About Us
We are a sports management company encompassing athlete management, sponsorship acquisition and experiential marketing across multiple sports platforms.
Principal
Ed Barnette
President
Hailing from the Hoosier State, Ed broke records as a pitcher at Crown Point High School before playing collegiate baseball at Purdue University. During his time as a Boilermaker, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1996, before assuming the role of teacher and, later, administrator, in Jacksonville, Florida. During his time in education, Ed served as a high school baseball coach and also achieved his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
In 2003, family and business came calling when Ed’s brother, Doug, offered him an opportunity to return to the world of sports, where he found himself thrust into the motorsports industry. A quick study, Ed soon learned the intricacies and minutiae of marketing strategy and sponsorship sales, and helped secure NASCAR team partnerships with both the South Carolina Education Lottery and Sport Clips Haircuts. In 2004, he accepted a position as a public relations representative and director of business development for Innovative Motorsports, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team who had recently been selected by Toyota for the manufacturer’s foray into NASCAR.
Ed’s role in NASCAR continued to evolve and he served in various marketing and public relations positions, representing drivers and teams in NASCAR’s top-three series’. Eyeing fan engagement as a critical component of sponsorship programs, he entered the experiential marketing space when he secured a long-term contract with GEICO in 2007 and agreed to own and manage the insurance giant’s NASCAR showcar program. The partnership would span the next 14-years and encompass two NASCAR racecars, along with GEICO’s custom motorcycle program that included the GEICO Military Tribute Bike and the GEICO Gecko Chopper built by Paul, Jr. Designs. Ed’s fleet consisted of three trucks and trailers and his team of drivers blanketed the United States.
During Ed’s nearly two decades in auto racing, his relationships extended beyond the racetrack into the mixed martial arts arena, where he gained the trust and friendship of many fighters. He has secured sponsorship for fighters and provided guidance and direction in their various business endeavors. His efforts continue today as he establishes a larger presence in this ever-growing sport.
Ed and his wife, Colleen, reside in Panama City Beach, Florida.