Roger Goodell to Speak at SFIA Industry Leaders Summit

National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell has joined the speaker lineup for the 2015 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit to be held September 9 to 10 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.

Goodell will headline an interactive panel discussion examining the challenges facing youth sports participation such as sports specialization, overuse injuries and excessive competition and other trends. The panel will explore what needs to be done to improve the overall sports climate in the U.S. and to reverse the alarming "Inactivity Pandemic."

"We are honored to have Commissioner Goodell participate in such a critical conversation with our industry executives," said Tom Cove, SFIA president and CEO. "How we recognize and react to the challenges facing youth sports will have lasting implications for both the health of our nation and success of our industry. We look forward to a passionate discussion about the issues and potential solutions to keep America's young people healthy and active."

Commissioner Goodell joins previously announced Summit speakers Matt Laukaitis (Senior Vice President and General Manager, Retail US-SAP North America), Steven Hill (Vice Chairman, Strategic Investments, KPMG LLP), Ronald Stoupa (Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Sports Authority, Inc.), Jim Carroll (Futurist, Trends and Innovation Expert), Sarah Robb O'Hagan (President, Equinox), and Nick Vyas (Program Director, Center for Global Supply Chain Management, USC Marshall School of Business).

Goodell was appointed as Commissioner of the NFL in 2006 and is well known for his work in strengthening and expanding player safety rules, international growth, stadium development and an improved fan experience. Goodell successfully implemented and recently strengthened a Personal Conduct Policy, secured a landmark collective bargaining agreement ensuring labor peace through the 2020 season as well as long-term television agreements that continued the tradition of the NFL being the only sports league to televise all games on free, over the air television.

Bringing with him extensive knowledge and experience from a 33-year career in the NFL, Goodell's prior roles include Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

The 2015 SFIA Industry Leaders Summit is open to current SFIA members and non-members and will be limited to the first 200 registrants. Senior executives within the sports, fitness, and active lifestyles industry interested in registering to attend the event may do so online at www.sfia.org/ilsrelease.