Info About The Authors
Darren Heitner
Founder/Chief Editor/General News Writer
Darren Heitner created SportsAgentBlog.com, on December 31, 2005. It was the first site on the internet devoted to exploring the sports agent niche. SportsAgentBlog.com is now one of many sites that make up the DHP Network.
He is also a co-founder of Dynasty Athlete Representation. Darren is a 2007 Political Science graduate from the University of Florida. At UF, he was valedictorian of his class. Darren is now taking classes at the University of Florida Levin School of Law in order to better represent his clients.
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Chris Lesley
International Issues, The Wash Up
Chris began contributing to the blog in November 2006. Being the only contributor outside of the United States, Chris makes the blog a global source for sports agent news. He graduated from Deakin University in 2005 with a Degree in Commerce. At Deakin, he majored in Sports Management, which is the most respected Sports Management program in Australia.
Matthew Allinson
In Depth Analysis, What Would You Do…?
Matthew began contributing to the blog in March of 2007. He graduated from Penn State University with a double major in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations and Psychology. Following graduation, he spent a year in Kingston, Jamaica researching labor relations and political unionism as a Fulbright Scholar. He then attended The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he obtained his J.D. with a concentration in labor, intellectual property, and sports and entertainment law. Matthew is the founder of The Real Athlete Blog (”Real Content for Real Athletes”) and currently works as a labor and entertainment attorney.
Jason Wulterkens
Golf Issues, The Primary Cut
Jason began contributing to the blog in March 2007. He graduated in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Economics. Four years later, he obtained his Juris-Doctor from the Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, MN, where he also completed a certificate program in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). While knowledgeable on many subjects within the various sports industries, Jason is particularly passionate about golf, and enjoys keeping abreast of the latest developments within the professional and amateur ranks, as well as current industry and PGA Tour-related news.
Paul Schackman
Controversial Topics
Paul joined the team in June of 2007. He has had two internships in the past: one with ESPN and the other with the New York Dragons arena football team. He graduated from Hofstra University in May 2006 with degree in Marketing and is currently enrolled at Manhattanville College, where he will earn a Masters Degree in Sports Business Management.
James Alexander Taylor
International Issues, Soccer
James joined the team in November 2007. He graduated with a second class honours degree in Law from the University of Southampton, UK in summer 2007. Currently studying Sports Law at King’s College London, James will offer an alternative dimension to the team by providing insight from a UK/European perspective. In particular, he covers legal issues relating to sport in the EU and other sporting topics in general. Being a huge soccer enthusiast, James’ contribution is largely, but not exclusively limited to, soccer.
Kenji Summers
Connections to Entertainment, The Branded Experience
A native New Yorker (Brookyn to be exact,) Kenji grew up playing basketball with the top AAU basketball teams and players in the city. Kenji is 21-years-old and a graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst Sport Management program. He brings his experience in working with companies such as Madison Square Garden/The Knicks, Game Over Athletic Wear, Viper Records, Converse, and STRATEGIC sports and entertainment marketing agency. He currently is the business director of a modeling company and the creator of the video series, “So you want to be in the Sports Industry?”
Zak Kurtz
Sports Law
Zak began contributing to the blog in June of 2008. He is a 2007 graduate in Political Science, with minors in Legal Studies and History from Roanoke College in Virginia. Following graduation, he earned his paralegal certificate from Boston University. He is now in his first year at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in East Lansing, MI and will is studying to become a Sports and Entertainment Agent.
Zak played many sports before becoming an all-state soccer player. He won a state championship in 2002 and went on to play four years of college soccer. He has played all over the world, with many current MLS and EPL players. He recently created a blog called, Live From Law School.
Vinson Vadakada
Football
Vinson began contributing to Sports Agent Blog in July 2008. He is an undergraduate business student at the University of Illinois at Chicago studying Accounting and Management, and he is the Vice President of Corporate Relations for the UIC Accounting Club. After graduating, Vinson plans on getting his CPA license and attending Law School focusing on Tax and Sports Law.
Dominic Perilli
Contractual Negotiations
Dominic started contributing to SportsAgentBlog.com in October 2008. He is the youngest contributor at 18 years old. Dominic definitely wants to be a sports agent and loves number crunching. His role will be to analyze all of the hot contract negotiations. Although young, Dominic has studied the NFL CBA and has read textbooks on Sports Law. After high school, Dominic plans on majoring in Accounting and following up with law school.
Zach Miller
Politics and Sports
Zach Miller is originally from Edison, NJ. He graduated from Ohio University in 2007 with Bachelor Degrees in Political Science and History where he was extremely active in the administrative side of all intramural sports. He was also the VP of A&R for Brick City Records which is the only student run record company in the country. Zach is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Sports Business Management program at Manhattanville College. He has interned with the New Jersey Jackals minor league baseball team and is currently the New Jersey Sales and Marketing Representative for the Harlem Wizards Entertainment Basketball Team. Zach loves researching and combining two of his passions, which are sports and politics. Eventually, Zach would like to figure out a way to bring music into the mix.
