Williams also served as Chief Marketing Officer at George Mason University’s Center for Sport Management.

Press Release

With more than a decade of sports marketing and event experience, Marc Williams has been hired to oversee Circle City Classic, a joint collaboration between Indiana Black Expo, Inc. and Indiana Sports Corporation.

“We are very pleased to have attracted someone with the talent and experience that Marc brings to us,” said Joseph Slash, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League, who also leads the Circle City Classic Organizing Committee. “We are also excited about the ideas and plans Marc brings to grow the Circle City Classic.”

”We are very excited to have Mr. Williams join our team,” said Tanya Bell, President and CEO of Indiana Black Expo. “With his impressive background in special events and marketing, we strongly believe that he will help enhance the brand of Circle City Classic, which in turn will increase the number of game attendees and annual scholarship awards.”

Williams most recently served as CEO of Williams Communications, LLC, a sports marketing company he launched in 2006 that specializes in marketing strategies, brand awareness, entertainment talent procurement, and event management. Williams also served as Chief Marketing Officer at George Mason University’s Center for Sport Management and ACI Media and brings a wealth of experience from his position with Footaction USA (2000-2002) and Champs Sports as Global Brand Director (2003-2006).

While with Champs Sports, Williams was responsible for all television and print media advertising campaigns in the United States and Canada, managed a budget of approximately $20 million, oversaw Champs Sports corporate sponsorships, which included relationships with the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, and he forged partnerships with Florida Citrus Sports for the Champs Sports Bowl, the Capital One Bowl, and The Florida Classic.

The Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl combine to draw more than 110,000 fans to the city of Orlando for bowl games involving the Big Ten, ACC and SEC schools. Both Champs Sports and Williams were also extremely involved in the Florida Classic, an event similar to the Circle City Classic that matches two historically black colleges as part of a weekend of activities which attracts more than 60,000 fans.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the fourth Executive Director of the Circle City Classic,” said Williams. “I truly believe the Classic is a jewel and I look forward to working closely with our many partners, sponsors, volunteers and community-based organizations – all of whom have helped make Circle City Classic what it is today."

Williams’ professional honors include Network Journal’s “Top 40 Business Leaders Under the Age of 40,” Sports Illustrated’s “Top 101 Minorities in Sports,” and Billboard Magazine’s “Sports Executive of the Year.” Williams also has served as a guest lecturer at a number of colleges and universities and is a former member of the board of directors of the YMCA in Dallas and Children’s Dream Fund.

Williams is a native of Florham Park, N.J., and graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he received his MBA & Masters in Sports Management. Williams received his undergraduate degree from William Paterson University.

Source: Indiana Sports Corp.