Cindy Sisson Hensley is a renowned business, sales and marketing executive with a distinguished career that has encompassed the world of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports, nonprofits, entrepreneurial ventures and global events, as well as successful public-private partnerships that help children of today be leaders of tomorrow.  From creating award-winning strategic marketing initiatives to teaching organizations how to raise important funds for their various causes to sharing her passion for helping people live healthier, more active lives – Sisson Hensley continues to make a difference in the lives of people and the success of businesses.

 

Sisson Hensley recently served as the Senior Advisor and Director of Development to the National Foundation on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.  In this role, she lead a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign in support of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition’s newly launched Presidential Youth Fitness Program. This program is foundational to the larger national focus on improving the physical activity, fitness, and nutrition of America’s youth.

 

Sisson Hensley’s entrepreneurial spirit has led her to launch several companies during her career.  Most recently, she founded ConnectTIVITY, an agency specializing in assisting nonprofits, schools and other organizations raise funds through creative solutions using state-of-the-art technologies and extensive consumer engagement.  Prior to ConnectTIVITY, Sisson Hensley served as President of HOPSports, a global health and wellness network dedicated to fighting childhood obesity.  First Lady Michelle Obama referenced this program as a curative solution to childhood obesity. 

 

Sisson Hensley’s sports marketing expertise was built on many years with leading sports properties, brands and agencies, including the 1984 Olympics, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Gatorade and the founding of her own company Agency Won in 1994. Agency Won was a full-service sports marketing company that served a variety of sports, including the USPS Pro Cycling team and NASCAR. During her tenure at Agency Won, she raised more than $60 million in sponsorship resources for various NASCAR drivers, tracks and race teams. She also was responsible for the creation of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, which has raised millions of dollars for children’s charities since its inception in 1994.

 

Prior to Agency Won, she served as sports marketing manager at Gatorade where she negotiated pro-team contracts for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR and major golf properties to create sideline exposure and retail marketing promotions.  As the Director of Promotions for the LPGA, Sisson Hensley created the LPGA Tour Fitness Van program in partnership with the legendary orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews (Birmingham, Ala.).  She was also part of the team that developed the LPGA’s inaugural Solheim Cup, which has evolved into one of the sport’s most captivating marquis global events.  She also served as logistics manager for the 1984 Olympics.

 

Through her efforts to deliver sport-specific training, nutrition and wellness messaging, Sisson Hensley was able to establish two Guinness World Records (2010).  With the NFLs’ Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons, players led 646 and 2,288 students, respectively, in the world’s largest virtual Physical Education class in their respective stadiums.  She also created the JAM World Record, the first national campaign designed to promote the importance of all Americans to lead healthy active lives.  More than 1.3 million Americans pledged to be active on September 27, 2012 (www.jamworldrecord.org/gallery).

 

Sisson Hensley graduated from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine and the University of California at Los Angeles with a master’s degree in Kinesiology.  She resides in Mooresville, N.C. with her husband, Doug, and son, Tafton.