AGENDA

Registration: 8:30 AM

President's Welcome: 9:00 AM

Government Update featuring John Scott Sponsored by Delta Airlines

Duty of Care Panel featuring Cassie Walker, Ted Cullen, Angela Jones, Russ Hyde and Derek Onisk Sponsored by Explore Seattle Southside

Connections That Count featuring our Connector Spotlight Sponsor Justin Schuster Sponsored by SPOTNANA

Breakout Sessions Featuring Sarah Murdoch Sponsored by Turkish Airlines and Rachael Riggs Sponsored by Enterprise Mobility

EXPO Hall & AM Break Sponsored by BizTripAI

Current Confirmed Exhibitors: Condor, SAP Concur, Delta Airlines, Explore Seattle Southside, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Icelandair, Turkish Airlines, FCM, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle, Enterprise Mobility, Hertz, Washington Athletic Club, Puget Sound Hospitality Brands, Envoy Global, Azul Hospitality, China Airlines, Butler Seattle & Events, BizTripAI, Spotnana

Keynote Speaker Bernadette McClelland / Lunch Sponsored by Condor

Mainstage Session featuring Suzanne Neufang, GBTA CEO Sponsored by FCM

Buyers & Suppliers Buzz featuring Sarah Martino Sponsored by Alaska Airlines

Breakout Sessions Featuring Sarah Murdoch Sponsored by Turkish Airlines and Rachael Riggs Sponsored by Enterprise Mobility

EXPO Hall & PM Break Sponsored by Avis Budget Group

Policy Panel Sponsored by United Airlines

Shark Tank Sponsored by SAP Concur

Closing Remarks : 5:00 PM

Reception: 5:05 PM – 6:30 PM Sponsored by Puget Sound Hospitality 

EVENT PARKING SPECIAL DAY OF ONLY at Hotel Parking Garage (LAZ Parking): $25+tax Please keep ticket, an event barcode will be shared at registration. 15 Hours Max parking.

🛬 Join GBTA Puget Sound & Oregon Chapters for Education Day 2026! 🌲

Education Day will be so much fun! We are going to hear from the experts and dive into the most pressing topics shaping our industry right now. Whether you are looking to update your travel programs, spark new ideas, or just catch up with fellow travel professionals, this full-day event is the place to be.

We are packing the agenda with incredible insights!

Morning Sessions:

• Government Update: Why Our CONNECTION COUNTS with Government Affairs

  We are excited to welcome John Scott, Senior Associate with Cornerstone Government Affairs

  

  Bio: John Scott is a Senior Associate at Cornerstone Government Affairs, headquartered in Washington, D.C., where he helps clients make sense of a policy landscape being reshaped by AI and rapidly moving political pendulum swings. John manages the Transportation & Infrastructure / Tech & Telecommunications practice groups. Since joining the firm in 2022, John has built a reputation for connecting people across the aisle, a skill honed early in his career coordinating a bipartisan Pediatric Trauma Caucus panel with NASCAR driver Richard Childress and Representatives from both parties. Prior to Cornerstone, John founded and ran a commercial and residential moving company based out of Charlotte, NC. That experience, paired with his economics and philosophy background from Wake Forest University, shapes how he turns fast-moving technology and political change into relationships, and policy outcomes, that count for his clients. An avid traveler, John has visited nearly 20 countries in his humanitarian and personal travels. John has managed the policy priorities and scheduling for the last four GBTA Legislative Summits. 

  • • Session Overview:

      The Government and Business Travel – how do we really work together to advocate for business travel friendly interests, and what impact can our industry have on the decisions that are made? John Scott has the answers. Join us as he unpacks the Washington and Oregon state economic profiles, the implications of an upcoming lame-duck session, and the potential shift in majority control following the midterm elections and the impact to the local and state business travel community — plus a look at the economic and geopolitical landscape. Prepare to walk away knowing how to practically make a connection that counts.

• Duty of Care Panel: Hear from Duty of Care companies on how to get your travelers safely from door to door back home safely

  Hear from Cassie Walker, Senior Business Development Manager with International SOS (ISOS) along with Ted Cullen, Global Travel Manager with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Russ Hyde, Vice President of Sales, North America with Cigna Healthcare, and Angela Jones, Director Cabin Safety with Alaska Airlines - Moderated by PSBTA's own Derek Onisk, Director of Sales with the Palihotel Seattle and PSBTA Government Relations Chair.

Bio: Cassie Walker is a Senior Business Development Manager at International SOS, where she has spent the past nine years driving growth across enterprise organizations. Based in Seattle, she specializes in helping global companies protect their workforce through integrated medical, security, and risk management solutions. Cassie is known for her ability to connect strategy with execution—partnering cross-functionally across marketing, product, medical, and operations teams to deliver tailored solutions that resonate at the executive level. She regularly engages with C-suite leaders, positioning International SOS as a trusted advisor and advancing thought leadership around workforce resilience, executive protection, and global health security. Throughout her tenure, she has led high-impact growth initiatives, developed data-driven programs to optimize performance, and played a key role in expanding relationships with both new and existing clients. Her work spans industries, with a strong focus on aligning International SOS capabilities to the evolving risk landscape facing multinational organizations. Prior to International SOS, Cassie held business development and marketing roles at Zulily and Expedia, Inc., where she built a strong foundation in strategic partnerships, customer engagement, and go-to-market execution. Cassie brings a collaborative, results-driven approach to her work and is passionate about helping organizations safeguard their people and operations in an increasingly complex world.

Bio: Ted Cullen has spent nearly 30 years in business travel and currently serves as Global Travel Manager for Bio-Rad Laboratories, leading its global travel program. He’s also a Director with TAMS, where he helps lead initiatives including the Learning Lab, TalentBridge and university partnerships focused on bringing fresh ideas and new talent into the industry. Ted has built award-winning travel programs, received multiple industry honors, and—after three decades in travel—is still known for asking, “Why are we still doing it that way?”

Bio: Russ Hyde serves as Vice President of Global Sales, Americas for Cigna Global Health Benefits, where he leads high-performing sales teams across the United States and Canada. Through strategic leadership, strong partner collaboration, and a customer-centric approach, Russ has played a key role in accelerating growth and expanding Cigna's market presence in the global expatriate and internationally mobile employee benefits space.

Since joining Cigna Global Health Benefits in 2007, Russ has worked closely with multinational organizations, consultants, and brokers to develop innovative health and wellness solutions that meet the complex needs of globally mobile workforces. His expertise spans business development, client relationship management, consultative selling, and the design and implementation of global benefits strategies that drive value for employers while supporting the health, well-being, and security of employees and their families worldwide.

Recognized for building strong partnerships and delivering sustainable growth, Russ is passionate about helping organizations navigate the evolving global healthcare landscape while achieving their talent mobility and employee benefits objectives.

Russ resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and three children and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Point Loma Nazarene University.

Bio: Angela Jones is Director of Cabin Safety at Alaska Airlines, where she leads cabin safety programs, safety investigations, and operational risk management initiatives supporting both guests and flight attendants. With extensive experience in aviation safety and emergency response, Angela works closely with operational partners, including MedAire, to ensure crew members have the resources and support needed to manage onboard medical situations and care for guests throughout their travel journey.

Breakout Sessions:

• Pro Packing Tips: Learn how to pack light and right from a local Edmonds, WA expert Sarah Murdoch from “Adventures with Sarah”

Bio: Sarah Murdoch spent 20 years researching and contributing to Rick Steves guidebooks and co-authored the first edition of Rick Steves Sicily, which received an Honorable Mention from the Society of American Travel Writers. Alongside her guiding work, she has built a strong audience through her writing (found on her website and via Substack), lectures, YouTube channel and across social media, using all platforms to foster a community of curious, engaged travelers. During the pandemic, she founded Guide Collective, an online travel magazine and collaborative network for professional guides. Her popular lecture, “Packing Light and Right,” has helped thousands of travelers simplify their luggage and travel more comfortably. Based in Seattle, Sarah spends several months each year abroad leading tours, researching new destinations, and continuing her work as a travel writer. When not on the road, she reads, knits, sews her own travel wardrobe, paints, gardens, cooks, and plans future journeys with her children, Lucca and Nicola.

• • Session Description: A former Rick Steves guidebook researcher and co-author of Rick Steves Sicily, Sarah is also known for her popular packing-focused insights and content helping travelers around the world streamline their journeys. Based in Seattle but often found exploring the world, Sarah brings passion, insight, and a love for culture to every tour she leads.

• Connections That Count: Turning Business Travel into Measurable Impact hear from Rachael Riggs, Vice President Meetings & Conventions at Visit Seattle

  

  Bio: Rachael Riggs is Vice President of Meetings & Conventions at Visit Seattle and a nationally recognized leader in event sustainability, destination partnerships, and community impact. With more than 25 years of experience at organizations including Maritz and Visit Seattle, she helps events create measurable value for host communities through local engagement, sustainability initiatives, and legacy-driven event design. Rachael is a recipient of PCMA Supplier of the Year, the Smart Women in Meetings Hall of Fame Award, and the inaugural Toyota Sustainability Award.

  • Session Description: Sustainability is rapidly reshaping how organizations manage business travel and events, influencing everything from supplier selection and travel policies to reporting requirements and stakeholder expectations. This session will provide business travel managers and event professionals with a practical understanding of the fundamentals of corporate sustainability, including the key drivers behind its growth and what it means for travel programs today.

    Attendees will learn how to align travel and meeting strategies with broader organizational goals by building stronger partnerships with sustainability, procurement, and executive leadership teams. Through real-world examples, actionable frameworks, and practical tools, participants will leave with clear steps they can apply immediately to demonstrate the value of business travel while advancing their organization's sustainability objectives.

Keynote Speakers:

• Connection is a Decision - Driven by Choice, Not Chance: Bernadette McClelland will teach us how to leverage the human element in an AI driven world! 

• The 2026 Business Travel Index: An exclusive look at the numbers with GBTA's CEO, Suzanne Neufang. 

Bio: Suzanne Neufang is CEO of the Global Business Travel Association, the business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. She oversees the association's mission to provide value in the form of community, learning and advocacy to industry members and partners worldwide. She is a transformation-focused executive who has successfully led teams and product/service innovation through times of change—"connecting dots" across geographies, functions, people and results. She's held leadership positions within the travel industry for the past 20 years including HRS, Sabre and Travelocity, as well as for tech and telecom industry giants Intuit, Verizon and GTE. Neufang and her husband live in New York City and have two grown sons. An avid traveler, she has visited nearly 40 countries in her professional and personal travels and flown nearly 3 million air miles.

Afternoon Sessions:

• "Buyers & Suppliers" Buzz: A rambunctious round of interactive fun—learn where you rank on the travel industry's hottest takes featuring Sarah Martino with DirectTravel!

• Travel Policy Panel: Buyers will share the 411 on what policies are actually effective for driving value, increasing compliance, and balancing the employee experience.

  • Hear from industry buyers Mathias Smyser (Head of Supplier & Category Management at Amazon), Ronda Dean (Travel Manager at F5, Inc.) and supplier partner Eric Bailey (Owner & Managing Director at Purposeful Travel Solutions) moderated by Adam Braun (CEO at Clarasight)

  

  Bio: Ronda Dean is the U.S. Travel Manager at F5 Inc., a Seattle-based company specializing in data security. At F5, Ronda oversees management of key travel supplier relationships, contract negotiations, CVENT administration and traveler communications. Ronda’s professional background includes experience in travel management company operations, account management and business development; international airline sales; travel program and policy consultation; booking tool assessment and implementation; and meetings & event planning. Ronda has held numerous leadership positions within GBTA; most recently she was the President of the Chapter President Council, prior to that she served two terms as the GBTA Oregon chapter president. She has also contributed to the chapter as Director of Education, Director of Events, Vice-President, Secretary and currently Director or Education.

  

  Bio: Mathias Smyser is the Head of Supplier & Category Management at Amazon, where he leads the Supplier Category Strategy team within the Travel & Events organization. Based in Seattle, he oversees global travel supplier negotiations, technology partnerships, and data-driven cost optimization initiatives across Amazon's business travel program. His work spans strategic sourcing, NDC adoption, total value analysis, Pan-Amazon alignment, and category management—driving measurable savings and influencing revenue at enterprise scale.

  
  

  Bio: Eric Bailey works as an advisor to corporate travel companies to define business strategies and opportunities, including Digital ID. He recently retired from the role of Director of Employee Travel at Microsoft, where he oversaw travel, payment and events planning for 180,000 employees. In 2018, and again in 2022, he pulled together industry leaders to publish the Travel Manifesto and later the Purposeful Travel Platform with the goal of aligning suppliers and buyers to provide forward direction and insight for the industry.  In 2015, Eric was honored to be named Travel Manager of the Year by BTN. He was also among the Top 25 Influential Travel Executives in 2015 and 2018. Eric was inducted into the Business Travel Hall of Fame in 2023.

  

  Bio: Adam Braun is the Co-Founder & CEO of Clarasight, the AI Operating System for Corporate Travel that 25% of the largest programs in the BTN 100 use to bring trusted, unified data and measurable savings to their travel programs. By aggregating fragmented travel, expense, and business data into a single source of truth, then providing AI- powered reporting, insights and process automation, Clarasight enables enterprises representing more than $5B in T&E spend to drive savings, optimize suppliers, and recover 90% of their time. Braun is a 3x entrepreneur and NY Times bestselling author who also leads the Corporate Travel AI Network, a community of ~350 travel buyers that connect, learn and share how to successfully leverage AI across their travel programs.

  🦈 Shark Tank Battle🦈 

  We’re ending the day with an epic pitch competition! We are excited to welcome BizTripAl, Clarasight, Nowadays and Juno to the stage for an epic battle in Seattle!
  

  Nowadays: The Last Unmanaged Line in Your Travel Program

  

  

  Amy Yan is co-founder and COO of Nowadays, the AI platform for corporate meetings and events, where she leads sales and operations. She works with travel and procurement teams at companies including Airbnb, Nutrien, and BlackRock, to bring meetings spend under management. Before Nowadays, Amy was at Google and McKinsey. She co-founded Nowadays in 2023 with her sister, Anna Sun. Nowadays has won pitch competitions at the Business Travel Show in America, APAC, and Europe, taking both judges' choice and people's choice in America, and most recently won at GBTA VentureConnect.

  Air and hotel are under management. Meetings, at most companies, are not. They get booked over email by people who sit outside the travel program, at rates nobody negotiated. Nowadays is the AI platform that sources, negotiates, and contracts corporate meetings, bringing that spend and those supplier relationships back under the travel team. Companies including BlackRock, Airbnb, and Nutrien use it today. At one Fortune 500, a travel lead used Nowadays to surface $18M in meeting spend that had never touched the managed program.

  Juno: Reinventing Complex and Guest T&E for the Enterprise

  

  

  Connor Lawrence leads TMC partnerships at Juno and has been in the corporate travel industry for 10+ years, formerly leading travel partnerships at U.S. Bank and TravelBank. 

  Juno is a modern, AI-driven, all-in-one platform built to simplify the complex world of guest travel and expense management for enterprises. Our technology is purpose-built for the unique needs of non-profiled travelers—candidates, new-hires, contractors, HCPs, patients, interns, incentive trip winners, and other non-employees—who often fall outside traditional OBT & TMC systems. Juno works with several customers in the BTN 100.

  Clarasight: Helps enterprises bring travel, expense, policy, vendors, and emissions into one system—so teams can make better decisions and run better programs.

  

  

  Adam Braun is the Co-Founder & CEO of Clarasight, the AI Operating System for Corporate Travel that 25% of the largest programs in the BTN 100 use to bring trusted, unified data and measurable savings to their travel programs. By aggregating fragmented travel, expense, and business data into a single source of truth, then providing AI- powered reporting, insights and process automation, Clarasight enables enterprises representing more than $5B in T&E spend to drive savings, optimize suppliers, and recover 90% of their time. Braun is a 3x entrepreneur and NY Times bestselling author who also leads the Corporate Travel AI Network, a community of ~350 travel buyers that connect, learn and share how to successfully leverage AI across their travel programs.

  Clarasight is an AI-native data platform and operating system designed for enterprise Corporate Travel and Expense (T&E) management.

  The software unifies fragmented data across multiple external silos—such as travel management companies (TMCs), corporate card programs, expense platforms, and HR systems—into a single, consolidated data model. It is positioned as an "operating layer" rather than a replacement for existing booking or expense tools.

  BizTrip AI is an agentic, AI-powered corporate travel assistant that allows employees to search, book, and manage entire in-policy business trips using a single sentence.

  

  

  Tom Romary (Founder & CEO): Founder of Yapta (acquired by Coupa) and former executive at Deem and Alaska Airlines.

  BizTrip AI offers agentic artificial intelligence capabilities, including dynamic itinerary management, policy compliance, and continuous price tracking, enabling business travelers and corporations to reduce costs, improve booking efficiency, and enhance travel experiences.

Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate with the Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest business travel community 

Education Day 2026 Is Made Possible by our Sponsors:

CONNECTOR SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

AD-HOC SPONSORS

🏨 Host Hotel: Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square

Event Rate: $269 per night plus applicable taxes. The rate includes the STIA city fee of 2.3%. Room block reservations can be made by individual guests using the Booking Link - GBTA Education Day 2026 before the cutoff date of Monday, September 21^st 2026 (Contact Hotel Sales Team Directly for reservations after this cut-off date).  Any reservations requested after the cutoff date will be subject to availability and best available rate at the time. Guests will be subject to a late cancellation fee, equal to one night of room & tax, if any room is cancelled 7 days of the reservation check-in date.

📢 Attending the Joint Puget Sound & Oregon Chapters Education Day?

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