Sports Management Events

Nick Bermensolo is currently the Vice President of Security and Safety at Hollywood Park (SoFi Stadium). HWP encompasses 300 acres which includes SoFi Stadium, home of Rams and Chargers, YouTube Theater, Commercial Spaces, Residential Buildings, Retail Stores, and many other entertainment options.

Nick has been in sports and entertainment for 20+ years with being on all sides of the operation, from vendor staffing, quality assurance testing, team operations and now building operations. He has been part of 14 Super Bowls, Final Fours, NBA All-Stars, and countless music festivals.

Nick is originally from Idaho and is an outdoor enthusiast, and has also received his MSA from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

For Further Information: www.linkedin.com/in/nick-bermensolo

As the Founder and CEO of Reach Capacity, I’m passionate about helping organizations achieve their full potential. Our solutions provide employers and organizations with tools to bring live events to their employees and members. By giving every employee access to these events, you can boost morale, improve company culture, and enhance overall productivity - all at zero cost to your organization.

Prior to founding Reach Capacity, I held leadership roles at the LA Kings and UCLA Athletics where I successfully led teams to exceed revenue targets and enhance customer experiences.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-flagg/

Local to Ventura County, Kaylee Guzman grew up in Camarillo playing multiple competitive sports including softball and cheerleading. After starting her college journey at Maryville University in St. Louis, MO, Kaylee transferred to Cal Lutheran to continue her education closer to home. While at Cal Lutheran, Kaylee was one of the first students to join the Sports Management program and became the first to graduate with a degree in Sports Management from Cal Lutheran University. In addition to her degree in Sports Management, she also completed a second degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Sports Communications.

In 2022, Kaylee began her career with the Los Angeles Rams as an intern in Ticket Operations. Upon completing her time as an intern, Kaylee joined the Suite Services team as the Coordinator of Premium Services and Operations at the end of the 2022 football season. Now in her second season in her position, Kaylee services a variety of suites at Rams home games, while using her background in ticket operations to assist the Suite Services team. 

For Further Information: http://linkedin.com/in/kaylee-guzman-8b4742132

Zach has spent the early stages of his professional career sharing the experience of sports at almost every level. During his four seasons with the San Jose Sharks, he held four different titles, moving from entry level sales to Premium Sales Manager. Now in his first season with the Los Angeles Chargers, he leases the luxury suites at SoFi Stadium by building relationships with business leaders and decision makers looking for high-end experiences in sports and entertainment.

Zach received his BA in Economics and Accounting as well as Sports Management Certificate from UC Santa Barbara. His part-time experience prior to graduating included three years as intern with UCSB Athletics and an internship with the NBA League Office’s Global Events department.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-hedges-9a9630113/

Aliyah Navarro is currently a Digital Marketing Coordinator with the Los Angeles Lakers. In her spare time she is a sports photographer and content creator, capturing moments from sport teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Rams, and college sport teams. 

Previously, Ms. Navarro spent time as a Digital Programming Coordinator with the NFL, overseeing daily content on NFL.com and the NFL App to implementing strategies and comprehensive programming plans for NFL’s tentpole events.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyahmariahnavarro

 Steve Potts, who has overseen one of the nation’s most successful Division I-AAA programs as Pepperdine University’s director of athletics, will retire at the conclusion of the 2023–24 academic year. Potts has led the Waves in this role since January 2011 and will conclude his tenure after almost 14 years in the position.

“Steve Potts’ legacy as an alumnus and administrator has left an indelible mark on the deep tradition of athletics at Pepperdine University,” says president Jim Gash (JD ’93). “Guided by his desire to develop exceptional student-athletes and his deep faith, Steve’s judgment and perseverance has led the Waves to victory both on and off the court. I am profoundly grateful for Steve’s wisdom and fortitude throughout his tenure at Pepperdine and wish him the very best in retirement.”

A Nashville native, Potts earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee-Martin in 1979 and went on to earn his juris doctor degree from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 1982. Prior to his position as Pepperdine’s athletic director, Potts spent 17 years at the University as an administrator and a professor. He began teaching at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 1983, and from 1990–99 served as the school’s associate dean of administration and an assistant professor of law. Potts returned to Malibu in July 2008 as the senior associate director of athletics after serving as the director of athletics at Lipscomb University from 2000 to 2008. 

Under Potts’ leadership, Pepperdine earned the I-AAA Athletic Director's Association All-Sports Award (given to the top-performing non-football school in Division I) three times (2011–12, 2021–22 and 2022–23), while finishing second three times (2016–17, 2018–19 and 2020–21) and in third place twice (2014–15 and 2017–18). Throughout Potts’ tenure, the Waves won 65 conference regular-season or tournament titles (through the 2022–23 school year), captured the 2021 NCAA men’s golf national championship and three other Waves teams participated in 
NCAA Division I Final Fours.

Many Pepperdine teams have posted remarkable accomplishments during Potts' tenure. Under his guidance, Pepperdine began sponsoring the sport of women's beach volleyball, which won the inaugural AVCA national championship in 2012 and again in 2014. In addition to winning the 2021 national championship, the men’s golf team finished the shortened 2020 season at number one in the rankings and reached the NCAA semifinals in 2022. 

In 2014 the baseball team advanced to a Super Regional for the first time, and in 2015 the men's basketball team made its first postseason appearance since 2002 and in 2021 won the postseason College Basketball Invitational. During the 2018–19 season, the women’s basketball team won 20 games for the first time since 2010 and won its first postseason game in the modern era.

Additionally, the women's soccer team matched its best-ever finish by reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in both 2014 and 2021, the women’s swimming and diving team won back-to-back PCSC titles in 2022 and 2023, and the women's tennis team had its best-ever finish in 2021, making it to the national championship match. Pepperdine's various facilities have also been upgraded under Potts' leadership, which has provided student-athletes and coaching staff exceptional opportunities to excel in their respective sports and increased the level of recognition of the Waves' great athletic history.

Prior to Pepperdine, Potts began his tenure at Lipscomb as the school was in the midst of transitioning from the NAIA to NCAA Division I. He successfully guided the athletics department through four years of NCAA Division I provisional membership, and Lipscomb received active membership status in September 2003. He also led the institution through the 18-month NCAA Athletic Certification process, which was completed in 2005. Potts was also responsible for Lipscomb joining the Atlantic Sun Conference, and several of its teams won conference championships over the years. Several major improvements to the athletics facilities came under his watch, including the multipurpose, 5,000-seat Allen Arena, which was completed in October 2001.

In March 2020 an AthleticDirectorU study that identified the top Division I athletic director hires ranked Potts 14th out of 229 schools that had changed athletic directors over the past decade.

Potts and his wife, Jaimie, an elementary school teacher for 42 years, have two sons, Tyler, Senior Director of Partnership Sales for the Los Angeles Rams, and Tanner, Assistant Athletic Director for NIL and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Georgia.

Tyler is the Senior Director of Partnership Sales at the Los Angeles Rams, where he co-leads the partnership sales team, helping to position the Rams as the NFL’s #2 revenue-generating partnership department. Before joining the Rams, Tyler spent two seasons with Legends as part of the Las Vegas Stadium project team, where he was helped secure record-breaking partnership revenue for Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Raiders. Tyler began his career with the Dallas Cowboys, spending five seasons in various roles on the corporate partnerships team. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and lives in Porter Ranch with his wife, Jessica.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-potts-32018926/

Josh Rosen, the Founder and CEO of TRG Sports & Entertainment, has quickly positioned his Los Angeles-based agency as a powerhouse since its launch in 2021. Graduating from the University of Miami in 2019 with a degree in Business Management and Sports Administration, Rosen seamlessly blended his academic foundation with a passion for connecting with the next generation of leaders. In just two years, TRG has collaborated with major brands like Microsoft, PUMA, Hulu, DIRECTV, and Walmart on diverse marketing initiatives. Beyond business success, Rosen has demonstrated a commitment to education, serving as a Pillar Leader for The Player's NIL—an online resource for college athletes navigating NIL challenges. Recognized as a Front Office Sports Rising 25 honoree, Rosen stands as one of the industry's top young professionals, marking the two-year anniversary of TRG Sports & Entertainment with a legacy of vision, passion, and dedication.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshrosen818/ 

In 2019, her career began as a Digital Media Intern with the NFL, and she steadily advanced to a role as a Gameday Programming Associate responsible for cutting and editing gameday highlights. After graduating during the Class of 2020, she came back to the NFL as a Coordinator. After a couple of seasons, she was promoted to now Manager.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Sierra earned her degree in Communications from California Lutheran University in 2020, where she also competed as a collegiate softball player. Her background in athletics, combined with her studies in Communications, Film and TV, and a minor in Sports Management, provided a strong foundation for her career in sports programming.

Since stepping into her current role, Sierra has led key initiatives for the NFL Channel, our FAST platform (free ad-supported television), focusing on maintaining content accuracy, metadata, and ad placements on 24/7 live streams. She manages partnerships with FAST, distribution, and syndication partners. Also, collaborating closely with NFL Media production, engineering, and product teams to ensure technical readiness for live shows across connected TV (CTV) and OTT devices.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierrascali/

Artis Twyman serves as vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Rams. In this position, Twyman oversees the media relations staff and directs the Rams’ communication efforts.

With more than two decades of experience, Twyman previously served nine seasons as senior director of communications and three seasons as the team’s director of media relations after spending six years as assistant director of football media.

Following the 2018 season, Twyman and the Rams communications department won the Pro Football Writers Association’s Pete Rozelle Award. The award recognizes the NFL public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media. It marked the first time since 1997 the Rams have won the award and only the second time in franchise history.

Prior to joining the Rams in 2003, Twyman spent two years as a public relations assistant for the Seattle Seahawks. He broke into the NFL in 2001 as a public relations intern for the expansion Houston Texans. From 1995-2001, he worked in the Tennessee State University Public Relations Department, serving in many capacities, including three years as public information officer.

In 2012, he was one of only two public relations officials throughout the 32-team league chosen to work the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also received this honor in 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006. Twyman also was part of public relations staffs for NFC Championship games, as well as several Super Bowls.

He serves as the chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council at California Lutheran University.

Twyman earned his undergraduate degree in speech communications from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., and a master’s degree in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artis-twyman-0259556/ 

Adam Valencia, MSE, is a seasoned expert in community and school-based prevention with over 25 years of experience in the field. He is a respected leader in evidence-based practices, specializing in Health and Wellness, Prevention, Intervention, and Family and Community Engagement.

Currently, Mr. Valencia serves as the Director of Programs & Staff Development for Young Athletes for Christ (YAC) in Camarillo, California. In this role, he leads professional development initiatives for staff and coaches, equipping them with evidence-based strategies to create supportive, empowering environments for youth. His leadership strengthens communities and promotes the well-being and success of students and families. Mr. Valencia is also the owner of Reconnecting Youth, Inc., an organization that implements the Reconnecting Youth (RY) and Coping and Support Training (CAST) programs, both recognized as "Legacy" Model Programs by the U.S. Department of Education and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These programs have been successfully implemented across the U.S. and Canada.

Throughout his career, Mr. Valencia has held several key leadership positions, including Statewide Regional Lead for Safe Schools, After School Programs, and Mental Health initiatives, where he oversaw the implementation of federal and state programs and provided strategic guidance on school improvement. He has also contributed to Statewide Technical Assistance and Compliance teams, offering training, support, and consultation to school districts and community organizations across the United States and Canada.

In addition to his work in education and prevention, Mr. Valencia has over 25 years of experience as a head high school football coach and collegiate-level coach. He has mentored student-athletes, focusing on leadership, character development, and academic success. He has introduced impactful training programs such as Coaching Boys into Men and Athletes as Leaders, designed to help coaches build strong relationships with athletes and create positive environments both on and off the field.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-valencia

Chris, a San Francisco native, is the Senior Director of Community Impact and has been with Angel City FC since March 2022. Previously, Chris was the Chief Program Officer for Coaching Corps (now Positive Coaching Alliance) where he worked for 14 years overseeing national afterschool, government and professional sport partnerships. Coaching Corps focused on serving under-resourced communities across the United States, using sports as a vehicle to create transformative experiences for youth, and believed that coaches were the driver to make that change possible.

In Chris’s current role, he leads Angel City’s community impact efforts. In Angel City’s first year, they granted over $1.1M to the community across the greater Los Angeles area, impacting over 65,000 adults and youth. Angel City leverages sport and entertainment to drive for equity by providing essentials and education with a focus on girls, women, and gender expansive individuals.

Chris has played many sports, but to say that he is passionate about soccer is an understatement. Playing through college and into his adult life, soccer has given him the opportunity to play both domestically and internationally. Chris has a gold medal from the 2018 Paris Gay Games and most recently won the world championships in Sydney, Australia in February 2023.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfajardo9/

Artis Twyman serves as vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Rams. In this position, Twyman oversees the media relations staff and directs the Rams’ communication efforts.

With more than two decades of experience, Twyman previously served nine seasons as senior director of communications and three seasons as the team’s director of media relations after spending six years as assistant director of football media.

Following the 2018 season, Twyman and the Rams communications department won the Pro Football Writers Association’s Pete Rozelle Award. The award recognizes the NFL public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media. It marked the first time since 1997 the Rams have won the award and only the second time in franchise history.

Prior to joining the Rams in 2003, Twyman spent two years as a public relations assistant for the Seattle Seahawks. He broke into the NFL in 2001 as a public relations intern for the expansion Houston Texans. From 1995-2001, he worked in the Tennessee State University Public Relations Department, serving in many capacities, including three years as public information officer.

In 2012, he was one of only two public relations officials throughout the 32-team league chosen to work the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also received this honor in 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006. Twyman also was part of public relations staffs for NFC Championship games, as well as several Super Bowls.

He serves as the chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council at California Lutheran University.

Twyman earned his undergraduate degree in speech communications from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., and a master’s degree in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artis-twyman-0259556/ 

Josh Rosen, the Founder and CEO of TRG Sports & Entertainment, has quickly positioned his Los Angeles-based agency as a powerhouse since its launch in 2021. Graduating from the University of Miami in 2019 with a degree in Business Management and Sports Administration, Rosen seamlessly blended his academic foundation with a passion for connecting with the next generation of leaders. In just two years, TRG has collaborated with major brands like Microsoft, PUMA, Hulu, DIRECTV, and Walmart on diverse marketing initiatives. Beyond business success, Rosen has demonstrated a commitment to education, serving as a Pillar Leader for The Player's NIL—an online resource for college athletes navigating NIL challenges. Recognized as a Front Office Sports Rising 25 honoree, Rosen stands as one of the industry's top young professionals, marking the two-year anniversary of TRG Sports & Entertainment with a legacy of vision, passion, and dedication.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshrosen818/ 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeaburdene/

Evan launched a new venture, Reach Capacity, in October of this year to help teams acquire new customers and drive revenue from distressed inventory. Prior to that, he spent 15 years on the team side of professional sports and intercollegiate athletics where he was tasked with maximizing revenue from ticket sales and enhancing the fan experience. Most recently Evan served as Senior Director, Memberships and Group Sales at the LA Kings. Evan was responsible for generating revenue through new membership and group sales initiatives. As a member of the Kings' leadership team, Evan played an instrumental role in the strategic planning and execution of key business initiatives aimed at enhancing the fan experience and maximizing revenues. Evan oversaw a team of twenty five staff members between the FSE, B2B and Group Sales teams, and is deeply invested in the professional development of those who work with him.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-flagg/

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-isaacson-772835/

Kevin Rider, born and raised in Bridgeton, NJ, grew up playing sports in one of the smallest towns located in Cumberland County. Attending school in Bridgeton, Kevin was a straight A student all the way through high school, landing him several scholarships heading into his undergraduate studies.

A 2012 graduate of Delaware State University, Kevin originally came into college as a sports management student. Until his junior year, he would study to become a sports agent before realizing his true purpose lived in the public relations & advertising industries, where he dreamed of doing more creative writing and designing for sports organizations. Throughout college, Kevin would teach himself how to shoot sports photography and graphic design through Adobe Creative Cloud Suites.

After graduating from Delaware State University, Kevin began working in the non-profit space as a Benefits Coordinator for Oaks Integrated Care. During his time there, he would also pursue a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications at Rowan University, which is located right outside of Bridgeton where he grew up. During this program, Kevin learned the true definition of robust communications while also realizing he had a deeper passion to work in sports. His final two semesters at Rowan actually consisted of him doing a Communications Internship with the Philadelphia Union, a Major League Soccer team, while also conducting his thesis studies on how social media and new technology enhanced the college football recruiting process.

Upon graduating, Kevin would then move to Los Angeles, where he would land his first full-time public relations opportunity, working for KCSA Strategic Communications as a PR Account Executive. During his time as an Account Executive, Kevin also served as a Media Relations Intern for USA Triathlon. This led him to also receiving an opportunity to run game day marketing activations for the Los Angeles Clippers.

After leaving KCSA, Kevin continued working for the Clippers before landing his first full-time sports job with Loyola Marymount University (LMU) as an Assistant Sports Media Relations Manager, where he ran all communications for six different sports including Women’s Basketball, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Indoor Volleyball, and Beach Volleyball. Although this would lead Kevin to resigning from the Clippers game day role, he would then go on to pick up another game day role as a PR Associate for the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) , a Major League Soccer team.

While with LAFC, Kevin continued his role at LMU before receiving a major opportunity to transition into a Public Relations Manager role with Angel City Football Club, a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, ahead of their inaugural season as an expansion club. Since then, Kevin has run all player announcements, media credentialing, away press conferences, and all administrative duties for the PR department at Angel City. He has just completed his second season with the club, while recently becoming an Adjunct Professor in the Sports Management Department at California Lutheran University where he teaches Business of Sports and Sports Analytics.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-rider-jr-m-a-270a90b8/ 

Hailing from the Bay Area, Hannah Plackowski grew up playing competitive soccer. She closed out her soccer-playing years at Cañada Community College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara, to pursue a degree in Economics. During her time there, she was involved in the Sports Management Program. That experience inspired her to seek a job in sports after graduation.

In June 2021 she began her career with the San Diego Padres. She started as a Representative in Inside Sales and, after five months, was promoted to the Membership Development team as an Account Executive. During her first year, she sold over $1,000,000 in season tickets and was part of the first-ever Padres sales team to sell out all the club’s season tickets and launch a season ticket waitlist. In recognition of her efforts, she was named the department’s Rookie of the Year.

At the end of the 2022 season, Hannah made a lateral move to the Group Tickets & Hospitality team. During her first year, the department finished #1 in Major League Baseball, selling more group and hospitality tickets than every other team.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-plackowski/

Alex Ross, born in Miami, Florida grew up outside of New York City in Westchester County. Alex played tennis and basketball in high school having two state championships to his name.

A 2021 graduate of the University of Michigan, Alex went to school to study sport management. Having completed internships with the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Guardians, Alex realized his passion for the sports industry and wanted to make it a career. 

In June 2021 he began his career with the San Diego Padres as an Inside Sales Representative and shortly after was promoted to the Group Sales teams. Alex spent two seasons selling groups while producing over $1,000,000 each year in revenue for the company. He recently was promoted to the premium sales team where he looks to continue to drive revenue and have an even larger impact in the organization. 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-ross-783b9414b/

Ken steele, known as Mr. Radio in Los Angeles has been an air personality in San Francisco and a Street interviewer here in Los Angeles for many radio stations and professional baseball teams. An accomplished broadcast seller in both English and Spanish sports he’s a communicator with a Masters in advertising from Purdue. Ken is also an instructor of business communications and public speaking at CLU. He’s married to his best friend and has two adult children one of whom lives in the UK. 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-steele-2aaa5b68/

Artis Twyman serves as vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Rams. In this position, Twyman oversees the media relations staff and directs the Rams’ communication efforts.

With more than two decades of experience, Twyman previously served nine seasons as senior director of communications and three seasons as the team’s director of media relations after spending six years as assistant director of football media.

Following the 2018 season, Twyman and the Rams communications department won the Pro Football Writers Association’s Pete Rozelle Award. The award recognizes the NFL public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media. It marked the first time since 1997 the Rams have won the award and only the second time in franchise history.

Prior to joining the Rams in 2003, Twyman spent two years as a public relations assistant for the Seattle Seahawks. He broke into the NFL in 2001 as a public relations intern for the expansion Houston Texans. From 1995-2001, he worked in the Tennessee State University Public Relations Department, serving in many capacities, including three years as public information officer.

In 2012, he was one of only two public relations officials throughout the 32-team league chosen to work the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also received this honor in 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2006. Twyman also was part of public relations staffs for NFC Championship games, as well as several Super Bowls.

He serves as the chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council at California Lutheran University.

Twyman earned his undergraduate degree in speech communications from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., and a master’s degree in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artis-twyman-0259556/ 

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-moeller-2a88581b6/ 

Sports business executive, mentor, and teacher who values the development of students and young professionals through the unique power of the sports business. Specialize in building high performing teams and systems through relationship-building and operational efficiency and lead through a culture of trust, creativity, and collaboration. Strategic and detail-oriented - manage multiple complex and cross-functional projects that drive economic, social, and community impact.

For Further Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kherold/