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!

THINK-TANK PARTICIPANTS:

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