2026 Sponsorship Excellence Awards winners announced. Industry leaders across agencies, properties, brands and innovators recognized for excellence at the 2026 Sponsorship Mastery Summit in Nashville NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 1, 2026 (Newswire.com) - The Sponsorship Marketing Association (SMA) is proud to announce the winners of the 5th annual Sponsorship Excellence Awards, celebrated at the Sponsorship Mastery Summit in Nashville, September 28-30. The following awardees were recognized: Myles Gallagher, CEO of The Superlative Group, received the Hall of Fame Award. As a 42-year veteran, Myles has built one of the world's most respected naming rights and sponsorship consultancies, negotiating more than $4 billion on behalf of clients across professional sports, higher education, healthcare, and cultural institutions. Momentum received the Agency of the Year Award. As the world's leading global experience agency, Momentum delivered its biggest year yet in 2025, executing disruptive activations at the FIFA Club World Cup, Super Bowl, and F1. CMA Fest received the Property of the Year Award. As the longest-running Country Music festival in the world, CMA Fest draws 100,000 daily fans to Nashville, generating 123 billion media impressions and $86 million in direct visitor spending while giving $2 million back to music education. Athletic Brewing Company received the Sponsor of the Year Award. As the number one non-alcoholic beer brand in the United States, Athletic transformed non-alcoholic beer into one of the fastest-growing partnership categories. DIGIDECK received the Innovation in Sponsorship Award. DIGIDECK transformed the sponsorship industry by turning the static pitch deck into an interactive, personalized, and measurable platform trusted by 600+ organizations including every major league. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Mastercard received the Social Impact Award for the Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard, giving Indigenous-owned businesses access to Maple Leafs intellectual property, retail space, and a national fan base to turn cultural celebration into economic opportunity. The Rising Star Award was given to Ashley Dye, Sponsorship Sales Manager at Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., celebrating an emerging sponsorship professional already making waves. Canva received the Best in Show: Outstanding Activation in Arts & Entertainment Award for their Creative Cabana at Cannes Lions. Canva returned to Cannes Lions three times larger with the Creative Cabana, turning the world's most competitive marketing festival into a hands-on experience for over 10,000 visitors. Maple Leaf Foods and the Canadian Olympic Committee received the Best in Show: Outstanding Activation in Sports Award. In its Olympic debut as Official Protein Partner of Team Canada, Maple Leaf Foods brought "Victory. But First, Protein." to life across athlete storytelling. Harley-Davidson and Summerfest received the Best in Show: Outstanding Activation in Fairs & Festivals Award. Two iconic Milwaukee brands reunited on America's 250th birthday and a July 4th fireworks show, generating 350 press stories valued at over $20 million. Michelob ULTRA and Park City received the Best in Show: Outstanding Activation in Events & Venues Award. Michelob ULTRA transformed Park City Mountain into the ultimate Team USA celebration during the 2026 Winter Olympics, combining Olympic artifact exhibits, elevated watch parties, and a Kygo summit concert. Andrew Duffy, Chief of Corporate Partnerships at U.S. Army HQ IMCOM DFMWR, received the SMA Member of the Year Award for his extraordinary contributions to the SMA community, building strategic partnerships that enhance Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for Soldiers and Families worldwide.

Athletic Brewing Company and Graza cook up non-alcoholic collaboration brew, 'Cold Off The Press' Sep 23, 2026, 09:00 ET Limited-time pils made with extra virgin olive oil brings together two flavor-obsessed brands MILFORD, Conn., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Athletic Brewing Company, America's largest dedicated non-alcoholic brewer, and Graza, the cult-favorite olive oil brand and pantry staple, today announced the launch of Cold Off The Press, a limited-time non-alcoholic collaboration brew made with Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Crafted with Graza, Cold Off The Press is bright, smooth, and refreshingly unexpected. It will be available in 6-packs of 12-oz. cans at www.athleticbrewing.com beginning September 23, while supplies last. A classic pils with floral, herbal, and lemon aromas and a remarkably clean, dry finish, the brewing process for Cold Off The Press began with extra virgin olive oil, which nourishes the yeast that helps shape the brew. "We love collaborations that push us outside the traditional boundaries of brewing," said John Walker, Co-Founder and COO of Athletic Brewing Company. "The folks at Graza share our passion for great flavor and questioning how familiar products are supposed to look, taste, and feel. There was a natural creative chemistry between our teams, and Cold Off The Press gave us a chance to bring that shared curiosity into the brewhouse, challenge ourselves to think differently, and create something entirely new. We're always willing to chase an idea that sounds a little wild if we believe it can lead somewhere delicious, and this one absolutely did." The collaboration brings together two brands known for reimagining everyday staples. Athletic Brewing has helped redefine expectations for non-alcoholic beer, while Graza has made top-notch, super-fresh olive oil more accessible, approachable, and fun to use through products built for everything from drizzling to sizzling. While extra virgin olive oil is a staple in the brewing process, Cold Off The Press was never intended to taste like olive oil itself. Instead, Athletic's brewing team experimented with incorporating Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil into the brew while developing a bright, balanced flavor profile that complements food without overpowering it. "We're constantly looking for creative ways to show how versatile olive oil can be, and we loved the idea of taking it somewhere completely new," said Andrew Benin, CEO and Co-Founder of Graza. "Athletic brings the same energy, curiosity, and attention to ingredients and flavor that we do. Cold Off The Press is super drinkable and one of the more deliciously adventurous places we've taken olive oil." The name Cold Off The Press is a playful nod to both brands, pairing the cold-pressing of olives with a crisp, refreshing brew. The result is a grove-to-glass mashup made for serving alongside good food and great company. Equally at home at the dinner table or alongside a game day spread, Cold Off The Press pairs especially well with pizza, grilled vegetables, salty snacks, big sandwiches, charcuterie, and whatever else happens to be on the menu. Brew Details: * Style: Pils * Ingredients: Water, Malted Barley, Rice, Hops, Lemon, Yeast, Olive Oil, Wheat * Nutritional Information: Each 12-oz. can is less than 0.5% ABV and contains 60 calories, 14g of carbs, 0g of protein, and 0g of fat. * Flavor Notes: A bright pils with herbal aromas made with Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil. * Availability: Limited release on athleticbrewing.com while supplies last. Launched commercially in 2018, Athletic pioneered a proprietary method for making non-alcoholic beer, re-engineering nearly every step of the brewing process through hundreds of small-batch trials. This innovative approach has made Athletic the most highly awarded non-alcoholic brewer of the past decade, with over 200 prestigious taste awards. Additional Brand Assets: Brand images can be downloaded HERE. For press inquiries, please contact: Chris Furnari | [email protected] The Brand Guild | [email protected] About Athletic Brewing Company Athletic Brewing Company is America's largest dedicated non-alcoholic brewer. Athletic is revolutionizing how modern adults drink by crafting full-flavored NA brews that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. Launched commercially in 2018, Athletic is the number one non-alcoholic beer brand in America[1] and a top 15 U.S. brewing company[2]. Its award-winning brews are available nationwide at over 75,000 retail locations. Athletic operates custom breweries in Connecticut and California and donates up to $2 million annually to protecting and restoring outdoor spaces across the globe via its Two For The Trails program. Athletic is proudly a Certified B Corporation(TM). Learn more and shop at www.athleticbrewing.com. Follow Athletic Brewing on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube to stay up-to-date on all things Athletic. [1] NielsenIQ, Total US xAOC + Liquor Open State + Conv, Latest 52 Wks ending 8/8/26 About Graza Founded in 2021 by Andrew Benin and Allen Dushi, Graza was created to help home cooks have more fun in the kitchen with high-quality, crazy fresh olive oil. The brand initially launched with "Drizzle" and "Sizzle," an extra virgin finishing oil and cooking oil duo packaged in easy-to-use squeeze bottles, and quickly emerged as a category leader, becoming the fifth-largest olive oil brand in the U.S. in under four years. Since its debut, Graza has expanded its product lineup to include glass bottles, nitrogen-sealed refill cans, "Frizzle" high-heat cooking oil, a line of olive oil mayo spanning three varieties across two packaging formats, and, most recently, potato chips cooked in 100% extra virgin olive oil and available in four bold flavors. At its core, Graza believes every kitchen deserves great, fresh olive oil that's affordable enough to use every day, while celebrating all the ways it can show up across every meal and snack occasion. Graza can be found in over 28,000 retail doors throughout the country and is available for purchase online. The brand has also received several industry accolades, including NOSH 2025 Brand of the Year, Inc. Best in Business 2025, DIELINE Best in Packaging 2025, and more. To learn more, visit graza.co or follow @getgraza on Instagram. SOURCE Athletic Brewing Company

Athletic Brewing Co. appoints Dan Kleinman as Chief Marketing Officer. By Ash Kate September 22, 2026 Athletic Brewing Co. has appointed Dan Kleinman as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing an experienced beverage marketing leader to the company as it continues to build its position in the growing non-alcoholic beer category. Dan joins Athletic after more than nine years at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, where he most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer and worked on the growth of brands including Josh Cellars. His earlier career included 16 years in marketing roles at Diageo, giving him extensive experience across some of the world's major beverage brands. From Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits to Athletic. Dan's appointment follows a nine-plus-year tenure at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, including the last three years as CMO. During his time there, he was closely involved with the growth of Josh Cellars, including work across brand building, consumer engagement, loyalty and shopper marketing. His experience spans both brand strategy and the commercial execution required to scale consumer brands. The move brings that experience into a different part of the beverage market, where Athletic has built its identity around non-alcoholic craft beer and changing consumer attitudes toward drinking. A career across major beverage brands. Before Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Dan spent approximately 16 years at Diageo in a range of marketing leadership positions. His work at Diageo included roles connected to brands such as Captain Morgan, Guinness and Smirnoff, giving him experience across spirits and beer and across different consumer occasions and audiences. That background provides a broad foundation for his new role at Athletic, particularly as the company continues to develop non-alcoholic beer as both a category and a lifestyle proposition. Marketing a changing drinking occasion. Dan has described Athletic as operating at the intersection of changing attitudes toward how modern adults connect and socialise. That perspective is closely aligned with Athletic's positioning. The company has built its brand around the idea that consumers do not have to compromise on taste, ritual or social occasions when choosing a non-alcoholic option. As CMO, Dan will bring his experience in consumer brand building to a category where the marketing challenge extends beyond product awareness to understanding the occasions, motivations and cultural shifts influencing consumer choice. Scaling a non-alcoholic brand. Athletic has moved well beyond its early position as a specialist non-alcoholic brewer. The company describes itself as a pioneer in non-alcoholic craft beer for modern adults and has continued investing in its brand, distribution and partnerships. Athletic recently announced a multi-year partnership with MetLife Stadium, the New York Jets and the New York Giants, extending its presence into major sports and live-event environments. The company has also said it expects to significantly increase its national media investment, placing greater emphasis on building awareness and demand as competition in the category grows. Bringing brand building into the next phase. Dan's experience gives Athletic a marketing leader who has worked across established beverage brands, brand transformation and consumer engagement. His move also comes at a point when Athletic is broadening how it shows up in culture, sport and everyday social occasions. The opportunity for Dan will be to build on that foundation while helping Athletic continue to translate its non-alcoholic positioning into a broader consumer brand. A new chapter at Athletic Brewing. Dan's appointment marks the next stage of a career spent building and scaling beverage brands. From Diageo to Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and now Athletic Brewing, his career has followed a consistent focus on understanding consumers, building brands and connecting marketing with commercial growth. At Athletic, that experience will now be applied to a company seeking to shape the next chapter of non-alcoholic beer and how consumers think about the role of beverages in their everyday lives. About Athletic Brewing Co. Athletic Brewing Co. is a non-alcoholic craft brewer founded in 2017, with operations in Milford, Connecticut and San Diego, California. The company focuses on brewing non-alcoholic beer for modern adults and has positioned itself as both a beverage company and lifestyle brand. Athletic has continued to expand its marketing, distribution and sports partnerships as the non-alcoholic beer category develops.