Overview
“The Impact of Data and Analytics on American Professional Football”
Organizations of all sizes and sectors continue to exhibit an unrelenting drive for innovation and investment in fact-based solutions powered by robust data and analytics. Leaders of these organizations and individuals who create the detail and the impact on the product or services both have a distinct role in the race for efficiency, differentiation and success. And, yes, it’s even apparent when we relax with a beer and watch our beloved NFL teams do battle.
Our discussion will focus on three perspectives: ownership/executive management of the team, team employees responsible for producing meaningful, actionable data and analytics and, importantly, the impact upon the players and the game itself. Demystifying analytics for non-technical members of the front office, gaining trust and buy in for analytics-based concepts, and how the “’Moneyball’ effect” has changed the sports landscape will all be in play. So will insight on the type of data that NFL analytics staffers have access to and underexplored areas of research within the NFL front offices. Expect to hear favorite professional/nonprofessional sports memories, too.
Join us for this revealing, spirited inside view of the sports and broader entertainment businesses … and how your organizations may benefit.
Team hats and jerseys are encouraged!
Event details
When: March 21, 8-10:30 a.m.
Where: Galloping Hill Golf Course,3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth
Early bird rates expire Tuesday, March 14!
Fees:
- Member of ACG N.J.: Complimentary
- Member of another chapter: $50; $75 after March 14
- First-time attendee: $50; $75 after March 14
- Nonmember: $75; $100 after March 14
Cancellation policy: Full refund, less 3% processing fee, if cancellation is received by 5 p.m. Friday, March 17.
Speakers
Brian Friedman, executive vice president and chief operating officer, New York Jets
Brian Friedman, now in his 13th year with the New York Jets, begins his fourth season as the team’s executive vice president & chief operating officer. Previously, Friedman spent nine seasons with the team as its chief financial officer.
Friedman is responsible for the implementation of business operations that are aligned with the team’s short-term and long-term business goals. This includes current revenue generation, fan-focused initiatives and other strategic growth opportunities for the team and MetLife Stadium. He has oversight of the team’s gameday and non-gameday event operations and key vendor relationships. In addition, he oversees information technology, fan commerce and practice facility operations.
Additionally, Friedman oversees all financial aspects of the organization, including business and strategic planning, budgeting, business analytics and financial oversight of the team’s interests in MetLife Stadium. He manages all the daily accounting and treasury operations for the organization as well as all internal and external reporting to the NFL and various other agencies. Friedman is also a member of the Finance and Investment Committee for Atlantic Health Systems.
Momin Ghaffar, strategic projects manager, McKinsey & Co., formerly with Jacksonville Jaguars
Ghaffar is responsible for strategy development and solution delivery for McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. He mostly recently led a sports analytics department at the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League, served in another sports front office at the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association, and spent time in corporate strategy and finance at the Home Depot and Goldman Sachs.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Ghaffar was the director of strategic research and development at the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he partnered with executive stakeholders to enhance data-driven decision-making across the organization’s business and football operations. In addition to fielding ad hoc requests from team ownership, he focused on conducting quantitative analyses to generate insights and facilitated product development, data infrastructure improvements and technological innovations. By leveraging his background in data science, he has co-authored research publications in sports analytics and medicine. His group’s topic on minimizing punting in football to induce offensive scoring won an honorable mention in the inaugural Big Data Bowl hosted by the National Football League. Additionally, his surgical outcomes research from his time at Duke University Medical Center has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Bart Oates, president, NFL Alumni Association
A former center for the USFL Philadelphia Stars, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, Bart Oates never took time off during the offseason. As the starting center for 14 seasons professionally and three years collegiately, he always looked to contribute to the betterment of the team, both mentally and physically. He helped the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, and later, was the starting center for the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. He was selected and played in five Pro Bowls and was recognized as one of the most durable and reliable players of his day. Despite the extremely physical nature of football, he never missed a game in his 14 seasons playing professional football. Oates took law classes during his off seasons, graduating with honors from Seton Hall Law School.
Going to law school in offseason while playing allowed him to graduate, pass the bar and being practicing with the law firm of Ribis, Graham, & Curtin in Morristown, where he focused on litigation and real estate tax appeal work. After retiring from football, he both practiced law and worked in the real estate industry where he was a real estate broker. New York Jets, American Express, Curtis Wright, iQor, Apos, Fitness and Wellness Professional Services are a partial list of his clients.
He is currently president of the NFL Alumni Association; a position that allows him to advocate for former players to address issues that affect members as a result of being a professional athlete. In addition, he maintains positions as general counsel for Metro Dx Labs, a reference blood and toxicology lab, and Accord MS, a health care compliance and recovery company working with health care providers.
Lou Monari (moderator), senior vice president, Aon Risk and Health Solutions
Monari is responsible for developing and retaining new business for Aon, a global risk management and human capital firm. His 25-plus-year career spans the large corporation, consulting/outsourced services and entrepreneurship/start-ups. The depth and breadth of his business experience brings value to Aon clients and prospects via exceptional client development, client services/retention and problem-solving skills. In short, he helps build better businesses.
Monari is active in business and community organizations. He is a founding member (2003) and currently sits on the board of the Association for Corporate Growth New Jersey and is a former participant of Financial Executives International New Jersey and the Society of Human Resource Management.
