MARK BARTELSTEIN

Priority Sports & Entertainment was founded in 1985, and in the 30+ years the agency has been in business, CEO Mark Bartelstein has earned a reputation for being innovative and forward thinking in his approach to representing professional athletes. The firm has established itself as an industry leader by developing core values of integrity, hard work, and a steadfast resolve to always put their clients first. Priority Sports has received consistent acclaim over the years by maintaining a company-wide entrepreneurial spirit that exists within each department – Basketball, Football, Marketing & PR, and the newly founded Coaches & Broadcasters division.  This approach has laid the foundation in creating the culture throughout the history of Priority Sports & Entertainment and has led to constant and steady growth throughout the existence of the agency, from inception to today. The agency is widely regarded throughout the business and sports industries as the leading independently owned agency representing professional athletes and has consistently been ranked accordingly in countless national media outlets.

Based on his familiarity with the intricacies of the Collective Bargaining Agreements in both the NBA & the NFL, Mark has helped his clients secure many landmark contracts and is often asked to speak on his experience in these negotiations, as well as the journey that Priority Sports has taken to the top of the sports business world. Mark graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1984. He and his wife Sheri have four children (Josh, Morgan, Courtney, and Kirby) and reside in Highland Park, Illinois.