The Veeck Address is presented by

In 2008, the SMA launched its annual Veeck Address honoring legendary sport innovator and marketer Bill Veeck. The honoree of the Veeck Address serves as a Keynote Speaker for the SMA conference. We are ecstatic to announce that Kevin Rochlitz, Chief Sales Officer at the Baltimore Ravens, will be this year’s Veeck Address speaker presented by Syracuse University Falk College of Sport. Past keynoters include some of the industry’s pioneers and lead innovators. 

Kevin Rocklitz joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2003 and was named SVP/chief sales officer in 2019. He leads the Ravens’ corporate sales department, which includes national and regional partnerships, broadcasting contracts – including WBAL-TV, WBAL Radio and 98Rock – and M&T Bank Stadium suite sales.

In 2025, Rochlitz led contract negotiations with Under Armour, extending the Ravens’ training facility naming rights partnership 10 years. (The original Under Armour partnership coordinated by Rochlitz began in 2012.)

In 2023, he led negotiations for the substantial 15-year M&T Bank strategic partnership and stadium naming rights extension. Additionally, in 2024, he helped create and sell the new Blackwing suites at M&T Bank Stadium, featuring 10 individual suites all connected to a private club that provides fans the NFL’s most premium gameday experience. More recently in 2025, he led sales of the stadium’s new Legends Suites, presented by T. Rowe Price.

Among other contracts completed by Rochlitz are partnerships with MedStar Health, Safeway, Visa, Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines, MillerCoors, Anheuser-Busch, Verizon, Maryland Lottery and McCormick. He also led negotiations with sports gaming partners BetMGM and Draft Kings. Additionally, at M&T Bank Stadium, he created and sold the Talon Pub, as well as the club level bars.

In 2014, he guided a sales team that completed a 10-year, $60 million partnership extension with M&T Bank, including the continuation of the stadium naming rights and several community-focused programs.

Rochlitz also spent five years as SVP of sales for Mandalay Sports and Entertainment/Mandalay Pictures, owners of the Dayton Dragons and Frisco Rough Riders. He coordinated the new stadium construction and sold naming rights for each venue (Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio, and Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas). From 1996-97, he was one of the youngest assistant athletic directors in NCAA Division I-A for the Univ. of Miami.

Rochlitz serves on the Syracuse University Falk College Board and is a member of the Signal 13 Foundation with the Baltimore City Police Department.

Named a Baltimore Smart CEO Executive of the Year in 2016, Rochlitz was also chosen to participate in the Leadership Baltimore County program from 2015-16. In 2011, he was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary Robert Gates to join the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference to better understand and promote the U.S. military.

Rochlitz earned a degree in marketing from University of Wyoming, where he now serves as Chairman of the College of Business Advisory Board. In May of 2021, he was named Distinguished Alum for the university’s College of Business. Kevin and Melissa have a daughter, Riley (23), also a Wyoming gradudate and corporate partnerships activation coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Previous Veeck Address Speakers

2026 - Kevin Rochlitz, Chief Sales Officer, Baltimore Ravens
2025 - Jay Parry, President & CEO, Arizona Major Events Host Committee
2024 - Anuk Karunaratne, Senior VP Business Operations, St. Louis Cardinals
2023 - Matt Silverman, President, Tampa Bay Rays
2022 – Shawn McIntosh, Chief Fan Officer, Charlotte Football Club
2021 – Kerry Bubolz, CEO and President, Vegas Golden Knights
2020 – no address as the Annual Conference was not held due to COVID
2019 – Colin Faulkner, Senior VP Sales and Marketing, Chicago Cubs
2018 – Chad Estis, Executive VP, Dallas Cowboys and Legends
2017 – Amy Latimer, President, TD Garden and Delaware North’s UK Operations
2016 – Len Komoroski, CEO, Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena
2015 – Mark A. Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and COO, NBA
2014 – Scott O'Neil, CEO, Philadelphia 76ers
2013 – Donna Orender, Former President, WNBA
2012 – Pat Williams, Senior VP, Orlando Magic
2011 – Jamey Rootes, President, Houston Texans
2010 – Rick Welts, President, Golden State Warriors
2009 – Bernie Mullin, Chairman And CEO, The Aspire Group
2008 – Bill Sutton, Vice President Team Marketing and Business Operations, NBA