Sports & Business Growth in Detroit
In-Person Event // April 5
Casey Hurbis
Chief Marketing Officer //Rocket Mortgage
Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer of Rocket Mortgage, oversees all marketing initiatives, and leads a group of more than 300 team members at Detroit's premier in-house marketing agency.
Under Casey's leadership, Rocket Mortgage premiered two Super Bowl commercials which secured the two positions on USA Today's Ad Meter, coming one year after highly lauded Super Bowl commercial starring Hollywood A-lister Jason Momoa.
Casey's team led the creation and promotion of the Rocket Mortgage Classic - the first PGA TOUR event held in the city of Detroit. The award-winning tournament dedicates the bulk of its fundraising to bridging the digital divide in Detroit - generating over $2.7 million for nonprofits.
Along with Rocket Mortgage, Casey oversees the marketing efforts for other successful businesses in Rocket Companies (Rocket Pro TPO, Rocket Homes), which helped place Rocket Mortgage into Ad Age's Best Places to Work in 2021 list.
Casey joined the Rocket Mortgage family in 2017 after leading advertising and communications for FIAT.
Casey also does extensive work with local and national nonprofits, including Special Olympics, the Salvation Army and Bethany Christian Adoption Services. Casey also serves on the Board of Directors for Adcraft Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission.
Mark Hollis
Chairman // Detroit Sports Organizing Corporation
As Chairman of the Detroit Sports Organizing Corporation, Mark Hollis is frequently working with Detroit’s professional and amateur sports teams, entertainment entities and venues.
Hollis retired from a 38-year career in intercollegiate athletics after serving 10 years as the athletics director at Michigan State University. During his tenure at MSU, Hollis was known for his innovation with the development of creative events. The Cold War outdoor ice hockey game established world-record attendance for the sport and led to the NHL’s Winter Classic. The world-record attendance setting “The BasketBowl” men’s basketball game played at Ford Field led to today’s NCAA Final Four venue format. The Game of Change commemorated the historic game played at Jenison Fieldhouse and featured Detroit’s history with the Tuskegee Airmen. And the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic played on the flight deck of the USN Carl Vinson led to future military appreciation events by college and professional sports.
Hollis received the 2015 National Football Foundation John Toner Award and the 2012 Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal/Daily. He served on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, as chair for the 2016-17 season. Hollis was instrumental in negotiating long-term agreements for Michigan State University with WJR, Nike, and Fox Sports.