Zachary Tepe
Columbus
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Sales & New Business
Showcore
05.2023 - Current
- Lead sales and revenue growth for family-owned event production company
- Lead expansion into new verticals (esports, venues)
- Own all new business with over $10M in pipeline as of April 2024
Director of Sales
Unified Esports Association
11.2022 - Current
- Joined company rebuild in lead revenue position
- Owned all customer acquisition strategy, developing new verticals and finding PMF for each client type
- Established ambitious sales targets, increasing pipeline deal count by 450% and closing over $200,000 in revenue
Principal
Zactivate
01.2016 - Current
- Facilitate strategic partnerships and as-needed connections for 30+ clients in esports and entertainment
- Direct/coordinate gaming and esports productions at local, regional, and national levels in various roles, including charity programs, gaming tournaments, and product activations/trade shows
- Clients have included Mountain Dew, AMP, Monster Energy, Major League Gaming, local esports brands across 20+ states, & world-renowned charities
Business Development Executive
Esport Supply
05.2020 - 06.2021
- As first hire in fast-moving firm, facilitated industry-endemic relationships in all verticals: design & build, production, brand activation
- Generated and won business as subject matter experts for cities and world-class architecture firms, with professional services including feasibility studies and brokerage of hardware, furniture, and software
- Generated and won business with major American universities to serve as subject matter expert in launching new esports programs
- Followed SaaS model to source and service production clients including Tier 1 esports teams and highly visible broadcasters
- Sourced and assisted in execution of strategic partnerships with industry-endemic contacts, using existing and net new relationships
Interim Director of Esports
Metro Sports & Entertainment Group
06.2019 - 06.2020
- Collaborated & consulted with CEO in developing all esports & gaming elements of new, diversity-focused experiential company
- Facilitated and negotiated strategic partnerships with white-label production companies, talent, and sponsors
- Created strategic plan to roll out online tournament platform, hire and supervise contractors for website build/API integration
- Leveraged incoming partnerships for traditional sports integration in esports, building paths for big-budget entities in unfamiliar industry
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Wildcard Gaming
05.2019 - 05.2020
- Engineered $100,000+ in endemic and non-endemic partnership revenue for grassroots rapid-growth esports organization
- Worked with leadership team to enhance dynamic growth strategy in response to industry trends
- Strengthened and fostered existing partners to improve product success and amplify coverage
- Built from scratch charity broadcasting program totaling $10,000 raised in first month
Skills
- Respected connector with large esports/entertainment rolodex (the "expert the experts call")
- Powerhouse, people-focused brand activator with success driving nationwide attention and attendance
- Diehard Cleveland Browns fan (with that record, it's a skill)
- Well-connected relationship builder with a love for people (references available on request)
- Expert nonprofit fundraiser through charity-gaming shows with demonstrated 8-figure success
Other Experiences
- Frequent panelist and speaker on the esports industry, as well as the subject of nonprofit fundraising through gaming
- Core team member of Kinstone and Full Restore, producing broadcasted charity gaming events like Zeldathon and Pokethon
- Classically trained vocalist & former collegiate rugby player (2 conference titles, 1 regular season loss in 3 years)
Timeline
Director of Sales & New Business
Showcore
05.2023 - Current
Director of Sales
Unified Esports Association
11.2022 - Current
Business Development Executive
Esport Supply
05.2020 - 06.2021
Interim Director of Esports
Metro Sports & Entertainment Group
06.2019 - 06.2020
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Wildcard Gaming
05.2019 - 05.2020
Principal
Zactivate
01.2016 - Current
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