Geoff Freeman

Geoff Freeman (born 1974) is president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.[1] He was previously the president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association,[2][3] and, prior to that, the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA).

Geoff Freeman
Born1974 (age 48–49)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of California at Berkeley
Occupation(s)President and CEO
EmployerU.S. Travel Association
SpousePatricia (Tita) Thompson Freeman
Children3

Career

Freeman's early jobs included working for The Heritage Foundation;[4] Freddie Mac;[5] and the American Association of Health Plans.[6] From 2004 to 2006, he was a vice president at APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs firm.[7]

In 2006, Freeman became the executive director of a new organization, Discover America Partnership,[8] an advocacy group working to increase the number of foreign visitors to the U.S.[9] In late 2007, that organization, the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), and the Travel Business Roundtable announced their intent to merge. Discover America Partnership was absorbed by the TIA[10] and became the U.S. Travel Association.[11]

Freeman worked at the U.S. Travel Association until 2013[12] In October 2011 he was promoted from senior vice president of public affairs to executive vice-president and chief operating officer.[13] During his time at the association, it nearly doubled its resources. He frequently appeared in the media and testified before Congress.[14] Freeman also spearheaded a panel, led by former Homeland Security Secutary, Tom Ridge that created the TSA PreCheck program, as a way to improve security and the travel experience.

In July 2013, Freeman became president and CEO of the AGA.[15] His leadership resulted in the legalization of sports betting in May 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports wagering.[16]

On August 1, 2018, Freeman left the AGA to become the president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association,[3] now the Consumer Brands Association.[2] Freeman launched a campaign to transform the Consumer Brands Association into an advocacy organization for the food, beverage and consumer products industry. In his last three years with the origination, revenues increased by nearly 50 percent.[1]

In June 2022, Freeman resigned from the Consumer Brands Association to become president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.[17]

Personal

Freeman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.[6] His wife, Tita Thompson Freeman, was the senior vice president of communications and public affairs at the Business Roundtable.[18] They reside in Arlington, Virginia,[19] with their three children.[20]

References
  1. Hurtig, Kristina (June 22, 2022). "Consumer Brands CEO Geoff Freeman Resigns". Winsight Grocery Business. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  2. "Head of grocery group talks virus, shopping". Finance & Commerce. Associated Press. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  3. Velotta, Richard N. (June 4, 2018). "Geoff Freeman to leave American Gaming Association in August". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. Geoffrey Freeman; Ronald D. Utt (March 26, 1998). "Why Highway Demonstration Projects Should Not Penalize States". Heritage Foundation.
  5. Jaimy Lee (April 6, 2009). "Freeman charts a new course for travel industry". PRWeek US. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  6. "Travel association executive will lead US gambling lobby, seek consensus on Internet wagering". Associated Press. April 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  7. "Geoff Freeman" (PDF). U.S. Travel Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  8. Jeffrey H. Birnbaum (February 17, 2008). "Mickey Goes to Washington". Washington Post.
  9. Ted McKenna (September 25, 2006). "Discover America project launches campaign". P.R. Week.
  10. Statement by Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of Travel Business Roundtable, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of the Travel Industry Association and Stevan Porter, Chairman of the Discover America Partnership (November 14, 2007). "Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), Travel Industry Association (TIA) And Discover America Partnership Announce Intent To Combine Forces, Become Single Organization In 2009". Retrieved October 12, 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. George Dooley (August 4, 2008). "TIA May Select New Name". TravelAgentCentral.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  12. Howard Stutz (September 15, 2013). "New head of American Gaming Association notes industry's competitiveness". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  13. Andrea Doyle (October 21, 2011). "U.S. Travel Promotes Geoff Freeman". Incentive Magazine. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  14. Howard Stutz (April 11, 2013). "Travel group executive is top choice to head American Gaming Association". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  15. Brian Pempus (July 9, 2013). "Gambling Business: New President Of American Gaming Association Takes Over". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  16. Steve Tetreault (July 7, 2013). "After 18 years as gaming's face in D.C., Fahrenkopf steps aside". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  17. Jainchill, Johanna (June 22, 2022). "U.S. Travel Association names Geoff Freeman CEO: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  18. Virgil Dickson (February 16, 2012). "Tita Freeman to exit NRF for Business Roundtable". PRWeek US. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  19. Chad Holloway (August 29, 2013). "AGA President Geoff Freeman Hopes to Capitalize on New Runner Runner Motion Picture". PokerNews. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  20. Allen J. Sheinman (October 1, 2010). "Coffee With Geoffrey Freeman". Meetings & Conventions. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
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