The Sports Power Brunch: Recognizing Women in Sports
NEW ORLEANS — The sixth annual “The Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports” is an annual sports awards event honoring prominent women in the sports industry. What made this year’s brunch different was that it took place on National Girls and Women in Sports Day!
The Sports Power Brunch was created by award-winning veteran sports communications and marketing executive, LaTonya Story. Story is the CEO and Founder of LPS Consulting PR. The first Sports Power Brunch was held at Davio’s inside Phipps Plaza in 2019. Story created the event to honor women she admired in the sports spaces. Lisa Salters of ESPN/ABC was one of the notable nominees that year. Additionally, the much-beloved and dearly departed anchor at WSB-TV, Jovita Moore, served as the host. Since then, the Sports Power Brunch is becoming a can’t-miss event during Super Bowl week.
This year’s honorees
This year’s honorees included Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer with Delta Airlines; Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations & Team Development with the New Orleans Pelicans, Swin Cash; National Women’s Soccer League and two-time Women’s FIFA World Cup Champion, Ali Krieger; Chief Football Administrative Officer of the NFL, Dawn Aponte; Delta Air Lines’ Chief Marketing Officer, Alicia Tillman and Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes, the Commissioner of the HBCU Conference.
Gwinnett County’s own, Taylor Rooks, of Prime Video and Turner Sports hosted the soiree inside the immaculately-decorated Four Seasons Hotel. Joining Rooks was nearly 400 people that possess the same goal in mind: uplift women in sports.
“I have to say, it’s one thing to get there to reach the goal. You know, to be the first,” explained New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell. “But it’s another thing to stand by those who do it because they need you more now than ever. So I say again, you understand that. So let’s make sure that we continue to empower and inspire one another, because the world of girls and women are watching. And they deserve to understand that they are enough.”
There was a spirit of fearlessness in the room as the attendees knew they not only were rubbing shoulders with the who’s who in sports. They also were building new alliances while leaving with new strategies each can implement in their current pursuits.
“Standing here today, surrounded by powerful, game changing women and trailblazing honorees, I’m reminded that our presence in this space is more than personal success,” Cash said. “It’s about the collective progress we are making moving forward. As we gather during Super Bowl week in a space designed to celebrate excellence, let’s recognize that our work as women in sports isn’t about just breaking barriers.”
“Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not!”
The second half of the program was moderated by Kimberley A. Martin, an NFL Reporter with ESPN. Joining Martin were Heather Anderson, Vice President, Original Content and Business Affairs, ESPN; Marsha Cooke, Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Films and 30 for 30, ESPN; Chantre Camack, Senior Director, Talent Relations, ESPN and Kati Fernandez, Senior Director, Original Content Development, ESPN.
“It’s also about building bridges,” Cash exclaimed. “Bridges that connect generations, bridges that ensure the doors we push open stay open for those coming behind us. Because a legacy isn’t about what we achieve, it’s about what we make possible for others.”
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sterling Legacy Fund in honor of LaTonya Story’s son, Sterling. He passed away from cancer in 2019 at the age of 30.
Continue to take charge
Dr. Baker-Barnes published a book after being the first woman to run a collegiate conference, the NAIA’s HBCU Conference. Titled ‘Blazing Your Own Trail,’ Baker-Barnes explains how a mindset focused on taking decisive action fuels a purpose.
“Each of us here today is proof of that principle,” Baker-Barnes said. “We face challenges, embrace opportunities, and most importantly, we’ve decided to take action because of it. Because at the end of the day, that’s what blazing a trail is all about. Having the courage to take the first step, even when the path is not clear. But none of this will be possible.”
