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National PAC Conference

February 23 – 26, 2025 | JW Marriott, Austin, TX.

The most comprehensive program available for PAC professionals

The PAC Conference combines essential skills training with cutting-edge sessions on fundraising, political strategy, communications and compliance. In such a niche profession, having a community to troubleshoot challenges and share successes with is vital. With over 300 PAC professionals in attendance, you’ll find your people here.

Learn More

Who should attend?

  • PAC professionals looking to explore new trends and the best ways to raise money, stay compliant and be strategic in the use of PAC funds
  • Compliance staff charged with making sure the PAC follows all rules and regulations
  • Grassroots and advocacy staff interested in how PAC strategy fits in with their efforts
  • Senior public affairs executives who direct political and legislative programs
  • PAC board members or champions seeking training and motivation
  • Legal counsel looking for a stronger understanding of the unique issues facing PACs
  • Lobbyists trying to find ways that the PAC can support their efforts
  • Human resources, finance or marketing staff who have PAC-related responsibilities
  • Corporations or associations looking to launch a new PAC 

What sets this conference apart from others?

As the professional association for the field, our mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide tools and resources that enable public affairs executives and managers to achieve their business and professional goals. To that end, we offer practical conference sessions that are led by leading practitioners in the field, ample opportunities for networking, and exchange of resource materials. In addition, we offer an unbiased perspective to help you to maximize the effectiveness of your program.

The following sessions will be available as pre-recorded content  for attendees to watch on-demand.

Pre-Recorded Session: Association Compliance Overview (View on Demand)

Association PAC management means unique compliance considerations.  Hear from an election law expert who will provide a comprehensive legal overview for association PACs. This session will cover basic campaign finance rules for operating a PAC, defining and soliciting your eligible class and other topics specific to association PACs with a particular focus on prior approval, including working with affiliate organizations.

Carol Laham
Partner
Wiley Rein LLP

Pre-Recorded Session: Corporate Compliance Overview (View On Demand)

Ensuring your PAC operations, communications and activities are compliant is the foundation of a successful program.  An election law expert will provide a comprehensive legal overview for corporate PACs. This session will cover corporate PAC-specific considerations such as talking about the PAC in meetings, payroll deductions in addition to basic campaign finance rules for operating a PAC, and defining and soliciting your eligible class.

Ken Gross
Senior Political Law Counsel and Consultant
Akin

Hotel / Travel

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Update Regarding Our Group Room Block

As of our February 14 cut-off, our group room block is CLOSED. As of this date, the hotel still had availability, but the group room rate is no longer available. If you’d like to check on the hotel’s availability and current rates, please contact the hotel directly at (954) 525-4000 or via their website.

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 February 23 if a room becomes available. After that date, the wait list will be released.

Hotels Near the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach:*

*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.

Map
Local Airports
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 6 miles; 17 min drive
  • Miami International Airport (MIA): 32 miles; 43 min drive
  • Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): 50 miles away; 1 hr drive
Hotel Room Reservations

GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING GROUP ROOM BLOCKS
Once the rooming block is full or after the cut-off date (whichever comes first), you might 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.

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
3030 Holiday Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Reservations: Reserve Online / 800-222-6543 (when calling, identify yourself as a “Public Affairs Council” registrant to secure the group rate)
Room Rate: $339+ per night plus a resort fee* of $20+ per night
Cut-off date: February 13, 2024
Check-in: 4 p.m.
Check-out: 11 a.m.
* Please note that the resort fee has been discounted for the group, and you can disregard any other fees listed.

More Information on the Resort Fee

Please note that resort fee inclusions are subject to change. Currently, this charge includes the following:

  • High-Speed Internet in Guest Room
  • Two Beach Chairs Per Day
  • Two Resort Welcome Beverages Per Stay
  • One-Hour Rental of Non-Motorized Water Sports Equipment Per Day for up to Two Guests (Weather Permitting) – Select From Skim Board, Paddleboard, Boogie Board or Kayak. Age Restrictions Apply.
  • Two Fitness Classes Per Day. Visit The Spa for Class Schedule (Reservation Required)
  • 90 Minute Tennis Court Use, Includes Racket and Balls, Per Day. (Reservations Required)
  • One Hour Use of Beach Games Daily – Giant Jenga, Connect 4, Bocce Ball, Horse Shoes

PARKING
The rates listed below are subject to change by the hotel without prior notice.

  • Onsite parking: $48.15 daily
  • Valet parking: $53.50 daily

AIRPORTS
The closest and most convenient airport to the hotel is the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) which is ~5 miles from the hotel. Estimated taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is ~$20 one way. The hotel can also be accessed via Miami International Airport (MIA) which is ~32 miles away or Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) which is ~50 miles away. Please visit the hotel’s website here for more information.

Outstanding PAC Awards

These awards, presented at the National PAC Conference, recognize outstanding initiatives that showcase creativity and effectiveness in promoting increased financial or member engagement in the PAC.

Learn More

Outstanding PAC Award Winners

2023 Outstanding PAC Award Winners:
Association Winner: Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association PAC (OCWGA-PAC)
Corporate Winner: Home Depot PAC

2022 Outstanding PAC Award Winners:
Association Winner: American Academy of Ophthalmology (OPHTHPAC)
Corporate Winner: Sempra (SEEPAC)

2021 Outstanding PAC Award Winners:
Association Winner: American Society of Anesthesiologists PAC (ASAPAC)
Corporate Winner: Dell PAC

Testimonials

“The conference is an excellent opportunity to learn about best practices from colleagues in the industry and spur new ideas that can be replicated in your own company.”
— Monica Mueller, vice president, government affairs, Motorola Solutions Inc. 

“The conference has an impressive lineup of speakers to address contemporary topics as well as timely subjects that highlight challenges we are all facing. Participants are able to connect and gain knowledge to advance their PAC and be aware of what is happening in the PAC community.”
— Bridget Sewell, assistant vice president, political engagement & PAC, American Property Casualty Insurance Association

“Attending the PAC Conference is one of the best ways for me to meet other PAC professionals and find out what the latest techniques in fundraising are. Since I don’t sit in Washington, D.C., it is vitally important for me to have the chance to network and hear the newest trends to make sure my fundraising campaigns don’t fall behind the times.”
— Joanne Woodward, JDPAC administrator, John Deere

“Each session I attended had at least one takeaway I felt I could use in my program.”
– June Pennell, PAC manager, The Williams Companies, Inc.

2024 Advisory Committee

Adrienne Marks, Visa Inc.
Alyssa Clevenger, ICSC
Amanda Crump, Deloitte LLP
Amie H. Adams, Dunn Associates
Angela M. Chiappetta, *Council Friends & Family
Anthony Perez, Association for Clinical Oncology
Ashley Cravens, Illinois Farm Bureau
Barry Burkart, Wyoming Hospital Association
Betsy Tower, GE Healthcare
Bobbie Clinton, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Caitlin Demchuk, Walgreens Boots Alliance
Caitlin Donahue, Seven Star Strategies
Carol A. Laham, Wiley Rein LLP
Christina M. Perez, Huntington Ingalls Industries
Christina Meyer-Garfinkle, Wakefern Food Corporation
Claire McDonough, Quorum
Conor Noonan, American Veterinary Medical Association
Dakota Jackson, National Retail Federation
Daniel O’Brien, Fidelity Investments
Danielle Branch, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon
Elizabeth Bartz, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Elizabeth Demorest, American College of Emergency Physicians
Ellen Locke, UnitedHealth Group
Ellie A. Shaw, American Express Company
Eric Blackwell, NRG Energy, Inc.
Erica Sander, Aristotle International
Erik Koeppen, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Gary S. Whidby, Caterpillar Inc.
Haley Brown, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Jamie Bell, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Jason McGonigle, Public Affairs Support Services
Jennifer S. Pugh, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Jennifer Wright, Booz Allen Hamilton
Jessica Cardenas, National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.
Jessica Hamilton, Airbus Group
Jill Johnson, Prudential Financial, Inc.
John D. Mason, Altria Client Services Inc.
Jonathan Spontarelli, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Kara Stewart, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Kelly Eaton, Aristotle International
Kevin Cameron, American Land Title Association
Laura Davis, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Lauren Alejandro, Caterpillar Inc.
Lisa Strikowsky Gillman, T-Mobile
Mark Reilly, Quorum
Matt Longacre, Conference of State Bank Supervisors
Melissa Miles, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Mica Evans Hider, American Chemistry Council
Michael E. Giblin, American Medical Association
Mina Patel, Tyson Foods, Inc.
Morgan Hendon, Trinity Industries, Inc.
Nicole Woodruff, Altria Client Services LLC
Rebecca Jami, ACCESS Marketing Services
Riley Quinlan, Republic Services, Inc.
Shari Dexter, American Hospital Association
Shawn P. Sullivan, Peraton Inc.
Shawn R Danner, State Farm Insurance Companies
Stephen Wojnaroski, Highmark Inc.

Sponsorship

Put your brand front and center at the National PAC 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

Become a Sponsor
Cancellation Policy

February 12 – Cancellation deadline for full refund

February 29 – 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

Register

By January 18 – early-bird price
Members: $1,599 | Non-Members: $1,799

After January 18
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/non-member 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.

Non-members: 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.

February 12 – Cancellation deadline for full refund

February 29 – No refunds or credits will be granted on or after this date

Please visit our Conference Policies page for a full breakdown.

Questions

Victoria Ellington
Senior Manager, Political Engagement
202.787.5975 | [email protected]