The NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference provides attendees the opportunity to:
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Crystal Washington, CSP, CPAE, works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity! As a technology strategist and certified futurist, Crystal takes complex social media, app, and web topics and makes them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people.
Crystal’s clients comprise Fortune 500 companies including Google, Microsoft, and GE, and as a sought-after keynote speaker, she has entertained and educated audiences around the globe.
As one of Forbes’ 50 Leading Female Futurists, she appears weekly on season two of the Emmy nominated show, Life 2.0 and she’s appeared in numerous publications including Entrepreneur and Bloomberg Businessweek. She is regularly called on by major television networks as a tech expert.
Crystal is the author of the books One Tech Action and The Social Media Why.
Ann Meyers Drysdale is one of the true pioneers in women’s basketball. Enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, Meyers Drysdale began her basketball career as the first high school player to make the United States National team in 1974 and later was the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship from UCLA. In 1979, she became the only female to sign a free-agent contract with an NBA team (Indiana Pacers).
Upon her release from the Pacers in 1979, Meyers Drysdale served as a color commentator for the team becoming the first woman to broadcast an NBA game. Meyers Drysdale established herself as an expert analyst on ESPN, NBC, ABC, Fox Sports and CBS, winning numerous awards and providing commentary for men’s and women’s basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball and baseball. She has also been a successful pro basketball executive.
Ashley is an associate partner, delivery expert, and a core leader with McKinsey’s People and Organizational Performance Practice.
In this role, Ashley supports clients on a variety of talent topics, including capability building and leadership development at scale. She has over 10 years of experience advising clients on a variety of operations-oriented topics, most specifically unlocking individual potential to help organizations succeed through innovation and transformation.
Her latest work and research focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion matters and their impact on promoting sustainable, inclusive growth.
One of Ashley’s professional joys has been overseeing participant experiences with McKinsey’s Connected Leaders Academy (CLA), an extension of the firm’s 10 Actions toward racial justice and equity. Through CLA, Ashley helps organizations develop leaders in different stages of their careers. Since 2020, CLA has delivered virtual leadership training programs to more than 67,000 participants from over 1,000 cross-sector organizations.
Steven Keith Platt’s teaching and research focuses on analytics and artificial intelligence. He is also responsible for infusing into the curriculum advanced technologies and supporting faculty research. Before joining the Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business, Steven served as Research Director at the Retail Analytics Council, Northwestern University, where he ran the AI Lab and Retail Robotics Initiative. At Northwestern he also taught AI courses to graduate students in the Department of Integrated Marketing Communications, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, and Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science. He received his BSBA in Finance and Marketing, JD, and LL.M. in Tax from Boston University.
Steven has consulted with companies including AT&T, Kroger, McDonald’s, and Microsoft, among many others. He recently published “Adopting a Dynamic AI Price Optimization Model to Impact Retail Customer Engagement” in the Journal of AI, Robotics and Workplace Automation. He has also published articles in the ABA Banking Journal, American Marketing Association, Computing Technology Industry Association, Global Retail Management, Hospital Information Technology Europe, Mergers & Acquisitions Journal, Retail Executive Magazine, and Retail Information Systems News. He has been quoted in publications including Bloomberg, Business Week, Chain Store Age, the Chicago Tribune, CNN Business, Inc. Magazine, MIT Technology Review, RFID Journal, Stores Magazine, the San Jose Mercury News, TIME Magazine, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. As well, he has served as a guest analyst on the CBS Evening News and Early Show, ABC World News, and has lectured at conferences around the globe. He engages with his community as a founding partner of Black Kids Predict, an outreach program targeting inner-city middle and high school students for careers in data science.
Josh is the Head of Professional Services at EasyPost, a modern supply chain solutions leader. Before joining EasyPost via acquisition in July 2022, he founded supply chain consulting and analytics firms and has helped over 100 enterprise organizations improve operational performance. Beyond work, he enjoys time with his incredible wife and two daughters, who keep him on his toes.
Carl Ceresoli is a visionary technology executive with over two decades of experience leading innovation and driving growth in dynamic industries. Currently serving as the Chief Technology & Security Officer at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Carl leverages his expertise to spearhead transformative initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and elevate the fan experience.
Prior to joining Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Carl held key leadership positions at renowned global organizations, including Starbucks Coffee Company, Microsoft Corporation, and AT&T Inc. Carl is also very active in the local startup community sitting on several advisory boards providing guidance on infrastructure, AI, and leadership.
Carl holds a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, has multiple US Utility Patents to his credit and was recognized as Indiana Tech Exec of the Year in 2023. He is committed to inspiring and leading teams towards achieving new heights of success in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and sports entertainment.
Arianne is the Global Chief Digital Officer for the JD Group, a publicly traded FTSE 100 sports fashion & outdoor retailer operating over 3,500 stores across 30 countries under brands like JD Sports, Finish Line, size? and Go Outdoors. Arianne has deep experience driving high growth, customer-centric omnichannel strategy and a background in fashion merchandising. She has held leadership positions across top American retailers in the sporting goods and luxury department store segments and is widely known for creating a culture of collaboration and innovation to deliver accelerated growth at pace.
Bill Carter is a former Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 recipient and the founder of Student-Athlete Insights where he serves as a Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) consultant and educator. He provides on-demand courses, live workshops, and consulting to help brands, universities, and sports organizations to adapt and capitalize on NIL.
A year before the NCAA announced their interim NIL policy, Bill leveraged his more than two decades of athlete marketing experience to start the largest ongoing survey of student-athletes on the subject of NIL. Every month, Bill gathers data from a panel of 5,000 college student-athletes and 1,000 high school prospects about their NIL experience.
Prior to Student-Athlete Insights, Bill was a co-founder of sports agency Fuse, where he spent over 20 years advising companies including Pepsi, Gatorade, TikTok, and Amazon on their athlete and event sponsorships. Bill teaches NIL at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business and writes NIL Corner, a monthly column in Sports Business Journal.
Steve Garvey gained acclaim as one of baseball’s ironmen and most productive players during the 1970s and 1980s with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Garvey was a 10-time All-Star, four-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner, 1974 National League MVP and 1981 World Series champion.
For over 35 years, Garvey has spoken to groups, corporations, and universities around the world on topics including teamwork, being the best you can be, leadership, and integrity in life and business.
Speed Networking is one of the most-anticipated events at the NSGA Leadership Conference. Sporting goods retailers and team dealers make important face-to-face connections with manufacturers and brands in a fast-paced afternoon of timed, scheduled meetings.
Check out how valuable previous attendees found Speed Networking:
The NSGA room block is now closed at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. If you still need a room, please contact the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass directly to book.
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3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Registration Opens
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Welcome Reception: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter OrderMyGear
7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Chipply
8:00 am – 8:15 am – Welcome from NSGA
8:15 am – 8:30 am – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter STAHLS’
8:30 am – 9:30 am – Opening Keynote: NextGen Relationships For Sales: Technology & Tactics For Business Growth – Crystal Washington
9:30 am – 9:45 am – Networking Break: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter CHAMPRO
9:45 am – 10:00 am – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter Momentec Brands
10:00 am – 11:00 am – General Session: A Pioneer’s View on the Growth of Women’s Athletics – Ann Meyers Drysdale
11:00 am – 11:15 am – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter Chipply
11:15 am – 12:15 pm – Ann Meyers Drysdale Book Signing
11:15 am – 12:30 pm – Networking Lunch: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Momentec Brands
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Speed Networking: Sponsored by Mueller Sports Medicine
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Networking Reception: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter PROLOOK
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Verified Independent Dealer Member Meeting (Verified Dealers Only)
7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Chipply
8:00 am – 8:15 am – Welcome from NSGA
8:15 am – 9:15 am – Keynote Session: The Business Case for an Inclusive Culture – Ashley Thomas
9:15 am – 9:30 am – Networking Break: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter CHAMPRO
9:30 am – 9:45 am – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter CHAMPRO
9:45 am – 11:15 am – Panel Discussion: Maximizing Business Potential with AI and Analytics – Steven Keith Platt (Moderator), Arianne Parisi, Carl Ceresoli and Josh Mayer
11:15 am – 11:30 am – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter PROLOOK
11:30 am – 12:45 pm – Lunch & Learn: Leveraging NIL for Business Expansion – Bill Carter – Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Momentec Brands
12:45 pm – 1:00 pm – Sponsored Content: Fifteen Minutes with Platinum Supporter OrderMyGear
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Closing Keynote: The Drive to Get After it Every Day – Steve Garvey
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Steve Garvey Meet and Greet
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter STAHLS’
NSGA Member
Retailer/ Team Dealer/ Sales Agent*
$695
$895
Non-Member
Retailer/ Team Dealer/ Sales Agent*
$895
$1,095
NSGA Member
Manufacturer/ Wholesaler/ B2B Service Provider*
$1,495
$1,595
Non-Member
Manufacturer/ Wholesaler/ B2B Service Provider*
$2,095
$2,195
Significant Other*
$325
$325
Brands/Suppliers: Interested in becoming a 2024 supporter and receiving complimentary conference registrations? Contact Hayley Fansler at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1280 or by email at hfansler@nsga.org for more information!
For questions or help completing your registration, contact Hayley Fansler at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1280 or by email at hfansler@nsga.org.
The NSGA Leadership Conference is a networking and educational event designed to support and benefit sporting goods retailers, team dealers and suppliers/brands.
Absolutely! The NSGA Leadership Conference provides educational opportunities that can benefit the whole team. Additionally, the conference schedule affords several built-in opportunities to network with industry peers.
Speed networking is a great opportunity for suppliers/brands to showcase their products and have discussions with retailers and team dealers in short, structured meetings. Don’t forget to bring your product samples and business cards!
Yes! If you become an NSGA supporter you will receive complimentary registration(s), enhanced brand exposure, print and digital advertising throughout the year and more! Reach out to Hayley Fansler, Business Development Manager, at hfansler@nsga.org for more information.
Registration for the NSGA 2024 Leadership Conference is now open. Register Today!
Contact Hayley Fansler, Business Development Manager, at hfansler@nsga.org or by phone at (847) 296-6742 (NSGA).
