Stan “The Fan” Charles and Gary Stein talk with Aquarius Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Marc Bluestein about what sports marketing will look like when games return without fans and more.
Via PressBox Online
Riley was born and raised in Florida, and still considers the ocean one of her favorite places to be. After receiving her BA in Anthropology from the University of Florida, Riley completely changed career paths, earning two master’s degrees (Master of Sport Business Management and an MBA) from the DeVos Sport Business Management program at UCF. After graduating, Riley worked Event Management and Operations in the golf industry for a year and a half, moving from tournament to tournament throughout the country. In July 2017, she picked a permanent residence and joined the Aquarius team.
Riley considers her family her rock, noting there is no way she would have been able to change career paths and live in six different states without their love and support. Besides enjoying relaxing on the beach, Riley is an avid reader, loves volunteering at a local children’s hospital, and is working on getting her first marathon under her belt.
Who do you root for? The Florida Gators are far and beyond my favorite team! I grew up a Gator and my love only grew once I went there
Bucket list item: Attend all of the PGA Tour Majors
Born and raised in New Jersey, Megan then attended the University of South Carolina, where she received her BS in Sport and Entertainment Management. After receiving her degree, Megan worked in Tournament Services for the PGA TOUR focusing on tournament volunteers, client hospitality and brand activation. In October 2022, Megan joined the Aquarius team.
Megan is a diehard sports fan and will root for the Gamecocks, win or lose. Having recently relocated, she currently lives in Baltimore with her fiancé and enjoys exploring Baltimore city and the surrounding areas during her free time.
Who do you root for? Gamecocks, New York Giants and New York Yankees
Bucket list item: Attend the F1 Monaco Grand Prix
Nicholas graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sport Management. While in school, Nicholas worked with CONCACAF during Copa America Centenario and provided consulting services in the creation of the Scotiabank Concacaf League. After graduation and a brief stint living in Buenos Aires, Nicholas moved to Chicago where he worked with the United States Soccer Federation. While with U.S. Soccer, Nicholas facilitated events ranging from the Development Academy showcases to the Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, as well as the launch of the U.S. Soccer Learning Center, a digital certification platform for the nation’s 140,000 referees.
Nicholas joined Aquarius after moving to Washington D.C. to pursue his Master’s in Business Administration at George Washington University. Outside of work, Nicholas can be found studying at local coffee shops, running along the National Mall, or watching football with friends.
Who do you root for? Oklahoma Sooners Football and USA Soccer
Bucket list item: Run a marathon
Owen graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in 2022. While in school, he worked at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on campus, the school’s multipurpose arena. During the pandemic, while he was completing his courses from home in Maryland, Owen coached a youth baseball team and worked as a little league umpire. He fulfilled his senior internship requirement at UF with Aquarius, before officially joining the team after his 12-week internship program concluded. With several family members working in the sports world, Owen has always seen himself working in the sports industry and is excited to officially begin his career at Aquarius.
Owen currently resides in Olney, MD, where he was born and raised, with his family and two dogs, Harper and Taylor. Outside of work, he can be found attending concerts and sporting events, hanging out with his friends, or dog sitting.
Who I root for: All things DC Sports and The Florida Gators
Bucket List Item: See a game at every single MLB Ballpark
Jaime joined the Aquarius team in 2022 and manages the day-to-day for the agency’s longest standing client. She works with clients on creative ideation, strategy and management of their robust partnership portfolio. Prior to her time at Aquarius, Jaime worked both on the property and agency sides. Her breadth of experience includes strategy, activation and program evaluation within the account and event management spaces. Jaime has worked in a variety of sports (including college, soccer and motorsports) at large and boutique organizations, including ISC, IMG / IMG College, and MLS / COPA America.
Jaime is a graduate of Ohio Dominican University with a BA in Business Administration. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her cat, Jacques, and dog, Winston. Outside of work, Jaime loves spending time with family and friends, reading, being outdoors, traveling and watching / attending sporting events.
Who do you root for? Ohio State (Go Bucks! O-H) and Charlotte FC
Bucket list item: Going to all the US National Parks
Marc “Blue” Bluestein is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aquarius Sports and Entertainment, an award-winning sponsorship consulting, activation and experiential marketing agency based in the Washington, D.C. market. A self-described sports aficionado, Blue has spent the last twenty-plus years developing and negotiating integrated sponsorships spanning the Super Bowl, Olympics, NCAA Men’s Final Four, PGA Tour, NASCAR and multiple NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA local franchises, their venues and major events. Aquarius, most recently, was named to the 2022 Chief Marketer 200 List as a Top Marketing Agency and recognized as a 2021 Best Employer in Sports by Front Office Sports; previously the agency was recognized in 2020 and 2019 as a Chief Marketer 200 agency, 2017 and 2015 as an Event Marketer Top 100 Agency, 2016 Promo Magazine Top Shop, 2014 Sports Business Award Finalist for Best Sports and Experiential Marketing Agency and was named to Inc. Magazine’s 2014 and 2013 Inc. 5000 list of fastest- growing companies in the U.S.
Before launching Aquarius in 2007, Blue served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sportsworx, where he oversaw corporate marketing and sales for Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, the Nationals’ Radio Network, and the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. He previously served as Senior Director of Sponsorship Sales for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the regional sports network (RSN) serving the Washington area. Prior to that, Mr. Bluestein managed integrated sponsorship sales for the nation’s recognized leader in sports journalism, Sports Illustrated. Blue began his career in the sports marketing arena by handling sports media planning and buying for the prominent agency Mediavest Worldwide, where he negotiated sports marketing sponsorships for top consumer brands including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Philips Norelco, among several others.
Creating Aquarius to combine his passion for sports and brand management, “Blue” leads business development and supervises the day-to-day operations for the agency, having worked directly with the agency’s clients including: AAA, Advent Health, Baptist Health, Target Corporation, Hershey’s, Kraft Foods, M&T Bank, MedStar Health, Emory Healthcare, Virtua Health and others. A strong believer in community service, Blue is a past member of the U.S.A. National Board of Trustees for the United Way, the world’s largest non-profit organization, where he acts as the Board Liaison for the non-profit organization in its long-standing relationship with the National Football League. Blue is also active in the sports marketing industry currently serving as a Board Member of Most Valuable Kids, the University of Central Florida’s DeVos Sport Business Management and University of South Florida’s Sports and Entertainment Management Master Programs, and a past Board of Director member of the National Sports Forum, the largest annual gathering of team sports marketing, sales, promotions.
Blue attended the University of South Florida, majoring in Business Administration and Marketing. He loves to travel, coach youth baseball and spend time with his wife Randi and two sets of twins (17-year-old Allie and Bryce and 15-year-old Colby and Delaney) at their home in Sandy Spring, MD.
Shauna Gillem serves as Aquarius’ Senior Vice President and Chief Client Officer, working closely with other members of the agency’s executive team to manage day-to-day business operations while overseeing the agency’s Client Services team. Named a 2017 Sports Business Journal “Game Changer” honoree amongst other women in senior sports leadership roles, Shauna’s 15+ years of industry experience includes roles on both the agency and property sides. While at MKTG, Shauna managed the FedExField naming rights partnership on behalf of client FedEx. A 2007 graduate of the George Washington University with a dual BBA in finance and sports management, Shauna enjoys traveling, dining out, pilates and spending time with friends and family. Shauna resides in Naples, FL with her husband, Leu, twin daughters Kyla and Tessa, and dog, Kymba.
Who do you root for? Providence College and Wisconsin
Bucket list item: Traveling to the Greek isles
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Signe enjoys visiting her family in Denmark, travelling for both business and pleasure, and training for her next half marathon. She currently resides in Colorado Springs with her husband Nick, an Air Force Veteran, their new baby son, Everett, and two dogs, Loki and Beau.
Who do you root for? Los Angeles Dodgers & Washington Nationals
Bucket list item: Hike the Swiss Alps!
Taylor graduated from Trinity College in May of 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and English. While in school, she played for the women’s varsity ice hockey team as well as interned for the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), and later interned for USA Swimming as the Commercial/Events intern. After graduation, she began her career working for USA Swimming as the Partnership Marketing Coordinator. While with USA Swimming, Taylor connected with the National Governing Body’s partners on a weekly basis, and was also able to work at the 2020(1) US Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha, NE.
Outside of work, Taylor can be found watching or playing ice hockey, writing, reading, hanging out with her friends and family, or visiting her favorite place, Charleston, South Carolina. Taylor currently resides in Denver, CO with her family and their dog Charlotte.
Who do you root for? The Colorado Avalanche and Boston Red Sox
Bucket List Item: Publish a novel, and travel across Europe
Brandon joined the Aquarius team in 2015, and has managed the day-to-day account relationships for a variety of agency clients. Prior to working at Aquarius, Brandon served as a Regional Marketing Director at Sports International Football Camps, which hosts youth football camps with NFL players across the United States. Prior to his three years with Sports International Football Camps, Brandon had various part-time experiences at Octagon, D.C. United, the Washington Redskins, and Events DC.
Brandon received his Bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University and his M.B.A. from the George Washington University. Brandon and his wife, Chanelle, reside in Rockville, MD and are proud parents to their son Jaylen and their overly friendly German Shephard, Bailey. Brandon was born in Boston, MA and raised in Silver Spring, MD, leading to his split loyalty to both the D.C. and Boston sports teams. Outside of work, Brandon enjoys watching and attending sporting events in addition to staying active and exercising.
Who do you root for? As a graduate of Syracuse University, I bleed orange!
Bucket list item: Visit Hawaii
Ryan graduated from James Madison University in 2018 with a degree in Advertising and Corporate Communication, with a minor in Sport Communication. Some of his favorite memories include being able to call JMU Baseball games on the local radio station and studying abroad in Ireland. Transitioning from school, Ryan spent the first year of his professional career working in the agency world, building brands in Golf Media, on and off the course. His family tree consists of Bella the cockapoo, an older brother, younger sister, and attributes his life learnings to his parents Craig and Lisa. In his free time, Ryan enjoys going to concerts with friends, traveling, and playing intramural softball.
Who do you root for? The New York Yankees – growing up in New York, you were taught to love three things – your family, good food, and the New York Yankees
Bucket list item: Visit Italy
David serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Aquarius, providing oversight and leadership for all financial, accounting and administrative activities. David graduated from the McDaniel College before receiving his M.B.A from the University of Baltimore. He joined Aquarius in 2014, bringing over 20 years of finance experience from previous roles, most recently at Words & Numbers. David has two young daughters, Aoife and Bria, with his wife Vanessa. Outside of work David is an avid Baltimore sports fan and never misses a home game for the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Staduim.
Who do you root for? Baltimore Ravens
Bucket list item: Visit Australia
