Ray DeWeese
Age: 37
Company: Ohio State IMG Sports Marketing
Title: General manager
Where born: Columbus
Education: Ohio University (B.S., sports sciences), Baylor University (M. Ed., sport management)
Family: Wife, Amanda; children Natalie (10), Cameron (7), Allie (6), Lyla (4), Elizabeth (10 months)
Favorite way to unwind: Reading.
Causes supported: I am a member of the Knights of Columbus at our parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. We have several food drives, clothing and shoe collections, and meal preparations throughout the year.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I've ever done: Have five children.
Person in the industry I’d most like to meet: Jerry Jones, because of his understanding of all enterprises the Cowboys are involved in and how he looks for new ways to monetize an established brand.
If I could change jobs with anyone for a day, it would be: Aroldis Chapman. I want to know what it feels like to throw a fastball 100+ mph whenever you want.
My fellow Forty Under 40 class members would be surprised to know that I: Worked in the energy industry for eight months.
terry gilliam
ay DeWeese was several months into a new job with an energy company in Columbus when he and his wife went to an Ohio State football game. Before DeWeese made a career change in 2012, he sold sponsorships and helped market the Buckeyes’ rights for IMG College. Returning to The Horseshoe to see OSU play rekindled the reasons why he had gotten into the sports business in the first place.
“We were sitting there at the game, and my wife said, ‘I know you miss this,’” DeWeese said. “I did. I really did.”
Just a few months later, near the end of 2012,
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SBJ Podcast:
Forty Under 40 editor Mark Mensheha and Executive Editor Abraham Madkour discuss this year's class, some of the more interesting stories in it and how the selection process works.
the general manager position came open at the Ohio State property. DeWeese had been with AEP Energy about eight months, but he was feeling the tug back to IMG College, which owns the Buckeyes’ multimedia rights. DeWeese called his mentor at IMG, Mark Dyer, “the guy I always call to talk through issues.”
DeWeese went for the GM job and got it, putting him in charge of one of the largest and most lucrative college properties in the nation, grossing nearly $23 million in annual revenue.
With five children at home, DeWeese’s pace seldom slows down. His morning constitutional involves getting his three oldest up and driving them to school before waking up the two too young for school. But it’s also a life he wouldn’t trade. He knows. He tried it once.
“I’m really glad I came back,” DeWeese said.
— Michael Smith
