The Athletics of Business

John Sabatalo is the President of Planes Companies – a global moving, warehousing, transportation, and logistics firm – located in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He is also President of Global Workplace Solutions (or GWS, for short), a subsidiary of Planes that delivers global project management and workplace services to corporations, healthcare and lab facilities, hospitality companies, governmental agencies...

In many ways, I believe I am just like any of the billions of people existing on this planet. ​I have reinvented myself frequently over my professional career. After I graduated from college at The Citadel (where I played NCAA Division I basketball), I was employed in the Marketing Department at the corporate headquarters of Wendy's International in Dublin, Ohio. From there, I worked in hospital a...

Patrick Murphy was named the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Marywood University in September 2019. Murphy became the Pacers' first new Athletics Director in 28 years. For the 2020-21 academic year, Murphy will serve on the Atlantic East Conference Athletic Director Executive Committee as Vice-Chair. Pat came to Marywood with 25 years of athletics experience at the NCAA Division I level. M...

In the last 26 years, Ed Molitor has developed his leadership skills in both athletics and business. From working as an NCAA Basketball coach at Texas A&M to becoming the Vice President of a national recruiting firm, Ed has taught countless athletes, coaches, and business leaders how to THINK, ACT, and EXECUTE at an elite level. Ed has a unique set of skills to deliver leaders across the country a...

Kentucky Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager  Mark has served as General Manager of Kentucky Speedway since it was acquired by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., in 2009. As President under the original track ownership, he played a primary role in the planning, development and operation of the facility dating back to the track's inception and first race in 2000. He is the former preside...

Ed Molitor, Sr. has 42 years of experience as an educator, coach and motivator. A firm believer that life and athletics is a  "Frame of Mind Game" , Ed has presented to hundreds of coaches and student-athletes at clinics and sports camps throughout the Midwest. He also taught graduate classes to teachers and coaches on such topics as peak performance, leadership, team building, sports motivation a...

EXECUTIVE PRACTICE LEAD, QUALITY SOLUTIONS & CUSTOMER ANALYTICS Bryan is a proven business leader with more than 20 years of experience developing and leading executive-level account strategy, building and leading high-functioning teams and practices, and identifying and delivering technology solutions that meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace. Bryan's success in selling and delivering...

Jon is the founder of AUXO eCommerce, a consultancy that helps brands launch and grow on Amazon. Prior to AUXO, Jon was a leader at Amazon, managing a $2+ billion business and recruiting over 25k third-party sellers to the marketplace.  At AUXO, Jon teaches brands how to think like Amazon and be "brilliant at the basics." He works with both large brands (including the #1 third-party seller on Amaz...

Ted Simendinger, President and CEO of Ocean Palmer and Associates is a globally experienced leadership coach with expertise in behavior-based talent development, executive and Millennial coaching, change management, sales problem-solving, and sales excellence. He has extensive global experience solving complex organizational and performance challenges that enable quick, relevant repositioning for...

In 2008, Bonner Paddock summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest freestanding mountain. Four years later, he earned the elite triathlete title, Kona Ironman. Thousands have done each individually. Bonner is the first person with cerebral palsy to do both. When Bonner was born, his umbilical cord had coiled twice around his neck, depriving him of oxygen, causing parts of his brain to die. Th...

In 2008, Bonner Paddock summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest freestanding mountain. Four years later, he earned the elite triathlete title, Kona Ironman. Thousands have done each individually. Bonner is the first person with cerebral palsy to do both. When Bonner was born, his umbilical cord had coiled twice around his neck, depriving him of oxygen, causing parts of his brain to die. Th...

The 2020 season marks Reid Ryan's 8th season with the Houston Astros. Reid, 48, served as the Astros president of business operations from 2013 through 2019. This season Reid moves into the role of executive advisor, utilizing his 22 years of professional baseball experience and sharing that with Astros executives. Reid's tenure as Astros president included 5 consecutive years of breaking the fran...

JJ Gottsch is the longest-tenured employee with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment and has played a key role in the development of both the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros Triple-A) and Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A). He was promoted to his current position, COO, in January 2015. In this role, he oversees all business operations for the Express, RS3 Turf, RS3 Strategic Hospitality as w...

Rich is the Founder, President, and CEO of IPM. Prior to IPM, he spent 15 years with two divisions of Johnson & Johnson in various operations and engineering management leadership roles. Rich established IPM in 1988 with a focus on creating a values-based company comprised of high-integrity top performers. Today, his focus is primarily assisting in strategy development to address complex client ne...

Jon Denny has been a NATIONAL Executive Sales & Marketing Recruiter for over 21+ years in the MEDICAL, DIAGNOSTIC, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECH Industries with a leading National Recruitment firm Buckman Enochs Coss & Associates established in 1979. Specialize in Medical Device, Medical Diagnostics, Pharmaceutical and Biotech Sales & Marketing Executive Search.  BEC partners in finding talent for lead...

Coach Scott Davenport began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach under Denny Crum at Louisville in 1984. He then moved on to VCU for one season as an assistant to Mike Pollio. He returned to the Louisville area as a high school head coach at Ballard High School where he'd stay for 10 seasons from 1986–1996. Davenport won a 1988 state championship team and later coached future NBA play...

Mat Ishbia is the President and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), the #1 wholesale mortgage lender in the nation. Focused solely on growing the wholesale channel, Ishbia has taken UWM from a two-man broker shop to a 5,800+ person mortgage powerhouse. Prior to joining UWM, he played for and coached with Tom Izzo on Michigan State's men's basketball team and received a 2000 National Championsh...

Ed Molitor, Sr. has 42 years of experience as an educator, coach and motivator. A firm believer that life and athletics is a "Frame of Mind Game" , Ed has presented to hundreds of coaches and student-athletes at clinics and sports camps throughout the Midwest. He also taught graduate classes to teachers and coaches on such topics as peak performance, leadership, team building, sports motivation an...

JJ Gottsch is the longest-tenured employee with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment and has played a key role in the development of both the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros Triple-A) and Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A). He was promoted to his current position, COO, in January 2015. In this role he oversees all business operations for the Express, RS3 Turf, RS3 Strategic Hospitality as we...

Nick Sarillo is the founder of the Trust & Track Institute and Nick's Pizza & Pub – the sixth busiest independent pizza company in per-store sales in the United States. Founded with the purpose of providing the community with an unforgettable place where families could relax and have fun, Nick's Pizza & Pub was recently named one of the Top 25 Best Small Businesses in the country by Forbes Magazin...

Tom Walter is a "serial entrepreneur," author, speaker and a principal in numerous companies. He is best known as the Chief Culture Officer (CCO) of Chicago-area Tasty Catering, a suburban corporate caterer and event planner that was recently named a Forbes Best Small Company in America. Tom has more than 40 years of experience as an owner and operator in the service industry. He has participated...

Mark Heidersbach is an accomplished leader in biopharmaceutical sales and marketing with a reputation for integrity, empowerment, and a commitment to excellence. He is passionate around building inspired teams based on trust, purpose, and accountability. Experienced in providing focus and direction to navigate complexity/change, coaching and developing to leverage people's strengths for broader su...

McKeel Hagerty began playing with cars as a boy and hasn't stopped since, turning his parents' local insurance agency into an automotive lifestyle brand known internationally for its passion and commitment to the car and driving community. Since 1997, he has been the CEO of Hagerty, the world's largest provider of specialty insurance and hobby support to the enthusiast vehicle market. During his t...

Jason Bey is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. He has held numerous positions including: sales, sales leadership, marketing, operations, business development, training, and executive roles. Skilled in building and leading teams, strategic planning, leading innovation and change, collaborating across departments & driving execut...

From Blow Pops to Forbes Best Small Companies, Rob started his first business in high school selling Blow Pops out of his locker. For the last 28 years, he's served as President and Co-founder of imageOne, ranked as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in America on the 2017 list of Forbes Small Giants. Throughout Rob's entrepreneurial journey, he's developed an unwavering passion for delivering the...