Ben C. Sutton Jr.

Ben C. Sutton Jr.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materWake Forest University
Occupation(s)CEO and Founder of Teall Investments

Ben C. Sutton Jr. is an American investor and philanthropist and the founder and Chairman of Teall Capital, a private equity fund and portfolio holding company that helps colleges in their athletic operations. [1] [2] [3]

The Teall portfolio includes a portfolio of businesses including Riddle & Bloom,[4] a national next-generation marketing agency; TPG, a high school sports marketing enterprise; Tailgate Guys, a national market-leading hospitality company;[5] Sunshine Beverages, makers of healthy energy beverages;[6] Complex Sports and Entertainment;[7] Nickel; and Dyehard Fan Supply, a national sports/entertainment merchandising business.[8]

In addition, separate partnerships managed by the Sutton family include interests in the Winston-Salem Dash (minor league baseball club); Alpha Omega, Tolosa and Perinet (wineries in California and Spain); Algonquian Farms and R&S Farms (North Carolina farming operations); technology (including Xperial, Real World Playbook, and ClubUp); residential real estate development; and restaurants (including the award-winning Le Bilboquet in Atlanta).

Sutton was formerly chairman and president of IMG College,[9][10] the largest college sports sponsorship and media company in America, and the top college or professional sports property sales organization in the country (as named by Industry trade, Sports Business Journal).[11]

Education

Sutton graduated from Wake Forest University with a bachelor's degree in 1980.[2] He obtained a Juris Doctor Degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1983.[12][13] Currently, Sutton serves in the board of Wake Forest University.

Business career

Sutton's impact is evident in the development and commercialization of school sports in the United States. After spending nine years with Wake Forest University, Sutton founded ISP Sports in 1992.[citation needed] Over the next 18 years, he nurtured ISP from its first media rights partnership with Wake Forest to over 65 NCAA colleges and conferences.[14] Under the leadership of Sutton, ISP Sports grew to become a leader in collegiate sports marketing. ISP also developed the largest companies in stadium comfort seating and primary market ticketing in the college or professional sports marketplaces with more than 150 university partners.[14]

In 2010, Sutton led the acquisition of ISP by IMG. Mr. Sutton served as the chairman and president of IMG College at The Collegiate Licensing Company and helped lead the effort to sell IMG to Silver Lake Capital Partners and WME for almost $2.4 billion.[14][15][16][17] After serving as Chairman Emeritus of IMG College, Sutton founded Teall Investments in 2017. Teall Investments LLC, is a private equity company based in Winston-Salem, Atlanta and San Francisco and manages significant investment interest in Fluent, Tailgate Guys, Sunshine, Riddle & Bloom, Applebee's, R&S Farms, Alpha Omega and many others.[1][2] Currently, Sutton serves on numerous boards, including those for Wake Forest University, Ronald Reagan Foundation, U.S. Olympic Committee foundation, Falk School of Sports Management at Syracuse University, National Football Foundation and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[18][19][20]

Awards and recognition

In addition to being named one of the top or most powerful sports executives in America by numerous publications, Sutton has received numerous awards. Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest civilian honor in North Carolina.[21] Following years of service and philanthropy, Sutton was awarded the Wake Forest University Distinguished Alumni award in 2015.[12][22] In 2017, he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.[23]

Philanthropy

The Sutton Family Foundation has invested more than $40 million in significant national and local causes, including:

  • Sutton Recreation and Wellness Center at Wake Forest University (opened 2016)[24][25][26]
  • Sutton Sports Performance Center at Wake Forest University (opening 2018)[14]
  • Ben C. Sutton Scholarship at Wake Forest University[14][27]
  • Sutton Softball Field at Forsyth Country Day School (top high school softball stadium in U.S.)[28]
  • Family Life and Community Center at Knollwood Baptist Church (opened 2017)[14]
  • HopeWay Center (holistic psychiatric and wellness care; opened 2017)[29]
  • Donation to Reagan Foundation[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Michael (October 30, 2017). "Ben Sutton's back with investment fund". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Campbell, Spencer (October 30, 2017). "Ben Sutton Jr.'s new ballgame". Business North Carolina. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "Teall Investments Buys Stake In Tailgate Guys". Charlotte Raleigh City Biz List. October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Brasier, John (November 8, 2017). "Sutton's new company announces deal with millennial-focused marketing agency". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Smith, Michael (July 17, 2017). "Chance meeting lit fire for Tailgate Guys". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Craver, Richard (November 16, 2017). "Winston-Salem's Sunshine Beverages gets boost from Sutton's Teall Investments". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Brasier, John (December 6, 2018). "Teall Capital Partners adds new company to its collection of investments". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Smith, Michael (January 7, 2019). "Dyehard makes inroads in college space". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  9. ^ Digital, MAZ (2011-10-14). "Ben Sutton - Business North Carolina". Business North Carolina. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  10. ^ "Ben SuttonChairman & President of IMG College | Michigan Sport Business Conference". umsbc.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  11. ^ "Most Influential: College Football, 11-15". Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  12. ^ a b "Wake Forest Magazine | The Rights Stuff: Ben Sutton". archive.magazine.wfu.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  13. ^ "Ben C. Sutton Jr.: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Kim, McGrath (2016-10-31). "WFU receives $15 million for Sutton Sports Performance Center & Basketball Player Development Center". Wake Forest News. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  15. ^ Ozanian, Mike. "IMG Sold For $2.3 Billion To William Morris Endeavor And Silver Lake Partners". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  16. ^ "IMG Worldwide to be Acquired by Silver Lake Partners and William Morris Endeavor". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  17. ^ "IMG acquires ISP Sports in multi-million dollar deal". Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  18. ^ "Ben C. Sutton, Jr. Joins The Reagan Foundation Board Of Trustees | The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute". www.reaganfoundation.org. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  19. ^ Sutton, Ben. "Sutton Named To United States Olympic And Paralympic Committee Foundation Board Of Trustees". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  20. ^ "Sport Management | Falk College". falk.syr.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  21. ^ Owen, Owen Covington (June 3, 2015). "Winston-Salem businessman receives state's top honor". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  22. ^ "Distinguished alumni reflect the spirit of Wake Forest | Wake Forest Magazine". magazine.wfu.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  23. ^ John, Brasier (January 19, 2017). "Ben Sutton chosen for N.C. Sports Hall of Fame". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  24. ^ "Gift champions wellness". Wake Forest News. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  25. ^ O'donnell, Lisa. "Big makeover in store for Reynolds Gym at Wake Forest". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  26. ^ "Wake Forest to receive major gift for fitness facility". Triad Business Journal. September 24, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  27. ^ "Ben Sutton | Michigan Sport Business Conference". umsbc.com. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  28. ^ Correspondent, Craig T. Greenlee/Special. "Sutton family contributes upgrades to FCD softball facility". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2017-12-08. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  29. ^ "Ben Sutton". North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  30. ^ Journal, Richard Craver/Winston-Salem. "IMG president donates $5 million to Reagan Foundation". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2017-12-08.