INDUSTRY STALWART KEVIN CARTER JOINS SKYiGOLF AS CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
SKYiGOLF is excited to announce the addition of Kevin Carter to its team as Chief Business Officer. Carter, whose 25 years of industry experience includes long and successful runs with the National Football League and PGA of America, will be focused on generating and cultivating partnerships and sponsorship strategies to benefit SKYiGOLF’s PGA Professionals and member facilities.
“Kevin’s breadth of the experience in the sports industry, specifically golf, is incredible,” said Rich Smith, PGA, Founder/CEO of SKYiGOLF. “It’s amazing what Kevin has accomplished at the NFL and PGA and with his own consulting company, and his presence and experience truly elevate us as a team. He understands the PGA Professional and the inherent needs of running a facility, and Kevin supports our mission to make the game more fun for everyday players.”
SKYiGOLF, launched Oct. 30 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., is a company that strives to make golf more fun for everyday players while providing tools and technology to PGA Professionals and golf course owners to help them to run their businesses more efficiently.
Carter’s background includes extensive experience in sales, media, merchandise, ticketing and hospitality, licensing, brand development and marketing. Carter was National Football League’s Managing Director, Sales and Marketing, from 1992-2006, as well as Chief Business Officer for the PGA of America (2006-14). For the last four years he has undertaken a consulting role as President/CEO/Owner of Kingdom Athletic, whose clients included Golf Channel, Avadim Pharmaceuticals, Synergy and Oxygen Water.
With the NFL, Carter helped to negotiate an eight-year extension worth $450 million with Pepsi, an increase of 81 percent over the previous contract, and created a $20 million sponsorship relationship with Burger King. At the PGA, Carter ran point in negotiating the largest television deals in the organization’s history, which included contracts with NBC/Golf Channel, CBS and Turner that totaled $778 million. Carter led a team that generated more than $140 million in sponsorship/broadcast revenue on an annual basis. Carter also helped the European Tour build out a global partnership program for the Ryder Cup.
“I’m excited to join SKYiGOLF and work with many established leaders in the golf industry to better the game and provide assets to PGA Professionals,” Carter said. “With my experience at the NFL and PGA, and as a former business owner, I hope to provide a diverse business experience to help SKYiGOLF meet the potential that I know it has.”
Carter is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland, where he was captain on the basketball team for two seasons and was team MVP before a brief professional career. His first day with SKYiGOLF is Monday.
About SKYiGOLF
SKYiGOLF (SKYiGOLF.com) is dedicated to making golf more fun, offering $10,000 for holes-in-one on designated holes at SKYiGOLF facilities and operating a SKYiGOLF Global Golf Scramble, while at the same time helping PGA Professionals and course operators to increase their efficiency and revenues. For more information, visit SKYiGOLF.com or contact Jeff Babineau, (407) 496-4956 (jeff.babineau@skyigolf.com).
