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Forty Under 40

Forty Under 40: Class of 2006

On the occasion of this being the 10th anniversary of our 2006 Forty Under 40, we reached out to members of that year’s class to get their thoughts from the event in 2006 and for messages to this year’s 40.

2006 Forty Under 40*
Randy Bernard, Professional Bull Riders
John Brody, Major League Baseball
Zak Brown, Just Marketing International
Faust Capobianco IV, Majestic Athletic
Kathy Carter, Soccer United Marketing
Damon Evans, University of Georgia
Jeff Fluhr, StubHub
Todd France, France Athlete Management Enterprises
Frank Gibeau, EA Sports
Wally Hayward, Relay Sponsorship & Event Marketing
Sean Henry, Palace Sports and Entertainment
Paul Johnson, PGA Tour
David Katz, Yahoo!
Michael Kelly, South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee
George Kliavkoff, MLB Advanced Media
Peter Lazarus, NBC Universal
Michael Levine, Van Wagner Sports Group
Ellen Lucey, Coca-Cola
Burke Magnus, ESPNU
Peter Murray, NFL
Jon Niemuth, Ellerbe Becket
Scott O’Neil, NBA
Doug Perlman, NHL
Kevin Plank, Under Armour
Ed Policy, Arena Football League
Tom Proebstle, Crawford Architects
Michael Robichaud, Sprint Nextel
Perry Rogers, Premier Integrated Sports Management
Greg Shaheen, NCAA
Mark Shapiro, Cleveland Indians
Adam Shaw, NFL Network
Peter Stern, The Strategic Agency
Jim Tanner, Williams & Connolly
Mark Tatum, NBA
Shannon Terry, Rivals.com
Dorothy Whitehouse, ESPN/ABC Sports
Russell Wolff, ESPN International
Brett Yormark, Nets Sports and Entertainment
Michael Yormark, Sunrise Sports and Entertainment
Alan Zucker, IMG

* Identified with the companies they worked for in 2006
Photo: Andrew French


What memories do you have of your selection as a Forty Under 40 honoree?

Recognition for hard work and achievement is extremely gratifying and causes you to reflect on the road and the path you have taken. I remember thinking about all the key influencers in my personal and professional life and all the teammates I had that put me in the position to be honored. Growing up in this industry and seeing the company I am fortunate to be a part of as a Forty Under 40 honoree is a source of tremendous pride and motivation to accomplish more and push myself to dare to be great today and tomorrow.
— John Brody (2016: WWE, EVP, global sales and partnerships)

I hold very fond memories and it remains a highlight of my career. The SBJ Forty Under 40 is one of the, perhaps the most, important sports industry accolades, so to be selected as an honoree is to be truly cherished. Being recognized among your contemporaries is always highly satisfying, but in an industry this chock-full of talent it is a tremendous compliment and highly satisfying. I look back at fellow honorees, and it’s humbling to look at the names who have continued to give leadership to our industry.
Zak Brown (2016: Just Marketing International executive chairman; CSM Sports & Entertainment CEO)

Such a fun time (and a fun night)! First of all, to be recognized was great, but it was the group that I was included with, many of whom remain good friends, that made it so special. The lead-up and then the evening spent with all of my colleagues and new friends was something I remember very fondly. Of course, it was also special because I really felt I was representing MLS and the sport of soccer, which didn’t have the same cachet as it has now, so there was a lot of pride that we were being recognized along with others in the industry.
Kathy Carter (2016: Soccer United Marketing president)

I remember being awed by the accomplishments of my fellow honorees. These were the people transforming the sports industry from all angles. And while the World Congress of Sports makes you ponder where the business is headed, looking around that room gave me confidence that sports would play an even more impactful role on our society in the years ahead.
Oh, and the shrimp. They served darn good shrimp.
David Katz (2016: ThePostGame.com founder/CEO)

I distinctly remember receiving the official notification and being thrilled but was admittedly initially concerned that it was some sort of a hoax. I was unaware that I had been nominated by anyone, and there had not previously been honorees from Super Bowl/Final Four host committees or sports commissions, so I wasn’t sure my background would ever measure up. But once I had a chance to process the information, I knew it was real and I couldn’t have been more appreciative of the honor. The banquet was first-class and it remains as one of the more memorable moments in my life to have been surrounded by my family and close friends at the event.
Michael Kelly (2016: College Football Playoff COO)

1) Lots of my family lives in New York City, so I was able to include my family in the ceremony — which was awesome. It’s not normal to get all dressed up and celebrate with your close family; I loved it. My parents, siblings, aunts and business partners were all there to celebrate, which we all do too little.    
2) Sharing the experience with my boss, Bea Perez, was great. She had won it several times, and I was proud to represent her and the Coca-Cola Co.
3) Being recognized for what I love to do was special and it’s a moment I will cherish forever.
Ellen Lucey (2016: Bauerfeind director of sports and consumer marketing) 

A couple of funny memories are that I had no clue — I mean, totally zero — the caliber of individuals in the room that night. I went back after and reviewed the list and was pretty blown away to be in the same company as the class of 2006. I still am, to be honest. We sat at a table with one of the StubHub founders and had a great chat but still no idea who he was other than being very friendly. To be fair, he probably had no idea who I was either!
In general, it was a great trip. I had not spent a great deal of time in New York City at that point, so my wife and I bought theater tickets, I made a reservation at a restaurant making the rounds in all the architectural design publications of the day, and we generally had a big time. The only problem is, being from the Midwest and generally inexperienced in all things NYC at the time, I made reservations for 5 p.m. when show time was 8 p.m.; seems a reasonable amount of time for dinner before a play, coming from the Midwest. Only problem was this restaurant didn’t open until 5 p.m., so we had the entire place to ourselves for over an hour. (Apparently, the appropriate dinner reservation before theater time is closer to 6:30 to 7 p.m.) The restaurant staff had good fun with this but they gave us plenty of free samples to make sure our experience was memorable. The play was pretty good, too.
Jon Niemuth (2016: AECOM Sports, Americas director)

The best memory I have is being surrounded by friends and family for a night of fun. Oh, and the post-party at The Campbell Apartment, complete with an endless supply of Sprinkles cupcakes.
Scott O’Neil (2016: Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center CEO)

As I’m sure all recipients do, I remember being selected as an honoree in 2006 extremely well. I was lucky enough to have been named to the list in 2003, and then the 2004-05 (NHL) season was canceled because of the labor dispute. Re-emerging from the lockout was one of the most challenging and energizing professional experiences I’ve ever had so being recognized in 2006 was particularly rewarding.
Doug Perlman (2016: Sports Media Advisors founder/CEO)

My lasting memory is the fun I had at the banquet. I remember a very rowdy crowd as the cocktail party spilled into the night’s programming. My table was filled with longtime business advisers; my family, including my wife, Carly; plus a few lifetime friends. It was also great to have Jeremy Schaap present me with the hardware on stage, as we have shared a lot of great memories together over the years.
Peter Stern (2016: The Strategic Agency founder/president)

Being selected as an honoree was an incredibly special night that I will always remember. I was so thankful to have my family and my mentor, Lon Babby, there with me. What I remember most is the camaraderie among my fellow recipients and the past winners who attended. It’s a pretty unique network of successful, driven and passionate professionals in the sports industry. I honestly can’t believe it’s been 10 years.
It’s also amazing but not surprising that Lon’s son, Ken, is a recipient this year.  
Jim Tanner (2016: Tandem Sports and Entertainment founder/president)

My 2006 recognition was very special to me because I was able to share it with my twin brother, who was also recognized that year. Being recognized for a third time also put me into the SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame, where I joined many other accomplished executives in the industry. I remain extremely humbled to be a part of such a great group of people.
Brett Yormark (2016: Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO)

The first thing that comes to mind is how honored I was to be in the company of so many accomplished and successful people — people that I admired and, insome cases, came up in the business with. In our industry, especially when I was on the team side, you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about individual awards or accolades; you’re more focused on driving the business every day. That said, Forty Under 40 is one of those honors that really stands out as something that recognizes some of the true visionaries in the industry.
Michael Yormark (2016: Roc Nation president and chief of branding and strategy)

What advice would you give to the members of this year’s Forty Under 40?

Take a moment to take a step back and recognize the fact that you have achieved something special and be sure to share it with your mentors and teammates. Most importantly, remember to thank your mom!
John Brody (2016: WWE, EVP, global sales and partnerships)

Win it three times and get in the Hall of Fame — everyone likes a challenge! In all seriousness, it is something people recognize you for, so wear the honor proudly but don’t let it go to your head. You need to keep your A game. Look at the previous winners and recognize they have continued to set the bar 90 percent of the time. In my view, being made an Forty Under 40 honoree also carries with it a responsibility to help strengthen and represent our industry for the better. We are all ambassadors.
Zak Brown (2016: Just Marketing International executive chairman; CSM Sports & Entertainment CEO)

Enjoy it. You won’t be under 40 for much longer. And, take the opportunity to get to know the people that you meet as a result of this recognition.
Kathy Carter (2016: Soccer United Marketing president)


Get to know your Forty Under 40 classmates. Pursue those relationships. Many of the members of my 2006 class have become great personal friends and business partners. Cherish the moment and seize the opportunity to learn from your peers.
David Katz (2016: ThePostGame.com founder/CEO)

Remember that success is a journey and not a destination. Use this prestigious recognition as a stepping stone to future achievements; don’t rest on your laurels, as the same hard work that led you to this milestone will be every bit as necessary in your future. I would also suggest you look for ways to keep in touch with your fellow honorees, as I have developed important friendships and business relationships that I first established through the Forty Under 40 program.
Michael Kelly (2016: College Football Playoff COO)

Enjoy the moment and savor it.
Ellen Lucey (2016: Bauerfeind director of sports and consumer marketing)  

It’s a tremendous honor, to start. I saw it more as a launch pad versus the summit, as I’m sure many others did as well. That being said, I would reflect on the advice of setting lofty goals and keep your focus laser sharp on them. There will be highs and lows along the way; just keep the focus up and out.
Jon Niemuth (2016: AECOM Sports, Americas director)

Remember that it is not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy. Write five handwritten thank you notes to people who have influenced you in life and your career. Then, target and engage two incredible up-and-coming stars and help them exceed your career.
It is said that most overnight success takes about 18 years. Don’t ever forget that there is no final career destination, resting place or victory lap, and this whole journey is to be celebrated. So, it might be advisable to smile a bit along the way, be nice to the little people and the big people, be an extraordinary teammate, and laugh as often as possible.
Find the love of your life, and when you do, work every day to make it special and make it last.
Use your success, position and influence to make the world a better place.  
Scott O’Neil (2016: Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center CEO)

I looked back at the write up from 2006 and I would give today’s honorees the same advice that I included in the profile then: It’s a small world and a long life, so treat other people the way you would want to be treated.
Doug Perlman (2016: Sports Media Advisors founder/CEO)

My business advice 10 years ago was, “Don’t take no for an answer.” Today, I would reiterate that lesson and also remind people to follow their true work passion, be humble, and never stop innovating.
Peter Stern (2016: The Strategic Agency founder/president)

Time flies. Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve accomplished at a young age. Before you know it, you’ll be asked to give advice to the new group of winners — a decade later. It’s something to be very proud of, but more importantly, the recognition should remind you that you’re in a position to mentor and mold the next generation of recipients. Don’t just focus on your own career, but use this platform to give guidance and serve as a resource for younger people with the same drive and passion.
Jim Tanner (2016: Tandem Sports and Entertainment founder/president)
 
My advice for this year’s winners is to stay true to who they are; to show conviction and passion for what they do and to always dream big; ignore the naysayers and go with what you believe in; and, finally, never forget the journey that got you where you are today.
Brett Yormark (2016: Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO)

I would say quite simply, “Don’t let up.” One thing that I have always prided myself on in my career is a willingness to work harder than the next person. It would be easy to have some success and then let your foot off the gas. But being recognized as one of the Forty Under 40 also comes with the responsibility to continue to innovate, achieve and disrupt the industry. It is an honor that represents what you have done but should also be about what you do next.
Michael Yormark (2016: Roc Nation president and chief of branding and strategy)


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