National Sports Marketing Network (NSMN)

Jennifer Karpf
Founder/President
National Sports Marketing Network (NSMN)
twitter.com/jenniferkarpf
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As the Founder and President of the National Sports Marketing Network (NSMN), Jennifer Karpf is the guiding force for the sports business industry’s foremost trade organization. Under her leadership, the NSMN has become a voice of the sports business industry through dynamic event programming, a stellar Board of industry leadership and career development initiatives. Today, this rapidly growing organization boasts more than 8,000 members, nationally-known Board members and local chapters in 11 cities around the country.

Launched in 1998, the membership of the NSMN now includes a virtual “Who’s Who” of sports business professionals. To achieve this phenomenal growth – with more chapter openings planned – Karpf created a program of NSMN produced events to bring sports business professionals together. Her vision was to host compelling monthly discussions about the predominant sports marketing issues of the day.

By using her keen instincts and knowledge of the sports business industry, Karpf cultivated the growth of NSMN events which are renowned for their caliber of speakers that have included the top newsmakers and leaders in the sports business industry such as league commissioners, network executives, teams, agency presidents, corporate sponsors and facility executives. Today, Karpf serves as Executive Producer of all NSMN-produced events, working hand in hand with a team of dedicated Board members and local chapter managers. NSMN is best known for cutting edge and timely topics that are planned as news breaks.

In addition to overseeing event programming and promotion, Karpf spearheads the organization’s educational initiatives, marketing, and business development. Under her leadership, the NSMN now includes the NSMN Bookstore initiative - a partnership with major literary publishers and authors to promote industry-focused titles.

Three years ago, NSMN created and produced the Sports Licensing Summit – the first invitation-only, full-day gathering of the international newsmakers in sports licensing. A highlight of the 2006 event was the participation of the 2008 Beijing Organizing Committee who made their first appearance in the United States with NSMN. The 2nd Annual Sports Licensing Summit sold out and attracted three league commissioners to its stellar agenda - making, the event a "must attend" conference for top decision-makers in sports licensing.

Karpf has been an invited guest speaker, lecturing on sponsorship, marketing and sales at the National Convention for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She was the keynote speaker at both the Hampton Classic Sponsor Summit and the Partners in Business conference - and she is a frequent consultant to companies on marketing, sports marketing and sales development.

TEACHING

In addition to her role with the NSMN, Karpf served as an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Sports Management degree program, where she wrote the first curriculums for many of the classes first taught in NYU's undergraduate sports marketing program. While with NYU, she taught courses including: Sports & Entertainment Promotions and Public Relations; Corporate Sponsorship for Entertainment and Sports; Introduction to Sports Management, in addition to the Professional Seminars on Career Development.

In recognition for her efforts in the sports business industry, Karpf has been nominated for the SportsBusiness Journal's prestigious Forty-Under-40 award.

COMMUNITY

Sports Tackles Cancer:
Active as a cancer advocate, Karpf serves on the Marketing & Public Relations Board for the American Cancer Society's Eastern Division. Through her vast contact base and her broad industry reach, Karpf independently established Sports Tackles Cancer, a unique fundraising program where NSMN serves as the national and exclusive sports fundraising arm for the American Cancer Society. Under an exclusive marketing agreement crafted by Karpf, NSMN donates 100% of all funds raised to the charity while raising increased awareness about cancer, research, patient advocacy and the Hope Lodges. Her program reaches sports executives and sports fans and encourages them to donate their time, resources and money. To date, her efforts have increased the donor base and raised thousands of dollars for cancer.

She is a long-time member of the Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York's Sports for Youth initiative, where she chaired the Governance Committee. Karpf is also an Advisory Board member of the East West Sports Summit, an international conference focusing on sports in the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Her past community involvement includes active participation with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies/Boston, serving on the Steering Committee for the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston and the Marketing & Communications Steering Committee of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

PRIOR TO NSMN

Prior to starting NSMN, Karpf was a member of TIME Magazine’s sales development department where she coordinated sports marketing for clients including IBM, Volkswagen, American Express, SAVIN and Merrill Lynch. Prior, Karpf coordinated promotions and advertising sales at Senior Golfer Magazine, and also held public relations positions at The Children's Museum, Boston and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

EDUCATION

Karpf graduated with honors from Boston University where she earned a B.S. in Mass Communication/Public Relations and a B.A. in Art History. She was the Founder/President of the Art History Association and she held marketing internships at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Vose Galleries and Boston Garden.

Reach Jennifer Karpf:
jenkarpf@sportsmarketingnetwork.com / twitter.com/jenniferkarpf / 212-227-1300

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