Known as a strategic alliances visionary and dynamic leader, Wendy Blackshaw has spent 20+ years in the brand creation, marketing and sales of high-profile organizations including Minnesota Super Bowl, Sun Country Airlines, Mall of America, Minnesota North Stars and Rollerblade. Blackshaw is currently CEO of 2022 Women’s Final Four and President, CEO of the newly formed Minnesota Sports and Events, the sports commission for the Bloomington, Minneapolis and Saint Paul region. Prior to that, Blackshaw was SVP of the Super Bowl in 2018, raised $54M in private corporate funding, and developed and executed the 10-day Super Bowl Live. She was also SVP at Sun Country Airlines where she developed the iconic “Hometown Airline” brand.

Matt Meunier is involved in the recruitment, enhancement and production of sports-related events in the Minneapolis area. Meunier has played a key role in helping Sports Minneapolis secure major events including the 2018 Super Bowl, 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four, 2017-2020 ESPN X Games and 2018 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. Prior to joining Sports Minneapolis and Meet Minneapolis in 2011, he was the Associate Director of Sports Development for the Bloomington (MN) Convention & Visitors Bureau.

As a seasoned marketing director, Debbie has a strong client-side focus in experiential, entertainment and sports marketing that drives for results. Most recently, Debbie played a pivotal role in the success of the 2018 Super Bowl and 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four. She was a member of the bid committee as well as the Local Organizing Committee. For Super Bowl Live, she partnered with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to curate 10 days of music entertainment. For the 2019 Final Four, Debbie managed 17 local partnerships as well as high-profile key events during Final Four week.

As a proven leader in the Digital Marketing space, Gino Giovannelli created Miles Interactive in 2006 to help organizations identify how to best leverage the Internet to delight customers and maximize business success. Miles Interactive clients include the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, Minnesota Sports and Events, Greater MSP, Bloomington Convention & Visitor Bureau, University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Caribou Coffee, Life Time Fitness and Sun Country Airlines.

Prior to starting Miles Interactive, Giovannelli served as Vice President of Carlson Interactive, an Interactive agency within Carlson Companies. During his tenure at Carlson, Giovannelli was responsible for the online success of Carlson businesses such as Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inn & Suites, TGI Fridays, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. In addition, Carlson Interactive served the needs of external clients such as The Home Depot and other brands.

Currently Giovannelli teaches Marketing at the University of St. Thomas and serves as lead faculty for Digital Marketing programs for the Opus College of Business MBA and St. Thomas Executive Education.

Giovannelli is co-host of the “In the Key of D - Digital Transformation” podcast, which is available on all major podcast platforms (Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher) (https://www.creatis.com/podcast).

Stephanie Hall is a Marketing Consultant for Minnesota Sports and Events and focuses on marketing strategy, social marketing, and website content. Other roles prior include serving on the MN Super Bowl Host Committee where she focused on marketing strategy, advertising, media partnerships and events, and as Attractions Marketing Manager at Mall of America® where she was responsible for overseeing marketing strategy and day-to-day marketing operations for Nickelodeon Universe, Theaters at Mall of America® and the launch of MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition.

Stephanie is a Southern Minnesota native and graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Dan O'Neill is a sales and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience at leading global advertising agencies and destination marketing associations. As the Vice President of Strategy and Sales for Bloomington, Minnesota Travel & Tourism — home of Mall of America®– Dan leads the largest concentration of hotels in the state of Minnesota to provide growth for those hotels and surrounding attractions and entertainment venues. Dan has worked on major events such as the 2016 PGA Ryder Cup, 2018 Super Bowl and 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four.