Spartan Spotlight Series: Shining a spotlight on the city of Detroit

811 West Square Lake Road,Troy MI 48098

01 March, 2023

Description

Join us for a discussion with Mark Hollis, former MSU Athletic Director, now Rocket Ventures COO, moderated by Casey Hurbis, MSU graduate and CMO of Rocket Mortgage & Rocket Central as they discuss Detroit sports, shining a spotlight on our city, and leadership----how to lead through change and always striving to be the best you can be. - 5:30-6:15pm Networking/cocktails/appetizers - 6:15-7:30pm Casey & Mark with Q&A - 7:30-8:30pm Networking Be sure to register early and submit your questions! Tickets are $25 for individuals or $250 for a reserved table of 8 with your name or logo visible at the event! Appetizers and cash bar *Current MSU EMBA students ask Amy Joa for the student code Contact Michelle Quicho with any questions 248-877-8369 or [email protected] MARK HOLLIS: Chief Operating Officer, Rock Ventures Mark Hollis serves as the chief operating officer for Rock Ventures, tying threads and delivering value to the 100+ companies across Dan Gilbert’s portfolio. Through his time at Rock Ventures, Mark has been integral in bringing and elevating global prominence events to Detroit, including the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the Forbes Under 30 Summit, the 2024 NFL Draft, the 2027 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, and the Detroit Grand Prix transformation, among others. Hollis retired from a 38-year career in intercollegiate athletics after serving 10 years as the athletics director at Michigan State University. During his tenure at MSU, Hollis was known for his innovations in developing some of the sports world’s most creative events. These events include now established mainstays such as the NHL’s annual Winter Classic outdoor game and the NCAA Carrier Classic, which presents a basketball game on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier and has led to other military appreciation events by college and professional sports. Hollis earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Michigan State University in 1985, where he served as a basketball team manager under Jud Heathcote and was the college roommate of now legendary basketball coach Tom Izzo. In 1992, Hollis earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado. CASEY HURBIS: Chief Marketing Officer, Rocket Mortgage & Rocket Central Casey Hurbis is the Chief Marketing Officer at Rocket Central, serving all businesses within the Rocket Companies portfolio. He oversees all marketing initiatives while driving new, innovative strategies to captivate the audience of the nation’s largest and most trusted mortgage lender. To achieve these goals, Casey leads Detroit’s premier in-house marketing agency. Under Casey’s leadership, Rocket Mortgage has earned two consecutive #1 rankings atop the highly coveted USA Today Ad Meter, the leading ranking platform for Super Bowl commercials. In 2022 the company achieved the honor for an advertisement featuring Barbie and actress Anna Kendrick promoting the benefit of finding and financing a home through Rocket Homes and Rocket Mortgage. In 2021, the company took home both the #1 and #2 spots on Ad Meter for two humorous ads featuring Tracy Morgan. Casey’s team led the creation and promotion of the Rocket Mortgage Classic – the first PGA TOUR event held in the city of Detroit. In 2019, the inaugural tournament was the most-awarded event on the TOUR, winning three “Best Of” awards, including the “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives. In 2020, the tournament shifted its focus and dedicated the bulk of its fundraising to bridging the digital divide in Detroit – the least connected major city in America. Along with Rocket Mortgage, Casey oversees the marketing efforts for other successful businesses in Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), including Rocket Pro TPO, Rocket Homes and Rocket Auto – helping to elevate these brands in their respective industries. His leadership helped Rocket Mortgage earn its place in Ad Age’s Best Places to Work in 2021 list. Casey joined the company in 2017 after 24 years in automotive marketing – most recently leading advertising and communications for FIAT, where he helped successfully reintroduce the FIAT brand to American car buyers. Equally important to his brand-building efforts is Casey’s work with local and national nonprofits. Three that are particularly close to his heart are the Special Olympics, the Salvation Army and Bethany Christian Adoption Services. In addition to his community efforts, Casey serves on the Board of Directors for Adcraft Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission. Casey is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he can be found cheering on his Spartans every fall.