Over the past 9 years, Group Y has invited a number of top industry leaders to speak to our members. The topics ranged from a number of themes including building your brand to best PR practices to the future of social media. Each shared their infinite knowledge and experience. We thank each and everyone of them for taking the time to help educated us all.
Aaron Levant – Co-Founder / President, Agenda Show
Abe Kislevitz – Media Production, GoPro
Adam Sanderson - SVP Brand Marketing, Disney – ABC
Alyssa Roenigk - Senior Writer, ESPN Magazine
Amy Swift Crosby - Founder, SMARTY
Amy Purdy - Professional Snowboarder, co-founder, TED Speaker, Adaptive Action Sports
Amy Stanton - Founder & CEO, Stanton & Co
Andy Bell - TV Personality & Founder, Sweatpants Media
Angelo Ponzi - Senior Marketing executive and Co-founder, Board-Trac
Annie Fast - Senior Director of Programming, Network A
Anthony Valentino - Director of Digtal Engagement, TBWA / Designory
Anthony Napolitan - Pro BMX Rider
Ashley Fiolek - Professional Women’s Motocross Racer
Austin Brown - Music Marketing Manager, Sole Technology
Bart Reitano - Partner & Account Director, 530medialab
Benji Weatherley - Pro Surfer
Bianca Buitendag - Pro Surfer, Roxy
Bill Bussiere - President & CFO, La Jolla Group
Bill Carter - Partner, Fuse
Bill Gage - VP of Marketing, Metal Mulisha
Bob Haro - Founder, Haro Bikes & Harodesign
Bob Hurley - Founder, Hurley
Bobby Hundreds - Co-Founder / Creative Director, The Hundreds
Brad Lusky - EVP of Action Sports, Wasserman Media Group
Brad Steward - Founder & President, Bonfire Snowboard Apparel
Braden Dahl - Strategic Business Unit Manager, New Era
Brett Sirianni - Director of Social Media & Digital Content, Stance
Brian Socolow - Partner / Chair, Sports Practice Group, Loeb & Loeb
Brian Cassaro - Marketing Director Action Sports, DC
Brooke Wentz - Founder, The Rights Workshop
Brooke Geery - Founder, YoBeat.com
Bruce Beach - Co-founder & CEO, Electric Visual
Bruce McDermott – Group Director Brand Integration, Saatchi & Saatchi
Bruna Schmitz - Pro Surfer, Roxy
Bryan Doohan - Pro Surfer
Bryan Johnston - CMO, UFC
Bryce Kanights - Skateboard Photographer
Bryce Phillips – Founder, Evo
Bud Today - Director of Sales, Red Bull Global Rallycross
C.R. Stecyk III – Filmer, Photographer & Artist
Cameron Partridge – Sr Social Media Strategist, Roadtrip Nation
Cara-Beth Burnside – Pro Snowboarding & Skateboarding Legend
Carey Hart – Freestyle Motocross rider & Businessman. Hart & Huntington
Carl Harris – Director of Global Marketing. C1rca
Carolyn Deighan Coyne – Founder, Tadpole Event Marketing and Consulting
Chase Jarvis – Photographer, Director, Co-founder, creativeLIVE
Chip Pankow – COO, Red Bull Global Rallycross
Chris Conrad - VP Action Sports, IMG
Chris Miller - Professional Skateboarder & Chief Creative Director – Alli Sports
Chris Miller - Social Mission Activism Manager, Ben & Jerry’s
Chris Overholser - Senior PR Manager, Vans
Chris Rudolph - Director of Marketing Services, Stevens Pass Resort
Chris Stiepock - VP & General Manager, ESPN X Games
Chris Davenport – Pro Skier
Christian Hosoi – Pro Skateboarder
Circe Wallace – SVP, Wasserman Media Group
CJ Olivares - General Manager, Fuel TV
Cody Cheshier – Director of Audience Development, Nitro Circus
Colin Dyne – CEO, Red Bull Global Rallycross
Corey Bohan – Pro BMX Rider
Cory Lopez – Pro Surfer
Curt Morgan – President & Creative Director, Brain Farm
Dan Levine – President, RVCA
Danielle Beck – Director of Entertainment & Sports Marketing, Roxy
Danny Grant – General Manager, The Orchard Sports
Danny Way – Pro Skateboarder
Daryl Berg – Director of Music Supervision & Licensing, Fuel TV
Dave Allen – Director of Insights & Digital Media, Nemo Design
Dayan Henson – Chairman, V.A.S. Entertainment
Denise Garciano Nafarrete – Partner & Chief Digital Strategist, Buzzsmith
Dennis Madsen – Former CEO & evo Board of Directors, REI
Derek Boucher – Director of Marketing, Vestal
Derek Callow – Director of Global Partnerships, YouTube
Diane Thibert – Global Director of PR, Oakley
DJ Greyboy – DJ & Music Producer
Don Brown – SVP, Sole Technology
Donny Elmer – VP Marketing, FMF
Doug Palladini – VP of Marketing, Vans
Duke Edukas – Owner, Surfside Sports
Dustin Robertson – Chief Marketing Officer, Backcountry.com
Eddie Anaya – Director of Marketing, Quiksilver
Eric Grilly – President, Alli Sports / NBC
Eric Morley - Co-Founder, Blue C Advertising
Evan Ferrari – Strategic Planning Director, Saatchi & Saatchi
Felix Arguellles – TV Host & Pro Skateboarder
Fred Van Schie – Founder, FvS Media
Gabrielle Windsor – Director of Strategy, Rhythm
Gary Ream – Founder, Camp Woodward
Gary Vaynerchuk – Author, Founder, VaynerMedia
Gaylene Nagel – President & Owner, M3 Mobile Marketing Management
Graham Stapelberg – VP Marketing, Billabong
Greg Lucia – Brand Integration Director, Saatchi & Saatchi
Greg Lutzka – Pro Skateboarder
Greg Mishka – Co-founder / President, Mishka
Greg Selkoe – Founder / CEO, Karmaloop
Greg Tracey – Stunt Driver & Coordinator
Gregg Yacovone – Director of Marketing, West Area, Verizon
Grete Eliassen – Professional Freeskier
Hailey Marsh – Social Media Insights Listener, Saatchi & Saatchi
Heath Wells – CEO, NuOrder
Ian Durkin – Curator, Photographer, Filmer, Vimeo
Issa Sawabini – Partner, Fuse
Jacob Rosenberg – Director – “Waiting For Lightning”, Partner, Banditio Brothers
James Sullivan – Director of Digital, Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
James Leitz – Senior Vice President, Action Sports, IMG
James Todd – Software Engineer Twine, Radar Networks
Jamie Sims Coakley – Film Director & Producer
Jarka Duba – President / CEO, POC
Jeff Harbaugh - Founder, Jeff Harbaugh & Associates
Jeff Kearl – Chairman, Skullcandy
Jeff Staple – Founder, Staple Design
Jeff Tremaine – Director & Executive Producer, Dickhouse Entertainment
Jen Lorentzen – Founder, Clutched Key Collective
Jessica Mendoza – President, Women Sports Foundation
Jessie Billauer – Founder, Life Rolls On
Jessie Federico Cote – Global Creative Manager, Snow, K2
Jim Anfuso – Director of Marketing, Fox Racing
Jim Gunning – Managing Director / Partner, Resqwater
Jim Shubin
John Stouffer – Director of PR & Endemic Relations, FUEL TV
John Ward – Digital & eCommerce Consultant, ARWE
Johnny Cupcakes – Founder, Johnny Cupcakes
Jon Buscemi – Creative Director & Founder, Buscemi
Josh Hunter – Editor-In-Chief, Transworld Business
Julie Cordua – Communications Director, (RED)
Julie Solwald – VP of Sports Marketing, Paul Mitchell
Kathleen Gasperini – Co-Founder & SVP, Label Network
Keir Dillion – Professional Snowboarder, TV Announcer
Keith Hufnagel – Professional Skateboarder, Founder, HUF
Kelia Moniz – Pro Surfer, Roxy
Kelley Electa - Executive Director, Promotions Events, MySpace
Kelly Davis – Director of Research, SIA Snowsports Industry Association
Kevin Lyman – Founder, Warped Tour
Kevin Robinson – Professional BMX Rider
Kim Coupounas – President, B-Lab
Kim Novick – Development Director, Tony Hawk Foundation
Kim Woozy – Founder, MAHFIA
Kristin Cusic – VP of Marketing, 686 & Westlife Distribution
Kurt Soto – Entertainment Marketing Manager, Vans
Laura Gentile – VP, Offfice of the President, ESPN / espnW
Lea Kozin – Digital Marketing / Social Counsultant & Marketing Director, Nema
Leanne Milliken – Brand Integration Supervisor, Action Sports, Saatchi & Saatchi
Lee Crane – Founder, Boardistan
Lisa Andersen – Pro Surfing Legend, Roxy
Lisa Hudson – President & Owner, Black Sun Productions
Liza Markle – Team & Client Services Director, Red Bull Global Rallycross
Lyndon Cormack – Co-Founder, Herschel Supply Co.
Marc Ecko – Co-Founder & CEO – Ecko Unlimited, Complex Media
Marc Fiore – Publisher, Transworld Motocross
Mark Borden - Senior Editor, Fast Company
Mark Hedstrom – US Country Director, Movember
Mark Lewman – Creative Director & Partner, Nemo Design
Mark Rauscher – Assistant Environmental Director, Surfrider Foundation
Marshall Kirkpatrick – Vice President of Content Development and Lead Writer, ReadWriteWeb
Mary O’Connor – Director of Olympic Marketing, Marketing Arm
Matt McClain – Director of Marketing & Communications, Surfrider Foundation
Matt Savarino – Lead Information Architect, K2 Sports
Matty Swanson – Director of Action Sports Marketing, Oakley
Mel Harris – VP Motorcycle / Marine Division, Suzuki
Melissa O’Malley – Director, Global Merchant & Cross-Border Trade Initiatives, Paypal
Michael Jager – Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, JDK Design
Michael Tomson – Design Consultant & Co-Founder, Gotcha
Michelle Devine – VP of Sales, Juniors & Girls, O’Neill
Mike Ness - Lead Singer, Social Distortion
Mike West – President & Creative Director, 686 & Westlife Distribution
Mike Lewis - Manging Editor, Transworld Business
Mike “Hucker” Clark – Pro BMX Rider
Mikey Leblanc – Founder & Principal, Pro Snowboarder, Holden
Miki Keller – Executive & Founder. Women’s Pro Motocross Championship
Miki Vuckovich – Executive Director. Tony Hawk Foundation
Monyca Eleogram – Pro Surfer, Roxy
Myles Kovacs – President / Co-Founder, DUB
Nancy Chang – Co-Founder, Skate Like A Girl
Nancy Maxwell – Social Media Community Manager, Vans
NAS- Rapper & Musician
Neal Hendrix – Pro Skateboarder & Marketing Manager, Camp Woodward
Nguyen Duong – Director of Digital Strategy, Innocean USA
Nguyen Duong – Participation Planning Director, Saatchi & Saatchi
Nicholas Tran – VP Demand Creation, Stance
Nick Sargent – Global Director of Strategic Alliances, Burton Snowboards
Norb Garrett – SVP / Group Publisher, Grind Media
Omar Salazar – Pro Skateboarder
Pat McIlvain – VP Global Sports Marketing, Oakley
Pat Parnell – TV Host / Sports Broadcast Journalist
Pat O’Connell – Marketing Director, Hurley
Paul Crandell – CMO / SVP Marketing, GoPro
Paul Gomez – SVP Global Branding, Hurley
Paul Kersh – Director of Marketing & Strategy. Vans Warped Tour
Paul “PRod” Rodriguez – Pro Skateboarder
Per Welinder – President, Blitz Distribution
Pete Kershaw – VP GMM, West 49 & Compound Ride Shop
Peter “PT” Townend – Pro Surfing Legend
Phil Shalala – Co-Founder & CEO, Krush Mobile
Ray Ibe – Founder, SecretHandShake
riCardo Crespo – COO, Th13teen
Rick Alessandri – Senior VP and Managing Director, ESPN X Games
Rob Campbell – General Manager and Editor-In-Chief, Transworld Business
Rob Farris – SVP, Programming & Production, Outside Television
Robbie Maddison – Pro Freestyle Motocross Rider
Robert Brink – Host & Editor, Ride Channel
Roland Sands – Owner & Founder, Roland Sands Designs
Ron Semiao – SVP Films, Founder of X Games, ESPN
Ross Garrett – Publisher, Surfing Magazine
Rosy Hodge – Pro Surfer, Roxy
Russ Rowan – SVP Sales & Global Marketing, Spyder
Ryan Ashton – Director, Quiksilver Foundation
Ryan Divel – VP Sales & Marketing, Lost
Ryan Hurley – Creative Director, Hurley
Ryan Hagy – Marketing, Metal Mulisha
Ryan Rush – VP Men’s M&D, O’Neill
Sal Masekela – TV Host, Film Producer, Co-Founder of Stoked Mentoring
Scott Alexander – Director of Digital Marketing, Oakely
Scott DeYager – Social Media & Strategic Communications, Toyota
Scott Paridon – VP of Production and Development, Fuel TV
Sean O’Brien – Marketing Content Manager, Surf Expo
Seth Combs – Co-Founder / CMO, Sol Republic
Shana Frahm – Global PR Director, Burton Snowboards
Shannon Dunn-Downing – Pro Snowboarding Legend
Shaun Neff – Founder / CEO, Neff
Shepard Fairey – Artist & Founder, Obey
Shon Tomlin – SVP Programming and Marketing, Fuel TV
Skyler Wallace – Sr. Strategic Planner, Saatchi & Saatchi
Stacie Krajchir – Founder, The Bungalow PR
Stefanie Sekich – Coastal Campaign Specialist, Surfrider Foundation
Stephanie Gilmore – Pro Surfer, Roxy
Steve Astephen – Managing Director, Wasserman Media Group
Steve Caballero – Professional Skateboard Legend
Steve Larosiliere – Founder / President, Stoked
Steve Ward – VP of Marketing, All Categories and VP of Sales, O’Neill
Steven Kotler – Author, Co-Founder & Director of Research, Flow Genome Project
Tiffany Montgomery – Founder, Shop-Eat-Surf.com
Tim Buche – President, Motorcycle Industry Council
Tim McFerran – President, Maloof Money Cup
Tim Reed – Senior Director, Events & Content, ESPN X Games
Tim Swart – Owner, UNIV
Tina Dixon – TV Personality, Professional Snowboarder
Tinker Hatfield – VP, Nike Innovation & Creative Concepts, Nike
Toby Bost – CEO, La Jolla Group
Todd Richards – Professional Snowboarder, TV Host
Todd Roberts – Owner, ZJ Boarding House
Tom Campion – Founder, Zumiez
Tony “Frosty” Welch – Web, Community and Social Media Strategy Personal Systems Group, HP
Troy Michaels – Lifestyle Marketing Team Leader, Target
Troy Powell – MX Brand Manager, Volcom
Vipe Desai – Director Of Marketing, Monster Energy
Wade Martin – President & CEO, Alli, The Alliance of Action Sports