JANEY MARKS, NICHOL WHITEMAN, AND SARAH SWANSON RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP
LOS ANGELES, CA — October 23, 2023 — The Los Angeles Chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE LA) proudly unveils its 2023 Women of Inspiration. These distinguished honorees have been thoughtfully chosen for their remarkable contributions and leadership in the sports industry. WISE LA will pay tribute to these exceptional women during its 12th annual Women of Inspiration event on November 28 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. PST at the iconic SoFi Stadium.
Introducing the 2023 Women of Inspiration
Janey Marks
Senior Director of Sales, Strategic Alliances, Getty Images
Janey Marks has been a trailblazer in the sports industry for over four decades. Her illustrious journey began alongside legends like Billie Jean and Larry King at World Team Tennis. As the first woman in the sports marketing department at Anheuser-Busch, she laid the foundation for sponsorship activation and brand visibility across multi-level platforms. Marks' exceptional career continued as she took on the role of the first woman General Manager of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) and Director of Sports Marketing at Speedo. For the past 24 years, she has served as the Senior Director of Sales, Strategic Alliances at Getty Images, overseeing pivotal league relationships such as with the WTA, the ATP, and across Getty Images’ Olympic relationships with the USOPC and LA28, and providing support to partners such as Visa, Comcast, and P&G in their Olympic activations.
Nichol Whiteman
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
An unwavering advocate for marginalized communities, Nichol Whiteman serves as CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) where she relentlessly works to improve education, healthcare, homelessness, and social justice for all Angelenos. Over the past decade, Whiteman's visionary leadership transformed LADF—resulting in $53 million in community investment impacting over 9.8 million children. Whiteman’s dedication has yielded initiatives including Dodgers Dreamteam, the LADF Scholarship, College & Career Accelerator, Science of Baseball, and In This Together. Under her guidance, LADF has completed 60 Dodgers Dreamfields, supported over 250 unique nonprofits, distributed 9.2 million meals, and raised over $93 million since 2013.
Sarah Swanson
Chief Marketing Officer, World Surf League
Sarah Swanson has been leading fan growth for major sports and media properties for nearly 20 years. In her 10 years with the NFL, she oversaw significant reach and ratings growth for NFL Network, as well as exponential international fan growth in her work at NFL UK. Sarah currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for the World Surf League (WSL), where she has played a pivotal role in expanding the league's audience and brand. Swanson's achievements include overseeing the most viewed season in the history of the League in 2022 as well as the biggest single day in surfing with the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals. She has spearheaded key marketing milestones, including leveraging and amplifying WSL Olympians through the “Qualification Season” for the '24 Paris Olympics, and the launch of the hit series Make or Break on Apple TV+. Swanson's purpose-driven work at WSL One Ocean has elevated awareness of the WSL and its global sustainability initiatives. Sarah is also an Emmy Award winning Executive Producer.
Quote from WISE LA's President, E. Ashley Dean
"Every year, our commitment to celebrating the remarkable women who drive innovation and leadership in the business of sports grows stronger. The 2023 Women of Inspiration are true exemplars of what's possible when vision, passion, and determination converge. We are honored to recognize Janey Marks, Nichol Whiteman, and Sarah Swanson, whose unwavering dedication and visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on the sports world," said E. Ashley Dean, President, WISE LA. "These awards stand as a testament to their incredible achievements and contributions. We can't wait to celebrate their success at our 12th annual event, where we will unite to applaud and be inspired by these extraordinary women."
The Women of Inspiration awards celebrate exceptional women who have made significant contributions to the business of sports. In addition to being recognized for their outstanding achievements, Marks, Whiteman, and Swanson will become members of the WISE LA Advisory Board for 2024, serving as valuable sources of expertise and experience for the members of WISE LA. In that capacity, they will be called upon to provide guidance in the growth and direction of the LA Chapter to support its mission within the community and across the country.
Join WISE LA at the 2023 Women of Inspiration Event
WISE LA invites you to join in celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of these Women of Inspiration at its 12th annual event. This year's event will take place on November 28 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. PST at SoFi Stadium. Limited general admission tickets are available; secure your spot and be part of this inspiring evening.
About WISE LOS ANGELES
Women in Sports and Events Los Angeles (WISE LA) is a vibrant community of professionals in the business of sports. WISE LA members connect through special events, meetings, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities throughout Los Angeles and online at losangeles.wiseworks.org. To learn more about becoming a member of WISE LA, please visit: wiseworks.org/about/membership.
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Media Contact
Brianna Appel
Email: la_siteadmin@wiseworks.org