JMI Sports Expands Corporate Team and Announces Key Hires for New Salt Lake City Office

Growing Utah-based resources support decade-long partnership with Utah Athletics, featuring new corporate-level hires to drive national growth and innovation

San Diego, CA and Salt Lake City, UT (Aug. 27, 2024) – Following the beginning of a 10-year multimedia rights partnership with the University of Utah, leading media rights and venue development company JMI Sports is excited to announce new hires to support the Utah Athletics partnership and the expansion of its Park City team.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in Utah as we continue to build our strong corporate team and incorporate the excitement and expertise of a Salt Lake City-based property team,” said Erik Judson, CEO of JMI Sports. “This growth reflects our dedication to delivering exceptional service and value to our employees, our partners, and the broader Utah community. The expansion in our portfolio, including retaining some of the best talent in the industry, showcases the dedication and hard work of JMI Sports, and I’m incredibly proud of this team.”

A new Salt Lake City-based team, operating as Utah Utes Partnerships, is dedicated to bringing new revenue to the Utah Athletics Department while expanding into the Big 12 Conference. The team aims to embrace new platforms and opportunities for corporate partnerships to improve the fan experience, support NIL, and elevate the Athletic Department. In selecting the on-campus team to support the partnership, JMI Sports focused on integrating local insights and expertise into its strategies, highlighting its commitment to the University of Utah and its community.

Meanwhile, expansion in the Park City office, led by longtime JMI Sports Executive Vice President Kate Haywood, adds powerful experience and services to the corporate team behind operations at JMI Sports, forming a nucleus that supports both corporate and national operations.

“We are incredibly excited about the new hires here in Utah,” said Kate Haywood, Executive Vice President of JMI Sports. “These talented individuals will play a crucial role in supporting both our corporate and national teams, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise that will enhance our operations and drive innovation.”

JMI Sports’ new Salt Lake City-Based Utah Utes Partnerships Team includes:

Matt Smith, Vice President, Partnerships

Matt manages rights opportunities and obligations for Utah Athletics, focusing on relationships within the athletic department to align JMI Sports’ strategy and sales with the university’s goals. Previously, he successfully grew sponsorship revenue year-over-year for Utah Athletics and played a key role in NIL opportunities, earning “Property of the Year” nominations for three consecutive years.

Ryan Mounteer, Director, Partnerships

Ryan provides day-to-day senior sales direction to the property team, growing relationships with key long-term partners for Utah Athletics and expanding relationships with corporate sponsors in the community. He seeks creative opportunities to leverage new platforms and assets resulting from the move to the Big 12. Before joining JMI Sports, Ryan served Utah Athletics for more than 12 years under prior rights holders, most recently as the Director of Business Development.

James Santelli, Sr. Account Executive, New Partnerships

James is responsible for identifying and securing new corporate partners for Utah Athletics by building customized sponsorship packages that engage brands and Ute fans alike. He helps create exciting multimedia marketing campaigns that generate revenue for Utah Athletics. James has over 10 years of experience in the sports industry and was previously the business development manager for LEARFIELD, servicing the Utah property under the previous rightsholder.

Kristin Fisher, Manager, Key Partnerships

Kristin manages existing partnerships with corporate sponsors of Utah Athletics, including the retention and expansion of longstanding sponsors, as well as ensuring exceptional fulfillment. Prior to JMI Sports, she was a senior coordinator of partnership services at LEARFIELD.

Morgan Earley, Manager, Media Operations & Strategic Partnerships

Morgan supports the team’s growing media operations and digital footprint, managing broadcast operations and helping develop innovative new platforms and opportunities for corporate partnerships for the athletic department.

Sophie Tarchione, Account Executive, Key Partnerships

Sophie manages a segment of corporate sponsors for Utah Football, Basketball, and Gymnastics. She is a recent graduate of the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and a minor in business administration.

Additionally, JMI Sports has expanded its corporate team with several key hires:

Michelle Anderson, Chief Financial Officer

Michelle is focused on implementing business strategies and process transformations to drive operational excellence and growth. Previously, she served as CFO at the Sundance Institute, overseeing all aspects of finance, planning, investments, reporting, and compliance.

Meghan Leaver, Vice President, Property Operations

A key regional hire, Meghan supports multimedia rights sales teams across JMI Sports’ western portfolio, providing experienced leadership to develop and implement integrated marketing strategies and generate significant sponsorship revenue. Meghan brings extensive corporate partnership experience from prior roles at Voyager Digital and more than a decade of elite partnership management leading the Global Partnerships team for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

Brandis Turner, Manager, Analytics & Technology

Brandis is focused on developing and implementing technology to optimize operations, support sales, and enhance the gameday experience. With over a decade of experience in CRM and IT management, including her recent role as Center of Excellence Lead for North America at CNH Capital, Brandis is known for her ability to deliver effective business solutions and streamline processes.

For more information on JMI Sports, a leading media rights and venue development company dedicated to transformative partnerships, please visit jmisports.com.

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ABOUT JMI SPORTS

JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies.

JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Utah, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia (with Learfield), and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues and events, including the Breeders’ Cup, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and the Penn Relays.

JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres.

To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.