2026 SLS Speakers
KEYNOTE: Salha Latif
President & Global Vice President of Consumer Products and Licensing at the National Football League (NFL)
Salha Latif is a retail and product strategy executive in the sports and entertainment industry, currently leading international expansion of the consumer products business at the NFL. She has led global commercialization initiatives across iconic brands, focused on consumer and fan centric experiences, scalable growth, and paving the intersection of brand, product, and revenue.
Glenn Horine
Chief Operating Officer of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)
Glenn Horine is Chief Operating Officer of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the leading trade organization representing more than 700 global sporting goods, apparel, and fitness brands, including Adidas, Amazon, Brooks, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fanatics, Nike, New Balance, Rawlings, Under Armour, and Wilson—alongside major professional sports leagues and national governing bodies. At SFIA, Glenn leads organizational operations while supporting members through thought leadership and professional development. With more than 30 years of experience across the sports ecosystem, Glenn has worked at the intersection of sports properties, licensing, agencies, executive search, and academia. His career includes work with iconic organizations such as the NFL, NHL, FIFA World Cup, Madison Square Garden, PGA of America, NASCAR, and WWE, spanning partnerships, marketing, licensing strategy, and operations. Glenn also founded and directed Iona University’s Sports Business Program for over a decade and helped lead the creation and launch of the award winning Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship. At SFIA, he helped create the Excelerator and VetsEXCEL programs, advancing the next generation of industry leaders and helping military veterans transition into careers across the sports industry.
Bill Patterson
EVP, Product Authentication at Octane5
With over 20 years of experience in brand protection, sports, and licensing, Bill Patterson has collected a story or two. As Executive Vice President of Product Authentication at Octane5 International, Bill is responsible for driving growth in the product authentication market and setting strategy for Octane5’s partnership with Crane Authentication. His experience in sports licensing spans major U.S. sports, college, and international leagues and teams. Additionally, Bill has provided brand and royalty protection programs for global licenses in corporate, character, and media licensing. His career has spanned the industries of home improvement retail, direct marketing agencies, and video gaming, with responsibilities including advertising, marketing, direct-mail, communications, loyalty programs, brand management, and sales management.
Alita Friedman
President of the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation
Alita Friedman is a visionary leader currently shaping the future of sport and social impact. As the President and Co-Founder of the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation and Association (established November 2024), Alita leads the charge in utilizing the world’s fastest-growing sport to uplift and empower disadvantaged communities and create community for women players. Her influence in the industry extends to her role as League Advisor for the POWER Pickleball League, where she has guided strategic expansion efforts since 2020. Beyond the court, Alita is a sought-after consultant and educator. As the CEO of Alita’s Brand Bar, she has spent well over a decade helping companies identify and capture innovative revenue streams. She simultaneously shapes the next generation of business leaders as an Adjunct Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Lehigh University’s Baker Institute, where she designed and leads the Venture Series Course for MBA candidates. Alita’s track record of success is anchored in her previous tenure as Chief Brand Officer at UGLYDOLL, where she turned a niche creative brand into a global phenomenon. She began her career in Assurance and Business Systems Consulting at Arthur Andersen, a foundation that instilled the rigorous financial discipline she carries today. A proud 1987 alumna of Lehigh University, Alita holds a B.S. in Accounting.
Tom Neale
Franchise Owner at The Picklr and Founder at Arete Sports Group
Tom Neale has over thirty years of leadership and management team experience across professional sports, tech, military service, and the corporate space. During this time, Tom has made significant contributions to fast-paced organizations, both private and publicly owned, including well-known sports league and team properties. Tom is the Founder and CEO of Arete Sports Group and Make it Count Enterprises. Arete Sports Group is an advisory services team that evaluates investment opportunities in their early stages that have alignment with the Group’s mission and values. Make it Count provides consulting services to companies in sports, financial services, technology, innovation, and the crossroads where these spaces meet.
Marlon Dubuisson
Manager of External Relations | Customer Trust-Product Integrity at Amazon
Marlon Dubuisson is a Customer Trust External Affairs Manager at Amazon, where he leads public affairs and external engagement initiatives focused on combating counterfeiting and organized retail crime and strengthening consumer trust. He works closely with industry partners, policymakers, and advocacy organizations to advance collaborative, technology-driven solutions that protect customers and promote supply chain integrity. Prior to joining Amazon in 2024, Marlon served as District Director for Congressman Gerry Connolly, overseeing district operations and community engagement.
Tiphaine Grosse
Senior Global Brand Engagement Manager at Amazon
Tiphaine Grosse is a Global Brand Engagement Manager for the Sports category at Amazon, partnering with sports brands on intellectual property and anti-counterfeiting topics. Prior to joining Amazon in 2023, Tiphaine worked for several years in the energy and cleantech industry in Europe in France and in Italy and held roles in strategic communications, strategy, and business development.
Jon Wheeler
Partner at 500 LEVEL
Jon Wheeler has built his career at the intersection of innovation, relationships, and sports culture. After 21 years as an Executive at Apple, he followed his lifelong passion for sports and stepped fully into an executive leadership role with 500 LEVEL, where he has been a part owner for the past decade. Jon specializes in identifying emerging trends, shaping merchandise strategy, and influencing product direction — rapidly bringing relevant, profitable merchandise to market. Known for his ability to move quickly and capitalize on defining moments in sports culture, he has helped build a model that prioritizes speed, authenticity, and genuine fan connection. Jon maintains a deep and trusted network of relationships with players, coaches, and industry leaders across all major sports leagues and players associations. This network gives him rare insight that balances fan demand with what matters most to athletes in today’s name, image, and likeness landscape. He has built a reputation for turning real-time moments into meaningful, market-ready products and for making the seemingly impossible happen on even the tightest timelines.
Sean Williams
CEO of Detroit Vs. Everybody
Sean Xavier Williams is the CEO of Vs. Everybody and Chief Financial & Development Officer of Detroit Vs. Everybody (DVE), a globally recognized civic lifestyle brand built on protected intellectual property and structured licensing growth. Under Sean’s leadership, the Vs. Everybody platform has generated $20 million in cumulative revenue and contributed to more than $50 million in total brand and licensing revenue across retail, sports collaborations, airport distribution, and strategic brand partnerships. Sean leads the company’s licensing strategy across professional sports, collegiate programs, mass retail, and international markets. He has transformed culturally driven phrases and civic identity into scalable intellectual property, monetized through disciplined licensing agreements, royalty structures, wholesale programs, and long-term brand collaborations. His approach centers on building sustainable licensing ecosystems — clear IP ownership, strong contract frameworks, brand protection, and culturally relevant storytelling that drives both sell-through and long-term brand equity.
Robbie Eicher
Resident Creative at RWS Global
Robbie Eicher is a visionary creative director, musician, and producer with over two decades of experience shaping unforgettable entertainment experiences. As a Resident Creative Director at RWS Global, he leads the development of theatrical productions, immersive experiences, concerts, and large-scale live events that captivate audiences worldwide. Robbie has designed and produced award-winning shows for an impressive roster of clients, including CBS Television, The Fosse/Verdon Legacy, MTV, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Macy’s, and numerous theme parks and cruise lines around the globe. His work has earned top industry honors, including the IAAPA Brass Ring Award, Travel Weekly Magellan Award, Golden Ticket Awards, and an EMMY Award. A proud graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Robbie combines musical artistry, storytelling expertise, and strategic creative leadership, consistently transforming ideas into immersive, high-impact experiences that resonate with audiences and leave lasting impressions.
Mike Zagurski
VP of Sales at Something Inked
Mike joined Something Inked in 2019 after finishing a 15-year professional baseball career. Pitching for 5 teams in the majors, 2 in Japan, and several others minor league teams across several organizations. Joining Something Inked as a Sales Associate, Mike transitioned to the Vice President of Sales in January of 2024. Mike brings a unique view of leadership, team building, and effort to his team on a daily basis to continue to grow and advance the current team. Originally from Omaha, NE, Mike attended Kansas University where he finished his bachelor’s degree. Mike now resides with his wife and two children in Franklin, TN.
Florence Louisgrand
Vice President of Licensing at MLBPA
Florence is a consumer products and partnership marketing executive with over 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry. She spent more than 15 years at World Wrestling Entertainment, where she led the company’s global licensing strategy and expansion to more than 85 countries. She later joined Tough Mudder to oversee licensing and merchandising, relaunch its e commerce business, and manage the organization’s first global presenting partnership with Merrell. From there, she joined Desert Cactus, where she broadened the company’s licensing presence beyond the collegiate space. Florence now serves as VP of Licensing at MLB Players, Inc., the commercial arm of the MLB Players Association, where she oversees the consumer products group and focuses on developing new revenue streams beyond the traditional licensing model.
STEVEN HELLER
President of The Brand Liaison
With degrees in both law and accounting, and a 30+ year career in licensing and business development, Steven Heller leads award-winning licensing agency, The Brand Liaison, with over $1 Billion Dollars in branded product sales annually. Throughout his career, Steven has been active in all aspects of business and licensing including licensing top fashion brands, celebrities, professional and collegiate sports and top character and entertainment properties and has worked with virtually every major US retailer. Also known as “The Professor,” Mr. Heller is a renown public speaker and a professor of business and law at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Mr. Heller graduated cum laude in the top 5% at Fordham Law School, 1991 and graduated SUNY Albany in 1987. Mr. Heller is a licensed attorney and member of the New York bar, and currently sits on Global Licensing Group Advisory Board and previously on the Board of Directors of Licensing International.
Rachel Leber
CEO of Rebel Licensing
Rachel Leber owns and operates Rebel Licensing, a consulting & licensing agency. Rebel Licensing helps their clients think outside the box, empower women and tell their brand story through licensed merchandise. Rebel Licensing sits at the intersection of marketing and merchandise sales. As a women-owned organization, our mission is to advocate for female equality within the industry. We negotiate terms for women’s sports teams and manufacturers that are comparable to their male counterparts. Rebel Licensing builds unique strategies based its client’s target audience interests. A highly respected veteran within the consumer products industry, Rachel has over 25 years experience working in the sports, non-profit and character entertainment sectors. Rachel founded Rebel Licensing out of a desire to position merchandise as an impactful marketing tool. Prior, she held senior executive level marketing and consumer products positions with Major League Soccer/ Soccer United Marketing, Nickelodeon, the National Hockey League, and the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation.
Michelle McGoldrick
Chief Business Officer at League One Volleyball
As LOVB’s first Chief Business Officer, McGoldrick is responsible for driving LOVB Pro’s commercial growth, building revenue-generating partnerships and ensuring long-term business sustainability. She brings a dynamic track record of accelerating growth and forging strategic partnerships across the sports and entertainment industry. With more than a decade at Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., most recently serving as VP of Enterprise Marketing Strategy, McGoldrick led high-impact initiatives spanning brand development, revenue generation and operational expansion. Her previous roles include VP and Director of Global Partnerships for AS Roma Football Club and various commercial leadership positions at The Raptor Group and Arena Football League. Known for galvanizing cross-functional teams, building cultures of collaboration and high performance, and crafting innovative strategies that drive profitability and brand relevance, McGoldrick has built transformative partnerships and secured landmark deals with global brands including JPMorgan Chase, Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch.
Toni Schutte
Director of Licensing at the National Women’s Soccer League
Toni Schutté is the Director of Licensing at the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Here she focuses on building a strategic pathway for the NWSL’s licensing business to grow & evolve at both the Clubs & 3rd Party Retail. From 2012 – May 2025, Toni worked within the Consumer Products Department at the NFL managing the League’s Promotional business, overseeing a portfolio of hardline licensees, and project managed marketing initiatives for NFL licensed products. Before working in Licensing, Toni was a member of the NFL Brand & Retail Development team. Here Toni searched for opportunities to maximize the exposure and awareness of the NFL brand at retail. Her responsibilities included maintaining key relationships with NFL Clubs & retailers, devising retail strategies, and creating experiential retail opportunities at NFL events. Prior to the NFL, Toni spent five years working at Sony Music Entertainment doing Non-Traditional Retail and Brand Partnerships. As traditional music stores started to become obsolete, Toni helped look for new outlets and opportunities to sell music in. On the Brand Partnership side, Toni helped create multi-platform marketing campaigns that leveraged music as a marketing tool.
Andrew Ansel
Director, Merchandising and Licensing at the LPGA
Andrew Ansel serves as Director of Licensing and Merchandising for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, where he leads comprehensive licensing and retail strategies for the oldest women’s professional sports league in history. During the LPGA’s landmark 75th anniversary year, Andrew spearheaded innovative licensing initiatives and strategic collaborations that delivered record-breaking sales growth and unprecedented brand visibility throughout the sports industry. Drawing on his expertise in retail analytics and strategic planning, Andrew consistently identifies opportunities to forge meaningful partnerships that extend the LPGA brand beyond the fairway and deepen connections with diverse audiences.
Rachel Aronson
Co-Founder and Head of Business Development at CounterFind
Rachel Aronson is a Co-Founder of CounterFind, the leading online brand protection platform for sports, music, and entertainment brands. She launched the company in 2017 after serving as VP of Licensing at FanPrint, where she saw firsthand how counterfeit merchandise hurt athlete brands and undermined the value of licensed products. With a background in athlete marketing, apparel, and startups, Rachel has built her career around helping brands safeguard their intellectual property in the digital age.
Richard Cox
Chief Merchandising Officer at Pacsun
Currently Chief Merchandising Officer, Richard Cox began his career at Pacsun in 2007, as an Assistant Buyer. He was drawn to Buying/Merchandising due to the fusion of the business and creative worlds, allowing him to stay close to his passion for clothing and fashion while building relationships and crafting winning strategies. Following a position at Footlocker Inc (CCS), Richard returned to Pacsun in 2013, serving in multiple roles with Men’s Merchandising through 2020 and assuming Design responsibilities in 2021. Richard’s primary focus is on evolving the Pacsun brand and driving revenue growth through innovative product and marketing partnerships, creative merchandising strategies and community-focused initiatives. His background in merchandising has helped shape his leadership, based on a deep understanding of who the customer is, what they consider important and how best to engage with them. During his tenure at Pacsun, Richard has spearheaded a robust Product Launch Calendar and managed key relationships with brands and creators such as Fear of God Essentials, Rhuigi Villaseñor and A$AP Rocky. He also launched Pacsun’s resale platform “PS Reserve” in collaboration with Miki Guerra of Mag Park and spearheaded Pacsun’s partnerships with Formula 1, The Met, Land Rover and Netflix. In addition to managing the introduction of Pacsun’s wholesale business, Richard developed community-focused multi-brand collaborations such as Circulate Market. He also continues to support Pacsun’s involvement with the Fashion Scholarship Fund, in which he has mentored designers, helping them develop and deliver collections that sold at Pacsun.
Tim Storch
Vice President of Business Affairs and Licensing at Fanatics
Tim Storch is Vice President of Licensing at Fanatics, overseeing business development for premier sports properties including the NFLPA, MLB, MLS, and leading collegiate programs. With 15+ years in brand licensing, he has driven growth across entertainment, sports, and consumer products at Beanstalk, IMG, and CAA, managing over $2 billion in retail partnerships. A University of Michigan Ross School of Business graduate, Tim combines strategic insight with hands-on execution to build licensing programs that deliver sustainable value for brands, fans, and partners alike.
Maura Regan
President of Licensing International
Maura Regan joined Licensing International in 2016 and assumed the role of President in July 2018, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in the global brand licensing and media industries. Licensing International is the premier association for the global brand licensing industry, and Maura is responsible for leading the organization in fostering the expansion of licensing around the world and creating greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. As the former Head of Global Consumer Products at Sesame Workshop, the home of Sesame Street, Maura drove the non-profit organization’s strategic commercial initiatives with a focus on delivering significant unrestricted revenue to support its overarching philanthropic goals. Prior to Sesame Workshop, where she enjoyed an exhilarating 17-year tenure, Maura held executive positions with MTV Networks, Scholastic Entertainment, and The Jim Henson Company.
