Ben Cahalane, co-founder of Connect Partnership Group, is proud to be a 20-year sales, marketing and partnership leader with expertise in the sports and entertainment sectors. His career passion began while working for the University of Texas Athletic Department and ESPN/ABC Sports, and once he got one foot in the proverbial sports business door, his creative, resourceful and professionally persistent ambition was full speed ahead. Cahalane's next stop was where his career really accelerated working in revenue generation and management for Hicks Sports Group, owner of the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Liverpool Football Club as well as a sales representation agency. The opportunity to commercially represent and strategically position multiple properties to leading US and global brands introduced him to the dynamics of what it takes to craft world class partnership solutions. He rose through the ranks from an Account Executive to a Senior Vice President in ten years and represented hundreds of millions in sales revenue. He was honored to be elected to serve on the NHL Team Sponsorship Committee, Dallas Stars Foundation Board and represent Hicks ownership in bi-weekly business operation meetings with the Dallas Mavericks ownership group at American Airlines Center.
This diverse sales and industry experience led to his recruitment as Chief Sales Officer with the Formula 1 US Grand Prix and Circuit of The Americas (COTA). While a start-up in nature, the $400 million dollar best-in-class venue and business plan offered immediate opportunities to further expand his career across new platforms -- new venue construction, international motorsports, action sports, music and festivals and technology implementation monetization. Ben built a sales and management team from the ground floor, created new sales inventory and strategically formed sales alliances with event partners. The stakes were high, but the rewards, and ultimately his accolades were even higher as the Formula 1 US Grand Prix won the 2012 Sports Business Journal Sports Event of the Year and the 14,000 seat music venue won Pollstar's prestigious award given to the World's Best New Major Concert Venue in 2013.
The industry experiences gained, networks created, brand relationships harvested and one very special relationship formed with the ultimate teammate in Danielle Shuff now positioned Cahalane to realize one of his career goals to launch Connect Partnership Group in February 2015. Connect's core competency is efficient and effective strategically selling partnership and media rights on behalf of national and international properties. Ben believes it is imperative to blend professional and personal ethics and is proud to lead Connect in representing partners with a like-minded approach to responsible business focused on driving bottom line revenue.
An avid golfer, Cahalane also enjoys travel, cooking, fitness and volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters. A University of Texas at Austin graduate, Ben resides in Dallas, Texas.