Scott Silvestri, a University of Wisconsin alumnus with nearly 25 years of sales and marketing expertise, has been named vice president-general manager for Learfield’s Badger Sports Properties (BSP) team.
Silvestri most recently worked as a business development consultant for the University of Wisconsin Department of Athletics. In his new role with BSP, he will oversee the multi-media rights for Wisconsin Athletics, managing, packaging and selling marketing and partnership opportunities on behalf of the Badgers.
“We have enjoyed a great partnership with UW Athletics for many years and are excited about our future. Scott’s background and passion for UW make him a perfect fit to lead BSP,” said Learfield Senior Vice President Chris Sanders.
Prior to his consulting role with UW Athletics, Silvestri was the group director of marketing and business development for Kohler Company’s Hospitality and Real Estate group. Silvestri, who joined Kohler Co. in 2000, oversaw the development and execution of all sales and marketing activity for the resort businesses of Kohler Co. He also managed business development initiatives for the Hospitality and Real Estate group. Additionally, Silvestri previously served on the Executive Committee for the 2004, 2010 and 2015 PGA Championship, the 2007 U.S. Senior Open and the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open.
“Scott has a wealth of experience in developing business relationships, and he has deep connections in the Wisconsin business community,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “We’re looking forward to our continuing partnership with Badger Sports Properties as Scott moves into this leadership role.”
“We’re excited that Scott will be leading Badger Sports Properties and confident that he will deliver an even higher level of value to our corporate partners,” UW Associate Athletic Director for Business Development Chris McIntosh said. “Scott has the ability to discern our partners’ needs in an ever-changing and evolving market.”
For the Badgers, Silvestri was a four-year letterwinner in swimming and served as a student-athlete representative on the UW Athletic Board and interned in the Athletic Department. He recently completed a two-year term as President for the National “W” Club, one of the largest letterwinner clubs in the United States, representing more than 11,000 former UW student-athletes across all sports.
Silvestri’s roots run deep at Wisconsin, as he is a second generation UW student-athlete. Carl Silvestri, Scott’s father, was a football player on the 1963 Rose Bowl team and played in the NFL from 1965-67. He also served as president of the National “W” Club from 1994-95.
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. In addition to Wisconsin, it manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for more than 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.
Swimming news courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics.