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Tomorrow Is Your Chance To Network With The Pro’s

I am currently in Tampa, already had some very productive meetings, and plan to head to the Yardbarker/GQ/Jack Daniels party hosted by Terrell Owens tonight.  Tomorrow, I will head to an event titled, Network with the Pros.  I just received a press release about the event and am happy to pass along the information.  If you will be there, make sure you network with me, whether you consider me a pro or not.

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Every year, hundreds gather to “Network with the Pro’s”, an elite networking experience of hand picked athletes (retired and active), celebrities, and top executives.

Last year’s successful event was at the Wrigley Mansion in Arizona. This year’s event is hosted at and sponsored by Robb and Stucky (International Plaza), The Strand, Budweiser, and Athletes and Executives. The massive luxury furniture store will close down the entire upstairs and most of its downstairs areas to make room for custom designed and very private VIP networking rooms, a press room for red carpet interviews, and a 100 item silent auction. Along with of course the classic amenities of gourmet food, drink, and live music.

Hand picked invitees for the event range from the local up and coming executives to the respected local mainstays. But the wow factor for everyone will be the opportunity to network with top level executives and CEO’s from major national and international corporations including but not limited to: Anheuser Busch, M&M Mars, Adidas, Nike, Sports Illustrated, XM, Red Bull, Lear Jet, Marriott, and Raymond James.

Of course there will also be a fair share of politicians, sports agents, and even Olympic Committee officials coming to tag their piece of the action.

“Business will be done at this event. This is not a shake a hand and lets exchange small talk. The entire event is centered around making connections and making business happen. People come to this event every year- fly in from all over the country- expecting to sign deals and start on the path to new negotiations” says Jenn Greacen, Executive Director of Red Frog,  the Coordinating host of this years event.

Pro player sightings will include Hall of Famer John Hannah who’s charity foundation Fourth and Goal Unites will benefit from the massive silent auction featuring items from the traditional signed Peyton Manning jersey or a Bruce Springsteen Hand Signed Guitar, to the exceptionally unusual items like a Tony Hawk signed skateboard or a Michel Phelps signed swim cap.

A confirmed 50 pro-athletes are registered to attend including retired local resident Seth Joyner, our own Bucs local Dave Moore, two time Super Bowl Champ Leonard Marshall, and MLB baseball great Curt Shilling.

“What makes this event unusual and unlike any other is the fact that it is not a party. It is held during business hours, you can’t ask to get on the list, you can’t buy a ticket, it isn’t about the food or the glitz or glam, it’s just about business. That’s why our people love it. That’s why everyone wants on the list year after year.” Says Alan Anastos, co-founder of Athletes and Executives.

Network with the Pros will take place at Robb and Stucky in International Plaza on Friday, January 30th 2009 from 1-5PM. For security reasons, invitees including press must register in advance at www.networkwiththeprostampabay.com and bring proof of ID or press credentials to be granted access.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.