2008 Agenda
Tuesday, September 16
7:30 a.m.
Exhibits Open
Registration
Continental Breakfast hosted by
8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Richard Weiss, Publisher, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal
Wally Hayward, Chairman & CEO, Relay Worldwide
9:00 a.m.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi and author of best-selling books, "Peak Performance: Business Lessons from the World's Top Sports Organizations", "Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands" and "The Lovemarks Effect: Winning in the Consumer Revolution".
As a passionate fan, Kevin Roberts knows the world of sports first-hand. And, as a marketing professional, he knows the key to winning over consumers. Roberts has said the real challenge to winning in today's marketplace is how to attract and involve people, not just shout at them. To win "loyalty beyond reason" and achieve the status of a "lovemark", people have to love you and what you do. In his address, Roberts will show how brands become "lovemarks" through authentic emotional connections, compelling experiences and inspiration.
10:00 a.m.
Networking Break hosted by
10:30 a.m.
From Global to Local: Marketing Leaders Weigh-In on Where Sports Fit in the Big Picture
With so much in the headlines on big ticket sponsorship deals and worldwide branding, it's easy to lose sight of the impact sponsorship dollars are having on local markets. Dana Bates, Continental Airlines; Tim Ellis, VW USA; Bea Perez, Coca-Cola; Tim Schoen, Anheuser-Busch; Mark Ingall, Citibank; and Tony Pace, Subway will discuss the interplay between the macro strategies and micro execution and the results.
11:30 a.m.
Networking Luncheon hosted by
1:45 p.m.
Looking Back on the Summer Olympics: The USOC Perspective
In the wake of one of the most highly-promoted and visible Olympic Games ever, USOC Chief Marketer Rick Burton will present an insider's view on how the Beijing Games actually played out, and the impact on the USOC, its partners and the athletes.
2:30 p.m.
Beijing and Beyond: An Assessment from the Corporate Stakeholders
In this featured session, Peter Foss, GE; Dave Mingey, Johnson & Johnson; Mike Cunningham, Lenovo; John Lewicki, McDonald's; Scott McCune, Coca-Cola; and Terry Shorrock, Panasonic will take a look back at the recent Olympic Games -- and the challenges and unprecedented social circumstances leading up to them -- and assess the initial and anticipated impact on their brands. The discussion will also examine how their experiences in Beijing will influence their plans and activation for future Olympiads.
3:30 p.m.
Networking Break
4:00 p.m.
Aligning Athletes with Brands: Making the Best Match
Tom Shine, Reebok; Michael Robichaud, MasterCard Worldwide; Bob Cramer, glacéau; Russ Spielman, The Agency; Evan Morgenstein, Premier Management Group; Olympian Dara Torres and Ethan Green, WWE, will provide their point of view on what makes certain athletes more marketable than others, and who the rising stars are in sports. The discussion will examine -- among other items -- brand rationale behind the choice of athletes and activation costs to implement endorsement strategies.
5:00 p.m.
Networking Reception hosted by
Wednesday, September 17
7:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Richard Weiss, Publisher, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal
Rich Luker, Chief Strategy Officer, Relay Worldwide
8:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Neil Golden, Senior VP & CMO, McDonald's USA
Neil Golden, chief marketer of one of the world's most recognized brands, will discuss the role of sports in McDonald's marketing portfolio. Golden will share some of the company's U.S. initiatives and where sports fit into the overall strategy.
9:00 a.m.
Sponsor and Property Roundtable
Aligning the needs and objectives of both sponsors and sports properties is the key to the most successful sponsor/property relationships. Sponsors Ray Bednar, Bank of America; Tom Murphy, Sprint; Jeff Urban, Gatorade; and Judah Zeigler, Sharp, along with property representatives Matt Higgins, New York Jets; Mark Tatum, NBA; John Brody, MLB; Keith Wachtel, NHL; and Steve Phelps, NASCAR will discuss the current state of sponsor/property relations and how to make these partnerships work even better for both parties.
10:15 a.m.
One-on-One Interview
Jim Courier, Member, International Tennis Hall of Fame and Founding Partner, InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
In this one-on-one interview, former world number one professional tennis player and four Grand Slam singles titles winner Jim "The Rock" Courier will share personal anecdotes from his professional playing days as well as his perspective on athlete/sponsor relationships, the impact of the ATP anti-trust case and the overall health and future of the sport of tennis.
10:45 a.m.
Networking Break
11:00 a.m.
The Buy: What's the Best Spend in Sports?
Some of the most accomplished sponsorship negotiators in the business will weigh in on the cost/value relationship of sports sponsorships. Hear from Don Dixon, Autotrader.com; Wayne Hamilton, Holiday Inn; Mark Gibson, State Farm Insurance; Eric Johnson, ESPN Customer Marketing and Sales; Matt Pensinger, Relay Worldwide; and Tom McGovern, Optimum Sports as to where you can find the best deals in the sports space. And why these properties are such a good deal?
12:00 p.m.
FEATURED SESSION
Kevin Plank, CEO, Under Armour
Many industry insiders have speculated that Under Armour could be the one manufacturer to truly challenge Nike and erode its market share. So why Under Armour? Kevin Plank will discuss the growth of a company that he started in his grandmother's basement; the company's "brand first" mentality; commitment to both the athlete and product innovation. He will also discuss where he plans to take Under Armour from here.
12:30 p.m.
Program Concludes
