THE SPORTS EVENTS MARKETING EXPERIENCE (SEME)

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SEME East 2008
March 28-29 - Washington, D.C.
info@seme-now.com
Call: 202-903-3763

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Matt Winkler

Executive Director & Founder, SEME East / Central / West The Elusive Fan Podcast | Podcast - Direct Link | NCAA Podcast
202-903-3763
mvw4@georgetown.edu

Matt Winkler has blended over ten years of experience in the NCAA, NHL, WNBA, MLS, the Olympics, and the World Cup into this premier sports career conference known as the Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME).

Developed originally as Octagon University in 2003, SEME was launched by Winkler and associates in Washington, D.C. in 2004 (SEME East/ G.W.U.). The brand has since expanded to Los Angeles (SEME West / U.S.C.) and now Chicago (SEME Central/ Northwestern) in April. On the international horizon, planning is currently underway for SEME China in January, 2008, prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Winkler is currently serving as Regional Sales Manager for the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and the Capitals Kettler IcePlex.

During the previous three years, Winkler taught at George Washington University while launching two entrepreneurial consulting projects as SEME and founder of the former marketing communications and pubic relations firm, MW Marketing/Communications, with partner Chris Stockton. MW M/C clients included Octagon, NFL’s USA Football, USA Gymnastics Visa Cup, Fight For Children’s Fight Night and One Shot Racing.

With over ten years of leadership in the NCAA Athletics and Media Information business, Winkler recently served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Public Relations at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, after a six-year stint as Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, and Director of Athletic Communications and Sports Information at American University. He worked at Lehigh University prior to returning to his hometown to begin work at AU.

Winkler frequently served as an on-site game-day media operations consultant for U.S. Soccer and D.C. United as well as the NCAA and their championships for Men’s Basketball and Men’s Soccer. His external experiences have been extensive. He has served as a media operations coordinator for several national and international events such as: the 2003 World Cup, 2002 Winter Olympics Salt Lake City; the 1999 Women's World Cup in D.C, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments in 2002, 2001, 1998, 1996, and 1994; the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 1994 World Cup in Washington, D.C. and the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In its eighth year in the academic circles at the American University, Winkler developed and taught the course “Sports Communication & Media” in the Washington, D.C. metro area at American University, George Mason University and George Washington University..

Winkler, a native of West Bethesda, MD who earned his M.A. in Public Communication at American University, was a student-athlete (soccer and basketball) in college (Curry College, Milton, MA). He is an active member of Public Relations Society of American (PRSA) and earned his strategic public relations accreditation, the APR, from that organization.

"How to Make Yourself Marketable"

On July 13, 2006, SDSU's Sports Business Management MBA program was pleased to welcome Matt Winkler back to its classroom for a discussion with the second cohort of students.

Mr. Winkler possesses ten years of experience as an Associate Athletic Director at the NCAA Division I level, and ten years of consulting experience where he worked with such entities as the U.S. Olympics, World Cup, NCAA Final Four, Major League Soccer, and the National Football League. He has also taught Sports Marketing at George Washington University, and developed an industry leading annual sports career conference titled Sports Events Marketing Experience, which takes place on the East and West Coasts, and has recently expanded to Chicago.

As the current class of Sports MBA students prepare to interview for internships, Mr. Winkler took this opportunity to teach the students about the value of defining what it is they stand for, and the qualities that they possess. Each student will have his/her own personal brand which is, essentially, the image created in the minds of others when they connect with the student. This brand must promise value, build trust and loyalty, and offer differentiation, among other things. Mr. Winkler reminded the class that this brand is developed through everything we do. It comes out in our personality, our performance, our voice, our image, and our style. Mr. Winkler provided valuable tips for enhancing these brand extensions, and maintaining the personal brand once it is established.

Mr. Winkler concluded his visit with an overview of the sports landscape and the realities of its competitiveness. He provided insight into what sports organizations of today are looking for, and where to look for current employment opportunities.

The students, faculty and staff of SDSU's Sports Business Management MBA program wish to thank Matt Winkler for speaking with our class once again, and wish him luck in his professional endeavors.