Advocacy Is Part of the Planner Job Now
Fri Jan 23 2026
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In this episode of What One Thing, host JT Long examines why advocacy has become essential for meeting professionals navigating today’s rapidly shifting landscape. The conversation opens with leadership from the Live Events Coalition, including Al Mercuro, strategic marketing and client engagement advisor at Genesis Exhibits; Dwayne Thomas, director of government affairs for the Live Events Coalition – National; and Wendy E. Porter, chief events strategist at Wendy Porter Events, LLC, who share the moments that compelled them to speak up for the industry.
Together, they unpack the pressures planners face right now, from rising costs and healthcare access to tariffs, visas and economic uncertainty, and why live events remain vital to trust, innovation and human connection.
In a closing segment, Tommy F. Goodwin, executive vice president of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, joins the conversation to offer a policy-focused perspective on workforce development, affordability and how planners can turn advocacy into meaningful action. The episode leaves listeners with a clear reminder that their voices matter, and that engagement at every level helps shape the future of meetings.
Produced by: Eming Piansay
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Send us a text In this episode of What One Thing, host JT Long examines why advocacy has become essential for meeting professionals navigating today’s rapidly shifting landscape. The conversation opens with leadership from the Live Events Coalition, including Al Mercuro, strategic marketing and client engagement advisor at Genesis Exhibits; Dwayne Thomas, director of government affairs for the Live Events Coalition – National; and Wendy E. Porter, chief events strategist at Wendy Porter Events, LLC, who share the moments that compelled them to speak up for the industry. Together, they unpack the pressures planners face right now, from rising costs and healthcare access to tariffs, visas and economic uncertainty, and why live events remain vital to trust, innovation and human connection. In a closing segment, Tommy F. Goodwin, executive vice president of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, joins the conversation to offer a policy-focused perspective on workforce development, affordability and how planners can turn advocacy into meaningful action. The episode leaves listeners with a clear reminder that their voices matter, and that engagement at every level helps shape the future of meetings. Produced by: Eming Piansay