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NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit Attendees Get Glimpse of “What’s Around the Corner”

NSGA News • May 27, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Marty Maciaszek, Team Dealer Division Director
                     (847) 296-6742, ext. 1260
                     mmaciaszek@nsga.org

MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS (May 28, 2019) – Looking at “What’s Around the Corner” in the sporting goods industry was the theme of the National Sporting Goods Association’s successful 55th Annual Management Conference & 21st Annual Team Dealer Summit on May 19-21 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia.

Former NFL and Pro Bowl quarterback Jake Plummer discussed and displayed his new venture, ReadyList Sports, an interactive football playbook he co-founded with former NFL quarterback Chad Friehauf. Dr. Jen Welter, who was the first female NFL coach with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, shared her stories of overcoming obstacles en route to success in football and her continued efforts to create opportunities for girls and women in the sport.

“Our goal each year with the Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit is to leave a lasting impression on everyone who attended, not only in business, but their daily lives,” said NSGA President & CEO Matt Carlson. “We hope the event hit that target again this year.”

This year’s education sessions aligned with the theme of “What’s Around the Corner.” Leadership expert Jim Hunter kicked off the Conference & Summit by challenging attendees to utilize the Servant Leadership principles employed by thousands of successful leaders.

Renowned financial expert Gene Marks showed attendees how to lower their tax bills and a panel looking at the sporting goods retail customer experience included retail design experts Matt Nurre and Paul Kim. Mike Cosentino, the Owner of successful Atlanta-area Big Peach Running Co., enthusiastically shared his secrets for award-winning customer service.

The program also featured Jerry Williams, President of Pennsylvania-based Schuylkill Valley Sports, and Craig Carlock, Owner and CEO from North Carolina-based Omega Sports, talking about technology necessary to compete in today’s environment.

The team dealer side of the program featured a pair of panel discussions related to the rapidly changing landscape of youth sports. One explored the growth of emerging women’s sports of wrestling, flag football and ice hockey and the potential sales opportunities. The other examined the explosion of Esports and the potential effects it could have on the traditional sports landscape.

The fifth annual NSGA Innovations Arena gave 28 companies the opportunity to showcase their newer and innovative products to industry leaders. The third annual Speed Networking session gave suppliers and sellers the opportunity to participate in a total of 400 scheduled meetings in a span of less than 2½ hours Monday afternoon.

“The Innovations Arena and Speed Networking are two components that continue to bring a lot of excitement and energy to the Management Conference,” Carlson said. “They are great opportunities to learn more about new products and build new relationships and enhance existing ones. We really enjoy seeing that continued buzz in the room during the Speed Networking session.”

The 64th Annual Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honored two team dealers who made a significant impact on the industry in Bob Dickman of BSN Sports in Richmond, Indiana and Ronny Flowers of Athletic Supply, Inc., in Odessa, Texas. Dickman started in the business at Kesslers Team Sports in Richmond working for his dad Cliff, who is a 1995 Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame inductee. Flowers has spent more than 50 years in the business and has led Athletic Supply to become one of the most respected team dealers in the country.

Augusta Sportswear Brands and Stahls’ were both Platinum Sponsors of the Management Conference and Mueller Sports Medicine has generously sponsored the Team Dealer Summit since its inception. NSGA appreciates their support along with Management Conference Gold Sponsors Celerant and Wilson, Silver Sponsors Asics, FSG America, EG-Pro Performance Wear, Intensity, Soffe, Mudroom Backpacks, SocksQuick and Strike Visuals.

All-Star Sporting Goods, Augusta Sportswear Brands, Cliff Keen Athletic, Founder Sport Group, GARED Sports, Irwin Broh Research, Nation’s Best Sports, Twin City Knitting, Under Armour and Wilson provided scholarships for attendees. Sports Insight and Team Insight were the media sponsor, 2UNDR, Augusta, EG-Pro and OC Sports were product sponsors, Strike Visuals was the signage sponsor and Markwort Power Swing sponsored the Longest Drive Competition in the NSGA Golf Tournament.

About the NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit

The NSGA Management Conference and Team Dealer Summit is the longest-running event of its kind and the premier educational and networking event in the sporting goods industry. The 56th Annual Management Conference and 22nd Annual Team Dealer Summit will be held May 17-19, 2020 at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona.