STAFF/CONTACT

 

 

With almost 20 years experience, Lisa brings to SDSI strong credentials in business development, management, marketing, operations and event production.  While her career has mostly kept her working with the traditional sports such as football and baseball, she is very proud to have been part of the Sport and Venue team running the inaugural Olympic Mountain Bike Events at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. 

  

Over the course of her career, Lisa has worked on some of the world’s most prestigious events with some of the foremost sports architects including the Event Group at the international sports architecture firm, Populous.  Over the years and while working for her well respected mentors, she had the amazing experiences working on NFL Super Bowls, MLB all Star Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2012 London Olympics, as well as special projects for the International Olympic Committee.  As a result, she has a vast network across many aspects of the Sports and Events Industries.  Most people, when asked to describe her, say that she knows everyone as she has a wonderful memory for names, faces and fun facts about the people she has met.   

Lisa’s responsibilities at SDSI include growing our membership, maintaining relationships and ensuring member and sponsor fulfillment, creating and implementing new marketing strategies, business operations and budget management and creating meaningful events.  I am very excited to have joined such a unique organization with such a dynamic staff, board and membership base.  I am looking forward to a very successful and productive future where SDSI has a significant positive social and economic impact on Southern California’s Sports Community

Raised: Atlanta, GA

Education: UC Santa Barbara

Favorite Sport: Love them all, but will always have a special place in my heart for tennis.  

Email: lfreedman@connect.org 

Phone: (858) 964-1351

Fax: (858) 964-1301

 

 

Garrett was brought on back in late 2009 as SDSI's first full time employee when Bill Walton was announced as the Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board.   Garrett was tasked with taking Action Sport Innovators (ASI), as it was then called, from a loose knit networking group of sport entrepreneurs to a membership driven business accelerating, trade organization for the Southern California sports industry.  With the hiring of Renne Catalano in February 2010, they were both able to grow membership to 40+ and hold 5+ major networking and exhibiting events. 

As program manager, Garrett oversees operational duties and initiatives for the organization. In his role Garrett focuses on assisting Executive Chairman Bill Walton in gaining new members to help SDSI grow as an organization, strengthening SDSI’s role in the industry thus making Southern California the place for sport innovation. Garrett also works with Lisa and Renne in the planning and execution of SDSI's annual, quarterly, and special events. 

Prior to SDSI, Garrett worked in the hospitality industry as a catering & sales manager for a small boutique hotel in San Diego as well as a sales associate for a Telecommunications company.  Garrett is born and raised in San Diego, CA and attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he graduated with a B.A. in Public Policy & Business Economics.

Raised: San Diego, CA

Education: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

Favorite Sport: I am HUGE San Diego Chargers fan as well as San Diego Padres but love to surf, snowboard, and mountain bike in my free time. 

Email: ghale@connect.org

Phone: (858) 964-1314

Fax: (858) 964-1301

 

 

 

 

 

As Program Manager for SD Sport Innovators (SDSI), Renne manages all aspects of program development including membership, marketing, programs and events.  Renne manages SDSI’s Springboard business mentoring program which drives the growth of the next generation of sports businesses establishing Southern California as the center for sport innovation.  Renne is Editor-in-Chief of the SDSI Newsletter, manages marketing initiatives and works with Lisa and Garrett to produce SDSI’s annual, quarterly and special events. 

Renne has been with SDSI since it's infancy in February 2010.  She was brought on as the second full time staff shortly after Bill Walton was announced as the  Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board.  Together with Garrett Hale the two worked to establish a membership program and organizational structure that now services more than 80 members and an active community of more than 2000 individuals and provides collaboration, networking, education and capital opportunities. 

Renne relocated from New York in February of 2010 where she received an associate's degree in Fashion Merchandising Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in public relations for a women's fashion house based out of NYC. Renne has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Conflict Resolution from the State University of New York College at Geneseo.

Raised: Averill Park, NY

Education: State University of NY College at Geneseo and Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC

Favorite Sport: Surfing is my favorite obsession, running keeps me sane and soccer is my first love.

Email: RCatalano@connect.org

Phone: (858) 964-1334

Fax: (858) 964-1301