July/August
2025
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TEAM TRENDS
NSGA in Pictures
The annual NSGA Leadership Conference brought the team and sporting goods business together.
Past and present Hall of Fame members line up for their cameos during the NSGA Leadership Conference ceremony: From left, Jim Baugh (Wilson Sporting Goods), Ted Stahl (Stahls’), Chris Considine (Wilson), Bill Hunt (Champro), Bob Dickman (BSN Sports), Randy Ruch (Schuylkill Valley Sports), Tony Cardinal (son of the late John Cardinal, Cardinal’s Sport Center), Ronny Flowers (Athletic Supply), Conny Klimenko (Sevylor), Jeff Lynn (Dunham’s Sports) and E.J. “Ned” Hamilton (Peter Glenn Ski & Sports).

A lineup of powerful speakers and on-topic education sessions – capped off by the induction of three industry veterans into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame – made for another successful National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) 2025 Leadership Conference, held back in May at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

The headliners were Dr. Mary Kelly and Ben Zobrist, two speakers who have vastly different backgrounds but exemplify the theme of “Winning Together: The Power of Relationships in Sports & Business” for the 2025 Leadership Conference.

A hallmark of recent NSGA Conferences has been the popularity of Speed Networking sessions. Speed Networking was expanded last year to give retailers and dealers additional scheduled meetings for their discussions with manufacturers and brands about products and other issues.

And for many the highlight of the Conference was the Tuesday evening induction of three industry icons into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony recognized the Class of 2025 of John Cardinal (Cardinal’s Sport Center), Chris Considine (Wilson Sporting Goods) and E.J. “Ned” Hamilton (Peter Glenn Ski & Sports).

The NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference will take place May 17-19 in Nashville, TN. Until then, these two pages showcase the NSGA Leadership Conference in pictures.

Former MLB star and World Series MVP chats with Champro’s Ryan Hunt about “Turning Your Greatest Pains into Your Greatest Gains” during his time on the stage.  
Dr. Mary Kelly wowed the audience during both her keynote presentation on “Leading Your Sporting Goods Business Through Challenges and Changes” and again later that day at a breakout session on “Winning at Retail.”
The always-popular Speed Networking sessions allowed team dealers and retailers to learn about key brands during more than a dozen rapid-fire meetings.
Team Insight editor Mike Jacobsen (left) shares a lemonade with Cliff Keen’s Chad Clark.
S&S’ Kendall Whitley talks team sports with rep Don Leonard.
Kirk Anderson, of Al Anderson’s Source for Sports, finds time to relax with Mueller’s Revive while Tim Jahnke takes notes.
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