J.B. Bernstein

In a quarter of a century J.B. has redefined what it means to be a sports agent and entrepreneur. In addition to creating and growing the brands of several sports legends including Barry Bonds, Emmitt Smith & Barry Sanders, Bernstein was the mastermind and co-creator of the Million Dollar Arm contest and brand.

He is a New York Times best-selling author with his first book, Million Dollar Arm, and has two business books being published. In 2015 he will launch "Hey, Where's My Big Idea?" a book that outlines Bernstein's system for generating ideas and how to turn those ideas in profitable businesses. In 2016 he will launch his book titled, "Seven Figure Selling - A complete guide to selling products and services that cost more than $1,000,000".

Bernstein is a coveted motivational speaker and has given presentations to Embraer Executive Aircraft, Citibank, Raymond James, Genesco, Franchise Update Board, NC State University, Florida Southern University, and many others. He was recently selected as the 2014 Bateman Scholar at his alma mater University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

ESPN recently did a short documentary on J.B. to promote his career leading up to the Million Dollar Arm.

Major League Soccer

Challenge

Major League Soccer was launching in the USA and needed to quickly create and build their entire League, Team, and Player licensed merchandise program from ground zero.

Solution

They hired Pro Access and asked J.B. Bernstein to serve as head of licensing for M.L.S. from 1995 through the end of their second season in 1997. During the term, Bernstein identified and secured over 50 national licensees that yielded 100’s of products grossing over $30MM in M.L.S. licensed merchandise sales. He oversaw all 10 team stadium concessions as well as the stadium concessions for the All Star games and Championship Games. He also helped create an all-star balloting program with K-Mart and a 1st kick promotion with Champs in the 1997 season.

Emmitt Smith

Challenge

Emmitt has always been a strong performer, both on and off-the-field. In the 2002 season, he was on pace to break the NFL all-time rushing record. Additionally, he is one of the top spokesmen in NFL history. Despite his success in working with Corporate America, Emmitt knew he needed a specialist to ensure that he maximized the potential of this historic milestone.

Solution

AMG hired Access Group to work together to create "Emmitt's Run with History,"a fully integrated milestone marketing campaign intended to maximize this moment in time through endorsements, licensing, promotion, publicity, and community impact.

Barry Sanders

Challenge

Despite his complete dominance of the NFL for 10 straight seasons, the general perception in the sponsorship community was that Barry was a regional guy due to him playing for a bad team (Lions) in a bad market (DT). He was less than 2,000 yards from breaking ___________, and was having trouble finding marketing partners to support the milestone the way they did the home run race in baseball.

Solution

They hired AG who we had to make potential sponsors feel comfortable that Barry’s Run For The Record (RFTR) would be as big as the HR race. AG crafted the first deal ever between a player and the NFL to co-market a milestone program and sell it in to NFL partners.

Barry Bonds

Challenge

Despite one of the greatest careers in the history of the game on the field including breaking the single season HR record and setting all the career HR record as well - Barry was not getting his fair share of deals off the field.

Solution

He hired AG and, through the implementation of their Milestone programming, Barry was able to become one of the top five highest paid players in baseball inking deals with Sony, Master Card, KFC, & Charles Schwab. We also helped him become the 1st MLB player to operate outside of the Player’s Association Group marketing deal yielding over 30 licensees.

Bruce Smith

Challenge

Despite breaking the NFL record for sacks, Bruce had recently changed teams so most of his fans were still in Buffalo where he played most of his career.

Solution

He hired AG and, through the implementation of their Milestone programming, Bruce was able to create two lines of products so both Washington and Buffalo fans could embrace the record.

Las Vegas Outlaws

Challenge

Legendary rock and roll icon Vince Neil purchased the Las Vegas Arena Football League expansion franchise and needed to get up and running from ground zero in 6 months.

Solution

Vince Neil and the Outlaws hired Access Group of Miami to help them secure sponsors, set up a licensed merchandise program, coordinate with the stadium on logistics, and to create programming to generate awareness in the market.

Playboy

Challenge

Playboy was looking for a way to add value for its existing readers while at the same time reaching out to a new audience.

Solution

Playboy hired Access Group to source celebrity pictorials, create and source fashion and sports related editorials, source interviews, and manage overall image development. The relationship developed to also include AG assisting Playboy with their Super Bowl Parties, Celebrity Photographers, and even some feature celebrity pictorials.

Golden Palace

Challenge

Golden Palace was looking for a marketing firm to help create more brand awareness as well as harness new marketing strategies.

Solution

Access Group was hired to augment Golden Palaces’ body billboard campaign as well as create and oversee new ambush marketing efforts.

Imagination Entertainment

Challenge

Imagination Entertainment wanted to come up with a way to associate its innovative and interactive DVD board game with a major licensing partner.

Solution

Access Group went and secured licensing partnerships with the NFL, NFLPA, and NFL Films.

Cyber Action

Challenge

Cyber Action invented digital trading cards. They had a great product, but were having trouble getting the major leagues to license them.

Solution

They hired Access Group, which positioned the product so the leagues could understand howdigital trading cards would fit into their whole collectible licensing program and allay any fears ofcannibalization. Pro Access secured licenses with MLB, MLBPA, MLS, Xena, Hercules, & Star Trek.

Limited Treasures

Challenge

Limited Treasures is one of the larger bean bag bear manufacturers who desperately needed an NBA license to balance their NFL player bears selling season. The rights for all plush were already owned by Mattel, and the NBA turned them away.

Solution

They hired Access Group who was able to secure a sub-license from Mattel and gain NBA approval of the deal. We also suggested that they create a JackNicklaus "Golden Bear" and negotiated for those rights as well.

Million Dollar Arm

AG created, executed, and packaged The Million Dollar Arm content for partnership with MLB

- The story was covered in over 100 countries.

- Winners have been to White House and met the President

- Winners have pitched in the USA, Dominican Republic, and Australia

- Contest is now in its third season.

- The winner from the 1st season is in Pirates AA

- Winner from 2nd season is training in MLB academy

- Disney movie with Jon Hamm playing J.B. Bernstein launched worldwide 5/16/14. Click here to see the movie trailer.

- Simon and Schuster published the Million Dollar Arm book written by J.B. Bernstein 4/1/14. - Click here to buy the book.

Milestone Marketing

Over the past 15 years AG has been entrusted with the responsibility of helping athletes maximize special and historic points in their careers. We act as a full service agency that:

- Creates the event logo

- Works with league to coordinate event promotion & publicity

- Works with sponsors and licensees to create revenue generating programs

- Works with athlete to tie it a community cause

- Our milestone experience includes:

- Dan Marino’s 420 TD passes

- Wayne Gretzky’s 802 goals

- Barry Sanders Run For The Record™

- Emmitt Smith’s Run With History™

- Barry Bonds (all records since 1999)

- Bruce Smith All Time Sack Leader