The Partners

In addition, the principals have a wide network of professionals in related areas of expertise who will be called on, as needed, to provide expert support.

Abu Toppin – NFL

Abu Toppin brings over 20 years of experience in sports representation focusing on player recruitment, player development, post-career counseling, endorsement or marketing opportunities and contract negotiations for professional football players, primarily in the NFL. Abu is a graduate of Morehouse College and Suffolk University Law School. Following his graduation from law school, Abu formed his own company and began representing players in the NFL and CFL. He then aligned himself with one of the largest sports agencies in the country, assisting in player recruitment and development. Working with a large company, Abu noticed a disconnect between top tier players and players drafted in the lower rounds or undrafted. Determined to provide every player with quality representation, regardless of status or draft position, in 2006, Abu formed a new agency. Abu’s goal was to strategically target players from smaller colleges and universities and provide them with quality representation and a working relationship where he and his clients worked as a team.

He successfully negotiated contracts and managed the careers of several NFL players, most notably: Jordan Dangerfield (Pittsburgh Steelers, Towson), Victor Cruz (NY Giants, UMass) and Montell Owens (Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, Maine). Abu is married and the father of three children.

Stuart Layne – Partnerships

Stuart Layne began his career in radio and television sales and management at CBS and Emmis Communications before joining the Seattle Mariners as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales. The Mariners became one of the best marketed teams in America and in 1992 the Mariners won the American Marketing Association’s Gold Effie in entertainment beating out Disney and Universal Studios. In 1994 Stuart became the EVP of Marketing and Sales of the Boston Celtics where he oversaw the transition from Boston Garden to the new FleetCenter, the Celtics 50th Anniversary celebration and the creation of the NBA Summer League at U Mass Boston, which now resides in Las Vegas and is the major NBA summer activity. Stuart also developed the plans and assembled the committee that erected the Bill Russell statue at City Hall. Stuart’s expertise as a strategic marketer has been most evident in his ability to create impactful sponsor programs for some of America’s biggest companies, including; Anheuser Busch, Southwest Airlines, Citizens Bank, Gatorade, Coca Cola, General Mills, Comcast, Raytheon, Reebok, Gillette and many others. Post Celtics he created Seven 2 Sports Marketing and was one of the first to apply sponsor marketing as a revenue opportunity for theater. Stuart brought his media relationships with the Golf Channel and ESPN and produced high profile charity celebrity golf events for Bill Russell and Jim Brown. After 20 years in Andover MA. Stuart and his wife Tracy returned to the Chicago area. He recently served in the Illinois Governor’s office as Executive Director of the Illinois Bicentennial where he developed the state’s yearlong celebration and produced Illinois’ 200th Birthday Party at Navy Pier. Stuart Layne grew up in the Bronx, NY and is a graduate of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. He and Tracy have two kids; Sydny and Yogi

Marian Ward Lent – Event Strategy/Management

Marian Ward Lent is an innovative and creative business development and marketing executive. Throughout her twenty-year career, Marian has uncovered new business opportunities and created transformational marketing strategies. Her career in sports and entertainment spans from leadership positions in promotions, marketing and sponsorship acquisition at Viacom Networks to Fox Television and the Boston Celtics. Marian has developed and orchestrated sales and marketing and event strategies that drive revenue and generate excitement. Highlights Include: Boston Celtics Summer Draft and Summer League Sponsorship, Creation of ‘Future Celtics Club” Community Relations Campaign,  and on air Boston Celtics Promotions with top advertisers.

Marian has also been a dynamic influence in creating revenue and generating ideas in the exhibition, events and tradeshow industries including: The Boston WIne Expo, Titanic The Exhibition, The Other Side – Boston’s First Virtual Reality Exhibit,  The World of Dinosaurs Asian Tour, and Dunkin Brands National Franchise Events (Boston, Orlando, Puerto Rico and Las Vegas).

Tim Kelleher – eSports

Tim Kelleher is a young up-and-coming esports manager and consultant. He graduated from Lasell University’s accredited Sport Management program with a minor in Sports Communications in the Spring of 2018. During his senior year, he was hired as Head of North American Operations for a Belgian organization known as Cynetic Esports. During his time at the company, he recruited one stream team of eight people and four competitive teams (CSGO, PUBG, Fortnite, Overwatch). He then founded his own startup called Dreadnought Esports. Recruiting yet again for CSGO (two teams), Fortnite, PUBG, League of Legends and Overwatch. Between the two organizations, he also negotiated and signed a total of 10 partners. Now he hopes to bring esports to the Northeast more than it already is

Malcom Cepeda – Baseball Talent Evaluator

Malcom Cepeda, who was born in Puerto Rico, has 13 years of professional baseball experience. In 1993, Malcom was drafted in the 13th around by the Kansas City Royals. During his baseball career, he played for the Royals, San Francisco Giants and with the St. Louis Cardinals. Malcolm is the son of Puerto Rico’s second Hall of Famer, Orlando Cepeda, who played 17 marvelous years in the big leagues. Malcom brings his positive energy and magnetic personality as he enjoys evaluating baseball talent.

Todd Domke – Writer, Speech Coach, and Media Strategist

As a storyteller Todd Domke has experience writing for every medium, for any purpose, and in many different voices. He has ghostwritten speeches, commentaries and press statements for numerous leaders, and coached them for public speaking and media interviews. Todd has authored and co-authored fiction and nonfiction books, including Psych-Out Golf, humorous advice about playing mind games with opponents, Cain & Abel at Work, about office politics, and Nicholas Claus, a novel and screenplay that has inspired creation of a new musical. Recently he wrote a book about the history of a university, with a special focus on its athletic programs and achievements in sports. He has been an executive producer for an independent movie, a one-man comedy show, and a video about an Olympics human interest story.

Todd has been a news analyst for NPR and WBUR radio, guest columnist for the Boston Globe, and commentator for Boston TV. As a former journalist, ad copywriter, and speech writer, he has deep expertise in conducting research, interviewing people, brainstorming and script writing.

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