail from building customized sponsor packages to ideation for engaging sponsor activations to boots on the ground and everything in between! If the devil is in the details, Kristin will find him and straighten him out. Highlights of her current portfolio include the award-winning San Diego Food & Wine Festival, SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo, Tasting & Tap Room Expo, Craft Beverage Expo, Women in Craft Symposium, and other events in the adult beverage and hospitality sector. 

With close to three decades in the B2B and B2C event’s industry, Michelle has driven strategies and teams through the launch and growth of trade shows, conferences, symposiums, consumer shows and festivals both domestically and abroad. Her career spans a range of industry sectors from outdoor to alcohol beverage, large top 200 association trade shows to small, independently owned launches. Her company, Fast Forward Events, launched in 2004 and through it she has led her team through the expansion of award-winning shows such as the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, SommCon, and acquisition of the Craft Beverage Experience, Craft Beverage Expo, and Women in Craft.

Michelle is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and a recognized thought leader in the live event sector. Her influence transcends organizational boundaries, as she currently serves on the board of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), where she chairs the B2C Special Interest Group, and holds an Ex-Officio board member position with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) while chairing the Public Events Council. She is a current board  member for the San Diego Events Coalition (SDEC) and the San Diego Tourism Authority as well as serving on the Board of Governors for Home of Guiding Hands.

Michelle lives in San Diego, soaking up the Southern California sunshine, sushi and tacos with her husband and two daughters, Harper and Elliot, and dog, Bowie.

Raised in Misawa, Japan, Kierra Tobiere currently resides in Washington, D.C. where she works full-time in digital marketing and has over eight years of experience in the marketing, creative and blogging industries.

Kierra received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Howard University; during that time, she gained experience in brand content management as a fashion blogger and content specialist for a New York-based lifestyle brand. Where she served as both the managing and fashion editor of their digital platform, overseeing over 20 employees and all their blog content.

After undergrad, Kierra worked for a small impact marketing consulting firm specializing in amplifying institutions and companies looking for brand and messaging restructuring.

Kierra currently works full-time for the American Chemical Society, managing digital and print revenue marketing for Chemical Engineering & News, ACS Sales & Marketing, and exhibit marketing for ACS Meetings & Exposition.

As a Senior Revenue & Content Marketing Manager, Kierra is often tasked with planning and executing marketing campaigns to drive revenue growth and lead generation for new and existing marketing and sales channels that accelerate pipeline generation. She also looks to drive marketing initiatives to scale inbound and outbound sales efforts.

Kierra closely partners with the sales, customer success and data teams on defining best-in-class strategies and programs to engage prospects and customers and to enable expansion across products and services. As she is a key contributor to rapidly growing reach, engagement, pipeline, revenue and retention-- with a primary goal of increasing revenue across her sales product portfolio.

Kierra also recently graduated Summa cum laude with her Masters of Art in Communications from the University of Florida.

Paula Beadle is a recognized thought leader in partnership marketing and a pioneering force in the sponsorship industry. With over 25+ years’ experience in sports, entertainment, media and life-style events, she is recognized as a transformative leader known for driving revenue growth and building high-performing cultures. She is well-regarded for her business tenacity and ability to inspire, motivate and create meaningful change. She is a mentor with a style that energizes and empowers individuals and organizations to thrive.

As the Founder & CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association, Paula is a visionary advocate for the industry. She established SMA to strengthen and unify the industry while championing its continued evolution. Paula is on a mission to help marketers master the art and science of sponsorship.

In addition to her leadership roles, Paula serves as a Mentor for Women in Sports & Entertainment (WISE), is a board member of the Washington Festivals and Events Association, and a commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission. She has also contributed her expertise as a board member for the Red Cross of King County and the Bainbridge Island Arts Museum.

Lauren Liles, CMP is a distinguished leader in the event industry with two decades of experience crafting exceptional experiences for diverse audiences. As the Senior Director of Event Operations & Experience at the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Lauren brings a wealth of expertise in strategic event planning, operational excellence, and innovative program development.

Having spent the bulk of her career in the association space, Lauren has a passion for creating events that bring the organization’s mission to life and help drive member value. In previous positions at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH), Lauren has demonstrated a remarkable ability to orchestrate large-scale conferences and specialized events, consistently delivering high-quality experiences that not only meet but exceed industry standards for engagement, innovation, and return on investment. Lauren is also experienced in corporate event planning and engagement initiatives. During her time with ed tech company, 2U, Lauren oversaw a global corporate events department and was instrumental in building a virtual employee engagement event strategy that was pivotal in fostering a strong, connected company culture amidst the evolving landscape of remote work.

Lauren holds a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation from the Events Industry Council. Additionally, she is a member of several industry associations, including the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). Lauren has served on the EIC Industry Insights Committee and on a local level, the PCMA Capital Chapter’s Emerging Leaders Committee.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lauren is dedicated to continuous learning and industry advancement. She actively engages with industry trends and innovations, ensuring that her approach remains cutting-edge and relevant.

Elaine serves as Vice President, Conference and Events for the National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA®), where she leads event strategy, design, and execution for the organization’s live event portfolio, including its flagship Annual Conference and Exposition. She also oversees Career Expo exhibit sales, the NBMBAA® Job Board, and the membership department, driving growth and retention initiatives.

Elaine has partnered with NBMBAA® since 2007, initially building the media strategy and relaunching Black MBA Magazine. She joined the organization full-time in 2021 after leading the pandemic pivot to virtual and hybrid conferences. Over her career, Elaine has supported events and communications for major associations, including the National Urban League and Intermodal Association of North America.

An award-winning journalist and Certified Meeting Planner (CMP), Elaine earned a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She is an active member of NCBMP, PCMA, and MPI.

Kathy is the Vice President, Housing & Event Technology with ConferenceDirect. She has over 30 years of experience within the industry. She supported events across multiple markets with attendees that range from 1,000 to 100,000 attendees. She is responsible for providing consultation and strategic direction to clients/management/project teams for overall event performance. 

She now leads of team of industry experts that have expertise of all aspects of housing and event technology for our customers. 

Ross is the current Head of US Sales for EventAir, an all-in-one event management software and services company. With over 20+ years in the industry, he has a wealth of executive leadership experience focusing on sales, marketing, and operations, which brings positive and strategic thinking to every conversation he has.

His diverse background includes globally recognized firms such as Momentive (formerly Community Brands), MCI, Searchwide, and GenieConnect by Lanyon (now Cvent). Originally from Hawaii, Ross resides in Texas where he leads the US presence and growth plans for the company. 

Paula Beadle is a recognized thought leader in partnership marketing and a pioneering force in the sponsorship industry. With over 25+ years’ experience in sports, entertainment, media and life-style events, she is recognized as a transformative leader known for driving revenue growth and building high-performing cultures. She is well-regarded for her business tenacity and ability to inspire, motivate and create meaningful change. She is a mentor with a style that energizes and empowers individuals and organizations to thrive.

As the Founder & CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association, Paula is a visionary advocate for the industry. She established SMA to strengthen and unify the industry while championing its continued evolution. Paula is on a mission to help marketers master the art and science of sponsorship.

In addition to her leadership roles, Paula serves as a Mentor for Women in Sports & Entertainment (WISE), is a board member of the Washington Festivals and Events Association, and a commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission. She has also contributed her expertise as a board member for the Red Cross of King County and the Bainbridge Island Arts Museum.

Nancy Drapeau, IPC. Is a market research veteran with more than 31 years in the business-to-business exhibitions industry. As CEIR’s Vice President of Research, Ms. Drapeau conducts industry wide studies and reports on current trends in the exhibition industry. In 2019, she was named to BizBash’s 1,000 Most Influential People in Events list. She holds a BA in Government from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Advanced European and International Studies from l’Institut Européen des Hautes Études Internationales. She is an AC Nielsen Burke Institute trained focus group moderator. She is a well-respected industry speaker and an active member of the Industry Insights Association and has served on the Event Industry Council’s (EIC) Research & Advocacy Task Force. She lives in Maine, with her husband and a border collie named Moxie.

Adam Sacks is the President of Tourism Economics; an Oxford Economics company dedicated to unlocking the power of economics for the travel sector.

For more than 25 years, Adam has worked with destinations, industry associations, and companies around the world in the areas of policy analysis, market assessments, and economic impact.

Adam’s work has provided the foundation for billions of dollars in capital investment decisions by hotel companies, developers, and investors.

Adam also manages the ongoing production of travel forecasts that have consistently guided the travel industry through uncertain times.

 He is an authority on measuring the economic impact of visitor activity and his work regularly informs national and local government policy.

Paula Beadle is a recognized thought leader in partnership marketing and a pioneering force in the sponsorship industry. With over 25+ years’ experience in sports, entertainment, media and life-style events, she is recognized as a transformative leader known for driving revenue growth and building high-performing cultures. She is well-regarded for her business tenacity and ability to inspire, motivate and create meaningful change. She is a mentor with a style that energizes and empowers individuals and organizations to thrive.

As the Founder & CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association, Paula is a visionary advocate for the industry. She established SMA to strengthen and unify the industry while championing its continued evolution. Paula is on a mission to help marketers master the art and science of sponsorship.

In addition to her leadership roles, Paula serves as a Mentor for Women in Sports & Entertainment (WISE), is a board member of the Washington Festivals and Events Association, and a commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission. She has also contributed her expertise as a board member for the Red Cross of King County and the Bainbridge Island Arts Museum.