October Sparkler: Global Arena: Planning for Success Both Domestically and Internationally

Planning international events has never been more complex—or more important. From shifting government policies and travel restrictions to cultural considerations and logistics both domestically and across borders, event professionals must be prepared to navigate a global stage. Join industry experts as they share insights on policies shaping international attendance, lessons learned from hosting worldwide events, and practical strategies for bringing people together across countries and cultures.

Date:

October 21, 2025

Location:

The Square
1850 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006

Agenda: 

12:30pm: Registration Desk Open/Check-in

1:00- 2:00pm: Community Service Activity –  Assembling Wellness Kits for So Others Might Eat (SOME) 

2:00 – 2:15pm: Welcome & Housekeeping

2:15 – 3:15pm: Global Gateways: The State of International Travel and Trade 

Tommy Goodwin, Executive Vice President of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, provides a timely look at the latest data on international travel to the United States. Gain insights into what the numbers reveal about the recovery and growth of inbound tourism and business travel. He’ll also touch on current tariff policies and their economic implications for global commerce, events, and the travel industry. Sponsored by PCMA Foundation  

3:15 – 3:45pm: Break

3:45 – 4:45pm: The World Is Your Venue: Global Lessons for Modern Professionals

This session features seasoned professionals who have produced conferences overseas and engaged international attendees domestically. Learn their top considerations when planning global events and drill into their specific examples of what they’re prioritizing now. Featuring:

•  Meredith Ellison, Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence

•  Stephanie Santini, Vice President, Meetings, American Association of Airport Executives

•  Lauren Rangel, Vice President of Housing, ABTS

•  Tommy Goodwin, Executive Vice President, ECA

This session will include time for Q&A and audience participation.

4:45 – 5:00pm: Closing Remarks

5:00 – 6:30pm: Reception 

Speakers: 

Tommy Goodwin – Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

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

Prior to joining ECA, Tommy spent more than 20 years leading a wide range of social impact, public affairs, and international engagement efforts for several globally-recognized associations and corporations, including Oracle, 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 businesses and social enterprises operate.​

Tommy 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), where he was elected as a Fellow in 2022, and a Project Management Professional certification from PMI. ​

Recognized by The Hill in its 2020, 2021, and 2022 list of association “Top Lobbyists,” Tommy is a past president of the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics and a past chair of ASAE’s Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council. He is a frequent author and speaker on a wide range of government relations, public policy, and international association management topics. 

Meredith Ellison, DBA, CAE – Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence

As a visionary CEO with extensive experience in association management, I have built a distinguished career growing organizational revenue through strategic membership initiatives, innovative programs, and high-impact conferences. My leadership approach centers on creating collaborative, vibrant communities where members, staff, and volunteers thrive together. With a doctoral degree focused on association global growth strategies, I bring both academic rigor and practical expertise to navigating complex organizational environments and translating strategic vision into measurable results.

Holding degrees including a BS in Behavioral Science, MS in Association Management, and MBA from the University of Maryland, and DBA from Liberty University, I combine analytical insight with adaptive leadership to champion diverse teams and drive organizational success. When not advancing association missions, I enjoy traveling to new destinations and spending quality time with family and friends.

Lauren Rangel – Vice President of Housing Operations, ABTS Convention Services

Lauren Rangel is an accomplished hospitality professional with over sixteen years of experience at ABTS Convention Services, where she has built a distinguished career advancing through multiple departments, including Meetings & Conventions, Hotel Relations, and Housing Operations. A graduate of the renowned Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University, Lauren has dedicated her career to supporting international groups of physicians attending U.S.-based medical meetings sponsored by leading pharmaceutical and medical technology companies around the world.

Having worked directly with medical associations, international groups, and industry sponsors, Lauren brings a unique perspective that bridges all sides of the event experience. This hands-on understanding enables her to anticipate the needs of stakeholders across the planning process and drive housing strategies that balance operational precision with attendee satisfaction. Her deep knowledge of sponsor requirements, compliance standards, and group dynamics allows her to translate global insights into practical solutions that strengthen partnerships and improve results.

In her leadership role, Lauren oversees ABTS’s housing operations in partnership with major U.S.-based housing companies and medical associations. She is recognized for her strategic insight in optimizing hotel inventory, forecasting international sponsor trends, and curating hotel block selections that reflect the needs of diverse markets.

With a keen understanding of the evolving U.S. hospitality landscape and the shifting expectations of industry sponsors, Lauren continues to drive innovation in ABTS’s housing operations.

Stephanie Santini, CMP, DES – Vice President, Meetings, American Association of Airport Executives

Stephanie Santini, CMP, DES, is a dedicated and passionate association executive with a strong focus on balancing team success with operational and organizational effectiveness. As Vice President of Meetings for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Ms. Santini is committed to creating value for both members and staff, the lifeblood of any membership organization.

As a senior leader who grew her career in meetings and education, she recognizes the value of creating meaningful stakeholder experiences, while keeping a sharp focus on ROI. At AAAE, she leads the Domestic Meetings department managing a team of 5 event professionals, who collectively execute  a portfolio of approximately 50 meetings and conferences annually. Focused on delivering high-caliber, value-added conferences for members and industry professionals while delivering fiscal success. Ms. Santini takes a holistic, strategic approach to evaluating market potential, member needs, staff engagement, and operational efficiency, to meet short-term demands with a long-range lens.

Ms. Santini is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) where she currently serves as  Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Capital Chapter. She also recently served on the American Society of Association Executives Meetings & Expositions Professionals Advisory Council. Ms. Santini has presented at numerous industry events both domestically and internationally and has served on a variety of other task forces and committees. She holds the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation from the Events Industry Council and the Digital Event Strategist (DES) designation from PCMA.

This event is eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits from the Events Industry Council (EIC). Attendee emails used during registration must match the attendee EIC profile to receive credit. Verifying credit is a responsibility of the attendee, not PCMA, nor the chapter. For more information, visit https://www.pcma.org/help-faqs/