My story starts in Skokie, 1964-1972, which made me a lifelong Cubs fan. Moved to a racially mixed neighborhood in Milwaukee and learned what bridges sports could build, then to Whitefish Bay (outside Milwaukee).

Journalism degree (1987) from Minnesota, where I edited sports for the Minnesota Daily and traveled the Big 10 covering football and basketball. Back in Chicago 1988-1997, I freelanced and edited IEG Sponsorship Report. Moved to the Bay Area and went into sponsorship consulting, eventually launching SponsorWrite (www.sponsorwrite.com).

Since Sept. 2005, I've run marketing communications for Positive Coaching Alliance (www.positivecoach.org), writing blogs, newsletters and articles for many national sports organizations.