Dynamic Breakout Sessions Announced for the 2025 Industry Conference in Louisville

October 23, 2024

Louisville, KY /ENDURANC SPORTSWIRE/— The 2025 Running USA Industry Conference presented by haku, set to take place in Louisville, announces a series of breakout sessions featuring leading voices in sports, technology, and event management. These sessions will provide invaluable insights into the future of the industry, offering attendees the opportunity to engage with thought leaders, gain new perspectives, and explore innovative strategies for growth.

“We spent time talking to members about the topics they wanted to see covered at the conference and believe the schedule our team has put together meets those needs,” said Jay Holder, Running USA’s Executive Director. “The Running USA Industry Conference presented by haku is an opportunity to showcase and share the expertise from industry leaders and we are looking forward to starting an ongoing dialogue on these topics this coming February.”

Registration is now open for the 2025 Industry Conference. For more details and to secure your spot, visit our conference registration page.

Here is a look at the featured breakout sessions:

Boston Athletic Association: Entering a New Era with Bank of America

Join Scott Stover (Chief Marketing Officer), Katie Hawkes (Director of Brand and Experiential Marketing), and Rich Brothers (Senior Manager, Brand & Strategic Initiatives) as they discuss the Boston Athletic Association’s transformative journey into a new partnership with Bank of America. This session will delve into strategic branding initiatives and how collaboration with a financial giant is reshaping their approach to event sponsorship, marketing, and participant engagement.

Kentucky Derby Festival: Managing City Services and Partnerships

Matt Gibson (President & CEO) and Chris Martini (Race Director) will lead a discussion on the logistics of managing large-scale events like the Kentucky Derby Festival. The session will focus on the intricacies of coordinating city services, working with local and national partners, and ensuring a seamless experience for both participants and spectators.

Boosting Engagement and Building Loyalty with Rewards

Jackie Levi, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at haku, will present strategies for enhancing participant engagement and loyalty using a rewards-based approach. Attendees will gain insights into how incentives can increase registration, encourage repeat participation, and create lasting connections with event-goers.

AI in Action: Elevating Race Timing and the Participant Experience

Phil Dumontet, CEO of Brooksee, will showcase how artificial intelligence is transforming the race experience for both organizers and participants. From innovative timing solutions to personalized race-day experiences, this session will highlight AI’s potential to revolutionize event management and elevate the overall participant journey.

The Most Comprehensive Look at Who Your Customer Is

Josh Oppenheim, Chief Operating Officer of Runna, will take a deep dive into understanding your audience beyond the race day. He will explore how detailed data on training habits, gear preferences, and other insights can empower organizations to tailor their offerings, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth in a competitive market.

Rising Runners: Paving the Way to a Physical Literacy Journey

Eddy Bayardelle, Youth Program Development Specialist from NYRR, will lead a discussion on the importance of nurturing young athletes and encouraging a lifelong commitment to physical fitness. This session will focus on programs and initiatives that inspire youth engagement and help foster the next generation of runners.

These breakout sessions are just a glimpse of the thought-provoking content that awaits attendees in Louisville. We can’t wait to gather with the running industry at the world’s best running conference from Feb. 2-4, 2025!

About Running USA

Running USA is a non-profit that serves as the leading trade organization for the running industry in North America and hosts the nation’s preeminent industry conference annually. Through education, research, best practices and data, Running USA is committed to supporting and facilitating growth, diversification and excitement in running communities everywhere. We promote networking and idea-sharing between event organizers, sponsors, vendors and athletes. Running USA is a member of a global alliance of organizations focused on the betterment of the global running community including the Running Industry Alliance and European Athletics. For more information, visit runningusa.org.

About the Industry Conference

Since its origins as a small gathering of Running USA’s founders in Southern California in 2004, the Running USA Industry Conference presented by haku is the best-attended, most esteemed gathering of running industry professionals from around the world. Moving locations each year, the conference has been held in Los Angeles, San Diego, Savannah, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Orlando and heads to Louisville, KY for the 2025 event.