Jake Ford
Resume
Summary
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Strategic Partnerships Manager experienced in stakeholder management, high-value sponsorship activation, and strategic planning. Proven ability to utilize CRM tools, data analytics, and streamlined project management to drive revenue and deliver measurable results in sports and media sectors.
Operations & Partnerships Manager - Cxmmunity Media Co.
2022 - 2024
Acted as the primary liaison with high-profile external vendors, including Twitch, Honda, Mountain Dew, and Nike, negotiating sponsorships and orchestrating strategic activations to drive revenue and audience growth.
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Conceptualized, developed, and sold tailored activation packages—directly contributing to $12M in overall media contracts—while ensuring consistent brand messaging and alignment with partner KPIs.
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Orchestrated high-profile esports events—including the Mountain Dew Real Change Challenge, Kickback at the League of Legends World Championship, and Honda Dreamlabs HBCU Pro-Am—managing budgets, vendor coordination, and on-site logistics to ensure efficient event execution.
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Led post-event analytics, using KPI tracking to refine activations, improve sponsor engagement, and drive 80% renewal on a $4M+ YOY portfolio.
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Led production, design, and marketing teams to execute partner deliverables for Fortnite, Madden, and NBA 2K events, ensuring on-time activations and budget adherence.
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Analyzed event performance data to optimize project timelines, reduce inefficiencies, and maximize sponsor ROI.
Optimized CRM (HubSpot, Looker) to improve client onboarding and reporting.
Esports Program Director - Florida State University Athletics
2018 - 2022
Spearheaded esports exhibitions alongside FSU Men’s Basketball seamlessly integrating esports with traditional athletics for elevated fan engagement.
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Collaborated with local high schools and middle schools to launch their own esports programs, providing strategic guidance on budgeting, operations, and resource allocation.
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Orchestrated end-to-end tournament logistics and broadcast operations for high-profile events—including a Chick-fil-A–sponsored university-wide competition—ensuring smooth scheduling, robust participation, and dynamic broadcast coverage.
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Independently led the Level Next National Championship initiative, overseeing all competitive operations and driving increased participation across university esports teams.
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Partnered with the Associate Athletics Director of IT to design equipment packages and manage budgeting, establishing FSU’s first esports facility at Doak Campbell Stadium with top-tier, industry-standard technology.
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Optimized facility operations, live streaming, and winter showcases in collaboration with the athletics department, amplifying fan involvement and cementing FSU’s reputation as a leader in collegiate esports.
Board of Advisors - Learfield IMG (Level Next Esports)
2020 - 2022
Organized and executed collegiate esports tournaments for Learfield IMG, overseeing end-to-end tournament operations and broadcast planning to ensure flawless event delivery.
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Developed and implemented innovative broadcast strategies that enhanced digital engagement and maximized viewer reach across multiple platforms.
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Collaborated with athletic departments nationwide to integrate esports initiatives with traditional sports programming, driving increased fan engagement and brand synergy.
Education & Certifications
M.S. Sport Management - Florida State University - 2021
B.S. Political Science - Florida State University - 2019
Google Prompting Essentials - 2025
Google Generative AI Leader - 2025
Skills & Expertise
Project Management
Project Management (Agile & Waterfall)
Event Management
Event Logistics
Process Automation (Zapier, Make)
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Technology & AI
Artificial Intelligence Tools (Gemini, ChatGPT)
Prompt Engineering​
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Data & Analytics
Data Visualization (Looker, Power BI, Tableau)
Budgeting and Forecasting
Client and Project Analytics
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Client & Partnerships
Client Relationship Management
Sponsorship Activation
Budgeting and Forecasting
CRM Tools (HubSpot, Tableau)