ABOUT THE EVENT:

On behalf of the New York City Chapter Steering Committee of the National Sports Marketing Network (NSMN), we cordially invite you to attend the New York/New Jersey Brand Exchange 2008 -- a “think tank” for sports sponsors!

At this unique and exclusive, boardroom-style forum, you will be among sports marketing’s leading and most innovative brand decision-makers who will participate in a "think-tank" discussion about their corporate strategies, as they share their thinking on the latest industry trends and news.  

NSMN’s national membership will be given a unique opportunity to listen in on what is on the minds of the leaders who drive the brand spending in our industry! Limited seats are available. Don't miss it!

ANDREW KRITZER Associate Vice President Strategic Marketing & Communications SHARP ELECTRONICS RICH LEHRFELD Vice President, Global Sponsorship Marketing AMERICAN EXPRESS TIM MCGHEE Director, National Sponsorship AT&T MICHAEL ROBICHAUD Vice President, Global Sponsorship MASTERCARD RALPH SANTANA Vice President, Sports, Media, Interactive Marketing & Branded Entertainment PEPSI RICK SINGER Director of Worldwide Sponsorship IBM

THINK-TANK FACILITATORS:

ANDREW JUDELSON Chief Marketing Officer SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TERRY LEFTON Editor-at-Large SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY / SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL TOLA MURPHY-BARAN Senior Vice President, Brand Management SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO

Conversation during the "think-tank" will feature the following:

• What do you like about the sponsorship process? Dislike?
• Discuss what is affecting change in your marketplace and why?
• How does new media, such as blogs, podcasts and the digital space affect your marketing strategies and how will you continue to adapt?
• How do current events, domestically and internationally effect your marketability of products with consumers?
• Are your consumers changing and how will you adapt to that change?
• What corporate brand do you admire the most for their sponsorship activation and why?
• In your opinion, tell us what recent sponsorship failed miserably and why?
• Discuss recent sports scandals and if they had an effect the sponsorship business and ROI?  Will companies now have a different outlook on endorsement deals?
• We will discuss sponsor activation at the 2008 MLB All-Star Game and other recent events.
• What are your thoughts about the U.S. 2016 Olympic Bid?
• We will discuss the Beijing Olympics and get the speaker's views on sponsorship activation, branding, public relations campaigns and possible ROI.
• What are you expecting to happen in sports that might take your brand to next level?  And what might happen that could hurt the success and marketability of your brand?
• How does advertising and media buying enhance a sponsorship buy?
• Discuss what you feel have been the best media buys in New York/New Jersey over the past decade and why?
• Discuss ROI and how its role has changed over the years. What do you like and dislike about the process of evaluation? What would you change?
• What drives your brand’s spending today and how will that change in the next ten years?
• What trends do you see in the sports sponsorship business? What are you doing to stay current?

EVENT SCHEDULE:

• 8:00 AM - Member Networking Reception with speakers / Continental Breakfast Buffet
• 9:00 - 11:30 AM - THINK-TANK discussion wtih leading area sponsor decision makers. More than 250 sports business professionals serving as the audience listening to dialogue and executive-level exchange.

ADMISSION:

Admission is complimentary and open to NSMN members only. There are no guest passes available unless you have a "PLUS" level membership with NSMN.

Advance reservations are required. Call 212-227-1300 with any questions.

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Please help us to thank our event sponsors for their generous support of this special event.

The NY/NJ BRAND EXCHANGE 2008 is the second in a national series produced by NSMN. The inaugural MIDWEST BRAND EXCHANGE took place in Chicago in 2007. To speak at this and other NSMN events, please email jenkarpf@sportsmarketingnetwork.com