Lori Bland
VP of Partnership Management
National Sales at Learfield
I’ve had the opportunity to work with John for nearly 15 years and have consistently valued every interaction. He has been an exceptional partner throughout, bringing a deep and comprehensive understanding of the evolving sports marketing landscape. His expertise will enable partners to navigate complex opportunities with confidence and clarity.
What truly sets John apart is not only his knowledge, but also his character—and, of course, his wit. He approaches every situation with honesty, transparency, and a straightforward mindset, which naturally builds trust and fosters strong, lasting relationships. John is highly responsive and demonstrates a strong sense of accountability, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. He is always quick to engage, bringing a collaborative and solution-oriented approach to every challenge.
Any organization or team would benefit significantly from John’s leadership, perspective, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Rand Harbert
Retired Executive and Marketing Officer
John has spent his career and entire adult life working with, developing and understanding the college sports landscape. He is a problem solver that never takes his eyes off of the task at hand. In today’s complex and ever-changing college sports environment, I can’t think of a more experienced and trusted voice. I know from personal experience what an extremely valuable asset he is when it comes to the business of sports.
Jeff Jackson
Commissioner
Missouri Valley Conference
As a participant in one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving industries, transparency, trust, and honesty are of paramount importance.
Throughout my interactions with John, he has consistently demonstrated these qualities in an impeccable manner. His expertise and insightful perspective have made him an invaluable resource for knowledge and counsel. The Missouri Valley Conference eagerly anticipates this continued partnership, confident that it will have a profound impact on our membership and, most importantly, our student-athletes.
Melissa Silberman
Vice President, Partnership Development & Insights / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
I had the opportunity to work closely with John for over eight years during his time at State Farm, and he was an exceptional partner throughout one of the most complex and high-profile engagements in our organization - bringing the State Farm Arena naming rights to life during a full-scale renovation.
John combines deep industry expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset that makes even the most challenging opportunities feel manageable. He was thoughtful, collaborative, and consistently focused on driving outcomes that delivered value for all parties involved.
Beyond his expertise, John is someone you trust implicitly - he shows up, follows through, and approaches every interaction with integrity and a true partnership mentality. Having managed an extensive portfolio of partnerships across leagues, his breadth of perspective is unmatched. I have no doubt he will bring tremendous value to any organization he works with.
Gene Taylor
Kansas State
Director of Athletics
I have known John for over 40 years. Over those years I have always been impressed with not only John’s understanding of college athletics but the entire sports industry. He is extremely creative, has great vision and his approach to his profession is always top notch.
John and I have had many conversations over the years about ideas he has had on topics, advice I needed from him on issues and just general discussions about our profession. During those conversations I have always valued and admired John’s insight, perspective and his honesty. John is a tremendous person, great family man and someone I am honored to call him a friend for as long as I have been able to.