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ABOUT


group Y is the original and leading collective of professionals focused on Action Sports, Youth Marketing and Entertainment. Based in Southern California with a growing national reach, group Y boasts an active membership of the best and brightest these industries have to offer. Sharing insights from key decision makers at key brands, past speakers have included experts from companies such as Quiksilver, Burton, Oakley, Target, and ESPN. Through our events, outreach and on-line presence, group Y takes the work out of strategic networking and strengthens our entire industry in the process.

EVENTS

event050310-150x100Monthly Panel Discussions - group Y produces monthly events that combines networking and education from industry leaders.  Each event comprises of a panel or speaker discussion related to an issue that our industry is currently facing.  Past speakers have included executives from brands like Quiksilver, Billabong, Monster, DC, Vans, Verizon, Volcom, IMG, ESPN and more.

032410photos150x100Innovator Series - group Y hosts an exclusive one-on-one discussion event with an industry leader that has paved the way for growth & advancement within the Action sports arena.  Past “innovators” have included Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Haro Bike & Freestyle BMX founder Bob Haro, Pro Skateboarder & Adio / Planet Earth founder Chris Miller, Pro Freestyle Motocross rider & Hart&Huntington founder Carey Hart, TV Personality & Film producer Sal Masekela, La Jolla Group CEO Toby Bost, FUEL TV’s CJ Oliveras and more.

sesroundtable150x100Shop-Eat-Surf.com Executive Roundtable - Four times a year, Shop-Eat-Surf.com brings together action sports executives and entrepreneurs to hear from industry leaders who discuss building, growing and leading their businesses during a live conversation with Shop-eat-surf Founder Tiffany Montgomery. Past speakers have included PacSun CEO Gary Schoenfeld, Skullcandy founder Rick Alden, and Fox Head CEO Pete Fox.

asc-2010-logo-150x100Action Sports Conference - This once a year unique conference brings together over 300 attendees to explore multiple aspects of action sports branding and marketing via engaging keynote addresses, interactive roundtables and educational panels. Attendees not only interact intimately with likeminded action sports and key brand executives, but will do so surrounded by the unparalleled atmosphere provided by events like X Games and  US Open of Surfing.  2010 & 2009 conferences were sold-out successese, hosting speakers, attendees and sponsors from companies including ESPN, FUEL TV, Target, Burton, Nike, Oakley, Disney, Monster Energy, Aspen Ski Company, Wasserman Media Group, US Olympic Committee, NBA, Fast Company Magazine, Transworld Media, Getty Images and more.

4 CORNERS PHILOSOPHY

Value-Driven: Upholding the values of our Action Sports heritage helps the culture move forward true to its roots. A community based on authenticity and personal excellence leads to better opportunities for every member, regardless of brand affiliation.

Options & Opportunities: Our original goal was to foster relationships between the spheres of Action Sports, Youth Marketing and Entertainment. Whether these new relationships led to new jobs, collaborations, or simply new ways of thinking, we saw the need for more focused networking and filled it. Who knew it would work so well? We now have over 4,000 members.

Insider Education: group Y has expanded our offerings from relationship building to education, hosting panel discussions whereby our members can gain valuable, brand-building insights from companies like Fuel TV, Verizon, Billabong and more. Our ability to ascertain the problems our people are facing, and the kinds of questions they’re asking, always leads to lively forums and fresh answers.

Real Relationships: group Y inclusion is mainly by referral, offering strategic networking opportunities that go beyond Spam fatigue and drunk interns. As evidenced by the caliber of our panelists, we are more interested in the power of face-to-face meetings than the power of Facebook. In short, we help connect the connectors. (Plus, nobody can “block” you at a real Meet ‘n’ Greet…)

THE ORIGINAL CELL

group Y began in 2006 when the founders noticed that no organized vehicle existed to bring key decision makers together in an open environment. Despite the social nature of the business, it just didn’t seem very…social.

Since our inception, a number of groups have sprung up based on the group Y model. We take the imitation as flattery, sure, but group Y remains the preeminent platform of its kind. From cross-marketing forums to expert discussions on crisis PR, our professionals are all imbedded within the cultures they represent. These are the people building the booths—and brands—at major tradeshows rather than wandering the aisles asking for free stickers. They have a secret Vans box full of VIP laminates and their own “good luck” lanyard, too. Their cars, inevitably, are full of sand.

We believe that real results grow out of real relationships. We respect your desire to combine social interaction with career-relevant education. Our ability to uncover answers to the questions folks don’t want to get caught asking in the break-room make group Y the best way to “work” during time off since surfing. By sending our members home with unique, pertinent insights rather than yet another goody bag, group Y caters to those for whom work and life aren’t so very different after all.

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