In this episode of Bright Ideas, Jessica Duemig sits down with Jessica Poole - founder of Jessica Poole Communications Collective, GM of the Chicago Tempest and former athletic director - to explore the transformation of college athletics. From her early days as a Sports Information Director to leading NIL strategy, athlete branding, and department innovation, Poole shares her unique insights on navigating red tape, building trust with athletic directors and preparing the next generation of athletes for success on and off the field.Jessica Poole’s career in sports has spanned nearly every corner of college athletics - from Sports Information Director to athletic administrator to entrepreneur. In this Bright Ideas episode, she talks with Jessica Duemig about founding the Jessica Poole Communications Collective and why her unique blend of communications expertise and administrative leadership is helping athletic departments and athletes navigate the new NIL era.

The conversation explores how NIL, revenue sharing and athlete branding are transforming college sports, and why trust and lived experience matter when partnering with athletic directors. Poole emphasizes the importance of preparing athletes - even at the high school level - to control their narratives, understand the business of sports and navigate both opportunities and mistakes with the right tools.

With an eye toward innovation, Poole discusses reimagining athletic department structures, bridging campus and athletics communications and building systems that support athletes as both players and brands. This episode offers valuable lessons for sports executives and aspiring professionals seeking to thrive in a fast-changing sports landscape.

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig interviews John Franzone, the mind behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s elite in-game presentation. Learn how his journey from NYU film school to MLB to the NHL shaped one of the most powerful entertainment teams in pro sports. From managing 60+ game-night staff to executing a brand vision fans feel with every goal, Franzone shares how to lead with intention, foster team growth, and create unforgettable moments at every event. A must-listen for anyone in sports biz, live events or content creation.

Jess and John, VP of Game Presentation for the Tampa Bay Lightning, explore the high-octane world of NHL entertainment. John unpacks how his team owns everything that happens between the whistles - from plaza activations and video board shows to lighting, music, military tributes, and that iconic Tesla coil. He shares the department’s mission: to "make a memory" and to emotionally connect fans with the team beyond just the on-ice product.

Franzone also dives into his journey from NYU film school to baseball's Mets and Yankees, to launching game presentation at the Rays and finally finding his home in hockey. He discusses how building a high-performing, creative team required trust, mentorship, and letting go of micromanagement. His leadership style is focused on empowering his “lieutenants,” fostering passion, and instilling a purpose-driven approach to every element of the fan experience.

For anyone building a career in sports or seeking lessons on creative leadership, this episode is packed with value. Franzone’s mindset on branding, fan loyalty, and storytelling offers timeless insights on how live sports can connect hearts, not just sell tickets. Whether you're in marketing, content, operations, or strategy, you'll walk away inspired to elevate your game.

#BrightIdeasPod #Networking #SportsBusiness #Leadership #SportsBiz #SportsMarketing #BrightIdeasPodcast #TampaBayLightning #NHL #GamePresentation #FanExperience #HockeyLife #SportsExecs

Kate McKinnon went from aspiring criminal profiler to leading HR for one of the fastest-growing companies in sports - Playfly Sports. In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jess Duemig dives into Kate’s dynamic career path, from behavioral health to sales, to building HR teams in healthcare and sports. Learn how curiosity, people-first leadership, and the ability to adapt fueled Kate’s journey - and how she now empowers others through her own consulting practice.

Kate’s journey into sports wasn't planned - but it was perfectly aligned. Starting in behavioral health, transitioning into corporate sales, and then pivoting into HR, Kate built a toolkit rooted in relationship-building, adaptability, and servant leadership. When the opportunity to work at Playfly Sports arose, she jumped at the chance to merge her professional skillset with her personal passion for sports. What followed was a meteoric rise, helping grow the company from under 200 to over 1,000 employees.

Kate and Jess dig into what it really takes to build successful teams in sports. From promoting curiosity and enthusiasm over rigid credentials, to dealing with burnout and post-COVID workplace expectations, they explore how hiring the right humans - not just résumés - creates thriving companies. Kate also speaks candidly about how HR professionals have been stretched in new ways since 2020, navigating everything from vaccine mandates to diversity training, often without formal preparation.

Now running her own firm, Kate McKinnon HR Solutions, she helps companies and individuals align people strategy with business strategy. From leadership coaching to DEI programs, she’s creating lasting impact across industries. Whether you're early in your career or leading teams in sports, this episode offers fresh, grounded wisdom on how to succeed and stay human while doing it.

#SportsBusiness #HRLeadership #PlayflySports #KateMcKinnon #SportsCareers #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInSports #BrightIdeasPodcast

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig welcomes Matt Wolff, the founder of Ticket Time Machine™, a company that’s redefining the sports memorabilia and fan engagement space. From his inspiration at a Marlins no-hitter to working with major brands like the Savannah Bananas and Florida Panthers, Matt shares how he built a business rooted in passion, nostalgia, and innovation. Learn how commemorative tickets, custom badges, and creative branding assets can create lasting fan experiences - and how to navigate the red tape in sports business.

Matt Wolff’s story is a powerful blend of fandom, hustle, and vision. In this episode, he talks about the spark that launched Ticket Time Machine™—a Marlins game, a no-hitter, and a missed opportunity for a printed keepsake. That moment led to the creation of a business rooted in personal memory and fan experience. Now, Matt works with professional teams, artists, festivals, and iconic sports brands to create unique, tangible pieces of sports history that fans can hold onto.

Beyond just printing commemorative tickets, Matt has expanded his offerings to include badges, lanyards, media passes, and more. His approach isn’t just about nostalgia - it’s about doing it better. He’s determined to offer quality, personalized memorabilia in a market flooded with generic, mass-produced items. And he’s doing it while staying true to his values - legitimate licensing, thoughtful design, and products that actually mean something to fans.

Matt also gives a candid look into the realities of starting and scaling a business in sports. From navigating vendor approvals to figuring out who’s actually making decisions inside pro teams, he shares hard-won lessons on persistence, relationship building, and knowing when to go all-in. His commitment to fan-first experiences and meaningful keepsakes shines through every part of the conversation.

For anyone looking to break into the sports industry - or anyone already in it trying to stand out - Matt’s story is an inspiring reminder that there's still plenty of room to build something special, especially when it comes from a place of passion.

#TicketTimeMachine #SportsBusiness #FanEngagement #SportsEntrepreneurship #SportsMarketing #BrightIdeasPodcast #Collectibles #CommemorativeTickets

In this dynamic episode of Bright Ideas, Jessica Duemig interviews Nina Ligon, a former Olympic equestrian turned startup founder. Nina shares her unique journey from Thailand to Virginia, through Stanford and Yale, and eventually into the startup space, where she's building Generation Sport, a women’s sportswear brand focused on performance and inclusivity. Her insights reveal the intersection of sport, identity, and product design - and the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Listeners will hear how Nina’s personal experiences in gymnastics and equestrian sports shaped her understanding of body confidence and why so many girls leave sports during adolescence. Now, with a human-centered design background and VC and consulting experience, she’s redefining what it means to “fit in” as an athlete - literally and figuratively. She’s not just building clothes - she’s building community, advocacy, and resilience.

The episode closes with real talk about startup life, founder loneliness, the power of in-person connection, and how Nina’s grassroots community work in Oakland sets the foundation for national impact. Whether you’re in the sports business or dreaming of starting your own venture, Nina’s story offers a playbook for impact-led leadership.

Connect!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaligon/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/generation.sportco/

Website: www.generationsport.co

About Nina

Nina is a 2012 Olympic Equestrian athlete and the Founder of Generation Sport, a women's activewear brand built for athletic bodies. She made history as Thailand's first female Equestrian Olympian and is a 2007 SEA Games Double Gold Medalist and 2010 Asian Games Silver Medalist. Since retiring from Equestrian sport, Nina has designed products for Headspace, consulted for F500 companies with BCG, and invested in Pre-Seed/Seed companies at Cowboy and DRF. She holds a BS from Stanford's Mechanical Engineering program and received her MBA from Yale School of Management.

#GenerationSport, #WomensSports, #AthleticApparel, #SportsBusiness, #Olympian, #StartupStory, #FemaleFounders, #BodyConfidence, #BrightIdeasPodcast, #InclusiveDesign, #WomenInSports, #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Bright Ideas, Jess sits down with Nick Carparelli - Executive Director of Bowl Season and one of the most respected figures in college football. From humble beginnings as a recruiting coordinator at Syracuse to working under Bill Belichick and later rebranding Bowl Season from the ground up, Nick shares the strategic mindset and leadership philosophy that carried him through multiple “dream jobs.” He offers powerful advice for young professionals in the sports world: success isn’t linear, and the right job at the wrong time can still be the wrong job.

The conversation uncovers how Bowl Season evolved into a national brand recognized across ESPN’s broadcasts and embraced by 45 bowl games nationwide. Nick explains how he assembled a lean but high-performing team, established strong industry partnerships, and championed a unified post-season identity. He also reflects on the unique challenges of operating with a small staff in a billion-dollar ecosystem and why branding - even something as small as a crawl on ESPN - can redefine relevance.

Beyond the Xs and Os of operations and branding, this episode delivers a real-world masterclass in mentorship, work ethic, and self-awareness. Nick and Jess discuss the importance of passion, resilience, and authenticity - whether you’re an intern chasing your first opportunity or a veteran executive steering a national brand. A must-listen for anyone dreaming of a meaningful career in sports.

#CollegeFootball, #BowlSeason, #SportsBusiness, #SportsCareers, #FootballLeadership, #BrightIdeasPodcast, #JessDuemig, #NickCarparelli, #SportsIndustry

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig dives deep with Scott Glaser, Executive Director of ESPN Events' Gasparilla Bowl, on how his journey from a student-athlete at USF to running major national events has shaped his leadership and operational style. Glaser shares how his early days playing baseball laid the groundwork for a career focused on perseverance, logistics, and building lasting relationships. Through humorous and heartfelt anecdotes, he highlights how key mentors and moments guided him into the world of sports event management.

Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into producing the Gasparilla Bowl—from team hospitality and fan experience to managing corporate partnerships and executing creative game-day activations. Glaser also discusses how ESPN encourages local engagement to make each event community-focused and nationally relevant, and he shares what it’s like building something unique in a crowded landscape of bowl games.

The conversation wraps with an exploration of the Clearwater Invitational, ESPN’s premier women’s college softball tournament. Glaser explains how this event exemplifies growth in women’s sports, regional economic impact, and the importance of elevating female athletes on a national platform. Throughout the episode, one theme stands out: relationships are everything. For anyone looking to work in sports or move up in the business, this episode is an inspiring playbook on how to do it right.

Scottie Rodgers has been in the game - literally and figuratively - for over 30 years, and his journey from a student assistant at Alabama to VP of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is one for the books. In this episode of Bright Ideas, he shares the story of how a last-minute internship turned into a full-time role at the SEC, all while navigating unexpected promotions and high-stakes championship games. His recount of being "baptized by fire" is both inspiring and grounding for anyone aspiring to make a career in sports.

Throughout the episode, Scottie breaks down how he learned to lead by observing others, embracing the unknown, and continuously refining his craft. He offers candid advice to young professionals about embracing humility, learning from mistakes, and understanding the importance of being both a professional and an adult in the fast-paced world of college athletics. His perspective on how diverse, multigenerational teams can create dynamic and effective communications strategies is essential listening for sports execs and newcomers alike.

But perhaps the most touching takeaway comes when Scottie shares a heartfelt story of mentoring a young student who credits him with changing her life. It's a powerful reminder that relationships, consistency, and kindness leave the most lasting impact. Whether you’re working behind the scenes or front and center in sports, this episode offers a blueprint for a fulfilling, legacy-worthy career.

About Scottie

Scottie Rodgers joined the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association staff as Director of Communications in August 2020. He was elevated to Vice President of Communications in March 2024.

No stranger to the Cotton Bowl Classic, Rodgers was a part of the media operations staff for 21 years (2000-19), serving as a team media liaison for 17 games, before joining the staff in a full-time role. His 30+ years working in college athletics has included stops at three NCAA Division I conference offices (SEC, The Ivy League and Sun Belt), the NCAA national office, CBS Sports Digital and Tulane University.

Active nationally, Rodgers has been involved with College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) since 1996. He is the 28th person in the organization's history to receive five or more awards. In June 2025, Rodgers will be inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame, becoming just the 11th Black person to earn induction, and will receive the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award. He was recognized with the organization's 25-Year Award in June 2020 and the President's Award twice in June 2021 and June 2024.

He currently serves as Chair of the CSC Inclusion Committee and oversees and is a co-founder of the CSC Inclusion Fellowship in partnership with the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. He also serves on the organization’s Division I Cabinet (since September 2020), Special Awards Committee (since June 2014) and Black College Sports Information Directors Leadership Council (since June 2015). Rodgers helped create CSC’s Racial and Social Justice Initiative in June 2020. Previously, he served on the organization's Social Committee from 1997-2009 and as Chair of its University Division Football Championship Subdivision Management Advisory Committee from 2010-14.

Rodgers serves on the Executive Board of the Black Sports Professionals North Texas Chapter as the Marketing & Communications Committee Chair and is a current member of National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is also on the advisory board for the Sport and Entertainment Management Program at Trevecca Nazarene University. His previous committee work has included serving on the College Football 150th Anniversary Communications/Public Affairs Committee (2017-19) and the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Committee (2013-16).