Professional Sports Team Summit
Speaker Biographies
ANDREA FAIRCHILD
VISA – SVP, Global Sponsorship Strategy
Andrea Fairchild, is the SVP, Global Sponsorship Strategy where she is responsible for leading Visa’s global sponsorship portfolio, including Olympics and Paralympics, FIFA and the NFL. Her focus is to deliver VISA’s brand, product and client objectives, in order to drive business and brand outcomes. She has held previous roles throughout the sports industry with Nike, Gatorade and Kobe Inc.
CHRISTINE BLAKE
CARDINAL CREDIT UNION – CEO
Christine Blake has more than thirty years of banking and financial experience and is currently president and CEO of Cardinal Credit Union, the not-for-profit financial cooperative serving Northeast Ohio, since August 2010. Under her leadership, Cardinal Credit Union has grown into a twelve-branch system with over $300 million in assets. With a strong commitment to financial education, Cardinal has partnerships in the community through its six high school-based branches where students learn money management skills through a curriculum created by Cardinal. Cardinal’s educational programs were recognized as recipients of two Des Jardins awards for youth and adult financial education. Blake’s leadership also was instrumental in Cardinal receiving a “Top Workplaces” award for three consecutive years and in becoming the official credit union of the Cleveland Browns for the past two years. Christine currently serves as a director on the Velera (formerly PSCU) and the EPCOR Board of Directors. Previously appointed by the governor of Ohio, Christine also served as the chairman of the Ohio Credit Union League. She supported more than 300 credit unions as an advocate for regulatory change and a steward for educational and professional development. Before joining Cardinal, Christine was a senior manager and CPA at KPMG and an adjunct professor at Lakeland Community College. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University. Blake resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with her husband and three children.
ROYCE NGIAM
First City Credit Union – Chief Marketing Officer
With over 25 years of experience in banking/credit unions and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of California, Riverside, Royce has an endless curiosity that has him exploring rabbit holes and boiling every ocean in an endless quest of trying to do cool stuff which has led to incredible opportunities like emceeing America’s Credit Unions MBD Conference, starting a podcast, paddle boarding with dolphins, garnering over 83 million photo views on Google Maps, selling stock art and earning Getty photo credit, and learning from some of the most amazing and talented people on the planet!
His day job involves driving creative development and strategies that embrace multiple platforms across the credit union’s audience through innovative solutions that are quantifiable, repeatable, and sustainable across all channels, over a dynamic and evolving consumer landscape. Until he can give it all up to ride motorcycles and raise black face sheep on the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland.
With over 25 years of experience in banking/credit unions and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing (although a closer look at his transcript would suggest an emphasis in Finance) from the University of California, Riverside in 2001, Royce has a desire to combine his proven business track record along with his passion for learning by working with like minded credit union professionals. His responsibilities include driving key relationships with Sponsor groups through partnerships and activations that create value, leveraging data insights to build effective media mix and advertising strategies, in addition to general marketing duties. Royce has extensive experience in creative development and strategies that embrace multiple platforms across the credit union’s audience through innovative solutions that are quantifiable, repeatable, and sustainable across all channels, over a dynamic and evolving consumer landscape. Additionally, he has been responsible for curating and visualizing a robust data depository while articulating and translating key data insights into actionable and measurable activities. His time within the credit union industry has reinforced his passion for marketing and his desire to be a thought leader while advancing his craft.
HUGH NORTON
VISA – Senior Director, Financial Education
Hugh Norton is Senior Director of Financial Education at Visa Inc. Norton manages the Center of Excellence for the company’s award-winning financial literacy education initiative which has run programs in more than 40 markets and 20 languages. Featuring the Practical Money Skills and Practical Business Skills, the global effort has engaged more than 96 million people worldwide.
As part of Visa’s Social Impact team, Norton supports the company’s community involvement and corporate responsibility efforts. He has been an active participant in the financial literacy community for years and makes regular appearances at regional and national financial literacy events to support various national consumer education initiatives to speak on behalf of Visa’s programs.
Prior to joining Visa, Norton worked in public relations for a wide range of financial services, entertainment and public affairs clients, including publicity for multiple New York Times best sellers and an Oscar-winning best picture. He currently lives in northern Virginia with his wife and children.
Norton sits on the National Board of Directors for the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy®, the Board of Directors for Call forAction and the advisory council for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
RYAN MYERS
Velera (Advisors Plus) – Sr. Vice President
Ryan Myers is currently a Senior Vice President at Velera responsible for its Advisors Plus consulting business, which has helped clients optimize payment portfolios for several years with industry leading knowledge and expansive marketing capabilities. Ryan is passionate about elevating the performance of community financial institutions through the Advisors Plus brand by connecting them with experts in credit and deposit products, fraud, digital banking, FinTech partnerships, and more. Ryan most recently served as the Chief Innovation Officer of a startup in the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry designing innovative lending solutions on behalf of banks and credit unions. Prior to this role, he was a consultant at Cornerstone Advisors where he facilitated strategic planning and led large engagements specializing in operational efficiency and financial technology. Previously, Ryan managed consumer products and loan strategy teams at Bank of America for 12 years. He earned his MBA and M.S. in Information Management from the W.P. Carey School of Business as well as a B.S. in Computer Science at Arizona State University.
NATHAN TURNER
NORTHWEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION – SVP, Marketing
Nathan Turner is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Northwest Federal Credit Union, where he leads the development of innovative marketing strategies and partnerships. With a focus on community engagement and brand awareness, Nathan has successfully cultivated impactful partnerships, including a high-profile naming rights deal with the Washington Commanders. Before his current role, Nate worked in marketing and sponsorships for both the Washington Commanders and the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. He also has extensive experience in collegiate athletics, having worked at the University of Louisville, Duke University, and Tulane University, where he played a key role in driving brand visibility and community engagement.
TIM MARTIN
Gallagher Marketing Agency – Founder & Managing Principal
Tim Martin is founder and Managing Principal of Gallagher Marketing Agency, a boutique partnership marketing agency servicing brand clients across a myriad industries to help effectively and efficiently drive their partnership marketing investments. Over the course of a 20+ year career in sponsorship marketing, Martin has worked for clients in industries from beer, to banking, to butt wipes. Immediately prior to launching GMA 2012, he was Vice Presenting of Sponsorships for PNC Bank.
LEXIE SIDNEY
Genesco Sports Enterprises – Sr. Director, Corporate Consulting
Lexie Sidney has over a decade of experience in professional sports across partnerships, marketing and community relations. Her experience spans roles in the NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS/NWSL and agency work.
As a Sr. Director of Corporate Consulting with Genesco Sport Enterprises (GSE), she currently manages a client roster negotiating & activating league and club partnership deals, as well as local naming rights and patch partnerships. Prior to joining GSE, Lexie held a variety of positions with professional teams. She oversaw the Partnership Marketing team for the Detroit Lions, and held Marketing positions with the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Dynamo and Dash and Atlanta Braves.
A native of Indianapolis, and proud Indiana University alumna, Lexie now resides in the Washington DC area with her husband, daughters and rescue pup.
STEVE WEINSTEIN
WEWS Cleveland – Vice President & General Manager
Steve is currently the Vice President and General Manager at WEWS in Cleveland and has worked for Scripps in various capacities including Vice President and General Manager of KERO/KZKC duopoly in Bakersfield, CA, News Director at KJRH in Tulsa OK, and News Operations Manager at WMAR in Baltimore. He began his career as a commercial production videographer at WBFF in Baltimore and joined their news department as a photojournalist several years later. He ascended to the Chief Photographer for his first leadership opportunity.
Steve has won multiple Emmy Awards for news photography, producing and most recently Station Excellence. He has been named one of Radio and Television Business Report’s top 20 local TV leaders for two years in a row. Steve and his team have been the television partner with the Cleveland Browns for the past 10 seasons.
JACK BIRCH
SPONSORSHIP SOLVED – Consultant
Mr. Birch was born in Washington DC and grew up in College Park MD. He attended Duke University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He then served four years in the Air Force as an intelligence officer, leaving as a captain. He started in the sports marketing business in 1988 with Advantage International, marketing athletes to brands and advertising agencies. While at Advantage, Mr. Birch helped with the development and growth of their event management and property representation businesses. Before leaving Advantage/Octagon, Mr. Birch was Executive Vice President and Managing Director, in charge of Octagon’s marketing business for North America. He joined Woolf Associates in 2001 as President and CEO. He presently consults for the NBA, the NFL and the NHL, traveling to teams and teaching them exactly why and how sponsorship works and how to best use it to help partners succeed. Mr. Birch also consults for and helps design research studies for one of the sponsorship industry’s oldest and most recognized customized research companies, SRi. Mr. Birch has help build sponsorship programs for many successful brands including: Cadillac, American Express, Claritin, AIG, IBM, Time Magazine, Nabisco, Celebrex, and the LG Group. He’s taught 65 professional sports teams, 70 colleges and countless brands. Mr. Birch is married and lives in Rowayton, CT. He still loves playing, watching, talking and reading about sports.
JIM POND & MATT MAGUY
JXM – Co-Founders
Jim Pond (left) and Matt Maguy (right), co-founders of JXM, are at the forefront of redefining digital marketing for financial brands—combining bold strategy, advanced targeting, and an unwavering focus on maximizing every marketing dollar. With a deep understanding of digital marketing strategies, they have ideas that help credit unions turn professional and college sports partnerships into high-impact digital campaigns that drive measurable growth.
At this exclusive gathering in San Francisco, Jim and Matt will unveil cutting-edge strategies to transform your sponsorship into a powerhouse for member engagement. From leveraging data-driven paid media to crafting campaigns that resonate with fans inside and outside the stadium, they’ll show you how to integrate digital marketing into your sports partnership to maximize returns.
This isn’t just theory—it’s a look at the strategies and tactics that can propel your brand to leadership in competitive markets.
Janet Brumfield
CEO and Founder/IdealPR+
Janet Brumfield is the founder and CEO of Ideal PR+, a boutique public relations firm specializing in amplifying brands through impactful, results-driven strategies. Before launching her firm, Janet led corporate communications for Verizon’s global business unit for over a decade, where she played a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the company’s reputation.
With deep expertise in PR strategy, campaign planning, and integrated communications, Janet has collaborated with some of the world’s most respected brands, including DSW, Shell Chemical Company, Stanley Steemer, and CompuServe. Known for her innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence, Janet consistently challenges conventional thinking to drive visibility and growth for her clients, delivering creative solutions tailored to their unique goals.
Tom Wyatt
Sr. Director of Corporate Partnerships,
Cleveland Browns & Haslam Sports Group
Tom Wyatt is a 20-year Sponsorship Industry professional who has been involved in the creation, ideation and negotiation of more than $250 million in total sponsorship campaigns across the NFL, NBA and global touring properties such as the UFC and Feld Entertainment. He consistently focuses on generating sponsorships that integrate his clients into the consumer experience of the properties he works for, to help drive client goals, metrics and KPI’s for success. Tom received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, has an MBA from The Johns Hopkins University and resides in Grosse Ile, MI with his wife and three beautiful children.
DAN HAWLEY
DENVER BRONCOS - Vice President, Business Development
Dan Hawley enters his ninth season with the Denver Broncos in 2025 and fourth season as vice president of business development. He was originally hired by the club as senior director of corporate partnerships on July 13, 2017. In his current role, Hawley is responsible for new business development and is tasked with cultivating relationships with local, regional, national, and global businesses and organizations through the Broncos’ partnerships platforms. He creates co-branded marketing campaigns that encompass brand awareness, retail promotions and marketing efforts with a community relations emphasis. Hawley has over two decades of experience working in sports and has an expansive record of revenue generating achievements combined with management and marketing performance. He was instrumental in signing the first sports betting deal in NFL history, an NFL practice jersey patch partnership, the team’s first spirits partnership with team marks, the NFL’s first International Home Market Area partnership with a company headquartered in Mexico, and stadium naming partnerships at the collegiate and professional levels. Prior to joining the Broncos, Hawley spent nearly 12 years with Learfield, the leader in multimedia rights for intercollegiate athletic departments, from 2005-17. Learfield currently has the exclusive rights for nearly 200 Division I athletic programs and conferences. During his tenure, Hawley was based at the national headquarters in Plano, Texas and served as Vice President of National Sales for over 125 colleges. Additionally, he worked as Vice President of the South Region and oversaw a team that was a leader in sales across 21 properties. His time with Learfield also allowed him to serve as general manager and founder of Bronco Sports Properties for Boise State University and Wyoming Sports Properties for the University of Wyoming. A Chairman’s Cup Award recipient, Hawley earned Learfield’s highest recognition for business development in three consecutive years. Before joining Learfield, Hawley worked for the University of Montana and University of Wyoming, serving as director of marketing and director of development and corporate sales, respectively. After living in four countries and six states growing up, Hawley graduated from West Springfield (Va.) High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Wyoming in 1999. Dan and his wife, Anne, a Colorado native, have three daughters: Hayden, Henley and Harper.