About

The Player Networking Event (PNE) was established by the National Football League (NFL) in 2000 when Dr. Lem Burnham led the Player and Employee Development Department (now known as Player Engagement).  Burnham, a former NFL player and psychologist, supported the vision of his department’s vice president, Guy Troupe. Troupe structured an experience designed to help active and former NFL players network with C-Suite executives the week prior to Super Bowl. In 2003, the NFL provided Troupe with exclusive ownership rights of PNE and access to various NFL assets to create shadowing experiences, internships, employment, vendor supplier, and franchising opportunities for active and former NFL players. In 2011, PNE expanded to support player-owned businesses and charitable causes.

At its core, PNE is best defined as an entity that helps individuals develop business relationships inside of the American football enterprise. Event partners and sponsors sign-on to (a) engage in general networking activities; (b) educate event attendees; (c) market products and services; (d) present concepts and content to help athletes; and (e) offer career and business-related opportunities to event attendees.

EVENT OVERVIEW

PNE is an invitation-only experience for approximately 400 guests. Major corporations, helping professionals, sports-insiders, and small business owners converge to help active and former NFL players explore life after sports. This six-hour event offers five key experiences: (1) a networking trade show featuring select athlete-owned businesses, event partners, and sponsons; (2) a six-hour concurrent podcast; (3) educational breakout sessions; (4) structured business development meetings; and (5) a concluding happy hour.

ACTIVATIONS

PNE incorporates high school, college, professional and retired athletes into its overall strategy while executing various event functions (e.g. public relations and communications, brand strategy, contests and sweepstakes, hospitality, strategic alignment, social media engagement, traditional advertising, online promotions, on-site sampling, business-to-business campaigns, promotional opportunities, target marketing, digital and interactive media, etc.).  Sponsor-driven activations fund all event-related expenses with the aim of fundraising for year-around programming for athletes (e.g. workshops, online learning, counseling, career coaching, etc.).

MISSION

To help athletes, businesses, and invited guests maximize relationship capital.

GOALS

  • To model and facilitate networking experiences for athletes and event attendees.
  • To announce, launch and promote athlete-centered initiatives.
  • To showcase successfully transitioned former athletes.

    • OBJECTIVES

    1. To compliment the career transition efforts of the NFL and NFL Players Association.
    2. To support active and former NFL players by assisting them with networking, employment contacts, and exposure to post-football career opportunities.
    3. To identify and invite trusted professionals into the PNE network for the primary purpose of mentoring active and former NFL players.
    4. To recruit corporations interested in structuring career learning opportunities for active and former NFL players (e.g. shadowing, internships, employment, etc.).
    5. To help active and former NFL players create realistic career transition goals.
    6. To advance a brand marketing strategy that highlights active and former NFL players that have demonstrated success in business and employment.
    7. To establish a nationally recognized brand utilizing digital and social media.
    8. To support the growth and expansion of PNE’s Health and Wellness Initiative
    9. To create educational media content for football players throughout America.

    VALUE PROPOSITIONS

    -PNE has worked in partnership with the NFL, NFLPA & NFL Alumni since inception.

    -PNE has identified, promoted and trained successfully transitioned former NFL players.

    -PNE provides career transition support for active & former players who attend the event.

    -PNE programming helps to normalize the challenges of career transition.

    -PNE provides career education, coaching, and mentorship for players.

    -PNE exposes players to a corporate environment (versus party environment).

    -PNE facilitates player-to-player, business-to-business and player-to-business interaction.

    -PNE models off-the-field professionalism for active and former NFL players.

    -PNE helps players schedule shadowing, internship, and employment opportunities.

    -PNE provides positive public relations content for the NFL.

    -PNE serves as a viable corporate entertainment option for event partners and sponsors.

    OUR TEAM

    Guy Troupe, CEO, 214-749-7833

    J.P. Profit, COO, 918-805-2590

    Fred Jones, Public Relations, 918-933-8742

    Craig Yeldell, IT, 301-335-3630

    Bridget Jones, Hospitality, 918-948-2488

    Corneta Kelley, Customer Service, 310-345-1636

    Sundi Williams, Customer Service, 520-249-0737

    Ray Ellis, Professional Sports Lead, 480-785-6427

    Joe Baratta, Amateur Sports Lead, 347-276-2695

    ‭Kirk Dixon, Career Coaching Lead, 330-810-1998‬