Denny Hartwig
Manhattan
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in live sports entertainment and communications. Adept at leveraging deep industry expertise and strong communication skills to drive strategic initiatives, strengthen brand presence, and increase revenue. Recognized leader with a reputation for mentoring teams, building cross-functional partnerships, and fostering strong relationships with C-level executives. Proven success in public relations, with national media placements across top-tier outlets such as Sports Illustrated, Wall Street Journal, ESPN Magazine, USA Today, GQ, Yahoo.com, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Today Show, and more. Expert in streamlining operations, boosting productivity, and reducing costs. Tech-savvy with hands-on experience in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Analytics, Cision, and TVEyes Media Monitoring.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Account Manager
Equipment Depot
05.2021 - Current
- Spearheaded the development of a new sales territory, driving a 48% increase in unit sales and boosting profit margins.
- Ranked #1 on Illinois Sales Team for high-margin product and service sales.
- Cultivated a key relationship with the company’s largest client, resulting in a 66% fleet conversion in year one.
- Secured RFQ opportunities with industry leaders including Amazon, Kehe Foods, Kellogg’s, Macy’s, and Trader Joe’s.
- Partnered with National Account Team to elevate local accounts to national recognition.
- Initiated strategic collaborations with developers to heighten market visibility.
- Honored with Equipment Depot’s “Passion to Perform” Core Value Award in year one.
- Recipient of the 2024 Salesman-of-the-Year Award.
- Utilized ERP/CRM systems to manage pipelines and customer relationships efficiently.
Director of Communications
NASCAR
01.2016 - 05.2020
- Orchestrated strategic communications for Chicagoland Speedway, Route 66 Raceway, and the nonprofit R.A.C.E., generating over $2.3M in grants.
- Delivered 4.8B media impressions and $49M in ad value during the 2019 NASCAR season (64% YoY growth).
- Recruited, trained, and led a five-person team in communications and digital marketing.
- Enhanced Chicagoland Speedway’s digital presence: +3,500 Twitter followers, +600K impressions, +50K engagements YoY.
- Boosted Instagram following by 11,000 (+37%).
- Oversaw media relations, digital strategy, crisis communication, and promotional event planning.
- Maintained high-profile relationships across motorsports PR, teams, and sponsors.
- Delivered comprehensive media performance reports with data-driven insights.
Director of Communications
Feld Motor Sports (formerly Live Nation Motor Sports)
01.1998 - 01.2016
- Championed media campaigns across national and international markets for three major live-event brands.
- Earned top-tier placements in publications and major broadcast shows, significantly expanding brand exposure.
- Managed a 10-person team and served as company spokesperson, guiding major PR campaigns and press engagements.
- Delivered a record-breaking 876,370 tickets sold in a single season.
- Led over 700 athlete media interviews in major markets in one year alone.
- Produced content for FOX Sports 1 reaching 200 countries and U.S. military bases.
- Oversaw global PR for the Supercross World Tour and inaugural European Monster Jam campaign.
- Directed multimedia content integration for live events, digital marketing, and SEO-driven video campaigns.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Internet Marketing
Benedictine University
01.2012
Bachelor of Arts - English
Purdue University
01.1998
Skills
- Executive Leadership
- C-Suite Collaboration
- PR & Communications Strategy
- Project & Agency Management
- Business Development
- Digital Marketing
- Strategic Sales & Account Management
- Profit Optimization
- Market Research
- Crisis Communications
- Integrated Marketing
- Social Media Strategy
- Sales Enablement
- Media Relations
- Internal & External Communications
Additional Experience
- Adjunct Professor
- Lewis University – Sports Management Program
Timeline
Account Manager
Equipment Depot
05.2021 - Current
Director of Communications
NASCAR
01.2016 - 05.2020
Director of Communications
Feld Motor Sports (formerly Live Nation Motor Sports)
01.1998 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Arts - English
Purdue University
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Internet Marketing
Benedictine University