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Keynote

Laura Rutledge (panelist)
Host & Reporter
ESPN/SEC Network

Laura Rutledge is the host of ESPN’s year-round weekday NFL news and information show NFL Live and SEC Network’s SEC Nation. She was named host of NFL Live in June 2020 while also hosting SEC Nation since 2016. Rutledge has been a sideline reporter for numerous NFL and in October 2022 was the sideline reporter for ESPN+’s first-ever exclusive NFL game at Wembley Stadium in London.

 

Speakers

Kyle Brunson (panelist and breakout speaker)
SVP, Ticket Sales
Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena

Kyle Brunson oversees all aspects of ticketing including operations and premium seating for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. His career began with the Atlanta Hawks after graduating from UF as a ticket sales representative and has included responsibilities for Sales, CRM, Marketing, Digital and Research and Analytics.

 

Dourrian French (breakout speaker)
Freelance Camera Operator

Dourrian French has freelanced for ESPN and CBS broadcasts throughout Florida. While an undergraduate at UF, French did volunteer work for GatorVision including timeout coordinator, in-house Daktronics Videoboard shows and other positions. He has experience working football, gymnastics, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, boxing and lacrosse, and has worked at various events, including Monday Night Football, Women’s College World Series and the College Football National Championship.

Katie Gillen (breakout speaker)
Director of Marketing
Between Pixels

Katie Gillen focuses on strategic marketing efforts for a variety of clients. She also spent time in an agency setting at STN Digital working with clients like The Toronto Raptors, Green Bay Packers, Nike Diamond. Before entering the agency setting, she was with Atlanta United FC where her focus was to digitize and monetize the ATL UTD fandom.

 

Gaspar González (breakout speaker)
Film Producer/Owner
Hammer and Nail Productions

Gaspar González has produced and directed documentary programming for ESPN, PBS, the BBC, and others. His credits include the national PBS release Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami, the Grantland short documentary Gay Talese’s Address Book, the ESPN 30 for 30 Short The Guerrilla Fighter, A Long Way from Home: The Untold Story of Baseball’s Desegregation, and Havana House, winner of the Audience Award at the 2017 Miami Film Festival.

 

Chelsea Herman (breakout speaker)
Sales Academy Manager
Orlando City & Pride

Chelsea Herman oversees the Orlando City & Pride (MLS & NWSL) Sales Academy, which focuses on training, development and promoting top talent in the industry.  After graduating from Radford University with a degree in Exercise, Sport & Health Education and a concentration in Business Administration, she started her career in minor league hockey within the AHL and ECHL before getting an inside sales role with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014.

 

Richard Johnson (panelist and breakout speaker)
Staff Writer
Sports Illustrated

Richard Johnson,  known for his college sports expertise, is the co-host of the “Split Zone Duo” podcast and co-author of The Sinful Seven: Sci-fi Western Legends of the NCAA. Johnson was the 2022 winner of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, and previously appeared as an analyst on the SEC Network show “Thinking Out Loud.” He established an early career with ESPN and SB Nation before joining Sports Illustrated in 2021.

 

Surf Melendez (panelist and breakout speaker)
Vice President of Content, Creative and Brand
Arizona Cardinals Football Club

Surf Melendez oversees the content disciplines at the Arizona Cardinals, including broadcast and social media. The content creators include design, video, copywriting, photography and broadcast production. His team is also responsible for event presentation on game days. In addition to content and creative,he oversees the Cardinals brand growth in all channels/touch points.

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• 2023 Sports Collective Symposium