Checking in with Kevin Rochlitz

Since the first National Sports Forum in 1996, two men have experienced the previous fourteen Forums; NSF Founder & President, Ron Seaver and NSF Steering Committee member Kevin Rochlitz of the Baltimore Ravens. We’d like to take a moment and get Kevin’s thoughts on the past fourteen years and the upcoming Forum in Baltimore: 


National Sports Forum: What are your thoughts on the Forum finally going to Baltimore?

Kevin Rochlitz: Having the National Sports Forum come to Baltimore is great!  The Baltimore Ravens organization is excited to host this event and over the past four years some of our staff has attended every year and they love it!  For me, being that this will be the 15th and I have been a part of all of them is very special for us to host this.   We can’t wait to showcase M&T Bank Stadium and also experience some great fun in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  Over the years that I have attended, I have done business at the Forum and met some great people.  The Forum is great for networking and has become a fraternity/sorority for individuals in the sports field. 


NSF: Personally, what does the 15th Forum mean to you?

KR: There are people involved in the Forum that were in my wedding and some of the people I have met at the conferences are some of my best friends today.  No one has all the answers and the Forum displays a route of which you can learn a lot from others.  Also, over the past 14 years, when people attend, it’s not about the organization or the team that they represent, but it’s about the individuals who come together to learn and meet new people.  The ego is taken away, right away!


NSF: How much has the Forum changed over fourteen years?

KR: From the first Forum in Colorado Springs when there were 30 attendees, till now where there are over 650 attendees, the feeling and the experience is the same, but the numbers have grown dramatically.  As part of the Steering Committee, we have made a point to keep it the same and make it feel the same way when we had 30 people there.   The industry has changed as we all have more and more challenges every day.


NSF: What are some of your thoughts on being part of the 2010 NSF Steering Committee?

KR: The Steering Committee is critical to the success of the Forum as the individuals on the Steering Committee spend a lot of time on making it better year after year.  Ron (Seaver) and his staff in San Diego live it everyday and provide us with all of the tools we need to be successful.

The National Sports Forum continues to bring sports executives together and it is great to see the relationships and business that has been started and continues over the years.

All in all, it is amazing to see how fast this Forum has grown and the number of people who are involved in putting it on.


A Closer Look at...

Kevin Rochlitz
VP National Sales and Partnerships, Baltimore Ravens

Kevin Rochlitz, Vice President of National Sales and Partnerships brings more than 18 years of marketing and sales experience to the Baltimore Ravens. Kevin was promoted from Senior Director of National Sales in December 2007.

Previously, Kevin was with Mandalay Sports Entertainment as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Frisco RoughRiders, a franchise owned by Mandalay and Southwest Sports Group, the owner of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars. Before Frisco, Kevin was in Dayton, Ohio with the Dayton Dragons, another franchise owned by Mandalay. Rochlitz served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing developing comprehensive corporate partner packages that led to major corporate sponsorships. He produced community relations programs that resulted in philanthropic activities for the team. Prior to joining the Dragons, Kevin worked for the Syracuse University Athletic Department as their General Manager of Sports Property Inventory in the areas of radio network, television, coaches’ show, Internet, on-premise signage, and promotions.

Rochlitz is a University of Wyoming graduate with a Marketing degree.  He is an active supporter of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization as well as serves on the Union Memorial Hospital Foundation Board in Baltimore, Maryland.  Kevin and his wife Melissa and their 4 year old daughter Riley reside in Reisterstown, Maryland.


To learn more about the members of the 2010 NSF Steering Commitee, click here.