SPORTS PR SUMMIT ANNOUNCES NCAA EXECUTIVE OLIVER LUCK & ESPN FEATURES REPORTER TOM RINALDI AS FEATURED CONVERSATIONS FOR 2017

NEW YORK, NY (February 7, 2017) – The Sports PR Summit (@SportsPRSummit) announced NCAA Executive VP of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Oliver Luck and ESPN Features Reporter Tom Rinaldi as Featured Conversations for the 2017 Sports PR Summit on May 23 at The Players’ Tribune (@ThePlayersTribune) in New York City. Luck and Rinaldi will sit down for separate one-on-one conversations while sharing their perspectives on topics relating to communications.

In his role with the NCAA, Oliver Luck has strategic oversight of regulatory affairs, football issues, strategy and long-term planning and corporate and broadcast partnerships. Luck’s diverse experience also includes playing five seasons in the NFL, serving as the first President and General Manager of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, General Manager/Vice President for the NFL and President of NFL Europe and leading the West Virginia athletic department as the Director of Athletics.

A correspondent for ESPN since 2002, Tom Rinaldi contributes to a wide variety of programs and fills a number of roles at ESPN. He is a weekly contributor to College Gameday, and serves as a sideline reporter for some of college football’s biggest games, including the Rose Bowl and the national championship.

He is part of ESPN’s golf coverage at the Masters as an interviewer and essayist. And in tennis, he has done play-by-play at Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open. His feature stories are a staple on SportsCenter, E:60, and SCFeatured. Rinaldi has won 12 national Sports Emmy Awards, six national Edward R. Murrow Awards, and a host of other honors for his work.

“Our attendees will appreciate the insight and unique perspectives that Oliver Luck and Tom Rinaldi will provide,” said Brian Berger, Founder and CEO of the Sports PR Summit. “Oliver Luck is at the forefront of strategy and development for the NCAA and Tom Rinaldi is the best storyteller in sports today in my opinion.”

Launched in 2013, the Sports PR Summit is an invite-only event that brings together senior PR executives from the pro and collegiate sports ranks as well as from top sports corporations for panel discussions and valuable face to face networking opportunities. Prominent media members and athletes share candid insights about the best ways for PR executives to work most effectively with them. The event allows for all attendees to leave with a better understanding of the evolving communications issues and challenges in the sports industry.

Noteworthy panelists and featured speakers at the Sports PR Summit have included NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross, Boston Celtics NBA all-star Isaiah Thomas, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, ESPN reporter Jeremy Schaap, Sports Illustrated Executive Editor and Senior Writer Jon Wertheim and Arizona Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall. The 2016 Sports PR Summit also featured a roundtable discussion featuring senior PR executives from the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL and NASCAR all on one stage.

In addition to the Featured Conversations with Luck and Rinaldi, the 2017 Sports PR Summit will also feature a panel discussion with unique insight from The Players’ Tribune team. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with senior executives and editors from The Players’ Tribune and get an up close look at the first-of-its-kind digital media company, founded by Derek Jeter.

About Sports PR Summit: The annual Sports PR Summit will take place on May 23 at The Players’ Tribune headquarters in New York City. The Sports PR Summit Social Media Workshop will take place on July 26 at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco. Learn more about the Sports PR Summit (New York City) and the Sports PR Summit Social Media Workshop (San Francisco) at www.sportsprsummit.com. Follow the Sports PR Summit on Twitter and Instagram @SportsPRSummit. Follow the Sports PR Summit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SportsPRSummit.

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