LeBron James. Andrew Luck. Brian Gainor.
Those young men all have one thing in common: success. And they are getting recognized for it.
All three were named to the Forbes “30 under 30” list in the field of entertainment. Other big names included Donald Glover and Jonah Hill.
But who is Brian Gainor? He’s not a famous athlete or actor but an Ohio University alumnus using his degree to the max.
After graduating from OU’s Center for Sports Administration in 2007, Gainor began working at GMR Marketing, the world’s largest engagement marketing agency. He also founded Partnership Activation Inc., a consulting company that shares industry best practices with sports business professionals.
Gainor said OU’s sport administration program is special because of its network of alumni and academic opportunities, and he credits much of his success to his OU education.
“The program is incredible. I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am at today without the OU program,” Gainor said. “It really does wonders for you.”
Jim Kahler, executive director at the Center for Sports Administration, shared his perspective on what makes the program special.
“What sets us apart is that we continue to recruit people that buy into the family and the network,” Kahler said. “They’re loyal, they’re driven, and they’re successful.”
That family aspect and a willingness to help out fellow members of the Bobcat community is something Kahler looks for when interviewing prospective students for the program, and he said no one does it quite like Gainor.
“Brian has set the bar in terms of stewardship in our program,” Kahler said. “In the five years that he has been gone from our program, he has been the role model for his willingness to reach back and help students. He has brought a lot of passion and energy into everything we’ve done. If you could give me twenty of him, I would be happy.”
Patrick Moran graduated from the program in 2007 with Gainor and is currently an instructor at the Center for Sports Administration. He said Gainor values his interactions with people.
“He is really generous with his time and takes the time to talk to undergrads and meet with anyone that wants to talk to him,” Moran said. “He’s a connector.”
Ohio’s sports administration program is considered one of the best in the country, but none of Gainor’s classmates have climbed the ladder as high as he has. He found immediate success at GMR Marketing, where he serves as the middleman between sports teams and corporate sponsors, telling the brand how to sponsor and leverage its partnership.
Through GMR, Gainor works directly with Comcast, a leading telecommunications company. He oversees Comcast’s partnerships with the NBA, NFL, MLB and nearly every other major professional sports league.
But what has set Gainor apart is Partnership Activation, his side business aside from the full-time job at GMR. That initiative led to Gainor’s claim to fame in Forbes.
“There weren’t really many sports publications that people could go to or read for sports (industry research), so I just decided to create a website to network and differentiate myself,” he said. “When you go get a job, sometimes it can be hard to differentiate yourself. You’re kind of just a number; you have to work your way up. I saw developing a website on the side as kind of a way to differentiate myself and create a personal brand.”
Through Partnership Activation, Gainor works as a consultant and puts out a monthly newsletter targeting industry professionals. It has also led to speaking opportunities and served as a platform to promote his work.
Moran said he was not surprised that Gainor created a website for sports marketing.
“PartnershipActivation.com is a great thing and a great resource for the industry,” Moran said. “It’s typical of Brian’s character to share and to be about sharing.”
Kahler remembers when Gainor first began formulating the idea — back when he had Gainor as a student — and said that his creativity and passion set him apart.
“At a young age, he’s really gone on to become what I would call an expert in the field. He’s a creative guy and has a tremendous passion in the field he’s studying,” Kahler said.
Gainor said his success immediately after college came from carrying out his passion through effective networking. And sometimes success just comes down to smart personal branding online. Gainor said his online presence has helped him to take advantage of the opportunities he has been given.
“You can’t be putting things up on Facebook that you wouldn’t want to be seen out there,” Gainor said. “I’ve tried to position myself as an industry expert, focusing on my personal brand and promoting sports social media and industry best practices, and I think anyone that does that can really have some success in their career.”
as506610@ohiou.edu
