ABOUT PREMIER PARTNERSHIPS

Transcription

1 Corporate Overview

2 ABOUT PREMIER PARTNERSHIPS Premier Partnerships is a sports advisory and sales firm specializing in the development and execution of customized commercial sales strategies for top tier venues, sports and entertainment complexes, stadium, league and team properties as well as municipalities. Premier was founded in 2003 to provide experienced, focused, passionate, and results driven commercial sales solutions. Premier executives have generated over $1 billion in corporate sponsorship and naming rights revenues and created thousands of mutually beneficial business partnerships over the last 20 years. Our clients rely on Premier s worldwide relationships, industry expertise and the ability to identify, market, secure, and maximize a property s commercial value. Premier is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Dallas, Cleveland and New York. Premier was recently voted as one of the Top 20 most influential sports agencies in the United States by The Sports Business Journal. Our achievements include: Developing and selling over one billion dollars in corporate partnerships Negotiating first modern day naming rights deal: Great Western Forum Negotiating local, national and international broadcast contracts Creating the largest sports event media website in history Consulting to numerous Fortune 500 companies Managing the largest and most prestigious sporting events in the world Founding a major professional sports league Owning and managing teams Negotiating professional team and facility sales and purchases Premier Core Values Putting Clients First Identifying and meeting clients needs is an integral part of everything we do, from initial meetings to project completion.. Integrity In all of our dealings with clients and each other, our team places enormous importance on trust as well as personal and professional integrity. Excellence in All We Do Providing our clients with the highest quality work accurate, on time, on budget means we continually strive to be the very best every one of our service areas. Creativity, Innovation, and Diversity of Thoughts Premier s reputation for innovative and non traditional ideas comes from a focus on open communication and from encouraging new concepts at every opportunity. A Collaborative Environment At Premier, we value our partners. Our best solutions are developed by working together, seamlessly.

3 CAPABILITIES Premier is an experienced, focused and results-oriented leader in its industry, primarily called upon its clients to provide the following services: Naming Rights Naming Rights for any new facility is a critical revenue component and paramount to the financial success of a venue. Premier offers a start-to-finish solution to the naming rights process, focusing on securing a long-term partnership and maximizing the Naming Rights revenue stream. As an industry leader in this highly specialized Naming Rights service, Premier provides unpublished insight and historical knowledge, laser focus on developing the most valuable commercial sales strategy, and working closely with the facility owner to secure the most meaningful corporate affiliation. Sales Representation Premier s primary focus revolves around sales representation for various types of entities, including stadiums, arenas, leagues, teams, events municipalities, and other types of valuable properties. While every property is unique, our key objectives normally include the following: Establish the property as a valuable commercial platform for the corporate community Create demand for the property s inventory by creating a tiered partnership program Develop and aggregate inventory to maximize commercial rights packages Develop a turnkey commercial sales strategy and business plan Maximize commercial revenues through an integrated sales process with multi-year contracts and long term partnerships that work Premier s philosophy is to not only develop an overall commercial sales strategy which will maximize a property s revenues, but to also bring that sales strategy to life by representing the property from the first sales presentation to securing the last available significant partnership!

4 CAPABILITIES Consulting Premier has developed an extensive track record in working with clients on maximizing revenue in the sports industry and has created a suite of service offerings to assess and evaluate revenue generating opportunities. Premier s consulting and advisory practice prides itself on working with clients on new ways to maximize revenue including: Facilities, Events and Properties Rights and Benefits Assessments Category Optimization Commercial Rights Management Pricing and Packaging Sponsorship Rights Negotiation Sponsorship Sales Training Sponsorship Program Implementation Measurement and Evaluation Corporate Consulting Sponsorship Evaluation Activation Strategies Property Alignment and ROO Analysis Strategic Partnerships Sponsorship Audits Research Trends and Best Practice Analysis Customized Research Surveys/Studies Industry Intelligence Competitor and Trend Analysis

5 CAPABILITIES Revenue Maximizer Premier has created an industry leading tool that provides an end-to-end solution for identifying, creating, valuing, packaging and selling sponsorships and naming rights. The Revenue Maximizer, a proprietary suite of services, now provides properties with an optimal solution for maximizing contractually obligated income (long-term sponsorship revenue). Inventory: Categorize your existing inventory and identify new sponsorship assets Value: Determine the market value of your commercial rights Strategy: Formulate packages that meet business goals for each industry category Sales: Create a system to secure long-term, valuable deals for your property As part of the Revenue Maximizer process, the Premier Valuator uses an analytical framework for valuing sponsorship assets and takes into consideration a broad range of factors that are relevant for making sound business decisions. Multi-Dimensional Evaluation Criteria Assessment of the Economic Environment Detailed Property Characteristics Assets and Drivers Realistic Contrast to a Strictly Impression/ Media Based Methodology Valuation Framework that Uses Traditional Investment-Based Modeling Tools Investment Advisory Entrepreneurs, team and emerging leagues owners, as well as early stage sports executives, need an edge when determining new sales channels, ROI metrics, strategic introductions. They turn to Premier to help them assess the value of their companies, the market opportunities and create sustainable partnerships with industry executives and decision makers. Services include: Sports Property Valuation and Revenue Projections Sponsorship Analysis and Valuations Revenue Generating Framework Strategic/Business Plan Assessment Outsourced Business Development Efforts Advisory Board Development Sports Capital and Investment Referrals and Introductions

6 CLIENTS AND PARTNERS Facilities o Beverly Hills Hilton o Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum o GaREAT Sports Complex o Oakland Coliseum o Rose Bowl Stadium o San Diego State University o Bridgestone Arena o SportsQuest o Sports Village USA Events o Twin Cities Marathon Properties o Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) o Super Bowl XLV Host Committee Properties- Governing Bodies o Association of Youth Soccer in America (AYSO) o Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association o Delaware Youth Soccer Association Properties- Leagues and Teams o Major League Baseball o Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim o Major League Soccer (MLS) / Soccer United Marketing (SUM) o Philadelphia Union o National Basketball Association (NBA) o National Hockey League (NHL) o Nashville Predators Consulting o IDM Capital o Insurance Offices of America o Herbalife o ProTowels Etc. Client Testimonials After reviewing numerous companies for valuation and sales representation for the Naming Rights to our on campus arena, the selection of Premier Partnerships was an easy one, but the best was yet to come. Upon being selected, Premier methodically put together a strategic and professional approach to selling our marquee property Naming Rights association. In short order, Premier uncovered a nontraditional category with one of San Diego s hidden corporate gems; Viejas Enterprises. Premier patiently led us through the entire negotiation process and helped us quickly secure a final agreement on our new 10-year Viejas Arena partnership. We couldn t have been happier with the entire experience. Dan Cornthwaite Executive Director, Associated Students Inc. San Diego State University Through the years, Premier has continued to provide Herbalife with indepth industry knowledge, access to the most creative, yet valuable property rights and dedication to delivering on our company's core objectives. Premier's insight and guidance during our jersey sponsorships negotiations with AEG and the LA Galaxy was invaluable. Then, creating the unique, long term national partnership with American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) on the first ever youth jersey identification program was spot on! Brian McKinley Director Corp. Strategic Alliances Distributor Marketing Herbalife

7 PREMIER TEAM Alan Rothenberg Chairman Randy Bernstein President & CEO Jeff Marks Chief Operating Officer John Alper VP - Central Operations Allison Howard VP - Corporate Partnerships Paul Garofolo VP - Business Development Todd Ferderer Director - Finance Stephanie Cheng Sr. Consultant - Valuation Uzma Syed Manager- Corporate Partnerships Jesse Ryback Manager - Corporate Partnerships Sean Knecht Marketing Assistant Alicia Mendoza Marketing Assistant

8 CONTACT Los Angeles, CA th Street Santa Monica, CA Ph: Fax: Dallas, TX 4332 Highlander Drive Dallas, TX Ph: Fax: Cleveland, OH Chagrin Blvd. Moreland Hills, OH Ph: Fax: New York, NY 512 E. 82nd Street, Suite 3C New York, NY Ph:

9 ALAN I. ROTHENBERG- CHAIRMAN A highly respected individual in the legal and sports industries, Alan I. Rothenberg has over 40 years of executive-level sports experience and is a renowned expert in sports business and law. He serves as Chairman of Premier Partnerships, a firm specializing in maximizing revenues for sports leases and venues, and public facilities. Rothenberg spearheaded soccer s rise in the U.S. during the 1990 s as Chairman and CEO of the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee; was Chairman of the 1999 FIFA Women s World Cup Games; President of the U.S. Soccer Federation; and, founder of Major League Soccer. The 1994 World Cup was the most successful in FIFA history averaging more than a still record 64,000 fans per game, with an operating surplus of over $60 million. He was Chairman of the breakthrough 1999 FIFA Women s World Cup, Soccer Commissioner for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and the founder of MLS. Previously, he was an owner of the L.A. Aztecs of the NASL. For his accomplishments, FIFA bestowed upon him its coveted Order of Merit. Rothenberg was a top executive in the NBA during the 1970s and 1980s. While serving as Vice President and General Counsel of Jack Kent Cooke, Inc. and California Sports, Inc., he represented the Lakers on the NBA s Board of Governors from , and was a member of the Board of Governors during his tenure as President of the Clippers from Rothenberg appeared regularly on ESPN s Sportslook, has been an instructor of Sports Law at USC, and is former Chairman of the American Bar Association s Committee on Sports Law. A former President of the State Bar of California, Rothenberg practiced law for over 35 years. He was a name partner at Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, and Phillips for more than 20 years, followed by 10 years as a partner at Latham & Watkins in His law practice involved matters drawn from the financial, business, sports and entertainment fields. Rothenberg has served on several public company boards, including Arden Realty, CPK, Inc., and Zenith National. He is Chairman of 1 st Century Bank. He is President of The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. He is on the board and is past President of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and Fraternity of Friends of the Music Center; was Chairman of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau; is Chairman of the Los Angeles Sports Council; and, a member of the board of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Southern California Committee for the Olympics. A longtime resident of California, Rothenberg received a B.A. and Jurist Doctor with Distinction from the University of Michigan.

10 RANDY BERNSTEIN- PRESIDENT & CEO A veteran of more than 25 years in the sports and entertainment industry, Randy Bernstein is the President & CEO of Premier Partnerships. A focused leader with a successful track record in start-up, corporate business and international event management, Bernstein has a highly successful background at the executive level in professional sports, entertainment and the Internet industry. He has secured over one-billion dollars in sponsorship, advertising and corporate support during his professional career. In the first seven years of operation, Bernstein has led Premier to the one of the most powerful sports marketing firms in the United States as unveiled by industry expert, Sports Business Journal in 2010 as the Sports Marketing Agency of the Year for Property Consulting, Sales and Client Service. Bernstein has aggressively built Premier s long-term client list to over 100 quality facilities, events and properties. Not settling for anything less than the ultimate in revenue maximization for Premier s clients, Bernstein and his team continue to deliver results exceeding partner expectations by creating a higher level of value for sponsors than ever before. Prior to starting Premier, he spent three and a half years at Yahoo! Inc. as a company Vice President. Bernstein oversaw Yahoo s FIFA World Cup Partnership, where he directed the company s effort in securing and implementing a five-year partnership agreement with FIFA, the governing body of international soccer. For the 2002 World Cup, Yahoo! created, produced, hosted and commercially sold and marketed FIFAWorldCup.com, the #1 sports event website in history. The award-winning web site featured 45 different sponsors. Before venturing into the Internet industry, Bernstein spent more than 18 years in professional sports management, corporate sales, account management, marketing, broadcasting, licensing, ticketing, operations, administration and communications with a diverse group of entities, including Major League Soccer, World Cup USA 1994, the San Diego Sockers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers. As one of the founding executives of Major League Soccer, Bernstein was responsible for all marketingrelated business affairs for the league while serving as MLS s Chief Marketing Officer. During his tenure with MLS from , Bernstein secured more than $150 million in corporate partnerships to launch the single-entity league. Additionally, he managed the broadcast sales relationship with ESPN, ABC and Univision. Prior to coming to MLS, Bernstein served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing for the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee, where he was responsible for the sales and implementation of more than 25 Official Product/Service, Equipment Supplier and assorted Regional Supporter partnerships. He also managed the sales for World Cup s ancillary programs SoccerFest and Legacy Tour 94.

11 Bernstein s involvement with professional sports began in 1982 when he was hired as the Director of Ticket Administration for the NBA s San Diego Clippers. After two seasons, he relocated with the team to Los Angeles. The following year, the then 23-year-old Bernstein was named Vice President of Sponsorship Sales, becoming one of the youngest executives in NBA history. Following his tenure with the Clippers, Bernstein spent seven seasons as an executive with the Major Indoor Soccer League s San Diego Sockers, starting as Vice President of Marketing and ending his association with the club as Executive Vice President and General Manager in During his seven seasons with San Diego, the Sockers captured six league championships. An avid runner and triathlete, Bernstein received his Bachelor s Degree in Speech Communications from San Diego State University, where he earned Western Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete honors during his four seasons with the Aztecs baseball team. Bernstein, a Southern California native, splits his time between homes in Marina Del Rey, CA. and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, NY.

12 JEFF MARKS- CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jeff Marks brings over fifteen years of operational and advisory experience with Fortune 500 companies, strategy consulting firms, sports teams, leagues, venues, municipalities, sports properties, sponsors, start-up companies and sports investors. Jeff currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Premier Partnerships with a primary focus on business development and overseeing the following divisions: Consulting, Investment Advisory and Valuation. Jeff was also a founding partner of Sports Business Ventures, a sports investment and advisory firm, located in Los Angeles California. Jeff s prior role as Managing Director was to oversee the successful completion of investment opportunities and investment advisory projects. Prior to launching Sports Business Ventures, Jeff was Managing Director of Sports Business Group, a strategic consulting firm based in Redondo Beach, California. Jeff oversaw a majority of The Sports Business Group s strategy, design, and implementation of various programs and initiatives for clients. In addition, he provided operational and management expertise in strategic planning, sales management, business plan development, feasibility assessment, financial analysis and market assessments. Before Sports Business Group, Jeff worked at a global management consulting firm, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, where he managed teams of consultants in the successful implementation of various programs. Jeff is currently an adjunct faculty member at University of San Francisco s Sports Management Program and teaches New Business Models in the Sports Industry. Jeff has authored several industry market research studies that have been published in various newspapers and journals and has spoken before various groups on strategic sports marketing issues and best practices. Jeff earned a bachelor s degree in International Economics with a minor in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Jeff currently serves on the board of two not-for-profit organizations in the sports industry. Jeff was a collegiate scholar athlete and played NCAA baseball for two years at the University California, Riverside. Jeff currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Dana and sons Brandon and Dylan.

13 JOHN ALPER- VICE PRESIDENT, CENTRAL OPERATIONS John Alper joined Premier Partnerships in April, 2006, opening up Premier s third office in Dallas, Texas, after spending nearly 15 years of marketing sports from the team side. Alper started his sports marketing career in 1991 as an account executive for the Dallas Mavericks and Director of Ticket Sales for the Dallas Sidekicks, both of which were owned by Don Carter, with ticket sales nearly doubling during his four years with the Sidekicks. Upon the inception of Major League Soccer, Alper was hired in November of 1995 as Director of Sales for FC Dallas (formerly the Dallas Burn), where he created the initial ticket sales department and was directly responsible for season and group ticket sales in the team's first two years. He was promoted to Vice President of Sales in November of 1998 and oversaw the ticketing sales and ticketing department along with the corporate and sponsorship sales department. Alper s innovative 5 th Major Sport Ticket Program received worldwide acclaim by Sports Business International as the top ticket/grassroots program of the year in 1998, and accounted for hundreds of thousands of ticket sales for the organization in ensuing seasons. In April of 2000 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, overseeing all business departments of the organization including ticket sales, sponsorship sales, ticket services, public and community relations, advertising, marketing, and operations. Alper was named Major League Soccer s Marketing Executive of the Year in In 2003, the Hunt Sports Group broke ground on the largest soccer venue in the United States, a 145- acre multi-purpose facility featuring a 20,000 seat stadium adjacent to seventeen soccer fields. Alper was charged with the responsibility of overseeing the sales of various commercial aspects of what is now known as Pizza Hut Park, including sponsorship sales, suite sales, and programming. Pizza Hut Park successfully debuted in August, 2005, with a naming rights partner in Pizza Hut, eight Signature sponsors, and a solid list of marketing partners, and was considered the blue print for success for future venues in Major League Soccer. Alper s primary focus over the course of the past year has centered around working with the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, selling sponsorship packages in anticipation of North Texas hosting their first-ever Super Bowl in February, Prior to that, Alper worked on several major projects, including securing sponsorships for the New Orleans Hornets return to the Crescent City, locally with Sports Village USA, a 62-acre, $100 million sports and recreational development in Frisco, Texas, and internationally in Brazil to spearhead a major sponsorship initiative for one of the top soccer clubs in South America, Clube Atletico Paranaense. A Southern California native, Alper graduated from SMU in Dallas, Texas, in 1990 with a double major in accounting and finance. Alper, an avid golfer, is married to Heather, has one daughter (Ava), one son (Shane) and lives in Dallas.

14 PAUL GAROFOLO- VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Paul Garofolo joined Premier Partnerships in March of 2007 after serving as President and CEO of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group, a Premier Partnerships client. Paul is a 25-year veteran in sports marketing, athlete representation, and event management. He is currently leading the efforts for Premier with several clients including, GaREAT, the preeminent international sports and events destination location under construction in the USA and Insurance Office of America, the 7 th largest privately held insurance brokerage firm in the country. Garofolo recently completed deals on behalf of IOA with the Prudential Center, The New Jersey Devils, and Michael Waltrip Racing (NASCAR). Garofolo started his professional career in 1978 with the Pittsburgh Spirit (MISL) as Director of Operations. In 1981 he joined the Cleveland Force as Director of Public Relations and rose through the ranks to become Vice President and General Manager. The Cleveland Force is widely considered to be the most financially successful franchise in soccer history in the United States. The team averaged nearly 15,000 spectators per game and holds attendance records at the Richfield Coliseum (former home of the NBA Cavaliers) with crowds in excess of 20,000 fans. In 1988, Garofolo joined the sports marketing firm, ProServ, Inc. At ProServ, his responsibilities included overseeing many of ProServ s events and marketing efforts. The events included, The Volvo Tennis Tour, The Budweiser 3 on 3 Challenge, The AT&T Challenge, The Caribbean Sports Festival, and the Hawaiian Punch Punchy Sports Program. While at ProServ he worked with top client agents David Falk and Jerry Solomon in conjunction with their clients including Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, James Worthy, Greg Lemond, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl. In addition, Garofolo served as the Executive Director of the Professional Association of Water Skiers Tour, a ProServ client. After leaving ProServ, Garofolo teamed up with the Wolstein Group and Jack Nicklaus as Sr. Vice- President of Sales to develop Barrington, a 600-acre, private master-planned residential community and private golf club around a Nicklaus Signature design. In 1992, Garofolo founded Signature Sports with a goal of developing three areas of business as the foundation of the firm. The first was in athlete representation. The second was as a consultant to corporations, sports properties, and leagues in their strategic planning, marketing, licensing, and execution. The third was in the field of event management and marketing. The firm was approved by the PGA for oversight of two Nike Tour events. Garofolo was hired as a marketing consultant to World Cup 94, the Major League Soccer City Bid process, and the 1998 Major League Soccer All-Star Game in Orlando in conjunction with Disney Sports. The 98 All-Star Game still stands as the crown jewel of the MLS All-Star Game showcases in attendance with over 34,000 fans in a non-mls city. Garofolo was a founding partner of the International Basketball League and served on the Board of North American Soccer Camps, (NASC) the largest youth day camp program in the USA. NASC operated for thirteen years under the brand MLSCamps as part of a youth grassroots program that Garofolo initiated with MLS in In 1999, Garofolo organized an ownership group, which acquired the Cleveland Force. Garofolo served as President of the team through May, 2005.

15 ALLISON HOWARD- VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS Allison is extremely proud to have been able to create many mutually beneficial connections between properties and sponsors in her career. During her time at Premier, Allison has developed tremendous relationships and meaningful partnerships with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Her optimistic attitude, tenacity and internal drive instantly reassures clients that their business needs will be met. Allison s desire to build true win-win property/sponsor agreements are the cornerstone to her sales philosophy. While Allison works with multiple Premier properties across the country, her top priority as of June 2008 has been on the Major League Soccer stadium and team property in Philadelphia. In February 2010, Premier and the Philadelphia Union were proud to announce the long term naming rights partner for the stadium. Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) agreed to an eleven (11) year naming rights partnership for the new riverfront stadium known as PPL Park. This naming rights deal was cultivated from a cold call and the subsequent building of trust and credibility with PPL executives. In fact, coming from outside of the sports world, most of Allison s successes have been the result of new relationships and is a testament to her commitment to her clients. Premier and the Union have been very successful in solidifying numerous long term sponsor agreements including: Panasonic, Crozer Keystone Health Systems, Coca-Cola and more. Allison also brought together Herbalife and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) for AYSO s first ever jersey naming rights deal. Premier and Herbalife continue to work together on multiple property opportunities. Allison also deals with Premiers longest running client, Rose Bowl Stadium. Following the departure of the incumbent water category sponsor at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Allison recognized the strategic benefits of splitting the category. By doing so, she created opportunities for Sparkletts to become the Core water sponsor and Fiji to associate with the prestigious stadium as the Premium water partner. Both sponsors and client were beneficiaries of Allison s creativity. Allison grew up just outside of Lansing, MI and is a long time Detroit Red Wings fan. She received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Dayton in Ohio. In December 2009, Allison and her husband, Jeremy welcomed their first child, Ronan James. When they aren t busy with work, travel and parenthood they enjoy tennis, golf, running, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and camping.

16 TODD P. FERDERER - DIRECTOR, FINANCE Todd P. Ferderer brings to Premier Partnerships over a decade of experience in corporate finance, treasury management, strategic planning and analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting from both the public and private sector. Ferderer has served in numerous industries in a financial and operational capacity including most recently launching Endogenx, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and drug development company. Prior to Endogenx, Todd was Director of Finance for Hythiam, Inc., a publicly traded healthcare services company. Over the course of his career he has served as Manager of Budgeting & Financial Operations for Oakwood Worldwide, Sr. Financial Analyst for Merisel, Inc. and Simon Marketing, Inc., and Portfolio Analyst for Payden & Rygel Investments. Ferderer s focus has been on successfully setting up financial and treasury management controls and procedures. He has also been instrumental in soundly and efficiently controlling the corporate budgets, treasury functions, financial analysis and reporting in the healthcare, technology, and financial services industries for the Executive Management teams he has served. Ferderer has immediately jumped in to assume the role of transitioning the company for its move to a new corporate office in Santa Monica, CA. During Ferderer s time with Premier, he has been updating the company s financial and operational infrastructure to make the agency even more efficient and effective as they take the firm to new levels of excellence. Ferderer broad business sense will help in managing the expectations of Premier Partnerships clients today, as well as into the future. Ferderer holds his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Minnesota State University with a minor in Finance and resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife April.

17 STEPHANIE CHENG- SENIOR CONSULTANT & DIRECTOR, VALUATION DIVISION Stephanie Cheng joined the consulting and valuation team as an Associate Consultant in With an international background in sports operations, analytics, and market research, Cheng brought with her strategic, as well as practical operational experience to Premier. Upon her arrival at Premier, she focused on development and marketing of Premier s Revenue Maximizer. The four phase Revenue Maximizer allows Premier clients to strategically develop their sponsorship platform, and helps them understand their own real market sponsorship value. Cheng has since led Revenue Maximizer projects for clients such as Mammoth Mountain, the Breeders Cup, San Diego State University, the Nashville Predators, Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, PNC Bank Arts Center, and a variety of amateur and youth facilities. On the heels of the success of the Revenue Maximizer, Cheng was promoted in 2009 to Senior Consultant and Director of Valuation. In her new position, Cheng continues to oversee the Revenue Maximizer business, and plays an instrumental part of the consulting practice, where she advises clients on next generation solutions to complex challenges facing the industry. Prior to joining Premier, Cheng worked with Lieberman Research Worldwide where she managed both quantitative and qualitative research projects. During her time there, she focused on providing the highest quality research, as well as actionable client recommendations. Cheng was also part of the Athletes Village team for the Doha Asian Games 2006, where she managed live entertainment for more than 10,000 athletes and team officials. Cheng is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with emphases in Global Business and International Relations. While at USC, she also spent time working with the Los Angeles Avengers, US Olympic Committee, ESPN X Games, and AEG/Chivas USA. Outside the office, Cheng enjoys traveling, photography, and skiing.

18 JESSE RYBACK MANAGER, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS Jesse Ryback brings an accomplished and extensive sports management, consulting, marketing and business development background to his role with Premier as Manager of Corporate Partnerships. With a relentless work ethic and passion for sports, Ryback will be responsible for new business development with a strategic focus on emerging industries, multinational corporations, licensing and green marketing platforms. Over his two years at Premier, Ryback is proud to have facilitated numerous mutually beneficial relationships. Under his guidance, Pro Towels Etc. secured Premier to lead development of their new sports division, Pro Towel Sports. Premier s extensive sports and entertainment licensing expertise allowed Ryback to successfully secure multi-year agreements with the NBA, NHL, NHLPA, MLS and NFLPA. Additional marquee licensing announcements are expected in 2011 for this emerging industry player. In August of 2009, Ryback assumed lead responsibilities for longtime Premier client, San Diego State University, while brokering sponsorship deals for additional Premier clients, including a multi-year agreement with Rockstar Energy Drink at Rose Bowl Stadium. Prior to joining Premier, Ryback served as a Sports Marketing Executive for Comcast SportsNet Mid- Atlantic. In this role, Ryback oversaw regional sports network sponsorship sales and led his class in new client development. He also developed successful business relationships with numerous Fortune 500 corporate executives and was instrumental in employing creative and exciting methods to deliver return on investment for his clients. Before his time with SportsNet, Ryback worked in Sports Marketing for Red Zebra Broadcasting. While at Red Zebra, Ryback was at the top of his division in total sales revenue. Before joining Red Zebra, Ryback spent time with the Washington Redskins in the team s marketing and client services departments and served as an event coordinator for Octagon. Ryback s professional career began as a senior paralegal for Foley & Lardner, LLP. In that role, Ryback oversaw more than fifty cases and was actively involved in a $500 million dollar settlement. A Washington, DC native, Ryback earned his bachelor s degree in Political Science from George Washington University. Ryback also received his MBA from the George Washington University School of Business with Sports Management and Marketing concentrations. While in graduate school, Ryback directed a market research project for The Washington Nationals, created an acclaimed advertising campaign for Chevrolet and oversaw the creation of an integrated marketing program for Adidas. An avid sports fan, Ryback has been heavily involved with athletics from an early age. An All Conference Wrestling Champion in high school and captain of his school s wrestling team; Ryback also played football and lacrosse. Currently residing in Los Angeles with his wife Keri, Ryback enjoys hiking, scuba diving, swimming, flag football, weight training, running and watching anything sports related.

19 UZMA SYED MANAGER, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS As one of the newest members of Premier Partnerships, Uzma Syed is responsible for new business development and furthering Premier in its sponsorship sales efforts with sports and entertainment properties. With a background in sports marketing, team business operations and sponsorship development, Uzma brings operational know how and consultative experience to her role as Manager of Corporate Partnerships. Uzma comes to Premier from the National Basketball Association (NBA) where she worked in their Team Marketing & Business Operations department (TMBO), advising NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League teams on tickets sales & retention, sponsorship activation, marketing initiatives and new business opportunities. Uzma was focused on providing strategies and best practices to drive team revenues for each of the above noted business areas that ultimately increased profit margins. During her time at the NBA, Uzma assisted with the sales and marketing efforts in Tulsa, OK that led to an expansion WNBA franchise, and helped develop a ticket sales strategy for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game which ultimately led to a sell-out capacity and record crowd of 80,000 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Uzma is a graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and minor in Integrated Marketing Communications and Australian Studies. While at Ithaca, Uzma had an article published in the January 2006 Issue of Athletic Business Magazine. She also spent time working with the Charlotte Bobcats, Cornell Athletic Department and Ithaca College Varsity Men s Basketball team. Uzma is based out of Premier s New York office, but she and her husband, Ali, call North Carolina home. Outside the office, Uzma stays active by running, skiing, swimming and chasing after her nieces and nephews. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

20 SEAN KNECHT MARKETING ASSISTANT One of Premier s newest team members, Sean Knecht recently joined Premier Partnerships as a Marketing Assistant. Sean comes to Premier from IMG College in Austin, TX. While at the Longhorn Sports Network, Sean helped fulfill sponsorship obligations in coordination with University of Texas Marketing departments. He managed all game time promotional efforts and assisted the account executives with creating proposals and recaps to present to potential clients. Sean is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from the Isenberg School of Management. During his university career, he worked in the sponsorship division for New England's largest grassroots soccer festival, SoccerFest, securing the title sponsor for the event, Supercuts. He has also held various positions with the Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, Live Nation, and UMass Athletics during his collegiate tenure. Sean was born and raised in Houston, TX and is an avid Houston sports fan. Outside of work, he enjoys all things sports-related. He spends his time cooking, playing golf, working out, and playing with his dog, Sadie. He currently resides in Santa Monica, CA.

21 ALICIA MENDOZA MARKETING ASSISTANT Alicia joins Premier Partnerships with five years of experience in the sports industry. Prior to joining Premier Alicia worked as an Independent Sports Marketing Consultant where she oversaw overall operations for the Playing for Hope Charitable Soccer match in July Alicia launched her career in sports in 2005, when she joined Major League Soccer s Club Deportivo Chivas USA during its expansion season. While at Chivas USA, Alicia served as Director of Community Affairs and Development and also oversaw the club s Foundation Fundacion Chivas de Corazon USA. Alicia was instrumental in the creation of the club s community relations programs, player appearances, community partnerships and charitable initiatives. She led efforts to raise significant funds during her 5 year tenure with the organization. More recently, she was responsible for executing and managing strategic partnerships for the team with local and national organizations, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Donate Life, American Heart Association, American Red Cross and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Since joining Premier in September, Alicia has been busy assisting with two of Premier s prominent accounts, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and LAUSD. Her existing relationship with LAUSD and experience in strategic partnerships make her a great addition to the senior team leading those accounts. Alicia is currently responsible for creating proposals, conducting research and assisting Premier s senior executives with account management. Other assignments and duties she has undertaken in her new role include providing ancillary support to the President and CEO with special projects and assignments. Alicia s bilingual writing and speaking capabilities are essential in Premier s business objectives. Alicia earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. She currently resides in the City of Commerce, loves soccer and enjoys traveling.