SINC2024 Keynote Speakers

SINC Keynote Speakers are inspiring thinkers, influencers and industry leaders who have delivered insights and experiences that are vital to your growth and development as students and to professionals in the sports industry.


Alex Saratsis

Alex Saratsis serves as Co-Managing Director of Octagon Basketball. In the role, Saratsis helps oversee the global marketing and talent management agency’s industry-leading basketball division, which represents more than 40 of the most exciting players in the game including two-time league MVP and NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as two-time league MVP and three-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry. Alongside fellow Co-Managing Director Jeff Austin, the pair oversees more than $1 Billion in active player contracts for Octagon Basketball clients.

In addition to co-management of the division, Saratsis also directly represents a collection of the agency’s leading clients. Headlined by Antetokounmpo, Saratsis’ client portfolio features a comprehensive list of NBA stars, including Miami Heat C Bam Adebayo.


Alex Saratsis
Co-Managing Director, Octagon Basketball


Jason Wright
President, Washington Commanders

Jason Wright

Jason Wright, President of the Washington Commanders, is the NFL's first Black team president and its youngest. His role oversees business divisions including operations, finance, sales, and marketing, leading a historic franchise transformation. Wright, a former McKinsey & Company partner in Washington D.C., specialized in operational and cultural transformations, particularly in crisis and turnaround situations. He co-founded McKinsey's Black Economic Institute, advocating for racial equity in corporate America. Wright's commitment extends to community service, serving on the Union Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. His accolades include "Top 40 under 40" by Black Enterprise magazine and "Best Hire of 2020" by Sports Business Journal. Wright's NFL background as a running back and his academic achievements from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago-Booth School of Business highlight his multifaceted expertise.


Jon Flynn

As the Director of Microsoft Sports, Jon Flynn is at the forefront of revolutionizing the sports industry. His role as Microsoft’s Data and AI Business Lead for Sports Technology places him in the heart of innovation, where he steers teams, leagues, and athletes towards groundbreaking solutions. Jon's expertise is not just about keeping pace with trends; it's about setting them. By integrating cutting-edge technology, he's reshaping how performance, fan engagement, and revenue streams are approached in the sports world. Beyond having the world's most interesting job at Microsoft, he is the creative mind behind the popular podcast "Azure for Sports." Founded and co-hosted by Jon, this platform is a melting pot of ideas, featuring in depth conversations with titans of the sports and sports technology arenas, shedding light on how technology is not just changing the game, but also how we experience and enjoy it.

Jon Flynn
Head of Sport Data and AI, Microsoft


Kelly Pracht

Co-founder & CEO, nVenue

Kelly Pracht

A native Texan and pioneering woman in machine learning, data, and analytics, Kelly Pracht has over 18 years of experience leading innovation at Hewlett Packard, developing products across various tech domains. She combined her love for sports and entrepreneurship to launch nVenue, a groundbreaking in-game betting solutions company. Pracht, who holds multiple patents in super-computing, initiated nVenue with a sports machine learning platform in 2017, capitalizing on the growing gaming and gambling industry. She earned her BSEE and MSEE from the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University, respectively, and is a passionate Houston Astros fan, residing in Houston with her family.


Max Siegel

Max Siegel, the fourth CEO of USA Track & Field (USATF) since May 2012, has driven the organization to unparalleled financial growth and inclusivity, generating over $600 million in revenue and expanding its budget to $40 million. With over 30 years in sports and entertainment, including leadership roles at Dale Earnhardt Inc., Sony/BMG, and as the owner of Rev Racing, Siegel has significantly contributed to NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, producing stars like Bubba Wallace. Serving on multiple diversity and inclusion boards, Siegel, the first African-American honors graduate from Notre Dame Law School, is an acclaimed author and film producer, residing in Indianapolis with his family.

Max Siegel
CEO, USA Track and Field


Jason Levien
CO-CHAIRMAN & CEO, DC United

Jason Levien(2023)

As DC United's CEO and Co-Chairman, Levien first joined the Major League Soccer team in 2012. The organization had spent decades prior to his arrival making unsuccessful attempts under several different ownership groups to build a soccer-specific stadium in the District. Levien worked closely with District leadership in leading the effort to develop the state-of-the-art Audi Field in Southwest DC. The LEED Gold Certified stadium opened on July 14, 2018 and the public-private partnership has helped to revolutionize the DC United fan experience and transform the neighborhood.


Pops Mensah-Bonsu(2023)

Born and raised in London, Pops attended the prestigious St. Thomas More Catholic Sport College in North London before attending high school in the United States. Mensah-Bonsu majored in Psychology at The George Washington University, where he led the Colonials to two NCAA Tournament appearances. The team ended the 2006 season with a historic 26–1 record and a national top 10 ranking for the first time in 50 years. As a college sophomore in 2003–04, Pops was named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player; as a junior in 2004–05, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team; and as a senior in 2005–06, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.  Mensah-Bonsu was inducted into the George Washington Hall of Fame in 2019.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu
President of G-League Operations, New York Knicks


Brooks Meek
Basketball Initiatives Advisor, Vice President, League Operations, National Basketball Association (NBA)

Brooks Meek(2023)

As a senior member of the NBA’s League Operations leadership team, Brooks Meek provides strategy for league-wide basketball initiatives. Notable initiatives include the Future Basketball Operations Stars program, League Operations Employee Engagement Subcommittee, and the Officiating Advisory Council. He also oversees basketball operations logistics for NBA All-Star, NBA Draft Combine and the NBA Draft.


Reagan Carey(2023)

Reagan Carey was appointed commissioner of the Premier Hockey Federation in May, delivering the PHF’s mission to provide leading opportunities in professional women’s hockey and growing the sport for its athletes, partners, and fans. With twenty-plus years of experience working in the sports industry, Carey’s career reflects a common thread of leading teams to new heights through creating meaningful cultures and crafting a clear vision for winning.

Reagan Carey
Commissioner, Premier Hockey Federation


Alexander Michael
Co-Head, LionTree Growth

Alexander Michael(2023)

Alexander Michael is the Co-Head of LionTree Growth, a division of global TMT investment and merchant bank LionTree focused on advising emerging companies. Prior to LionTree, Michael managed the Entertainment and National Sales divisions for LivingSocial, a venture-backed social e-commerce company sold to Groupon. Before joining LivingSocial, he was the Vice President of Business Development at Madison Square Garden. Prior to MSG, he was the Director of Business Development at Ticketmaster, handling partnership opportunities as well as executing $400 million of M&A transactions. Michael earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of Brown University.


Mike Rabil(2023)

Mike Rabil is the co-founder and CEO of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). Founded in 2018 by Mike and his brother, lacrosse superstar Paul Rabil, the PLL is the leading men’s professional lacrosse league in North America. In his role, Mike is responsible for the league’s long-term vision and oversees day-to-day operations. Mike has successfully leveraged his noted entrepreneurial background and career in Silicon Valley alongside his keen sports knowledge to spearhead the launch and growth of the PLL. Prior to starting the PLL, Mike was VP of Sales and Partnerships at Funding Circle (LON: FCH).

Mike Rabil
Co-founder & CEO, Premier League Lacrosse


Martin Kim
Chief Revenue Officer, Gen.G Esports

Martin Kim (2022)

As Chief Revenue Officer for Gen.G Esports, a top tier global esports organization with operations in the U.S., China and Korea, Martin focuses on value-adding partnerships as well as cross-over marketing projects. Prior to esports, Martin spent eight years in professional baseball working for the LA Dodgers & Major League Baseball in multiples capacities including corporate partnerships, Asia-marketing, global events, and player management. Martin was born in Argentina, grew up in Philadelphia, and graduated from The George Washington University.


Mike Tannenbaum (2022)

From 2006 – 2012, Tannenbaum served as General Manager & Senior Vice President of football operations for the New York Jets, and EVP of Football Operations for the Dolphins in 2016. He serves on the Board of Directors of performance products company X2 PERFORMANCE, and founded The 33rd Team, a football think tank consisting of former NFL head coaches, GMs and graduate students creating in-depth analysis on college and pro football. Tannenbaum is an adjunct professor at Columbia University in the Sports Management program.

Mike Tannenbaum
Front Office Insider, Co-Founder, Lecturer
ESPN, The 33rd Team, Columbia University


Pau­l Haase
General Counsel, Talent & Properties, Octagon

Paul Haase (2022)

Paul Haase joined Octagon, Inc. in 2009 and is the General Counsel, Talent & Properties. Paul and the legal department represent industry-leading sports agents and talent managers in connection with the intellectual property and publicity rights of current and former athletes and coaches across all major, professional and Olympic sports, and entertainment talent and personalities appearing on numerous across a variety of networks and platforms. Paul obtained his J.D. with honors from Georgetown University Law Center.