OUR
TEAM
75 YEARS
OF COMBINED
EXPERIENCE
Our experience is unmatched. From brand development, sponsorship sales and negotiation, strategic communications, broadcast and digital media, content creation and government relations – our leadership team has more than 75 years of combined experience and success at the highest levels of intercollegiate and Olympic sport. NIL has been a way of life for Olympic-sport athletes and National Governing Bodies for more than two decades, and our partners have a proven record of success in helping athletes, rightsholders and corporate partners balance their shared interests and opportunities.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
BOARD OF ADVISORS
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
DR. BRANDON MARTIN
RISHI
NARAYAN
Founder & Managing Owner, Underground Printing
Lecturer, University of Michigan
Co-Owner, Association Football Club Ann Arbor
​
Topics:
Entrepreneurship,
Licensing, Apparel Industry,
E-commerce
STEVE
RAQUEL
President, IOV Media Agency
Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois; Marketing executive - McDonald's Corporation; U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Comm.
​
Topics:
Social Media, Digital Media, Advertising, Brand Marketing, Athlete Marketing
JOHN
REGISTER
CEO, Inspired Communications Int'l; Paralympic Silver Medalist;
Combat Veteran; Keynote & TEDx Speaker; Track & Field athlete at the Univ. of Arkansas
​
Topics:
Public Speaking, Change Management, Leadership, Overcoming Adversity
ROBERT
SMITH
Senior Vice President /
Chief Operating Officer,
Old Hat Creative;
Third Degree Advertising;
Ackerman McQueen
​
Topics:
Sports Marketing,
Strategy, Market Research,
Data Analytics
KATIE
THOMPSON
Sports & Ticketing, Google
Former Asst. Athletic Director, Marketing, Univ. of Tulsa
Former Director of Marketing, Univ. of Maryland
​
Topics:
Brand Marketing,
Search Marketing,
Online Marketing
JOANNA
TODD
Head Worldwide Bus. Dev., Accommodation & Lodging -
Amazon Web Services;
Former VP Global Partnerships & Strategic Alliances, Marriott Int'l; Board Member, Children's Miracle Network Foundation
Topics: Sponsorship, Partnership Marketing, Athletes, Artists & Celebrity Influencers/Brand Ambassadors (What a Sponsor Wants), Branding, Marketing Strategy
JAMAAL
WALTON
Assoc Athletic Dir for External Ops, College of Charleston
Former Dir of Marketing, University of Alabama; Asst Dir of Marketing, Univ of Oklahoma
​
Topics:
Branding, Revenue Generation, Athletics Marketing, Student-Athlete Experience