EVENTS

NSGA 2025 Leadership Conference

2025 Leadership Conference

The NSGA 2025 Leadership Conference is centered around the theme “Winning Together: The Power of Relationships in Sports & Business,” exploring how sporting goods industry leaders can cultivate resilience, innovation and influence in an evolving landscape.

Join us as we bring together leadership experts, industry pioneers and change-makers to discuss strategies for navigating uncertainty, leveraging relationships and positioning your team for success.

The NSGA 2025 Leadership Conference provides attendees the opportunity to:

Participate in expanded Speed Networking sessions to provide more chances to make connections.
Connect in person with retailers, team dealers and leading brands from the sporting goods industry.
Gain inspiration and valuable insights from distinguished speakers.
Celebrate the achievements of past industry icons and honor new Hall of Fame inductees.

Meet the Speakers

Dr. Mary Kelly

Dr. Mary Kelly is the CEO of Productive Leaders, a firm dedicated to leadership and economic development. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Mary spent 21 years on active duty in the Navy, mostly in Asia, as an intelligence officer.

She is currently listed as one of today’s most influential economists and business strategists, and is named as one of the Top 50 Motivational Speakers in the world. Mary is also one of only 150 people named to the Speakers’ Hall of Fame. As a high-energy keynote speaker, Mary focuses on using data, and research, laughter, and experience to help professionals excel.

Mary is the author of 18 books on business growth, leadership, and today’s economy. As a business advisor, she has worked with hundreds of organizations and companies across the globe.

When not traveling, Mary loves being at home with her husband and dogs.

Joel Bines

Joel Bines is an internationally recognized consumer and retail expert.  He currently serves as Managing Partner of Spruce Advisory, a boutique firm serving ambitious consumer-facing companies and their investors. 

For nearly two-decades prior, Bines led the global retail practice at the business consultancy AlixPartners, where he served as a highly respected performance-improvement change agent for a wide-range of retailers, brands and consumer businesses.  Bines is also the author of the 2022 bestselling retail strategy book, “The Metail Economy – 6  Strategies for Transforming Your Business to Thrive in the Me-Centric Consumer Revolution”. 

Bines is an experienced-keynote speaker and thought-leader and currently serves on the boards of Belk, The Container Store, Grocery Holdings, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation.

Nick Rhoads

Nick Rhoads is a seasoned professional with 29 years of experience in the sporting goods industry.  His ability to work cross-functionally allows him to understand the unique needs of each area and align them with the company’s overall vision.

Throughout his career, Nick has achieved significant accomplishments by working closely with developers and overseeing distribution and production operations. He thrives on the constant change inherent in the industry and remains committed to disrupting the sporting goods space.

Nick is passionate about the company’s vision and believes that businesses must constantly evolve to stay relevant. He is currently focused on improving departmental systems and procedures to drive the business forward.

Sumer Chawla

With over a decade of experience in Technology, Payments, and Retail, Sumer Chawla is a seasoned professional with a strong passion for driving impactful partnerships and helping retailers scale their businesses using modern, cutting-edge technologies.

As the Partnerships Lead for Retail at Shopify, Sumer is responsible for forging strategic alliances that empower retailers to enhance their operations and achieve long-term growth.

Ben Zobrist

Ben Zobrist began playing baseball at 7 years old and never could’ve envisioned the professional career that was ahead of him. 

In 2004, Ben was drafted by the Houston Astros. From 2006 to 2018 Ben became known as a “Super Utility Player” playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs.  Ben helped lead the Royals and Cubs to World Series victories and was named World Series MVP in 2016 after driving in the game winning run in game 7 of the 2016 World Series. 

In addition to his on-field achievements, Ben is a strong advocate for mental and emotional health and is now focused on addressing these challenges in the sports world. He is the Founder of Champion Forward, an organization that helps teenage athletes, parents, and coaches improve their mental wellbeing, increase confidence, and enhance relationships by leveraging the power of emotional intelligence skills.  

What Past Attendees Are Saying

Lindsey Naber

Senior Director of Brand Marketing

Rawlings Sporting Goods

…the most valuable experience [at the Leadership Conference] was speed networking. Hearing some of the issues or questions that plague our industry and talking those through is invaluable to us. The way it was set up, it went by so fast! I couldn't believe that we had 13 rounds of conversations, but there were a lot of follow-ups that resulted from that.

Derek Plaisted

Owner

Edge Team Sports

I think it is the most beneficial conference that we attend every year. We do attend multiple and the NSGA, the leadership that is brought forth to each member, is bar none the best. It gets us in front of thought leaders and it’s been beneficial in every meeting that we’ve attended.

Jake Licht

President & CEO

Baden Sports

It [attending the Leadership Conference] has been extremely valuable, the networking is the primary thing. Every year there are going to be new topics in the industry. This year there is a new royalty on one of the big marks on all the balls. We’re a ball company and so that is sort of a given topic to discuss with many of our partners, what the plan is. It’s a great opportunity to touch base with them and talk about how we want to approach it mutually.

Grow Your Connections!

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:

Registration Rates

Criteria

January 14 – April 3, 2025

April 4 – May 18, 2025

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*

$350

Registration Includes*

Admission to all education sessions
Participation in Speed Networking for retailers, team dealers, manufacturers and brands
Access to conference networking receptions and opportunities to meet and connect with fellow industry leaders
Breakfast and lunch served Monday and Tuesday
A seat at the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony
Discount on your hotel room

BRANDS AND SUPPLIERS

Interested in becoming a 2025 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!

Questions?

For questions or help completing your registration, contact Hayley Fansler at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1280 or by email at hfansler@nsga.org.

Schedule at a Glance

Sunday, May 18

3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Registration Opens

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Welcome Reception

Monday, May 19

7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:30 am – Education Session

9:30 am – 9:45 am – Networking Break

9:45 am – 11:30 am – Education Session

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Networking Lunch

12:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Speed Networking

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Networking Reception

Tuesday, May 20

7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:15 am – Education Session

9:15 am – 9:30 am – Networking Break

9:30 am – 11:15 am – Education Session

11:15 am – 12:30 pm – Networking Lunch

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Education Session

5:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony

*Schedule subject to change

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend the NSGA Leadership Conference?

The NSGA Leadership Conference is a networking and educational event designed to support and benefit sporting goods retailers, team dealers and suppliers/brands.

Can I bring my whole team?

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.

How can I showcase my product?

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!

Are there sponsorship opportunities?

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 Director, at hfansler@nsga.org for more information.

When does registration open?

Registration for the NSGA 2025 Leadership Conference is now open.

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