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WILLIAM R. “BILL” BATTLE III
Founder and Chairman
The Collegiate Licensing Company
Bill Battle is the chairman of The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the company he founded in 1981. CLC, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is the nation’s oldest and largest marketing agency dedicated to providing domestic and international licensing services to the collegiate market. CLC currently represents more than 200 colleges, universities, bowls, and conferences, as well as the NCAA and The Heisman Trophy. CLC has been instrumental in growing the U.S. retail market for collegiate merchandise from approximately $250 million in 1984 to $2.8 billion in 2004. Since its inception in 1981, CLC has paid its member institutions over $500 million in royalties.
Bill founded the company and served as its president and CEO until 2002 when he turned the day-to-day operations over to his son, Pat. He currently serves as chairman of the board and remains active in CLC and its related businesses.
In addition to his role at CLC, Bill is chairman of the board of Licensing Partners International (LPI). LPI was created in 2001 to represent the licensing interests of non-collegiate sports properties, as well as corporate and entertainment properties. LPI currently represents the Canadian Football League, the PGA TOUR, the Indy Racing League and Churchill Downs Incorporated, among other properties.
LPI’s predecessor company, Battle Enterprises, Inc. (BEI), served as the exclusive licensing representative for NASCAR from 1989-1995, the PGA TOUR from 1994-1997, and Phase I of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics from 1990-1991. Other properties represented by BEI over the years included various U.S. Olympic National Governing Bodies (USA Boxing, Diving, Gymnastics, Rowing, Swimming, and others), and Goodyear Racing.
Prior to starting CLC and Battle Enterprises, Bill held various positions within Circle S Industries, including serving as president of two different companies, as well as vice chairman of the Circle S Holding Company Board. During these six years, Circle S grew from two companies earning $12 million in annual sales to 10 companies earning $60 million.
Bill’s foundation for CLC began with football. After a successful playing career at the University of Alabama as a part of Bear Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961, he entered the coaching profession at the University of Oklahoma. From 1964 to 1965, he served a two-year military tour at the United States Military Academy while as an assistant coach. In 1966 he moved to the University of Tennessee, where he served as an assistant coach for four years until he was named head coach in 1970.
Bill was the first member inducted into the National Collegiate Licensing Assocation Hall of Fame in 2000. He also was awarded the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Award from the University of Alabama. He currenlty serves on the boards of Collegiate Images and Birmingham Southern College. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.
Ray Compton
Founder
Compton Strategies
Ray Compton has had, by his own admission, a very interesting life. After starting his professional career in sports journalism, he moved on to sports marketing stints with the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Ice hockey team, and the Indianapolis Colts. At every stop, Compton helped substantially increase attendance and awareness. In addition, Ray’s signature promotions made him the very popular public face of three successful organizations.
But behind Ray’s showman’s persona is a history of thoughtfully assessing a situation, devising a plan and solving a problem. And with the creation of Compton Strategies in early 2005, companies of all sizes are now taking advantage of Ray’s unique abilities.
Mark LeClerc
Creative Director/Writer
The Foundry
With 20 years of experience, Mark is a proven writer of effective, creative advertising. While working on the NCAA, Indiana Pacers, and Indianapolis Colts, Mark has won numerous advertising awards including five career Best of Show awards. His work has appeared in Communication Arts, Adweek and Advertising Age.
Jeff Morris
Creative Director/Art Director
The Foundry
Contrary to what some would have you believe, advertising is not a very complicated business. If you treat people with respect and work harder than the next guy, success seems to follow. At least, for the last fifteen years, that’s been the case for Jeff. Regardless of whether his clients sell steakburgers or titanium-framed mountain bikes, this approach has consistently helped develop and grow brands. Aside from a positive impact on the bottom line, his efforts have been rewarded by Archive, Communication Arts, Graphis, Adweek, Advertising Age and The New York Times Online, plus numerous others.
Matt Ganser
Creative Director/Art Director
The Foundry
Matt considers craftsmanship to be a fundamental (if under-utilized) tool in advertising. With more than ten years of experience, Matt’s applied his meticulous craft to industries ranging from steakburgers and horse racing (different clients), to banking and retro-sports gear. His work has appeared in Brandweek, Communication Arts, Graphis, Adweek, Print and How, among others.
CHRIS SANDERS
Teammate LLC
Chris Sanders joined Teammate LLC in November after five years with Host Communications. Most recently, Chris was the Vice President of the Collegiate Division, where his main responsibility was the day to day operations of Host’s 11 collegiate properties. In addition, Chris’ responsibilities included developing new business opportunities in the collegiate marketplace. Prior to overseeing the Collegiate Division, Chris served as the General Manager for Host at the University of Notre Dame, where he managed all the marketing and sponsorships for the athletic department. He began his tenure at Host serving as a National Sales Representative and the General Manager of the Horizon League.
Chris came to Host after spending four years with USA Gymnastics, the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States. Chris’ tenure at USA Gymnastics began as the Marketing Manager for the Post Olympic Tour in 1996. After the completion of the Tour, he began to oversee all the Corporate Sponsorships for the Olympic Gymnastics Team and ended his term as the Director of Properties. In this role, Chris had oversight for all event marketing, television, sponsorships and public relations.
After earning his undergraduate degree at Indiana University, Chris obtained his M.S. in Sports Marketing at Miami University in Oxford, OH. While at Miami, Chris worked as a Graduate Assistant in the athletic department. Chris and his wife, Sara, are in the process of relocating to Atlanta.
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