Bill Walton, executive chairman of SD Sport Innovators (SDSI), announced Steve Astephen, founder of The Familie and Principal of Action Sports Management for Wasserman Media Group, will join the SDSI Advisory Board.
SDSI, the frontrunner for collaboration, innovation, mentoring and business development across Southern California's sports industry, is the only organization of its kind to connect and drive the growth of Southern California’s sports innovation cluster.
“The extraordinary commitment from Steve Astephen to the SDSI advisory board fulfills our dreams of bringing credibility, integrity, ingenuity, creativity, talent and flexibility to our team. Steve is the perfect complement to SDSI’s efforts to support the athletes who champion our sports while being heroes to our next generation,” said Walton. “Highlighting and driving the business initiatives behind the athlete’s mind is fundamental to continuing the development of the sports industry for years to come. Increasingly athletes are starting their own brands and companies. The collaborative resources at SDSI, such as the free business mentoring through SDSI’s Springboard program, will help these athletes make fewer mistakes on the business side and prepare a more streamlined approach to their business ventures. We are deeply honored and grateful to have Steve join us here at SDSI.”
Astephen, known as the action sports industry “super-agent”, founded The Familie in 1998. Growing a roster of over 30 of the world’s top action sports athletes, Astephen led The Familie to become the premiere action sports marketing and athlete management agency. In early 2003, The Familie acquired Arizona-based Action Sports Management creating one of the largest action sports firms in the world, with more than 50 athletes competing in seven sports. Shortly after, Astephen partnered with Wasserman Media Group and is now recognized as the leading action sports consulting, creative and management company in the fields of BMX, motocross, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, road racing and wakeboarding.
“I joined SDSI because I believe this is an organization I could have utilized when I started my businesses,” said Astephen. “After the first meeting, I realized the knowledge and experience on the SDSI Advisory Board was invaluable and how incredible this could be for start-up companies and entrepreneurs.”
The recent hiring of new SDSI Executive Director Lisa Freedman to build relationships across all disciplines of Southern California’s sports industry will help to further the SDSI mission to elevate and drive the sports economy.
