The University of Kentucky will host its third annual Sports Marketing Academy May 8-11 at the university's Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and Economics.

The academy is designed to provide attendees with a competitive advantage through seminars covering effective sports marketing principles. It also serves as a forum for the exchange of sports marketing ideas, state-of-the-art technologies and effective networking opportunities with leaders in the sports marketing industry.

The speakers at the academy are industry leaders in the field of sports marketing whose insights are invaluable, said Dick Furst, dean of marketing at the Gatton College of Business and Economics.

"This year's program includes presenters from the field of sports marketing who are responsible for innovative state-of-the-
art strategic marketing activities for business and sports organizations," Furst said. "The presentations and interactive questions-and-answer sessions provide great learning opportunities for people involved in the sports marketing industry."

John Bisignano, manager of sports programs for Disney Sports Marketing; Susan Lee, vice-president of merchandising for the Consumer Product Group of the National Basketball Association; Kit Simeone, director of grass-roots marketing for the FIFA Women's World Cup; and Rick Jones, chief executive officer of Collegiate Sports Marketing, are among the sports marketing industry leaders who will speak at the academy.

Others featured speakers include sports marketers from companies such as Nike, General Motors, Pepsi, CHA Health, eCampus.com and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Jim Host, chief executive officer of Host Communications, Inc., a national sports marketing firm, also will speak at the academy.

Corporate, collegiate and high-school marketing professionals are invited to attend the event. The fees are $895 for corporate participants and $395 for collegiate and high-school administrators. The fees include meals, local transportation, social activities and educational materials.

Registration is being accepted by phone (800/284-6407), fax (606/257-3293) or the Internet at http://www.sportsmarketing.org.