Each year, SMA hosts its annual “Presidents Luncheon”which honors a sport marketing professional who has in ways become a well respected leader in the field. The Presidents Speaker is personally invited by the President of SMA and, as such, is one of the SMA's time honored and highly prestigious awards. Prior SMA Presidents Speakers include some of the industry’s most accomplished professionals.
 

Dionna Widder is in her second season with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. In her role as Chief Revenue Officer, Widder is responsible for ticket sales and service; premium seating; suite sales and service; partnership sales and service; data analytics; and business intelligence. Widder works closely with team members, fans, partners and community leaders to continue to shape the Preds into a world-class franchise and create extraordinary experiences that only SMASHVILLE can deliver.

Previously, Widder served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash for four seasons. Widder was responsible for leading the revenue-generation strategy and execution for the Club, including overseeing the corporate partnership sales & marketing, ticket sales & service, and business intelligence & analytics teams.  As a results-driven leader, Dionna turned the Club’s seven (7) year consecutive decline in season ticket sales around in her first year and was honored by the Sports Business Journal as a member of the Game Changers Class of 2020.   Widder led a 24% increase in partnership revenue over her tenure, and inked global brand, Shell Energy, as the Club’s new stadium naming rights partner announced in 2023.

Before making her move to Houston, Dionna was the Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Under Widder’s leadership, the Cavs recorded more than 250 home consecutive sellouts at the 20,562-seat Quicken Loans Arena, and Widder was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business 40-Under-40 in 2017.

Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Widder spent two years as a Director in the NBA’s Team Marketing and Business Operations group, providing league support to individual teams with a focus on ticket sales, corporate partnerships and marketing functions to NBA, WNBA, and G-League teams.

Widder broke into professional sports in 2006 upon graduating from Central Michigan University, as a first-generation graduate, with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever. She advanced rapidly within the club, starting out as a group sales executive before being named the Director of Group Ticket Sales and ultimately Sr. Director of Ticket Sales.

Widder is a native of Flint, Michigan and resides now in Gallatin, Tennessee along with her husband Mark and their three children. As a passion project, Widder hosts the “Women Blazers” podcast, which features impactful conversations with women who are leading the way in the sports and entertainment industry.

Previous Presidents Speakers

2024 - Dionna Widder, Chief Revenue Officer, Nashville Predators
2023 - Steve Griggs, Chief Executive Officer, Vinik Sports Group
2022 - Flavil Hampsten, Chief Operating Officer, Elevate Sports Ventures
2021 – Steve Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Agassi Graf Holdings
2020 – no award as the Annual Conference was not held due to COVID
2019 – Al Guido, President, San Francisco 49ers/CEO Elevate Sports Ventures
2018 – Rich Luker, Founder, Sports Poll & Luker on Sports
2017 – Ted Dalton, Senior Vice President Partnership & Business, Boston Celtics
2016 – Todd Fischer, Senior VP Global Sports & Entertainment, GMR Marketing
2015 – Lisa Murray, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer, Octogan
2014 – Bernie Mullin, Founder & CEO, The Aspire Group
2013 – Jon Spoelstra, Co-Founder, SRO Partners
2010 – Bill Bailey, Senior Vice President of Sales & Service, New Orleans Hornets
2009 – Nancy Hill, President & CEO, America Association of Advertising Agencies
2006 – Shawn Hunter, Executive VP, Denver Nuggets & Colorado Avalanche
2004 – Andy Dolich, President, Memphis Grizzlies
2003 – Bill Carter, Partner, Fuse