Brian Fox

Grateful to R. J. McMahon and the team at Oak Leyden for having me on the podcast. Oak Leyden’s mission — empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives — is the kind of work that reminds you what real impact looks like. Purpose-driven organizations like this deserve our attention, support, and amplification. I appreciated the opportunity to share a few thoughts on sports marketing, leadership, and building brands that actually matter. Truth is, any “two cents” I have to offer is only possible because of the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to be on a team with over the years. Success in sports — and in life — is always a team sport. Thanks again, RJ, for the conversation and for shining a light on a mission that truly makes a difference. 👊 Hope everyone tunes in tonight. James Michael 444 Media LLC. Steven Simmons NILENT (NIL Enterprise Solutions) #sportsmarketing #brandsthatmatter #educationelevatestheplayingfield

77

9 Comments

Chicago hasn’t approved VGTs yet, but operators are already paying attention. Accel Entertainment has confirmed it is actively evaluating a potential entry into Chicago as the city considers allowing Video Gaming Terminals in licensed venues. This signals that operators are not waiting for final approval to start planning. It reflects early confidence that Chicago could become a meaningful extension of the Illinois VGT market rather than a marginal add-on. The focus now is less on if and more on how the framework is shaped. For senior leaders and regulators, this is an early indicator of capital interest aligning with policy direction. What comes next will depend on how decisively the city defines the rules. Read the Full news on our website: https://lnkd.in/gZWk6nuR #iGamingNewsToday #iGamingNews #iGamingNewsUpdates #iGamingIndustry #iGamingBusiness #AccelEntertainment #iGaming #Chicago #USiGaming

13

🏀 Uptop have partnered with the Detroit Pistons to deliver a 24/7 onchain rewards program for fans Their partnership with the Cleveland Cavs (Cavs Rewards) has been a hit: - 21,000 members - $8.5m spend at partners - > $1m in incremental spend - 21% sponsor spend lift - 1.6k rewards redeemed - 4.2m enrolled transactions - 51% boost in team shop sales Here's how Cavs Rewards works: - free-to-join program where fans can earn ‘Cavs points’. - These points can be earned by connecting a debit or credit card of your choice, and using that connected card for in-store, online and in-venue purchases - No need to pay in crypto, just connect your card to your app and get spending Presumably, the Pistons program will be similar. 🧠 Quick takes (1) UpTop are meetings fans where they already are with little friction. Plugging into their existing fan journey. This should be the first step for anyone looking to put fan engagement onchain. (2) In an era where NFTs, fan tokens are part of siloed experiences -- UpTop are integrated into the Cav's only rewards program. (3) It's okay not to use every attribute of blockchain to make a successful onchain experience. Congrats to John Timoney-Gomez and team!

51

14 Comments

Getting the most out of your paid media budget is essential to staying ahead in today’s competitive market. Looking to boost results from your Honda campaigns in the Chicago area? The first step is knowing where your dealership is losing ground, then focusing your spend on the right models to capture more market share. At J&L Marketing, we help dealerships invest smarter by leveraging powerful data like pump-in/pump-out reports and dynamic pricing insights. By aligning your ad spend with your inventory and local market trends, you’ll drive more sales and capitalize on every opportunity. Ready to leave your competitors behind? Let’s partner up and take your growth to the next level. #AutomotiveMarketing #PaidMedia #DealerGrowth #JandLMarketing #DigitalStrategy #JandLMarketing

5

Building a winning culture doesn't happen by chance. It's built from the top down. In his latest article, Bob Chapa, CEO of Signarama Troy | Metro Detroit, shares how creating a performance-driven culture has transformed his business: ✔️ Leadership sets the tone by investing in their own growth ✔️ Every employee is empowered with KPIs and performance-based incentives ✔️ Training and development are treated as core values, not perks ✔️ Continuous improvement is a daily priority, not a seasonal push The result? A team that thrives on accountability, delivers five-star customer experiences, and turns excellence into the norm. Read Bob's full perspective on building a top-notch performance culture in Wide-Format Impressions here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/erGBzhZb #signarama #unitedfranchisegroup #franchiseopportunity #entrepreneurship #beyourownboss #signage #signcompany #franchising #franchisebusiness

32

1 Comment

Detroit isn’t just part of the story. It’s the strategy. Our next Serious Lady Business - The Podcast Detroit Founder Series episode is LIVE, featuring Lindsay A. Joseph, Co-Founder & CEO of BedConnect. In this conversation, we get into what it really means to build a tech company in Michigan by choice, not by default. Lindsay shares why she was intentional about keeping BedConnect headquartered here, raising capital here, and proving that world-class healthcare innovation doesn’t need a coastal zip code. This episode is for anyone who believes: 🌟 The Midwest builds companies with staying power 🌟 Detroit founders bring grit and vision 🌟 Community and capital don’t have to live on opposite coasts Listen on your favorite streaming platforms now! Links in comments. If you’re still sleeping on Detroit’s startup ecosystem, this episode will wake you up. 🙌 #seriousladybusiness #detroit #startup #tech #womenwholead

32

7 Comments

On #WorldBasketballDay, the Detroit Pistons announced an expanded partnership with Big Sean, naming the multi-platinum artist and Detroit cultural icon as the franchise’s Creative Director of Global Experience, deepening the organization’s commitment to creativity, cultural connection and global fan growth.

185

7 Comments

Nearly five years ago, Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation made a joint, 10-year $500M commitment to build opportunity in Detroit neighborhoods. I'm not a physicist, so I can't begin to explain why it feels like the last five years have flown by in the blink of an eye. Is it something to do with Einstein's theory of relativity? Wormholes? My own aging brain? Regardless of my own warped perspective on time, I can confidently say the work that Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund have done since then has been incredibly impactful. As Dan Gilbert has often said, "We need to make big bets in Detroit." This commitment was a big bet: a different way of thinking about long-term, layered investments that are explicitly targeted toward neighborhood need and driven by tangible data. This #313Day, it is fitting to look back on our progress so far - and the work still to come. Check out our latest TV commercial (written by me, produced/directed by Woodward Original and Kilo McMillian, and voiced wonderfully by Darnell Adams) for a dose of Friday inspiration.

27