News
The Aspire Group’s Chairman and CEO Awarded Honorary Doctorate In Business Administration By Coventry University
April 11, 2014
The University of Coventry, located in Coventry, England, awarded Dr. Bernard “Bernie” J. Mullin an Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration (DBA) at a ceremony held this week in Coventry Cathedral. Mullin was granted the degree for his pioneering work in Sport and Entertainment Marketing where he has been credited with many successful contributions in developing best practices and introducing numerous innovations during his 30 year career. As one of the pioneers in the field, Dr. Bernie Mullin was the primary author on the first ever text written on Sport Marketing, now in its 4th edition with over 50,000 copies sold worldwide in 11 different languages.
The Liverpool, England born Mullin earned his BA Business Studies degree at Coventry University in 1972, and after a short career working for British Leyland Motor Corporation and playing soccer semi-professionally for Oxford City FC, Bernie immigrated to the USA. To view a detailed description of Dr. Mullin’s academic accomplishments and his 30 plus year executive experiences in the sport and entertainment industry, please click here.
Dr. Mullin is currently the CEO and Chairman of The Aspire Group, a global sport and entertainment firm partnering with clients to maximize revenue, people, organizational performance and opportunities. Founded by Mullin in 2008 during the worst economic recession of modern times, The Aspire Group has built a business whose 223 full-time staff located in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia generated over $100 million in sales revenues during the 2013-14 season alone for its iconic sports teams, leagues and brands worldwide. In the USA, Aspire’s client list includes BCS properties such as The Ohio State University, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, and Minnesota Athletics; and several major sports league properties in the MLB, NHL and the NBA.
Bernie’s storied career has been acknowledged with many awards including induction into the Sports Business Hall of Fame and into the National Association of Collegiate Marketers Administrators Hall of Fame. He was also the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America’s prestigious Bobby Jones Award in 2007.
Coventry University was awarded “The New University of the Year Award” in 2014 and The Times ranks the Business School as Top 15 in the UK.
About The Aspire Group
The Aspire Group is a global sports and entertainment firm founded by Dr. Bernie Mullin that partners with its clients to maximize revenue, people, organizational performance and opportunities. The Aspire Group’s more than 200 full time employees service over 120 iconic sports properties in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia, by providing ongoing strategic and implementation support in executing and maintaining highly innovative sales, marketing, management, and operational systems and programs. The Aspire Group has become the leader in revenue enhancement with over 38 collegiate and 39 professional properties partnering with Aspire. This is best embodied in The Aspire Group’s fastest growing division, Fan Relationship Management.
For more information, please visit: www.theaspiregroupinc.com.