THE LIVE ACTION

MARKETING CONFERENCE

August 15-19, 2018 | Crankworx, Whistler, Canada
AT SPONSORSHIPX, WE DON’T JUST TALK SPONSORSHIP,
WE LIVE IT.

 

Be part of a fully-immersive conference experience that gathers the boldest minds of the sponsorship and marketing industries.

 

Be inspired to take on your next sponsorship marketing challenge while you conquer Whistler Mountain. This year we’ve partnered with Crankworx, the world’s largest mountain biking festival, so you can experience the power of sponsorship firsthand.
JOIN TOP-TIER BRANDS, PROPERTIES AND AGENCIES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.
World-class coaches will give you the tools and motivation to reach the summit.
Insightful sessions will empower and inspire you to take your career to new heights.
Crankworx will let you experience the power of sponsorship in an unforgettable way.
Extraordinary group adventures - ziplining, mountain biking, and hiking to name a few - will let you build professional relationships that last a lifetime.
JOIN US AND GET GEARED UP FOR SPONSORSHIPX.
Register
See Schedule

Experience

Get
Inspired

Explore innovative activations and experience the power of sponsorship as you take a stroll through Whistler Village with your industry peers.

Get
Geared
Up

Get equipped with the tools you need to conquer your next sponsorship challenge and get geared up to conquer the world-class mountain biking trails of Whistler.

Feel the
Power

Get inspired by our session on the transformational power of sport after an invigorating morning run through the scenic trails of Whistler.

Forge
New
Paths

Our sessions on the latest tech will inspire you to stray away from the beaten path while our hiking expeditions at the top of Whistler Mountain will let you discover new ones.

Step Up
Your
Game

Learn about the effects of personalization, globalization and digitization on the industry as you experience the power of sponsorship at Crankworx.

Feel the
Action

Learn about effective partnerships with sports & athletes across the world and get VIP Access to Red Bull Joyride, the largest slopestyle competition of the year.

Take it
all in

Put your mind at ease after learning about the latest insights and data on the global sponsorship landscape with a relaxing yoga session at the top of the mountain.

Reach
New
Heights

Take your career to new heights during our spectacular workshop sessions help 1,400 feet above ground in Whistler’s PEAK 2 PEAK gondolas.

Get
Fueled
Up

After a day of world-class programming meet up with your industry peers at IMI’s Tailgate Party before Crankworx’s season-defining Pump Track Challenge.

Coaches

Industry leaders from around the globe will tackle the latest trends in sponsorship marketing giving you new tools, insights and inspiration to reach the summit.
HEAD COACH
Mark
Harrison
Founder & President
Ricardo
Fort
VP, Global Sports Partnerships
Matthew
Leopold
Director
David
Zimberoff
Vice President of Marketing
Elisa
Beselt
Director, Consulting
Hamish
Acland
Founder & CEO
Bruce
Bundrant
Founder & CEO
Zaileen
Janmohamed
Senior VP, Client Consulting & Services
Alison
Désir
Founder, Harlem Run & Run4AllWomen
Jason
Robert
Co-founder & CEO, HelloSugoi
Norm
O'Reilly
Partner Consultant
Pamela
Hollander
VP Consumer Marketing
Chad
Seigler
VP NASCAR, International Business Development and Partnerships
Kami
Taylor
SVP, Octagon
Mathea
Olin
Professional Surfer
Mark Harrison
Founder & President
A true innovator and inspirator, Mark’s journey has taken him everywhere from student paper editor to soon to be published author, from super fan to coach and part-timer to president. No stranger to overcoming obstacles in his almost 25 years running a company, he’s experienced losses, gains, and some reinventions along the way – and he’s still loving every minute of it.
Ricardo Fort
VP, Global Sports Partnerships
Coca-Cola’s global sponsorships include partnerships with The Olympics, FIFA, and UEFA, just to name a few. Juggling such a demanding portfolio is no easy task so Ricardo keeps his eye on the prize, throws passion into the mix and has mastered the art of balancing short term needs with long term goals.
Matthew Leopold
Director
ESA is the voice of the sponsorship industry in Europe. One way Matthew looks to raise sponsorship standards is by using sponsorship to solve business problems. Finding that insight and figuring out who you want to win over will be the spark that fuels success.
David Zimberoff
Vice President of Marketing
From the single track in SRAM’s office to the pump track in his backyard, David’s passion for cycling is endless. See how the SRAM brand has grown one part, event, and athlete at a time. Plus, get inspired by SRAM’s World Bicycle Relief that changes lives by providing transportation to people in developing countries.
Elisa Beselt
Director, Consulting
As co-author of the Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study for more than seven years, Elisa’s knowledge spans far and wide. Join her as she shares results, trends and insights from a global sponsorship perspective, helping industry professionals dive deeper, one statistic at a time.
Hamish Acland
Founder & CEO
What does a professional skier do when he’s not happy with his sports apparel? Start his own brand and take it global of course. From humble beginnings in a New Zealand garage to stock in more than 400 stores worldwide, learn Hamish’s story.
Bruce Bundrant
Founder & CEO

What business does an American have in European FC sponsorship? Quite a lucrative one actually. Find out how Bruce made the leap from the U.S. to Europe and back again and all the sponsorship goals he has scored along the way.
Zaileen Janmohamed
Senior VP, Client Consulting & Services
Recognized in Leaders Under 40’s Class of 2017 and the 2016 SBJ 40 Under 40, with roles ranging from Head of Olympics to Sponsorship Intelligence at Visa to managing a team of 40 people and 15 clients at GMR, be inspired by Zaileen’s climb and all she accomplished getting there.
Alison Désir
Founder, Harlem Run & Run4AllWomen
Named by Women's Running as one of 20 women who are changing the sport of running and the world, Alison will inspire you with her incredible journey of how she is driving positive change through the transformational power of sport.
Jason Robert
Co-founder & CEO, HelloSugoi
How did a former touring drummer co-found the world's first blockchain powered event ticketing platform? Jason's path called on his love of technology, math and logic skills, and just the right dose of creativity to help create HelloSugoi. And he might just change the way we solve problems in the sponsorship industry.
Norm O'Reilly
Partner Consultant
Recognized as a leading scholar in the business of sports, Dr. O’Reilly wears many hats including author, professor, presenter, researcher, and even marathon runner. Yet he still found time to co-author the inaugural Global Sponsorship Landscape Study. He’ll be sharing this exciting study – and his insights – in a not-to- be-missed session.
Pamela Hollander
VP Consumer Marketing
Pam oversees Allstate’s Sponsorship Marketing Program which includes title sponsorship of MLS and the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and partnerships with more than 90 colleges and universities. Always searching for new ways to support local communities and connect with people, learn her story and see why she’s best known for creating programs that get consumers engaging with brands in unexpected ways.
Chad Seigler
VP NASCAR, International Business Development and Partnerships
A 20-year sports industry veteran, Chad currently oversees all commercial and revenue growth for NASCAR’s international business platforms. Having acted as liaison to all NASCAR teams and advisor to team owners, track presidents & drivers, he has managed details of 90+ live events at 27 race tracks across the country. Needless to say, Chad believes in the power of sport and sponsorship to help rev up communities.
Kami Taylor
SVP, Octagon
A 20-year veteran of the sports business industry, Kami currently oversees more than 60 team members across multiple accounts at Octagon while leading all efforts for one of their top clients, Allstate. Co-presenting with Pam Hollander, VP Consumer Marketing from Allstate, you can learn Kami’s winning formula for creating programs that encourage unique consumer and fan engagement, while maximizing ROI.
Mathea Olin
Professional Surfer
Winning gold at the NSSA’s Women’s Short Board competition in Pleasure Point, US, Mathea now has her sights on the 2020 Summer Olympics. Motivated by passion and a need to improve every time she’s in the water, come hear about her winning formula that brings out the best in her and others around her. Did we mention she’s 15 years old?

Who attends?

Schedule

Take your career to new heights with unforgettable sessions in unforgettable settings.
SEE SCHEDULE

Accommodations

Below are links to our preferred partners where you'll enjoy discounted rates as a sponsorshipX participant
Book Hilton Whistler Book Westin Whistler
Questions about how to get here or where to stay? Enter your email address for more information.

Partner With Us

Let’s create a seamless partnership to help you drive visibility and exposure for your brand. From hosting a reception at the top of Whistler Mountain to engaging with participants through our group adventures to showcasing your solution at our Tech Lounge, we’ll help you take your brand to new heights.
Enter your information below to download our sponsorship packages.

Past Partners Include:

Canada Soccer Association (FIFA WWC) / NBA (All-star Weekend) / Junos / Formula 1 Grand Prix / Paralympic Winter Games /

Mountain Tales

Coach Spotlight – Alison Désir

By: Mark Harrison

May 10, 2018

I was zipping my way through Austin, Texas during South by Southwest® (SXSW®) when I spotted the bright red dome of the Under Armour activation. I mentally kicked myself for not having checked it out, but for anyone who has been to SXSW you know there are far too many activations to see and things… View Article

Read the Full Post

Sponsorship Around the World: Evidence of Success in Small Places

By: Dr. Norm O'Reilly

April 6, 2018

Over the years, we have written a number of white papers and blogs on topics related to sponsorship. Much of these have been based on our now 12 year old study – The Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS) – or one of our three iterations of Canada’s Most Valuable Property (MVP) study, last done in… View Article

Read the Full Post
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PyeongChang 2018

By: Mark Harrison

March 28, 2018

Upon his return from #PyeongChang, Mark Harrison, Chairperson of sponsorshipX, shared his extraordinary experience at the 2018 Winter #Olympic Games – from witnessing Canadian champions win gold, to exploring innovative activations, to discovering the true meaning of what it is to #BeOlympic.

Read the Full Post
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Meet David Zimberoff

By: sponsorshipX

February 27, 2018

From a small bike business to one of the most innovative cycling brands in the world, David has been a driving force behind SRAM’s success. Get inspired by his journey and kick your brand into high gear at sponsorshipX.

Read the Full Post

Tell It On The Mountain

By: Mark Harrison

January 31, 2018

Before you start reading, I want you to find a place of solitude, plug in your best headphones to the largest screen you can muster, turn up the volume and watch this:     Now, watch it again.   Excited? I don’t think I have the literary ability to elicit the same feelings in you… View Article

Read the Full Post

Did Canada Hit the Sponsorship Summit in 2016 and What can the World Learn from The Great White North?

By: Dr. Norm O'Reilly

January 30, 2018

The release of the results of the 11th annual Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS) just a few weeks ago has led to many questions and comments coming back to Elisa [Beselt] and I, the co-authors of the study. Notably, most of these comments came from outside of Canada’s borders, many from the US and a… View Article

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Meet Darren Kinnaird

By: sponsorshipX

January 27, 2018

Get inspired by Darren Kinnaird’s journey from ski enthusiast to general manager of the world’s largest mountain biking festival. Experience the power of sponsorship through Crankworx, official partner of sponsorshipX.

Read the Full Post