Mark Sperling

Co-Founder / CEO

2006 – Present

The original and leading collective of professionals focused on Youth Marketing, Lifestyle, and other progressive and expressive cultures. Our mission is to intersect influencers across industries and ignite ideas that inspire current and next-generation leaders and decision-makers. Leveraging events, outreach, content, and consultation, Group Y takes the work out of networking and strengthens the areas where industries overlap.

• Producer and Head Curator organizing over 270 nationwide events and content viewed by millions • Building a highly engaged online and live event community • Curating over 1,000 guest speakers from the world of business, fashion, music, entertainment, sports, media, tech, finance, politics, and more, who all share a common talent: authentically engaging with youth culture.

EVENTS: • Adidas 747 NBA All-Star Weekend Festival • Adidas #TLKS • Agenda Festival • Agenda Emerge • Agenda Workshop • ASC Action Sports + Culture • Assembly Vegas • ComplexCon • ComplexCon(versations) • Coachella - Live Broadcast x Coachella Curated Global Production • CreativityFlow Speaker Series • GOODCon • Good Is The New Cool Summit • Hall Of Flowers - Speaker Series • K-Swiss CEOs Wear Sneakers Speaker Series • Land Rover 4xFAR Festival • NBA Con - NBACONvos Stage • Oakley 50th Anniversary • SDSI Talks • SIMA Speaker Series • Snowboarding Industry Conference • Something In the Water Festival - More Than The Music Panels • Surf Summit • Two Farmtables And A Microphone Dinner Series • X Games Forum

WEBSITE: • GroupY.co • Authenticity.co • CreativityFlow.co

FOLLOW US AT: Instagram & Twitter: @GroupY Facebook.com/GroupYnetwork Youtube.com/GroupY Linkedin.com/company/Group-Y

Head of Partnerships & Events

2015 – 2017

• Agenda Emerge - Co-Creator & Executive Producer • ComplexCon(versations) at ComplexCon - Talent Producer • Agenda Festival - Panel Talks Producer • Agenda Workshop - Executive Producer • Assembly Vegas - Executive Producer Partnerships for Agenda Show, Capsule Show, Axis, Agenda Festival, & ComplexCon || Reed Exhibitions & ReedPop properties

Director, Global Partnership

2014 – 2015

Managed global partnerships alongside Nitro's Head of Business Development & Global Partnerships on strategically leading the revenue generation of the business by identifying brand partnership, sponsorship, licensing, broadcast, digital, emerging media, merchandise and global tour opportunities. Identifying and managing with our Commercial team, partnerships with Sony, NBC, Toyota, Red Bull, Nexen Tires, Snapchat and in discussions with over 850 leading global brands.

National Partnership Marketing

2010 – 2012

Created company-wide partnership directives, responsible for corporate brand partnerships on global and U.S. national initiatives. • Secured $4.5MM in event, media, national & global partnerships with Fortune 500 / Lifestyle brands. Generated leads with 320+ brand partners. Managed brand's relationship with CAA Sports Developed customized programs utilizing brand assets from; • Red Bull Media House -- Digital / Social Media, YouTube Channel, Red Bulletin Magazine • Sports Marketing & Culture -- Global, National & Regional Events, Red Bull Records • Brand Marketing, Consumer Collecting, and Regional Business Units • Sales and Retail Marketing • Teams -- Red Bull Racing F1, NASCAR, and New York Red Bulls MLS Soccer

Global Marketing Director

2009 – 2010

• Secured +$1MM in corporate sponsorships and partnerships for supercross /motocross racing team. • Directed worldwide marketing initiatives with international distributors and dealers. • Developed PR and digital strategies to support sponsored athletes and product design teams. • Managed roster of sponsored drivers, athletes & celebrities in F1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, Supercross, LeMans, World Cup MTB, and other disciplines

Sponsorship Sales Director

2008 – 2009

Directed corporate sponsorships for Live Nation & House of Blues venues, music festivals, and developing customized partnerships, pricing, and interfacing with +100 U.S. national clients.

Founder

1999 – 2008

The largest and original series of female-only outdoor / action sports clinics, retreats & events.. GLTR evolved also into an online magazine focusing on women in action sports and events surrounding the lifestyle. • Produced, managed and co-sponsored over 250 events nationwide per year in Surfing, Snowboarding, Skiing, Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, Motorcross, and Mountain Biking • Created and coordinated women's professional competitions & "Girls Day" activities for ESPN X Games, NBC Dew Action Sports Tour, Woodward Camp and ASA Supergirl event. • Secure over $1MM in marketing sponsorship and partnerships. ** Company was sold in 2006 to Airborne Media.

Partner

2002 – 2006

Successfully manage multi-facet marketing and public relations services agency specializing in youth-based consumer targeting, marketing campaign development and implementation, partnership / sponsorship development, and results from analysis for both small and large businesses. • Key Clients included Target, Tylenol, Best Buy, Quiksilver, and Intrawest • Orchestrated media campaigns resulting in +$1.8MM ad value and +$1MM sponsorship value. • Guided Target stores into the action sports market, advising on athlete partnerships & events.

Marketing & Sponsorship Director

2002 – 2003

Developed marketing and sponsorship for Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam inaugural 25-city arena sports and music tour.

Marketing & Events Director

2001 – 2002

Directed marketing, experiential, PR, and signature events for Action and Outdoor Sports print & online titles - Surfer, Skateboarder, Snowboarder, Bike and Powder publications.

Global Marketing Director

1998 – 2001

Industry respected men's, juniors & youth lifestyle apparel brand. $25M in annual sales. • Increased annual revenue of 280% in 1st year. Executed company sale to the licensee in 2nd year. • Developed entertainment partnerships with music tours, product placement, celebrity relations, and retail promotions. Increased PR ad value 98% over two years. • Managed over 120 action / motor sports sponsored athletes including top-ranked & gold medalists Dave Mirra, Carey Hart, Ryan Nyquist, Andy Macdonald, Roland Sands, and more.

National Publicity & Promotions Manager

1997 – 1998

Directed U.S. national and global special events and grand openings of Cafes in new markets.

Tour Coordinator

1997 – 1997

Marketing & Special Events Manager

1993 – 1997

Leading Publisher of Action Sports and Youth Culture publications & websites; TW Snowboarding, TW Skateboarding, Warp, Transworld Business, TW Surf. • Created marketing, events & PR campaigns, including the magazine’s first digital media presence. • Developed signature events including the inaugural Warped Tour, Vans / Hard Rock Triple Crown, Hard Rock Cafe World Championships of Skateboarding, and BoardAID for LIFEbeat.

TV Production & Promotion Assistant

1992 – 1992

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BA, Psychology

ASUCI - Festivals

ComplexCon

ComplexCon is curated festival created to bring together pop culture, art, music, food, style, sports, and more,

• Operations & Talent Producer of ComplexCon, ComplexCon[versations] & Complex Current panel discussions (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2003) • Executive Producer of ComplexCon(versations) - 2023