February 2 – 5, 2025 | Marriott Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
THIS is where the Advocacy community convenes
Our can’t-miss event for anyone managing an advocacy function, engaging stakeholders or seeking to advance public policy. Participants learn best practices in grassroots, communications and lobbying strategy from the profession’s top experts.
Innovation Awards
Presented at The Advocacy Conference each year, these awards recognize outstanding initiatives that showcase creativity, inclusiveness, innovation and organizational relevance.
Innovation Award Winners
2023 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Feeding America
Communications Innovation: AAA – Auto Club Group
Lobbying Innovation: Community Associations Institute
2022 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Vot-ER
Communications Innovation: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Lobbying Innovation: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
2021 Innovation Awards Winners
Grassroots Innovation: Toyota
Communications Innovation: American Hospital Association
Lobbying Innovation: American Physical Therapy Association
Hotel / Travel
Hilton Austin
500 East 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Updates Regarding Our Group Room Block
As of January 3, our group room block is closed and currently, the Hilton Austin is sold out over the nights of our conference. If you’d like to check on the hotel’s availability, please contact the hotel directly at 512-482-8000 or via their website for information on current availability and rates.
WAIT LIST: If you would like to be placed on the wait list for a room at the group rate, please contact Kristin Hanley. Being placed on the waiting list is NOT a guarantee of a room. We recommend that you make an alternate reservation (see list of options below) and note the cancellation policy for your reservation in the event a room does become available at the group rate. Rooms will be granted as cancellations are received. You will be contacted no later than January 19 if a room becomes available. After that date, the wait list will be released.
Hotels Near the Hilton Austin*
- Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown/Convention Center – 3-minute walk
- Courtyard by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center – 3-minute walk
- Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center– 3-minute walk
- The Westin Austin Downtown – 4-minute walk
- Fairmont Austin – 4-minute walk
- Austin Marriott Downtown –-6-minute walk
- Hampton Inn & Suite Austin-Downtown/Convention Center –-6-minute walk
- Hyatt Place Austin Downtown – 6-minute walk
- JW Marriott Austin – 9-minute walk
*The Public Affairs Council has not vetted these hotels and this is not a complete list of hotels in the area. These recommendations are provided purely on distance to the conference hotel. Please review the hotels and their policies thoroughly prior to booking.
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: 11 min drive, 10 miles
- San Antonio International Airport: 65 min drive, 73 miles
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING GROUP ROOM BLOCKS
Once the rooming block is full or after the cut-off date (whichever comes first), you may not be able to obtain the Public Affairs Council group rate or a room at the conference hotel. Therefore, we recommend that you book a room as early as possible.
Also please note that the room rate is only valid for the nights of the conference (check-in taking place on the first advertised day of the conference and check-out on the final day). Some hotels have been known to honor the room rate on the few days before and after our events, but please be aware that it is not guaranteed and that the room rate may be different.
SCAM ALERT
Please beware of SCAMS. The Council does NOT work with any third parties or intermediaries for booking reservations for our group room blocks. You will ALWAYS be instructed to book directly with the hotel for any Public Affairs Council conferences. Though you may receive reminders to book your hotel room and warnings/notices as we get closer to our hotel cut-off date, those e-mails will always come from a pac.org e-mail address, and no one will ever call you soliciting reservations or credit card information.
RESERVATIONS & HOTEL RESERVATION POLICIES
A credit card number or one night’s deposit is required to secure a room. Cancellations must be received 72 hours prior to arrival or one night’s room and tax will be charged as a cancellation fee.
In the event that you check out prior to your reserved check-out date, an early departure fee of one night’s room and tax will be charged. To avoid this fee, please advise the hotel of your revised departure date at or before check-in.
Hilton Austin
500 E 4th St
Austin, TX 78701
Reservations: Reserve Online / 800-HILTONS (when calling, please use the Group Code “PAC” to secure the group rate)
Room Rate: $299+ per night
Cut-off date: January 3, 2024
Check-in: 3 p.m.
Check-out: 12 p.m.
PARKING
The rates listed below are subject to change by the hotel without prior notice. No trailers are permitted.
- Self-parking: $48 daily
- Valet parking: $54 daily
AIRPORTS
The closest and most convenient airport to the hotel is the Austin Bergstrom International Airport which is ~10 miles from the hotel. Estimated taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is ~$33 one way. Please visit the hotel’s website here for more information.
Alex Kolb, AT&T
Alfred Campos, AARP
Alisa Mairone, BAYADA Hearts for Home Care
Allison Kinney, HCA Healthcare
Allison Paine, Capital One Financial Corporation
Allison Schneider, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Allyson Frazier, American Heart Association
Amie H. Adams, Dunn Associates
Andrea DeFelice, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
Andrew Stephenson, HCA Healthcare
Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc.
Austin Spindler, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Avery Martin, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Barbara Thompson, NextEra Energy, Inc.
Blake Major, American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
Bradford Fitch, Congressional Management Foundation
Brandon Graham, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Charles Rogers, Crestview Strategy
Chastity Mitchell, Boys and Girls Club of America
Chazz Clevinger, CiviClick, Inc.
Cheye-Ann Corona, Affirm, Inc.
Cliff Johnson, Bloomberg Government
Cody Parrish, Morning Consult
Courtney Johnson, American Chemistry Council
Courtney McKinstry, McKesson Corporation
Curtis James Walter, Clean Air Task Force
Cynthia Montalvo, Quorum
Dan Huber, NextEra Energy, Inc.
Dan Meyers, APCO Worldwide
Daniel Hissa, PATRI Public Policy & Public Affairs Inc.
Danielle Bubnis, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
David Nielsen, American Council of Life Insurers
Donna Anaya, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Dorian Wanzer, International Paper Company
Doug Rohanna, Triad Strategies LLC
Dru Garson, Association of Washington Business
Edward K. Griesmer, MultiState
Elizabeth Bartz, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Emily Festa, Toyota Motor North America
Emily Mills, BlueCross and BlueShield Association
Emma Will, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Erin Bergmeister, Narrative Strategies
Erin Hughes, Marathon Strategies
Evelyn Fornes, The Home Depot
Gary Nuzzi, CVS Health
Gina Drioane, Waxman Strategies
Hannah Wesolowski, National Alliance on Mental Illness
James Garcia, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Jamie Manning, Swann Street Media
Jared Hess, DraftKings
Jeanne Tuerk, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
John Farina, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
John Randall, BCW Global
Jon Hoffman, American Kidney Fund
Kandi Terry, NRG Energy, Inc.
Kate M. Zaykowski, McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC
Katie Garrard, i-360, LLC
Kay Neth, Rover
Kerry McConnon, Prolegis
Kevin Donnelly, National Multifamily Housing Council
Kirk G. Willison, Arch Mortgage Insurance Company
Kyle McDermott, JVA Campaigns
Lauren Moran, Applecart
Leean Kravitz, MBA, Fidelity Investments
Ligia Leon, AT&T
Lindsay Gill, The ALS Association
Lindsay Rosen, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Lindsay Shuba Donnelly, TLC Political
Lisa Wagor, Target Corporation
Matthew N. Klink, California Strategies, LLC
Meghan Cox, Husch Blackwell Strategies+
Melinda Barham, Western Governors University
Meredith Singer, HP Inc.
Michael Lisowski, CURA Strategies
Michael Sokoloski, BAYADA Hearts for Home Care
Parul Patel, Horizon Therapeutics
Paul C. Rohde, Waterways Council, Inc
Peter Greenberger, Applecart
Phoebe E. Neseth, ESQ, Community Associations Institute
Rachel Savey, Charter Communications
Rebecca Jami, ACCESS Marketing Services
Rosie Connor, Western Governors University
Ruthanne Sudderth, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Sam Myers, Rational 360
Sarah Aillon, Federation of American Hospitals
Sarah Carpenter, Blue State
Sarah Yi, CTIA – The Wireless Association
Scott Leezer, CURA Strategies
Sherry Whitworth, FiscalNote
Sophie Read, POLITICO
Stephanie Cathcart, AES Corporation
Stephanie Lockwood, ICSC
Steve Sisneros, American Petroleum Institute
Sue Zoldak, Zoldak Agency
Taylor Levine, LPL Financial
Thomas Donnelly III, American Farm Bureau Federation
Tim Gould, National Association of Manufacturers
Tina Anthony, Curley Company
Vlad Cartwright, 720 Strategies
Wade Patrick Balkonis, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
“The Public Affairs Council’s Advocacy Conference is now the only advocacy conference I attend – it’s that valuable. If you are involved in the advocacy field, this is the event to attend for best practices and innovative ideas.”
— Jeff Michaud, Head of Advocacy & Policy Programs, eBay, Inc.
“I was a first-time attendee in 2018, and I walked away from the conference energized and full of new ideas. Each session gave me the opportunity to hear from experts and interact with my peers. The lessons I learned paid immediate dividends by giving me actionable ways to improve the public relations and grassroots strategies at our association. The conference is also the gift that keeps on giving. The numerous networking opportunities allowed me to make connections with folks from across the spectrum, connections that I reach out to on a regular basis for advice or new ideas.”
— Sean Brown, Vice President, Communications, Federation of American Hospitals
This year, we are partnering with the Austin Diaper Bank in honor of Hannah Levy, a partner at Beekeeper Group and a new mom, who passed away unexpectedly last year. The Austin Diaper Bank is a local nonprofit organization that provides diapers to families living in poverty in their community. Please consider making a donation in her name.
Put your brand front and center at The Advocacy Conference. As a sponsor, you’ll have the opportunity to network with peers, reinforce existing relationships and develop new partnerships. Speaking and branded collateral opportunities are available.
Becoming a sponsor is simple:
1. Download the sponsor packet and review our offerings
2. Fill out the form to indicate your selections
3. Email your form back to us
January 7 – Cancellation deadline for full refund
January 24 – No refunds or credits will be granted on or after this date
Please visit our Conference Policies page for a full breakdown.
This conference is eligible for: 6 credits towards the Certificate in PAC & Grassroots Management, 6 credits towards the Certificate in Government Relations and Lobbying.
Register
By December 14 – early-bird price
Members: $1,599 | Non-Members: $1,799
After December 14
Members: $1,899 | Non-Members: $2,099
More Registration Info
** As a Signature Event, this program is not included in Membership Plus.
Additional discounts may apply to this meeting. These discounts may include:
For multiple registrants: A discount will apply to the standard member/nonmember rate for organizations that register two or more participants for the same meeting. The first registrant will pay full price, the second participant will receive a 10% discount and each additional registrant will receive a 15% discount. To register multiple participants, you may either register online or download the print and fax registration form.
Member discounts: Discounts for members are applied to all Public Affairs Council meetings.
Nonmembers: Join the Council today, and save by registering at the member rate and using the $200 new-member coupon you will receive. Contact our membership team for information about joining the Council.
Questions? Contact us at 202.787.5950.
January 7 – Cancellation deadline for full refund
January 24 – No refunds or credits will be granted on or after this date
Please visit our Conference Policies page for a full breakdown.
Questions
Laura Brigandi
Manager of Digital and Advocacy Practice
202.787.5976 | [email protected]