Tony Florez
Renie Anderson
THEN: SVP, sponsorship and partnership management, NFL
NOW: EVP/CRO, NFL
Nate Appleman
THEN: Principal, 360 Architecture
NOW: VP/director, sports, recreation and entertainment, HOK
Bess Barnes
THEN: VP, college sports programming, CBS Sports
NOW: VP, programming, CBS Sports
Jessica Berman
THEN: VP/ deputy general counsel, NHL
NOW: Commissioner, National Women’s Soccer League
Amy Brooks
THEN: SVP, team marketing and business operations, NBA
NOW: President, new business ventures, NBA
Jeremy Carey
THEN: Managing director, Optimum Sports
NOW: Chief investment officer, Optimum Sports
Ethan Casson
THEN: CRO, San Francisco 49ers
NOW: CEO, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kelly Cheeseman
THEN & NOW: COO, AEG Sports
Justin Connolly
THEN: SVP, college networks, ESPN
NOW: President, Disney Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Co.
Eric Conrad
THEN: VP, sports programming/GM, FIFA Properties, Univision
NOW: EVP, strategic partnerships, Sportradar
Rick Cordella
THEN: SVP/GM, digital, NBC Sports Group
NOW: President, NBC Sports
Jim DeLorenzo
THEN: VP/GM, SI digital, Time Inc./Sports Illustrated
NOW: Global head of sports, Apple Video
Dave Finocchio
THEN: Co-Founder/GM, Bleacher Report/Turner Sports
NOW: Co-Founder/CEO, The Cool Down
Jessica Gelman
THEN: VP, customer marketing and strategy, Kraft Sports Group
NOW: CEO, KAGR
Jonathan Gibson
THEN: VP, marketing and communications, Penske Racing
NOW: EVP, marketing and business development, Penske Corp.
Alison Giordano
THEN: VP, senior business leader, U.S. consumer and sponsorship marketing, MasterCard International
NOW: SVP, global sponsorships and consumer marketing, Mastercard
David Greenspan
THEN & NOW: Partner, Winston & Strawn
Kirsten Hunt
THEN: VP, IMG Consulting
NOW: SVP, 160over90
Tucker Kain
THEN: CFO, Los Angeles Dodgers
NOW: Chief strategy and growth officer, Fanatics
Joe Karlgaard
THEN: AD, Rice University
NOW: Partner, GSV Summit
Ed Kiernan
THEN: President/founding partner, Engine Shop
NOW: Founder/investor, Nfluence and Stream Engine
Chris Klein
THEN: President, LA Galaxy
NOW: Former president, LA Galaxy
Josh Kroenke
THEN: President, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche
NOW: Vice chair, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment; Co-chair, Arsenal FC
Damani Leech
THEN: Managing director, championships and alliances, NCAA
NOW: President, Denver Broncos
Andrew Lustgarten
THEN: SVP, business and strategic development, NBA
NOW: Former president, Madison Square Garden Co.
Rod Moskowitz
THEN: Principal/CEO, Fuel Sports Management Group
NOW: Principal, Pro Sport Management
Ahmad Nassar
THEN: EVP/general counsel, NFL Players (NFLPA)
NOW: Executive director, Professional Tennis Players Association; CEO, Winners Alliance
Will Pleasants
THEN: SVP, Wasserman Media Group
NOW: Managing director, Wasserman
Brian Schulz
THEN: Producer/cinematographer, MLB Productions
NOW: Cinematographer/director, Hot Fuss Films
Donte Scott
THEN: SVP, director of analytics, Jack Morton Worldwide
NOW: Founding partner/consultant, Scott & Partners
Emmanuel Seugé
THEN: VP, global alliances and ventures, The Coca-Cola Co.
NOW: Founder/managing partner, Cassius Family
John Shea
THEN: Senior director, sports marketing, Gatorade
NOW: CMO, DripDrop Hydration
Jared Smith
THEN: President, Ticketmaster
NOW: President/CEO, Alterra Mountain Co.
Henry Stafford
THEN: President, North America, Under Armour
NOW: CEO, Revtown
Josh Swartz
THEN: President, Relativity Sports
NOW: CEO, Loaded
Lowell Taub
THEN: Global head, sports endorsements, CAA Sports
NOW: CRO/head of athlete marketing, Range Sports
Igor Ulis
THEN: Co-Founder/CEO, Omnigon
NOW: GM, Hudson Technology Systems
Araceli Villegas
THEN: VP, global television, Golden Boy Promotions
NOW: VP, global media, Haymon Sports
Pete Vlastelica
THEN: SVP, digital, Fox Sports Media Group
NOW: Managing partner, Elysian Park Ventures
Chris Wujcik
THEN: Director, local sports and stadium signage, Anheuser-Busch
NOW: Vice president, sponsorship consulting, Integrity 9 Sports & Entertainment
■■■■
Memories of Forty Under 40
Amy Brooks
President, New Business Ventures, National Basketball Association
Selected to the Forty Under 40 Class of 2014 when she was senior vice president of team marketing and business operations at the NBA
What do you remember most about being named to Forty Under 40?
It was just special to me to be added to a list of people who had received this award that I really admired, both from the NBA and the industry at-large. By 2014 when I received this award, I was fortunate to have worked for five prior NBA 40u40 recipients — Adam Silver, Heidi Ueberroth, Mark Tatum, Scott O’Neil, and Chris Granger. To be considered part of this group was a big source of pride for me then, and still is today.
What memories do you have of the Forty Under 40 awards gala?
I remember how great it was to have my family (parents and husband) join me, meet an incredible group of co-honorees (many of whom I now know very well), and of course, enjoy the beautiful ocean views in Dana Point, Calif. Put in my vote for Dana Point for all of those galas!
