Forthlane Fridays – Guest Bios Session 8: The Future of Sports

David Beeston

EVP & CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER,

BOSTON RED SOX &

Dave Beeston joined the Red Sox & Fenway Sports Management in March of 2013 and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer in February 2018.

In his role, Beeston has varied responsibilities. He acts as a senior advisor to Sam Kennedy and (FSG) ownership on key matters, including internal and external communication. In addition to the , FSG owns Liverpool F.C. Additionally, Dave is responsible for the execution and oversight of many of the key relationships of the Club, including with its media, concessions and merchandise partners. Finally, in his strategy role, he is charged with creating and executing new business initiatives and new lines of revenue for the Club and FSG, evaluating external opportunities presented to the Company, and acting as an internal resource for all Club departments, with a focus on long-term organizational objectives.

Beeston spent the seven years prior to joining the Red Sox as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, with a focus on securities transactions.

A Toronto, Ontario native, Beeston completed his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Western Ontario, graduating from the latter "with distinction." He formerly served on the Board of "Youth Without Shelter", a Toronto based teen homeless shelter, and currently serves on the Boston Medical Center's Exceptional Care Without Exception Trust Board.

The son of former long-time Toronto Blue Jays and Major League executive Paul Beeston, he currently resides in Boston with his wife, Katie, and sons, Bobby and Jack.

Ben Cowan-Dewar

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, CABOT LINKS

In 2004, Ben Cowan-Dewar set out to turn a former mining site on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, into a golf resort. Today, Cowan-Dewar, Co-founder and CEO of Cabot Links, and recipient of Canada’s prestigious Top 40 under 40, is credited for his growing business success, and also for his role in revitalizing the economy in a region of rural Nova Scotia.

Along with business partner Mike Keiser, Cowan-Dewar developed Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, both named among the World’s Top 50 golf courses. The resort now includes two award-winning courses, internationally renowned accommodations and villas, restaurants, and employs more than 500 people in an area that previously struggled to create new jobs.

Cowan-Dewar recently expanded the Cabot brand with the ground-breaking of Cabot Saint Lucia, a masterplan resort community in the Caribbean. Located on Point Hardy, a 375-acre peninsula at the northern tip of Saint Lucia, this property will include Cabot’s third golf course and second resort in its expanding portfolio of world-class properties.

In February 2017, the Governor in Council appointed Cowan-Dewar as the Chair of the Crown corporation Destination Canada responsible for the marketing of Canada. Cowan- Dewar is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and has served on the boards of the Golf Canada Foundation and Cape Breton University. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Governor General David Johnston in June 2017 for his vision in building Cabot and the contributions made to the Inverness community and Cape Breton economy. Cowan-Dewar lives in Toronto, Ontario and Inverness, Nova Scotia, with his wife, Allie, and their three children.

Jesse Tipping

CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT,

ATHLETE INSTITUTE

The Athlete Institute was founded in September 2010 by colleagues Jesse Tipping and Adam Hoffman. Jesse followed the dreams of his father, James, who wanted to create the best basketball facility in Canada. The Athlete Institute is home to Orangeville Prep who competes in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) and the Grind Session USA. The Athlete Institute attracts global talent, with players from across Canada, the , Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Athlete Institute has seen 6 players make an NBA roster since 2016.

The Institute is a part of the Pretty River Sports and Entertainment umbrella, along with CrossFit Orangeville, Core5 Fitness & Lifestyle, Purple Owl Pilates, BioSteel All Canadian Games, Bear Cub Coffee and the Athlete Institute Football Club.

Jesse Tipping graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BA in Liberal Studies where he played 5 years of Varsity basketball. Jesse has been written about as one of the Top 5 most influential people in basketball for Canada.

Chris Overholt

PRESIDENT & CEO

OVERACTIVE MEDIA

With more than 25 years of experience in the elite echelons of the sports industry, Chris Overholt now leads Toronto-based OverActive Media Group, one of the most diverse and influential organizations globally. That global esports stable includes the competing in the ; the Toronto Ultra in its inaugural League season; the MAD Lions, a Madrid-based organization competing in both the League of Legends European Championship and CS:GO’s newly launched pro-league, Flashpoint.

Chris has established himself as a leading and trusted voice in the worlds of sport and business. He joined the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) in April 2010 in the dual roles of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In August 2011, he was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and was in that role until October 2018, helping propel the organization to unprecedented growth in all areas of its commercial operations as the chief architect of the COC’s commercial strategy.

Reporting to the COC’s Board of Directors, Chris oversaw the broad scope of operations of the Olympic Movement in Canada including national sport development programs, Team Canada preparation, Olympic bids and events. He worked closely with Canada’s 52 national sport federations to provide the tools they needed to develop the next generation of Olympians.

During his 30 years in business, Chris played a key role in the marketing, branding, and business strategies for some of North America’s top sports franchises, including: Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, and seven years with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment delivering industry-leading results for the and the Toronto Raptors.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University in London, Ontario and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive General Managers Program in 2001.