Geoff Freeman (born 1974) is president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. He was previously the president and CEO of the
Consumer Brands Association
The Consumer Brands Association (CBA), formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), is a United States-wide trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods (CPG).
The CBA represents companies that manufacture food, bever ...
, and, prior to that, the president and CEO of the
American Gaming Association
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is a United States gambling industry association. It was founded in 1994 with the goal of promoting, educating and lobbying on behalf of the gambling industry through education and advocacy. The AGA's offices ...
(AGA).
Career
Freeman's early jobs included working for the
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation (abbreviated to Heritage) is an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. that is primarily geared toward public policy. The foundation took a leading role in the conservative movement during the preside ...
;
Freddie Mac
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), commonly known as Freddie Mac, is a publicly traded, government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. and the American Association of Health Plans. From 2004 to 2006, he was a vice president at
APCO Worldwide
APCO Worldwide is a independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy. With 680 employees in 35 worldwide locations, it is also the fifth largest independently owned PR firm in the United States. Headquartered in W ...
, a global public affairs firm.
In 2006, Freeman became the executive director of a new organization, Discover America Partnership, an advocacy group working to increase the number of foreign visitors to the U.S. 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 and became the U.S. Travel Association.
Freeman worked at the U.S. Travel Association until 2013 In October 2011 he was promoted from senior vice president of public affairs to executive vice-president and chief operating officer. During his time at the association, it nearly doubled its resources. He frequently appeared in the media and testified before Congress. Freeman also spearheaded a panel, led by former Homeland Security Secutary,
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 26, 1945) is an American politician and author who served as the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security from 2001 to 2003, and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005. ...
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. His leadership resulted in the legalization of sports betting in May 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports wagering.
On August 1, 2018, Freeman left the AGA to become the president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, now the
Consumer Brands Association
The Consumer Brands Association (CBA), formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), is a United States-wide trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods (CPG).
The CBA represents companies that manufacture food, bever ...
. Freeman launched a campaign to transform the
Consumer Brands Association
The Consumer Brands Association (CBA), formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), is a United States-wide trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods (CPG).
The CBA represents companies that manufacture food, bever ...
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.
In June 2022, Freeman resigned from the Consumer Brands Association to become president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
Personal
Freeman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. His wife, Tita Thompson Freeman, was the senior vice president of communications and public affairs at the
Business Roundtable
The Business Roundtable (BRT) is a nonprofit lobbyist association based in Washington, D.C. whose members are chief executive officers of major United States companies. Unlike the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose members are entire businesses, BR ...
. They reside in
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county is ...