EVENTS

NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference

NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference Logo

Registration for the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference is NOW OPEN!

Quick Links

Meet the Speakers

Women’s Leadership Forum

Conference Information Request

FAQs

Things to do in Nashville

2026 Leadership Conference

The NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference provides attendees the opportunity to:

Meet face-to-face with sporting goods retailers, ski and outdoor specialty shops, team dealers, leading brands, and industry technology companies — all in one place.
Participate in expanded Speed Networking sessions to provide more chances to make connections.
Gain inspiration and valuable insights from distinguished speakers.
Celebrate the achievements of past industry icons and honor new Hall of Fame inductees.

Please Note: The room block for the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, is now sold out due to strong attendee demand. Additional room details can be found here.

Meet the Speakers

Rachelle Manning

Rachelle Manning, leading the SanMar Sports team division, was featured in Formula4 Media’s “25 Women to Watch in ’25” for her significant impact on the team sports industry. She currently serves as Director of SanMar Sports, a role she has held since 2013. Rachelle’s profound expertise and unwavering passion for sporting goods and apparel have established her as an influential figure within the industry. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business at Sacramento State University, where she played softball and basketball. She completed her Master’s at the University of Tennessee and played a crucial role in establishing its softball program. Rachelle also had a successful 13-year tenure with Wilson, worked for Worth Sports and is a voting member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame selection committee.

Lynn Burghardt

Lynn Burghardt is a fifth-generation owner of Burghardt Sporting Goods in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As President of Chipply, this first-hand experience in the apparel industry gives her an in-depth understanding of her customers and their unique challenges. She was inspired to help create the Chipply webstore building platform and share it with her industry peers. She is passionate about the relationships she has been able to foster with business owners, salespeople and vendors through the introduction of new technology, cooperative advancement and common growth objectives. Lynn’s mission with Chipply is to provide a platform of technology and service to team dealers and apparel decorators that will enhance the daily operation of their business and speed up their growth trajectory.

Devri Christensen

Devri Christensen has spent 16 years helping shape PROLOOK’s growth — a full-circle journey for someone who wore the brand as a high school athlete. Raised in a small rural town and shaped by a multi-sport background, she learned the value of hard work, accountability and team-first leadership. As Vice President of Key Accounts, Devri connects strategy to execution. Known internally as “the one you go to for answers,” she breaks down complex data, identifies the path forward and aligns teams around it. In high-pressure moments, she brings focus and follow-through. She is also raising a family and staying close to the sports that shaped her. Whether guiding a partnership or mentoring a teammate, she leads with consistency and a clear belief: strong teams are built by people who show up for each other.

Jessica Rose-Huggins

Jessica Rose–Huggins is Chief Operating Officer of Denver Athletic, a leading team dealer founded in 1985.  With more than 30 years inside the organization, Jessica has helped guide Denver Athletic through significant growth and operational evolution. Her 30–year career with the company has spanned customer service, IT, purchasing, accounting oversight, production management and sales — giving her a rare, end-to-end understanding of the team dealer business. Since becoming COO in 2019, she has led cross-functional teams and streamlined operations to strengthen service, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Jessica served two years on NSGA’s Team Dealer Advisory Committee and is currently serving on the NSGA’s Board of Directors.

Christine Brennan

Christine Brennan is an award-winning writer and commentator and a trailblazer in sports media. The national sports columnist for USA Today also covers sports for numerous TV and radio stations and just covered her 22nd Olympic Games this winter in Milan, Italy. Christine was the first woman sportswriter at The Miami Herald in 1981 and she was the first woman to cover Washington, D.C.’s NFL team with The Washington Post in 1985. She also was the first president of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM). Christine has authored eight books and Inside Edge was named one of the top 100 sports books of all-time by Sports Illustrated. Her latest book is ON HER GAME: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports.

Brittany Hodak

Brittany Hodak is an award-winning author, entrepreneur and customer experience expert who helps businesses turn customers into superfans. Her SUPER Model™ framework has empowered thousands of organizations’ employees to transform customers’ apathy into advocacy. When her debut book, Creating Superfans, was released, Forbes declared: “If you have customers, you need this book. Period.” Brittany has authored more than 350 articles for top media outlets, including Success, Adweek, and Inc. As an entrepreneur, Brittany founded and scaled an entertainment agency to eight figures, collaborating with global icons including KISS, Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton. Brittany’s agency clients included Walmart, Disney, Amazon, and Johnson & Johnson, among other Fortune 100 brands. She was the first Chief Experience Officer at Experience.com and previously led marketing initiatives at Sony Music.

Jarron Sharp

Jarron Sharp is a Product Leader at OrderMyGear (OMG), where he has spent the past six years building technology that supports the people and businesses behind the sporting goods industry. He has spent extensive time in shops, stores and warehouses across the country learning how industry professionals operate, serve their customers and build trusted, community-rooted businesses — insights that directly shape the software his team creates. A proud Texan, Jarron believes in doing things big, especially when it comes to helping relationship-driven businesses spend less time on systems and more time serving their customers.

Craig Pintens

Craig  Pintens entered his eighth full academic year as Athletic Director at Loyola Marymount University in 2025. Since his appointment in 2018, he has led LMU Athletics through one of its most successful eras, hiring most of the current head coaches, elevating competitive success and driving record fundraising — including the three highest years in program history. Under his leadership, LMU has achieved  its best finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, earned 17 NCAA postseason appearances and secured numerous conference titles. Pintens has overseen major facility upgrades while positioning LMU as a national leader in NIL innovation. Pintens also contributed to championship-level success at Oregon, LSU, Marquette and Texas at Rio Grande Valley. He holds a B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and a J.D. from Marquette.

Mark Gammon

Mark Gammon is senior vice president of sales at PCNA. He joined the company in 2025 after serving as chief executive officer at Cap America, where he led the company through significant growth and the launch of a new product line. Gammon previously spent eight years at The Vernon Company, where he developed expertise in sales management, business development and client relationship building. Gammon graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Penn University and then pursued a disruptive strategy certificate from Harvard Business School, underlining his commitment to continuous learning and industry innovation.

Phil Rison

Phil Rison is in his 10th year with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and served the past 3½ years as executive director. Phil retired from Montgomery County Schools (Kentucky) in 2015 after 30 years as an administrator, teacher and baseball and basketball coach. He was selected Teacher of the Year at Montgomery County High School in 1990. He attended Eastern Kentucky University and holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s in education. Phil became a Certified Athletic Administrator in 1998 and earned Certified Master Athletic Administrator status in 2005. He was very involved in the Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and was inducted into the 10th Region Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006. Phil and his wife, Paula, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Susan Sly

Susan Sly is a second-time award-winning AI startup founder and has been voted one of the top women in the world in real-time AI. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox and other major media outlets. Susan is the Founder and CEO of The Pause Technologies – an AI-enabled platform that helps women successfully navigate midlife through precision recommendations and gamification. Susan also co-founded and was the co-CEO of a global computer vision company. Her team executed the largest computer vision AI deployment at scale in retail in US history. Susan’s sales teams have generated over $2 billion in revenue and she is a graduate of MIT Sloan and MIT Executive Education in the Engineering Department. She hosts the wildly popular podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship.

Ari Kaplan

Ari Kaplan is Databrick’s Global Head of Evangelism and the “Top AI Influencer of the Year – 2025” (DataIQ). He innovated sports through his analytical and scouting experiences and in Major League Baseball created the Cubs, Dodgers and Orioles analytics departments. He is co-author of “The Data Intelligence Platform for Dummies” and was President of the worldwide Oracle users group (22,000 members). Before Databricks, he traveled the world with McLaren Formula 1, assisting their racing strategy with AI. He is President of the Independent Investigation into the Fate of Raoul Wallenberg, Sweden’s humanitarian hero, using data analytics to find missing prisoners. Caltech awarded him “Alumni of the Decade,” IBM a “Data Science Celebrity” and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis is narrator of an upcoming movie based on Ari’s analytical investigation.

Corey Cardinal

Corey Cardinal is Vice President of Integrated Partnerships at STAHLS’, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience across apparel, promotional products and consumer brands. She is known for building and leading high-performing sales teams, scaling revenue across national territories and developing strategic partnerships that drive measurable growth. Prior to joining STAHLS’, Corey served as COO and Co-Founder of RiserUnited. Corey also played an integral role at PCNA/TRIMARK, helping launch Trimark into the U.S. market — PCNA’s first expansion into decorated apparel — effectively introducing a new product category to an established customer base. As Regional Sales Manager for the company’s largest U.S. territory, she earned multiple sales awards for individual performance and team success and she developed deep expertise in cross-category selling, decorated products and apparel branding.

Nikki Stella

With more than 20 years of leadership in the promotional products and print sectors, Nikki Stella is known for transforming businesses, driving innovation and expanding the industry’s technology ecosystem. Her work has helped distributors modernize operations and unlock new levels of growth through smarter, tech-enabled strategies and stronger marketing capabilities. A four-time honoree on ASI’s Power 50, the annual ranking of the most influential leaders in the promotional products industry, Nikki she now serves as ASI’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Relationships & Initiatives, leading efforts that shape the industry’s future and strengthen distributor success.

Chris Bawcum

Chris Bawcum is a 26-year veteran of the sporting goods industry as well as a former U.S. Marine Corps veteran, known for his disciplined but fun and engaging leadership style. As a founding force behind Trigon Sports – established in 2007 – he has played a pivotal role in building the family-owned company into a respected and competitive brand. He was also a key driver behind the acquisitions of Proper Pitch Mound Company and Practice Partner, expanding the company’s portfolio and market presence. He has built a reputation for delivering high-quality products while fostering strong relationships across teams, partners, and customers. Beyond business, Chris is passionate about sports, performance, and helping others succeed – values that continue to shape both his professional journey and the culture of his organization.

Johnny Bench

Johnny Bench went from small-town Binger, Oklahoma to world-wide fame as one of the greatest players in baseball history. Johnny was one of the driving forces of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” as they won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-76. During his career, Johnny was a 14-time All-Star, winner of two National League MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year, a World Series MVP and a 10-time Gold Glove winner at catcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 and named to the All-Century Team in 1999. Johnny hosted the Emmy-Award-winning kids instructional show, “The Baseball Bunch,” and was a local and national baseball announcer. He also has been a fixture in aiding numerous charities.

What Past Attendees Are Saying

Chris Bawcum

Managing Partner

Trigon Sports

[The NSGA Leadership Conference] has helped us establish relationships with new dealers and retailers we normally wouldn't talk to. It's been invaluable to us because we get right in front of the decision-makers with this group, especially with the Speed Networking.

Mike Blythe

Owner

Blythe's Athletics

The camaraderie with the other vendors is invaluable. I learn things that I can bring back to my store to make my team better…whether it be new trends, production issues or anything, I come back ready to be fired up and start my team on a new trend somewhere down the line to make us better.

Nathan Otteman

General Manager

Angles Sports

[The NSGA Leadership Conference] is the who's who of the sporting goods world – it's like a think tank on steroids. Being able to connect with those folks and learn what they're doing in a shifting industry, staying up to speed and then taking those kind of best practices back to Angles Sports is going to be invaluable for us.

Registration Rates

Criteria

January 13 – April 2, 2026

April 3 – May 17, 2026

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

Hall of Fame Only
Access to induction ceremony and dinner only

$250

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

View Conference Policies

BRANDS AND SUPPLIERS

Interested in becoming a 2026 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?

Contact Hayley Fansler at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1280 or by email at hfansler@nsga.org or submit a Conference Information Request.

Connect Through Networking Opportunities

The NSGA Leadership Conference offers a variety of structured and informal networking opportunities designed to help attendees build relationships, exchange ideas, and engage with leaders and peers across the sporting goods industry. The following opportunities create meaningful connections that extend beyond the conference experience:

Speed Networking: Select attendees participate in fast-paced, structured sessions that introduce attendees to multiple industry contacts in a short period of time, maximizing connection opportunities.
Networking Breaks: Take advantage of scheduled breaks designed specifically for conversation, idea-sharing, and relationship-building.
Afternoon and Evening Networking Social Events: Participate in hosted social gatherings on Sunday evening and Monday afternoon that encourage relaxed conversation and deeper connections outside of education sessions.
Breakfast and Lunch Gatherings: Network with fellow attendees during hosted breakfasts and lunches designed to encourage conversation and connection.

Location

Hotel Accommodation Update:

The room block for the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference taking place at the Grand Hyatt Nashville is now sold out due to strong attendee demand.

For those still needing accommodation, we recommend Caption by Hyatt Nashville, located a few blocks away from the Grand Hyatt. It offers a convenient nearby option and currently features a competitive room rate for conference dates. We recommend securing your accommodation as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Core conference dates are Sunday, May 17 (check-in) through Wednesday, May 20 (check-out).

Reservations may be made directly through Caption by Hyatt Nashville’s website or by calling the hotel (629) 312-1234.

Note: Attendees flying to Nashville should book flights into Nashville International Airport (BNA), located approximately 10 minutes from the hotels.

Book Your Room

Schedule at a Glance

Sunday, May 17

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

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – NSGA Women’s Leadership Forum: Empowered Leadership for a Stronger Industry – Rachelle Manning, Lynn Burghardt, Devri Christensen & Jessica Rose-Huggins

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Welcome Reception: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter OrderMyGear

Monday, May 18

7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Chipply

8:00 am – 8:20 am – Welcome from NSGA

8:20 am – 8:30 am – Sponsored Content

8:30 am – 9:30 am – Opening Keynote: From the Sidelines to the Locker Room and Beyond: Leadership, Access and Breaking Barriers in the Business of Sport – Christine Brennan

9:30 am – 9:40 am – Networking Break

9:40 am – 9:50 am – Sponsored Content

9:50 am – 10:30 am – General Session: New Era, New Challenges: How Changes in Sports Impact Athletic Administrators and What it Means for You – Craig Pintens & Phil Rison

10:30 am – 10:40 am – Networking Break

10:40 am – 11:30 am – General Session: AI as Your Superpower: Fundamentals & Real World Applications – Susan Sly

11:30 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

Tuesday, May 19

7:00 am – 8:00 am – Networking Breakfast: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Chipply

8:00 am – 8:20 am – Welcome from NSGA

8:20 am – 8:30 am – Sponsored Content

8:30 am – 9:30 am – General Session: Loyalty That Lasts: Creating Superfans in a Competitive Market – Brittany Hodak

9:30 am – 9:40 am – Networking Break

9:40 am – 9:50 am – Sponsored Content

9:50 am – 10:30 am – General Session: Building Your Brand: Unlocking the Strategic Power of Promotional Products – Mark Gammon, Corey Cardinal & Nikki Stella

10:30 am – 10:40 am – Networking Break

10:40 am – 11:45 am – General Session: The Moneyball Mindset: Using Data and AI to Drive Smarter Decisions and Real Results – Ari Kaplan

11:45 am – 12:50 pm – Networking Lunch: Sponsored by Platinum Supporter Momentec Brands

12:50 pm – 1:00 pm – Sponsored Content

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Closing Keynote: Observations from Behind the Mask: An Afternoon with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Meet & Greet with Johnny Bench

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, ski and outdoor specialty 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.

What is Speed Networking and how can I participate?

Speed Networking is a fast-paced, structured way to meet a variety of industry peers and potential distribution partners in short appointments scheduled by NSGA. During each appointment, you’ll have a few minutes to introduce yourself, share your company’s focus, and exchange contact information before rotating to the next appointment. It’s an efficient way to build connections with sporting goods, ski and outdoor specialty retailers, team dealers, and suppliers/brands.

Participation is included with your NSGA Leadership Conference registration. You’ll be able to indicate your interest when you register for the event, or by contacting the NSGA team prior to the conference.

How can I showcase my product?

Speed Networking is a great opportunity for suppliers and brands to showcase their products and have focused discussions with sporting goods retailers, ski and outdoor specialty retailers, and team dealers — all in short, structured meetings. It’s a fast, efficient way to make valuable connections. 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 2026 Leadership Conference is NOW OPEN! Register today!

Latest News

EVENTS

NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference

Registration for the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference is NOW OPEN!

Quick Links

Meet the Speakers

What Past Attendees Are Saying

Subscribe to the NSGA Scoreboard

Registration Rates

Criteria

January 13 – April 2, 2026

April 3 – May 17, 2026

View Conference Policies

BRANDS AND SUPPLIERS

Questions?

Sunday, May 17

Monday, May 18

Tuesday, May 19

*Schedule subject to change

Frequently Asked Questions