LEGACY OF INNOVATION/LEADERSHIP
Spend some time with Alex Vergara and you will know right away he goes all in.
As a brand strategist, teacher and now entrepreneur, his passion for collegiate athletics, new media and innovation delivers unique creative thinking and latest developments that he is seeing in our changing business world. He goes “All In” with everyone he works with. AV Consulting Group’s recent launch brings all of those experiences together to help you with your business development, branding, and ideation needs.
As a start-up leader for the Walt Disney World Resort at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Vergara spent the majority of his 20-year career there as Sports Marketing/Technology Director for ESPN Wide World of Sports leading marketing, branding, business affairs, event sponsorship, business affairs and technology for ESPN Wide World of Sports.
He led teams which supported/helped build 3000+ domestic and international events with integrated communications planning. The portfolio clients, included Atlanta Braves Spring Training, PGA Tour events, college basketball, Disney Marathon special events, AAU National Championships, Pop Warner Super Bowl and much more.
He also served as project leader for the re-imagination of Wide World of Sports, including the integration of 40+ business units with ESPN by helping to transform, the facility branding, positioning and guest experience while launching a new media platform which included an on- site digital board effort, an on-site production facility, and programming distribution to all WDW Resorts resulting in annual programming of 250+ hours on ESPN3 platform.
Vergara’s other executive roles include stays with the University of Miami Athletic Department, the Continental Basketball Association, Athletic Attic, and Turner Broadcasting. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Broadcast Communications, and secured his MBA from Stetson University.
LEADERSHIP
He has been an active member of various board of directors/advisors including University of Florida National Alumni Association, the University of Central Florida DeVos Sports MBA program, Full Sail University, the University of South Florida Sports Management MBA, and the Southern League of Baseball Clubs.
EVERYDAY IS A NEW STORY
His passionate lessons in innovation, career planning, marketing, trending, and storytelling have been delivered to dozens of campuses, business organizations and sports industry shows. He was serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Central Florida Graduate School of Business teaching Sports Events/Facility Operations in its nationally-ranked DeVos Sports Management MBA program.
CLIENT LIST SINCE 2016
Since launch, AV Consulting Group has served multiple accounts, including Princess Cruise Lines, BMW Dallas Marathon, Casa Grande Sports, American Gladiators, the Prospects Cup, and Parseval Engineering on various project management efforts, including brand consultation, strategic direction, digital asset management, positioning, and business development.
Additional Skills & Accomplishments / Through the Years:
- Honorary, Walt Disney World Imagineer, ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Founding Cast Member, 20-year career at ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Mentor: UCF DeVos program, UCF Accelerator Lab, Canvs start-ups
- Former-At Large, Director, University of Florida Alumni Association
- Former Chair, Marketing Acquisition, University of Florida Alumni Association
- Board of Advisors, University of Central Florida Sports MBA program, Strategic Planning Committee
- Former Chair, Marketing and Acquisition, University of Florida Alumni Association
- Former Board of Advisors member, University of South Florida Sports Management, MBA program and Full Sail University, Sports Management Program
- TEDX Orlando, Volunteer Board Member
- NCAA Regional Basketball, Marketing (Miami),1994 Executive Committee (Central Florida Sports Commission), 2012
- NCAA Regional Host Committee, Baseball, 1994, 1995
- MAAC Championships
- NCAA, Basketball Regional
- NCAA, Baseball Regional
- NFL QB Challenge
- Snickers Youth Soccer National Championship
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- World Baseball Classic
- Pop Warner Super Bowl
- PGA Tour, Children’s Miracle Network Classic
- Transplant Games
- US Senior Games
- Walt Disney World Marathon Series
- WNBA
- World Baseball Classic, MLB
- Amateur Athletic Union
- Atlanta Braves Spring Training
- ATP Tour, US Men’s Clay Court
- Brighthouse Network
- Continental Basketball Association All Star Game
- Disney Soccer Showcase
- ESPN Rise Games
- Disney Endurance Series
- Disney Fit Challenge
- Harlem Globetrotters
- HBO
- Invictus Games
- Old Spice Classic
- Orlando Rays, AA Minor League Baseball
- American Marketing Association
- Stetson University
- University of Central Florida, DeVos Speaker Series
- University of Miami
- UF Health and Human Performance, MBA
- University of South Florida, MBA
- UF Alumni Association, Leaders Weekend
- University of North Florida
- Beijing University
- Colorado State University
- DECA National Conference
- Disney University
- Full Sail University
- National Collegiate Marketing/ Business Managers Association
- National Sports Forum
- Sports Marketing Association
- National Parks/Rec Association
- National Association of State Games
- CAPHERD – Health Performance
- Savannah Ad Fed, Regional Conference
- Taiwan Olympic Committee
- Texas A&M University, Sports Summit
- University of Florida Alumni Association/National Board of Directors
- Marketing/Membership Chair, UFAA
- University of Central Florida, Devos Sports Mentor
- University of Central Florida, DeVos Sports MBA
- University of South Florida, Regional Advisory board
- TEDX Orlando, Volunteer lead
- National Hispanic MBA
- Central Florida Sports Commission, NCAA Marketing Chair
- Full Sail University Advisory Council
- DECA, International Judge
- Holy Family lector
- Special Olympics