MARA GALLAGHER // FOUNDER
It will be a challenge to find a hat that Mara either hasn’t worn or doesn’t have stashed away with her mildly excessive t-shirt collection in a closet somewhere. While a number of the noted projects she’s racked up on her resume can’t exactly be traced back to any of her five year plans, each were met as a welcomed challenge and way to satisfy the desire to keep learning what she didn’t already know.
Mara grew up in a small beach town on the Jersey Shore. Playing hoops, watching the infamous Jersey Shore Summer League matchups, and seeking out college games in the Tri-state area all amplified the appeal of experiencing college life on a large campus. University of Maryland checked all the boxes. The “you’re tall, do you play basketball?” comments long surpassed her hoops career, but it was during her time as Terp, that she was also introduced to the business of sports.
MARA & COACH GARY WILLIAMS (YES, THE DOG)
@JESSEVOLK // SULLIVANS ISLAND, SC
Mara’s first stop post-college was in New York City with The Breeders’ Cup World Championships. She once watched the Preakness from the Pimlico infield her junior year, making her a horse-racing expert. (Smarty Party!) Her entry level position as a Marketing Assistant quickly provided insight to the elements of sponsorship services and events she wanted to continue to pursue. After a couple years of left turns and collecting too many pick 6 losing tickets, Mara returned to College Park to study Sports Management while continuing to make new paths for herself within the sports and entertainment industry. Working in athletic departments, for large agencies such as Octagon, and independently as a consultant has provided her a 360° view of the dynamics within client services. Her project management & event contracts include the PGA Championships, ACC Men’s Basketball Championships, The Kentucky Derby, NCAA Final Four, The Masters, The Super Bowl, NASCAR Cup Series, the College Football Playoff, and more.
Whether she’s creating a first class hospitality program for a Fortune 500 Company, executing a full branding activation plan for a professional league’s title sponsor, or conceptualizing a partnership between non-profits and athletes, Mara thrives in a space where her love & knowledge of the game (or race, or match) intersect with her drive to create the ultimate experience for her clients and their guests.
Over the past 13 years, Mara has always embraced her role behind the scenes, remaining ready to adapt when called in for help at any capacity. Sixth Man Events encapsulates her ability to step in to a wide variety of roles while making an immediate impact and energizing her clients and their mission. This is the true role of a sixth man, just ask Jamal Crawford. He knows.
