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Our team.
SAM SWINFORD-FOUNDER/CEO
As the sole owner and chief executive of AthElite, Sam Swinford aims to revolutionize the field of sports marketing and management. Swinford's early focus and playing experience in the sport of basketball has gained him years of experience in event management along with relationships with industry leaders such as Adidas and Reebok and also with several current and former professional players. Swinford is also recognized as one of the top skills trainers in the country and trains players from elementary school to the pros. Swinford founded AthElite in 2017 with an extreme focus on attention to detail. Despite the rapid growth of the company, Swinford has maintained his personal approach in an often aggressive industry.
MALCOM BERRY JR.- DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
A sports media major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Berry comes to AthElite with years of experience with photography. In early 2017, Berry founded his own sports media company, "618SportsPix", created to feature players from across the "618," also known as Southern Illinois. Berry will bring an energetic and driven approach to the AthElite's Sports Media Department.
MICHAEL BLAKEMORE- DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Michael Blakemore comes to AthElite with years of experience in the Sports and Entertainment Industry. After studying Political Science at Alabama State University, Blakemore has went on to manage an array of his own enterprises ranging from management companies to AAU teams. He has held professional relationships with several current and former NBA and NFL players such as NBA veteran Tyrone Nesby and Super Bowl Champion Anthony Hargrove. Additionally, he is currently the manager of MTV Star Zoe White and has assisted on several events ranging from Adidas basketball tournaments to Lil Wayne Concerts.
RUSSELL WATTS- DIRECTOR OF VIDEOGRAPHY
The founder of one of the most popular sports highlight video companies, "HoopReelz", Russell "Rj" Watts comes to AthElite with a strong commitment to creating content for players of all ages and skill levels.
WARDELL WOMACK-NATIONAL SCOUTING ANALYST
A self-described "Basketball Junkie and Business Man," Wardell joins the AthElite Team as our National Scouting Analyst. With a niche for basketball and over a decade of evaluating and scouting experience, Wardell will provide player and team breakdowns and rankings.
BEN SCHENCK- DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA
Ben Schenck, a Massachusetts native, is currently a student at Dean College in Franklin, MA. Schenck is an experienced graphic designer who has done work for numerous college athlete. He currently works for the Austin Peay Football Recruiting Department and Dean College Athletics.
DORIAN BROWN- MIDWEST SCOUTING ANALYST
Dorian Brown is the CEO of Elite Amateur Sports LLC. Sports has always been a passion of his with specific interest in amateur and youth sports. Dorian has created a platform for up and coming elite athletes to gain exposure and to reach their future endeavors at the next level. By creating different multimedia content he has created unique coverage of amateur sports.