Matt Winkler has blended more than 20 years of experience in the NCAA, NHL, WNBA, MLS, the Olympics, and the World Cup and activation on five continents into innovative industry strategy for the sports, events and higher education industries. Recently Winkler launched the first Online M.S. in Sports Analytics & Management at American University. Previously, Winkler founded the Georgetown University Sports Industry Management initiative (SIM), launched in fall, 2008, as its Associate Dean. Upon his arrival on the DC hill top, Winkler helped usher in a new era in applied sports management education In 2013, SIM was honored as the 6th ranked postgraduate programs worldwide by SportBusiness International magazine and 4th among those offered in North America. Winkler is also the Co-founder & Executive Director of a premier annual sports career conference known as the Sports Events Marketing Experience (www.TheSEME.com) and previously launched another entrepreneurial consulting project, MW Marketing/Communications. Before coming to Georgetown, Winkler served as Regional Sales Manager for the Lincoln Holdings franchises of the Washington Capitals (NHL) and Washington Mystics (WNBA). Winkler served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Public Relations at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, after a six-year stint as Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, and Director of Athletic Communications and Sports Information at American University. He worked at Lehigh University prior to returning to his hometown to begin work at AU. Winkler frequently served as an on-site game-day media operations consultant for U.S. Soccer Federation and D.C. United in Major League Soccer as well as the NCAA and their championships for Men’s Basketball and Men’s Soccer. Others: 5 FIFA World Cups, 2 Olympic Games, and the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.