This week’s featured young sports business professional is Brian Gainor from Partnership Activation.

Name: Brian Gainor
Email: bgainor@partnershipactivation.com
Age: 26
Name of Company: Partnership Activation, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.partnershipactivation.com
Favorite sport to play: Basketball
Favorite sport to watch: College Football
Favorite professional team(s): Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat
Favorite college team(s): Florida Gators

Please briefly describe your background in sports business:
I began my career in sports at the University of Florida as a student assistant in the Sports Information Office while completing my undergraduate degree. That opportunity led to internship positions with the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a role with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. I went on to pursue an MBA/MSA degree from the Ohio University Center for Sports Administration and then moved to Charlotte to work for GMR Marketing (who I still currently work for). In February 2008, I launched Partnership Activation, Inc., as a side venture dedicated to sharing marketing/sponsorship best practices, a medium that hopefully will continue to serve as an industry resource for years to come.

If you could change one thing in sports business what would it be?
For brands to view their relationships in sports as true partnerships, where both parties (corporate partner and property) demonstrate a commitment to fully understand and drive one another’s business. It needs to be a two-way street.

Even as a leader, most young professionals are still sitting in a cubicle at this point in your career. What’s your most prized possession that you display in your cubicle?
The Ohio University Sports Administration Alumni Directory. There isn’t a graduate school program in the country that does a better job preparing young professionals to be leaders in the sports industry.

Do you think you have encountered any unique challenges or advantages because of your age?
I try to live by the mantra that there will always be challenges along the way but those who work hard will have good things happen to them. Those who are passionate, hard-working team players with integrity will succeed in this world. Young sports professionals should continue to search for ways that they can use/apply social media to sports – this will help them overcome a lot of challenges/disadvantages they might perceive are out there.

What campaign do you think is working right now?
The Chick-fil-A Wave campaign (there aren’t too many brands out there leveraging their sports investments better than Chick-fil-A right now)

What’s one issue in sports that needs to be addressed immediately for the betterment of the sport?
Rising salary cap issues. This continues to affect everyone in the business (fans, corporate partners, owners, etc.)

If you could give one piece of advice to young sports business professionals coming up the ranks behind you, what would it be?
I would focus on six things: think of yourself as a brand, work to understand the sports landscape, make networking your number one priority, get as much experience as fast as you can, learn every day, and do the little things that make a big difference to differentiate yourself from others.

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