Sports & Events

Eric Addeo

Eric Addeo joined TSMGI in 2019 and oversees TSMGI’s Sports and Experiential Marketing Division.

Eric has more than twenty years of experience in the sports and experiential marketing sector, having developed and executed over $100M in strategic activation work for clients like MillerCoors, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nike, Under Armour, Bacardi, Hilton, Target, Kellogg’s, Red Bull, Motorola, EA Sports and many more.

He has led investments, negotiations and management of clients’ sponsorships within NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and SuperCross, as well as high-profile sponsorshops within the NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA, NHL, MMA, MiLB, WSOPoker, Marathons, Festivals, Entertainment Properties and countless venues.

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Dan Bieritz

Dan joined TSMGI in 2023 as a Senior Account Supervisor, working on Abbott’s global sponsorship of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Prior to TSMGI, Dan served as Senior Director, National Sales at Learfield IMG College, and before that as Account Manager, Sponsorship and Strategic Alliances at FELD Entertainment. Early in his career, Dan held various roles in Partnership Marketing at the Chicago Bears and was a Sales and Marketing intern with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Dan’s expertise is understanding all aspects of a partnership life cycle: research, ideation, analytics, proposal design, account management, team management, renewal strategy and new business responsibilities in order to maximize brand value.

Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, Brittany, and three kids, Leah, Mason, and Brooks. Dan is a huge Packers, Bulls, and Cubs fan and is always looking forward to his next golf trip.

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Reese Bressler

Reese is a versatile member of the TSMGI team, contributing across various areas. You might see Reese involved in our events and activations, lending a hand wherever needed.

Beyond event support, Reese plays a key role in our brand communications, with a particular focus on enhancing our social media presence. Outside the office, Reese extends his expertise to consulting for brands and influencers, guiding them in effective social media strategies. Additionally, Reese is at the helm of a DJ entertainment company based in the Chicagoland area, bringing energy and expertise to events across the region.

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Haley Emory

Haley Emory is a 2022 graduate of the University of Iowa and joined TSMGI shortly thereafter.  Haley is no stranger to TSMGI, having completed a summer internship during college.

With a degree in Marketing Management and a minor in Sports Management, Haley will help support the Abbott teams across both Abbott World Marathon Majors and the Abbott Real Madrid partnership.

During the summer and spring seasons Haley volunteers as a coach for Deerfield High School soccer.  Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies, playing soccer, and taking nature walks.

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Carmen Garcia-Doncel

Carmen joined the TSMGI family in 2022 as part of the Sports Marketing team, specifically as Account Director in Spain for Abbott´s global sponsorship of Real Madrid CF.

Carmen has worked in the sports marketing industry for over 10 years, with different roles that have always been focused in helping brands communicate through sports and entertainment. She brings an international perspective of the business, having worked in several countries around the world.

Carmen enjoys sports (Hala Madrid!) and is also very interested in history and travelling. She likes going out to restaurants, movies and the theater.

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Lainie Gentile

Lainie has 25-plus years of experience in sports and entertainment partnerships, activation, and lifestyle/social media marketing. Gentile’s career has spanned from grassroots to global partnerships within the sports, music, and entertainment industries with an emphasis on strategy, business development and relationship management.

Prior to joining TSMGI, Lainie was Senior Account Director for UEG and before that she was VP National Partnerships for Learfield IMG College overseeing the upper Midwest and representing 250-plus colleges and universities across the country building strategic partnerships that successfully address business and community objectives. Prior to Learfield, Lainie was National Director of Partnerships for 4Front, a sports and entertainment marketing agency collaborating with teams, leagues and entertainment properties and had spent over 5 years in partnerships with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx.

Gentile also spent four years on the corporate side of the table with Starwood Hotels as part of the Luxury Brands Group including W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis Hotels and The Luxury Collection.

Other career highlights include positions with various properties including Live Nation, AEG and ISL where she gained valuable experience in music, soccer, venue naming rights, open wheel racing and college sports.

Lainie has volunteered and supported several community organizations in the cities she lived in including Operation Glass Slipper, Girls on the Run and FastBreak Foundation. She has also served on the board, was a mentor, and remains active in WISE (Women In Sports and Events).

Lainie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston.

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Jessica Gonzalez

Jessica Gonzalez is an account executive for TSMGI. In her role, she is responsible for supporting the Abbott Real Madrid partnership.

Jessica is a 2021 graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism and a concentration in Sports Management. She is also a 2023 graduate from DePaul University with a Master’s degree in marketing.

During her free time, she enjoys being with friends and family, attending sporting events, and traveling.

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Cyrus Heffernan

Cyrus Heffernan joined TSMGI in 2022 as an Account Manager on the Sports Marketing team.

Prior to joining TSMGI, Cyrus worked in the soccer marketing space with clients including MLS/SUM and Concacaf, developing strong knowledge of the American soccer marketing landscape while working alongside high-profile brands in the category.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cyrus holds an MBA from the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. Prior to his time in sports marketing, Cyrus worked as a teacher abroad, spending years living in Turkey and Spain. Cyrus honed his love for soccer during his time abroad, spurring him start a career in the field and help grow the Beautiful Game in the United States.

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Ryan Hoepner

Ryan joined TSMGI at the end of 2023 as an Account Manager on the Johnson Controls and Cummins businesses.

A Houston native, Ryan graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations. Ryan began his career doing internships with the NFL for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. Prior to joining TSMGI, Ryan worked worked at Andretti Autosport on their Partnership Activations team managing sponsorship accounts on the Andretti INDYCAR program.

A new dad, Ryan and his family recently relocated to the Midwest.

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Ian Holmes

Ian joined TSMGI in 2021 as a part of the Sports Marketing Team, focusing on Motorsports. He is a graduate of James Madison University where he was a member of the football team, and brings experience with ticket sales, national governing bodies, partnerships, event management and more.

Ian is based in Charlotte, and when he is not in the office, he can be found: golfing, at the gym, or anything music and sports related.

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Cassie Kitchell

Cassie joined TSMGI in 2016 as part of the Sports Marketing, Motorsports team leading initiatives for Valvoline and Cummins.

Cassie currently works on Abbott’s global sponsorship of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. She has also worked on various NASCAR sponsor programs, including initiatives for Bosch, Auto Zone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, AARP and ditech Home Loans.

With a degree in Sport Communication from Indiana University, Cassie began her sports marketing career in sponsorship and relationship management for the Chicago Bears and Chicago Fire. During that time, Cassie managed and executed sports and lifestyle events that revolved around the Clubs’ revenue-generating and customer-focused initiatives.

Cassie enjoys cheering on her alma mater in basketball (Go Hoosiers!), playing tennis, exploring new cities with her husband, and spending time in Texas visiting with her niece and nephew and snuggling with her sweet kittens (Stosh & Louise).

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Andrew McCarthy

Andrew joined TSMGI in 2017 as an Account Coordinator, and now leads the strategic direction and execution of multiple client programs.

In his time at TSMGI, Andrew has supported strategic client partnerships in global endurance sports, professional team sports including the NBA, MLB, and NFL, and in golf. He has led initiatives focused on improving brand exposure and reputation, corporate hospitality, internal employee engagement, and customer hosting.

Andrew is a 2014 graduate of Indiana University, and spent the early part of his career with the Indiana Pacers, Vivid Seats, and Ball State University Athletics.

As a proud #GirlDad to 2, Andrew spends his time outside of work with his wife and daughters, and is always open to squeezing in a round of golf (or two).

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Jeff Opalach

Jeff joined the TSMGI Sports Marketing Motorsports team in 2014 on the Valvoline account bringing with him more than 20 years of sports marketing and communications experience, many of which were in the Motorsports industry.

Jeff has managed programs for brands such as 3M, Acxiom, Best Buy, Chevrolet, Computer Associates, Craftsman, Ford Motor Company, Sherwin Williams, Sprint and Valvoline while working with Randy Moss Motorsports, Circle Bar Racing, Octagon Sports Marketing on behalf of Sprint, Greg Biffle Inc. and Best Buy. A lifelong motorsports fan, Jeff brings his passion and experience of marketing and public relations experience to the TSMGI team.

Jeff plays a key role in managing the McDonald’s account and serves as a valuable expert in Motorsports. Jeff earned his degree in Public Relations from Western Michigan University and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.

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Rachel White

Rachel White joined TSMGI in 2023 as an Account Coordinator on the Sports Marketing & Events team. In her role as an Account Executive, Rachel supports the strategy, planning, and execution of numerous client initiatives, with a specific focus on our Johnson Controls and Cummins sponsorship and event programs.

A 2022 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, Rachel worked in multiple roles during undergrad and brings professional experience in collegiate athletics, player representation, marketing strategy, and international business from her time working abroad in Austria. As the captain of the soccer team, Rachel also built valuable skills in leadership and relationship building, and was named to the 2022 Academic All-District and All-Region teams.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys playing soccer, watching football, and finding a local pub or coffee shop.

CONTACT RACHEL