Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) Advocacy Updates

David DuBois is the President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE). As IAEE’s president, DuBois is responsible for the management of 25 full-time professional staff, producing the annual business operating plan and budget, overseeing the support of all meetings of governance units, leading business development, directing fund raising efforts, advocating for the industry and the organization’s members, providing organizational leadership and strategic counsel to the board. Also, he serves as the association’s representative with industry coalitions, partner organizations and strategic alliances. In 2019, DuBois was inducted into the Events Industry Council’s “Hall of Leaders,” one of the industry’s most prestigious honors.

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.

 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.

In her role, Sue works with our senior executives to set the strategic direction for the company. She partners with business leaders to identify, develop, and execute programs that drive performance in support of Freeman’s overall goals. By analyzing our past, present and future, Sue works to develop the company’s growth-focused strategies and then bring them to life. By combining smart data and effective collaboration, she helps guide Freeman’s decision-making with insightful analysis.

Sue has extensive experience in strategy consulting across a broad range of industries, having served recently as a founding partner of Apeiron Strategy and the Boston office head for Stax Inc., a management consulting firm. Her clients at Stax included private equity firms, portfolio company management teams and operating teams, in addition to corporate clients. Earlier in her career, Sue worked in the marketing strategy group at Staples, and began her career with Steelcase, the world’s leading office furniture manufacturer. She earned her BBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and her MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

Megan Tanel is senior vice president for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), responsible for overseeing AEM trade shows and show partnerships, U.S. and globally, and event meeting programs. She has also served as director of AEM’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG exposition, which focuses on construction equipment and materials, and is the largest event of this type in the Western Hemisphere and the ICUEE exposition, focusing on the utility equipment industry.

Tanel is a member of, served as 2015 Chair of the IAEE, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, and has served on the IAEE Board since 2010. She has served as IAEE Education Committee Chair, and is a graduate of the IAEE Krakoff Leadership Institute. She is also a member of the PCMA, Professional Convention and Management Association, Trade Show Executive’s Global Direct Advisory Board and numerous other industry related boards, committees and taskforces.

Tanel has been in the event industry for over 20 years, mostly at AEM but with a brief stint within sales for Loews Hotels in Chicago. She occasionally speaks at exposition/meetings industry events and was co-chair of the inaugural Exhibitions Day event in Washington, DC. She has earned trade show honors from leading industry media, including being named to the Expo Elite list (Expo), Top 25 Women in the Industry (Meetings and Conventions), and Who’s Who in the Industry (Trade Show Executive).