Rick Burton
Executive Director, Warsaw Sports Marketing Center,University of Oregon
M.B.A., Marquette University
Second Annual Sport in Contemporary Society Lecture
"Sports Media: The Big War of the Sports World"
Rick Burton serves as Executive Director for the internationally recognized Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, which functions as an integral part of the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business. Burton's professional experience includes serving as vice president of Clarion Performance Properties (clients included: the NFL, Reebok, Gillette, Sprint, and Universal Studios). Before his work for Clarion, he held numerous positions at Miller Brewing Company, including advertising manager for Lite Beer's award-winning national advertising campaign "Tastes Great/Less Filling," senior brand manager of new products, brand manager of Sharp's and Lowenbrau, and sports communications specialist. He was also a sports writer for the Syracuse Post-Standard and the Associated Press. He started his career in sports marketing with Syracuse University's athletic department and later taught marketing and promotional strategy at Marquette University. Burton has consulted for sports leagues and organizations around the world, including the NFL, NHL, NIKE, the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, and the Australian National Basketball League. He is also a frequently requested guest speaker on sports marketing and sponsorship and directs two national symposiums for the Warsaw center. The first, the Women in Sports Business Symposium, is held each May in Eugene, Oregon. The second, The Inside Track, is connected to USA Track and Field and its major events.