CASE STUDY

Prime Time for Aaron Judge

A Home Run Partnership

Aaron Judge is known worldwide as one of the best baseball players in Major League Baseball. With an extensive background that proves his athletic success, Judge has humbly earned the title. His athleticism, leadership and personability are a few things fans love about him making him one of the most marketable athletes in sports.

In April 2024 the sports landscape received a major update as Judge announced his collaboration with PRIME Hydration. As a high-profile figure in the league this partnership further secured PRIME’s commitment to associating with top-tier athletes.

Working with Integrity9 was a game-changer for our business. Their innovative approach and attention to detail helped us streamline operations and achieve a 35% increase in efficiency within six months. We couldn't have asked for a better partner in our growth journey.

Alex MorganCEO of NovaTech Solutions

The Challenge

As the face of the New York Yankees and a multiple time All-Star, Judge’s impact goes deeper than the sport of baseball. When securing the right partnerships, it’s important to examine a brand from all angles outside of financial gain.

Although PRIME had experienced massive success and support from athletes across the NFL, NHL, UFC and other prominent leagues; it was crucial for Judge to align with someone that complemented his personal values and authenticity. PRIME had been searching for further credibility across sports, and with Judge as a leader in the game, he could be the missing piece to bridge that gap.

35%

increase in operational efficiency, improved team collaboration, and reduced project turnaround times.

50%

reduction in manual errors and a 40% faster project delivery rate within the first quarter.

The Solution

After careful consideration, PRIME Hydration announced their official partnership with Aaron Judge. The deal positioned Judge as a key ambassador in PRIME’s baseball expansion, making him the first MLB star to be a PRIME Hydration athlete. With Prime already being the preferred choice in Judge’s daily routine, he was ecstatic about the natural fit. The partnership went a step further with a limited-edition flavor, and Yankees branding on the bottle, providing fans with a unique way to engage.

Overall, both parties were proud to be in a win-win situation where Judge’s influence within baseball was positively reinforced.

Mackenzie White

Associate

Mackenzie serves as an Associate with Integrity 9. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she has a strong background in industrial marketing as well as previous experience working with Elevation Church.

Jenna Fassio

Associate

Jenna serves as an Associate with Integrity 9 supporting multiple accounts. A graduate of San Diego State University, she has previous experience working within the SDSU Athletic Department as well as with the San Diego Wave FC.

Janelle Bailey

Associate

Janelle serves as an Associate with Integrity 9. Having previously worked with the WNBPA and Legacy Philanthropy, she holds a Master’s in Sports Law and Business from Arizona State and a BA in Communications with a focus in Media Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Dylan Westerman

Associate

Dylan serves as an Associate with Integrity 9. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and has previous experience working in college athletics with the Gazelle Group and Kansas Athletics Development.

Wes Engram

President

Wes began Integrity 9 in 2017 after 16 years of experience in partnership development for professional sports, including senior roles with the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.

Ryan Meagher

Manager of Property Sales

Ryan joined Integrity 9 in 2023 as a Manager of Property Sales. Ryan’s previous experience in business development was gained throughout several roles within Minor League Baseball.

MALLORY HADAWAY

Account Director

Mallory serves as an Account Director, leading the day-to-day partnership activation for current clients. Mallory joins Integrity 9 with a strong background in corporate partnerships and sports marketing through previous experiences at Learfield-IMG and the Atlanta Braves.

KENNEDY ZEIHER

Account Director

Kennedy is an Account Director at Integrity 9 focused on partnership strategy, activation, and client management. She has previous experience in collegiate and experiential marketing, most recently leading campaigns and events for national brands across sports and entertainment.

KARLINA SAMPLE

Coordinator, Sports & Talent Marketing

Karlina serves as Coordinator, Sports & Talent Marketing with Integrity 9. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she has previous experience working with the Texas A&M Marketing & Communications department.

JUSTIN BUCK

SVP, Head of Business Development

Justin joined Integrity 9 in 2022 after 15 years of driving revenue and partnership development for major professional sports organizations. Justin serves as SVP, Head of Business Development and oversees new property sales and brand consulting relationships.

JOHN SMAGALA

Account Director

John serves as the Account Director, Sports Marketing at Integrity 9. He brings partnership solutions and activation experience from his previous roles with various sports & entertainment properties including the Brooklyn Nets & Barclays Center, Major League Baseball and the New York Mets.

HANNAH ARMENT

Account Executive, Property Sales

Hannah serves as an Account Executive, Property Sales at Integrity 9. She brings a strong sales background with prior experience in the tech and financial services industries.

GABE RENDON

SVP of Consulting

Gabe is our SVP of Consulting and brings extensive sports partnership experience to Integrity 9, most recently serving as the Director of Partnerships for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks. Prior to the XFL, Gabe served in various partnership sales and management roles within Minor League Baseball both at the team level and league office.

EMILY PETERSON

Account Manager

Emily serves as an Account Manager, assisting with multiple properties at Integrity 9. She has previous experience working in the athletic department at The College of William & Mary.

DRAKE MARKER

Manager of Property Sales

Drake serves as Manager of Property Sales at Integrity 9. He has previous experience in Major League Baseball working for the Kansas City Royals.

DAVID HAYOB

Chief Revenue Officer

David joined Integrity 9 as Chief Revenue Officer after over 18 years working in partnership sales and marketing in professional sports and the collegiate space. David was most recently with the University of Kansas as head of Jayhawk Community Partners after serving in leadership roles with the New York Mets, AEG, and Kansas City Royals.

CHRIS WUJCIK

Vice President of Brand Consulting

Chris serves as the Vice President of Brand Consulting. He has unparalleled sponsorship experience, having managed the Anheuser Busch local sports portfolio for 15 years. His focus is in helping clients build sponsorship strategies, evaluate partnership opportunities, and negotiate the right deals.

BEN TSCHUDY

Account Director

Ben is an Account Director at Integrity 9 working on strategy and management of current and prospective partners. He has previous experience in college athletics most recently in partnership roles for Learfield IMG College.