AJ ROMEO // HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
AJ is a recognized expert in sports marketing, including player appearances, licensing, and league representation. Recently completing an 11 year position as a core team member of Steiner Sports – the most widely acclaimed merchandising and memorabilia provider in sports, AJ rose to the position of Executive Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Business. AJ grew the Steiner competencies from memorabilia wholesaler and retailer to full-service sports marketing agency, including events, appearances and licensing. In June 2014, AJ left Steiner to co-founded Barnburner Inc., a sports marketing company which excels at helping companies get into sports through branding, licensing, and marketing activations.
MIKE BONHEIM // CHIEF CREATIVE STRATEGIST
In close to 20 years in live events, Mike has had the privilege of working in many facets of event marketing and entertainment. He started his career working in the publicity and advertising departments for many major record labels and royalty management firms, in digital design and marketing for entertainment industry companies, and in artist management and booking, managing the live performance careers of legendary artists from BB King to The Temptations.
Moving into experiential marketing, Mike acted as Senior Manager of Event Marketing for Cendant and Realogy Corporations, before striking out independently in 2007. Since entering the agency world, Mike has been honored to lead teams creative directing and producing cross-format, award-winning communications campaigns for a who's who of companies such as ESPN, General Electric, Home Depot, Citigroup, BlackBerry, BMW, Oracle Corporation, and many, many more.
ASHLEY CHAFFEE // DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
After graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Marketing, Ashley began her career in retail marketing managing events, marketing initiatives and advertising campaigns for Miromar Outlets. Moving to a position in account and relationship management for OFDC/Steelcase, Ashley guided major corporations in the South Florida market through the complex process of commercial space design. The intricate specifications and aesthetic needs of these projects provided a solid foundation partnering with clients to determine their true needs on both a logistical and creative basis, and provided the skills required to ensure projects are implemented on schedule and on budget.
Ashley prides herself on her ability to help design activations, experiences and events that truly deliver measurable success toward each individual client’s unique objectives and needs. A singular focus on her relationship with Barnburner’s client partners mean that with Ashley, you don’t have a salesperson – you have a true consultant whose only aim is helping you match the right campaign with the right talent for the right audience – ultimately realizing all the right business objectives.