Learn about ECA with Tommy Goodwin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Exhibition & Convention Alliance (ECA) Vice President Tommy Goodwin is a tireless advocate for the events industry.

trade show director Sit down with Tommy to learn about his start in the events industry, the benefits ECA brings to trade shows and how professionals can get involved.

ANDREW: How did you get into the events industry? What keeps you there?

Tommy: I’m a relative newbie – I’ve been in this industry for about three and a half years. I’ve been working in the advocacy and association world for about 25 years.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, the business events industry decided it needed to get more involved in promotional efforts. Before joining ECA, my expertise in this area was creating new projects or reinventing them. I met David Dubois, who was in charge of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® at the time, and connected with some of the people who were responsible for forming ECA through the American Society of Association Executives.

This is probably the most outstanding group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of representing – it’s awesome. This industry is very service and hospitality focused and attracts a specific type of person. You see a lot of this in the people involved in ECA: they’re very passionate, they care deeply and they’re looking for ways to get involved. It is my responsibility to provide them with opportunities and ensure their voices are heard.

ANDREW: What challenges have you faced as a new event professional?

Tommy: Everything was new…I was very, very lucky to have some senior leaders in the industry who showed me the ropes and helped me understand. That’s one of the reasons why I feel so strongly about hospitality in this industry: to have some of these leaders take me in and help me understand these different elements of the show – what it means to be successful, what it means to launch campaigns and seeing them What these business challenges being faced mean – and where there might be an advocacy angle.

ANDREW: How does ECA support the events industry?

Tommy: ECA’s purpose is to be a unified advocate for the industry, identifying where the challenges are and where we can talk to policymakers about positive change to help address these issues or seize these opportunities… This is coming from across the industry people, whether they are trade show organizers, contractors, booth builders or anyone in the entire ecosystem. It’s all about taking a message, a mission, a voice and carrying it forward. We are committed to getting as many people as possible involved in this industry.

One of the things we’re super involved in, and it’s going to be a big thing for us next year, is getting government involved in engaging and training the people who will be reading this: our next generation workforce.

Whether it’s letting people use funds from a 529 plan to pay for certification or using Pell Grants to provide skills training for all the jobs you see on the show, we need people from all walks of life to come into the industry and help contribute… …There’s nothing our next generation workforce needs more.

ANDREW: How can budding event professionals get involved with ECA?

Tommy: Started with …you can enter your information to email your policymakers to let them know your priorities.

We also have a social influencer program. Each month, ECA sends out content that we ask people to share across their networks and tag their policy makers. We even have guides to help you invite the mayor, city council member, or senator to your show.

We also host a Legislative Action Day in Washington, D.C. every year… (and) hold meetings for people in state groups with their members of Congress.

It would be great if you could give us an hour. It would also be great if you could come to Washington.

We especially want emerging leaders in our industry to be involved because we’re here to talk about the future of the industry. Who better to talk about the future of the industry than the actual future of the industry?

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ANDREW: Going into 2025, what issues should young professionals be concerned about?

Tommy: The future workforce aspect is what we’re really going to focus on next year. We have two bills…(and) I think it’s going to be a bipartisan bill. This is not necessarily a Republican or Democratic thing.

We will look at other areas such as taxation, trade, international travel and sustainable development, some of which could benefit from the election results. Some of these may become challenges as a result of the election results.

Andrew: What advice would you give to young professionals?

Tommy: Gain access to industry leaders and participate in major associations…very low risk. The association itself was formed to welcome and introduce people to this environment.

I was at their meeting last week in California with one of my association members, one of their board members is 28 years old. She got involved right out of college, stayed with the association for six years, and then rose up…and now she’s not even 30 and a brand new board member, just because she got involved.

There are many opportunities for interested parties to interact with its characters trade show director and participate in distinctive associations trade show director Much sooner than they thought, maybe much sooner than they thought.

Learn more about ECA here.