Brian Bolten Email & Phone Number

Nice Guys Finish First leverages almost 30 years of sports and entertainment marketing, sales, negotiation, and activation to deliver strategic solutions for properties, brands, and agencies. Nice Guys Finish First's name was inspired by its current client, Dale Murphy, a 2x MLB MVP and future Baseball Hall of Famer. Please reach out for any inquiries regarding having Dale speak at/attend your next event.

The Connected Course for Golf VenuesIn the last six years, golf has seen a dramatic rise in U.S. participation, leaping from 32 million to 41.1 million players. This growth has stretched the customer experience thin, even as operational budgets remain tight.Various aspects of the operation of a golf course/club do not connect and communicate with each other, resulting in 1) a reduced consumer experience, and 2) inefficient operations. Both lead to not maximizing revenue and reducing operating costs.CourseIQ is a unified integrated platform that delivers the power of efficient golf course management in a snapshot. Designed for GMs, Directors of Golf, Superintendents, and PGA Professionals, CourseIQ doesn't just organize—it actively prompts resolutions, leading to smoother operations and an elevated patron experience. All in one place, at your fingertips.

Boulder, Us

Array is a premium sports marketing agency specializing in partnerships and brand activation, providing top expertise in the field with a creative approach unique to the industry. With best-in-class event and execution teams across sports and entertainment spaces, Array provides 360º service from conception to completion, backed by a team with vast experience and influence including athletes, former league and team personnel, celebrities, and professional marketers.

Atlanta, Us

NextUp Partners consists of veteran senior and mid-level professionals with a multitude of C-suite level relationships from across the industry and decades of proven success across sports leagues, teams, brands and creative agencies. We provide innovative sports-focused organizations with marketing solutions that are customized to meet clients’ needs and include end-to-end strategy and execution as well as affordable fractional executives to help companies secure the resources, expertise and intellectual capital they need to grow quickly and efficiently. How can we help your business become the NextUp? #marketing #sportsbiz #newventure #advisors

Nashville, Tennessee, Us

Gathr Outdoors, a portfolio company of Centre Partners, is a diversified global company that designs and manufactures outdoor products and sporting goods. Gathr’s business segments include CAMP (Klymit, Rightline Gear, Cascadia Vehicle Tents & WaterPORT), OUTDOOR (GCI Outdoor & ORCA Coolers) and RECREATION (PrideSports, Pride Manufacturing & MacNeill Engineering). The experiential and partnerships team serves to deliver these valuable products as part of relationships and events/sponsorships to drive the Gathr business, while also providing a growth opportunity for its partners to do the same.

New York, Ny, Us

Head of sports and entertainment marketing for CLEAR, while maintaining daily oversight of the Growth Partner Success team, with over 200 partners across multiple industry verticals.

New York, Ny, Us

Lead a team of 14 to secure, service, support and grow 500 enterprise, healthcare, travel/hospitality, sports, events and cultural partners to deliver an improved, frictionless, safe, and secure customer experience leveraging biometrics. Additionally, oversee department business and operating strategy, including budget development and mangement.

Nashville, Tn, Us

The senior leader of a fully-created Experiential Marketing team, reporting to the CMO. Drove impact along all aspects of the consumer journey through leveraging experiential and partnership marketing assets, including sponsorships, influencers/endorsers, mobile marketing, brand promotions, pop-up shops, media partnerships, retail/corporate/insurance (B2B) partnerships, and cause marketing, including the SmileDirectClub Foundation. Oversee a team of 18 and actively participate in C-level planning and management efforts across all marketing channels and efforts. The position and department was eliminated as part of a large Reduction in Force in March, 2020.

Beverly Hills, Ca, Us

A senior leader of the Global Marketing division within Endeavor (formerly WME|IMG), serving businsses including The Friedkin Group, Drund, Chevron, Visa, NRG, Allstate, Caterpillar and others. Was also a member of the new business development team, pitching and/or winning new clients within the technology, consumer products, oil and gas, heavy industry, advisory and consulting services and other industry verticals.Led the first-ever agency Anheuser-Busch/InBev U.S. sponsorship and experiential team, managing a direct team of 13 and the largest global sports sponsorship portfolio, including league, team and talent relationships within NFL, MLB, UFC, NBA, NCAA, golf, cycling, NHL, MLS/soccer, NASCAR, esports and drone racing. Developed strategies, negotiated relationships (including the NFL and NBA league renewals), and created/executed platforms that allowed A-B/InBev brands (predominantly Bud Light, Budweiser and Michelob Ultra) to leverage sports, entertainment, music, fashion, food and other event assets to drive affinity and passion with fans and consumers. Additionally, partnered with the ABInBev Global Experiential team on project-based work, including Stella and Matt Damon/water.org.

Us

Lead the Strategy organization, and served on the senior leadership team for eBay Enterprise Marketing Solutions, a global integrated marketing product and service organization with over 2000 partners. Also served as Co-Lead of The Shop, a collaborative Commerce Design Agency, within eBay Enterprise. Earned the Chairman’s Award, one of only 50 employees globally (out of 32,000) to receive this recognition, directly given by the CEO John Donahue.• Lead the strategic offerings across the breadth of agency, marketing services and product solutions delivered by this 600+ person organization on a global basis. • Managed a team focused on understanding consumers'​ needs throughout their journey with the brand, and delivering branded experiences and content that meet those needs. • Defined strategies leveraging that insight, and executes integrated marketing campaigns for over 100 of the world's leading commerce brands, including Toys R Us, eBay, NFL, GNC, Aeropostale, Ahold, Wells Fargo, Levi's and Dick's Sporting Goods. • In November of 2012, eBay Enterprise Marketing Solutions was named a "Strong Performer"​ by Forrester in their Wave evaluation of Customer Engagement Agencies, anchored by the proprietary "Customer Experience Journey (CEJ)" solution.

New York, New York, Us

Senior management within Momentum's Business Leadership division, providing brand and experiential consulting and management services for Fortune 500 companies, including Verizon and American Express. In 2010, developed joint venture between Momentum and Universal McCann to create UM Live, bringing branded event and experiential expertise and capabilities to the UM client base. Business Leadership• Managed American Express' sports sponsorship activation portfolio, leveraging investments in golf, tennis, basketball, fashion and entertainment to drive brand ownership and deliver access to members.• Led Verizon's branded efforts, including the investment with the NHL as well as the owned multi-cultural property How Sweet the Sound. Also assisted with Verizon's due diligence efforts around its pending investment with the NFL.• Highlights included creation of AMEX Fresh Courts program, media recognition for best in class for AMEX Fashion Week, US Open (golf and tennis) and the Tribeca Film Festival.UM Live JV• Developed entire business structure across two large IPG agencies, and led leadership team across both groups.• Secured UM Live's first major multi-million dollar client (Chrysler) in Q3 of 2010, and renewed the business for 2011, resulting in 9 new hires.

Randleman, North Carolina, Us

Senior leader for growing non-profit founded by NASCAR's Petty family and member of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Association. Specifically asked by Richard Petty and his family to help run their non-profit, and bring a for-profit mentality to the business. • Researched new consumer brand product line to tie back to relationship with the charity. • Created strategic plans and developed a repeatable model for expanding to new camp locations.• Created medium and long-term growth strategies, including additional sports and other affinity relationships.

Stamford, Connecticut, Us

Recruited to Octagon to lead Sprint's NASCAR investment. Uncover fan insight to develop regional and national branded experiential recommendations leveraging secured sponsored assets. Relocated from Norwalk, CT to Huntersville, NC in 2007 as a senior leader of Octagon’s Charlotte-area office; Marketing North America’s second largest office.Sprint NextelSenior team member of Octagon’s (and the industry’s) largest consulting client, Sprint Nextel.• Co-led Sprint Nextel’s 10-year, $760mm+ title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), focusing on acquisition, churn reduction and data revenue generation.• Developed national promotional plans and recommendations on how to best leverage significant assets within the sport, including league, track, team, driver and media assets.• Successful programs included NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application, Sprint $1,000,000 giveaway, Miss Sprint Cup, and the Sprint All-Star Race Fan Appreciation ProgramBank of AmericaTeam leader of Bank of America (BAC) account, managing 4 direct reports and overseeing a team of 15.• Led overall integrated branded sponsorship strategic planning efforts around all BAC sponsorship platforms, including NFL, NASCAR, MLB, Olympics, Entertainment and Regional; managed relationships with key lines of business to secure primary sources of activation funding.

Westport, Ct, Us

Mid-level leader for, at the time, a quickly-growing independent sports marketing consultancy, Velocity Sports & Entertainment.• Managed branded strategic activation planning for FedEx for two national sponsorships, NFL and FedEx Orange Bowl, resulting in a national award from PROMO Magazine for the NFL platform. Led team that negotiated 32 NFL club sponsorships. • Conducted a full sponsorship audit, strategic development, and new brand positioning statement for Motorola's NFL investment. • Managed New England-area sponsorships for Citizens Bank, and conducted an overall sponsorship audit and recommended strategy, resulting in an increased retainer.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Senior management member of a $20mm Southern California regional beer manufacturing/ distribution and restaurant company. Responsible for all branding & marketing efforts, a team of nine, and entire marketing budget. • Led full rebranding project to launch new identity for the company, including new logo, brand guidelines, and even updated the company's name to align more closely with its identity. • Restructured marketing department to support both restaurant and beer divisions. • Created and implemented full grassroots marketing strategy. • Negotiated all media and sponsorship relationships. • Analyzed restaurant pricing, resulting in a 6% increase in revenue without reducing covers. • Led development of internal culture program to 470 team members. • Launched new merchandise program.

Purchase, New York, Us

London, Gb

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Mba, Marketing

Bs, Economics (Individualized Concentration In Sports Management)

Education record