About - Ovation Digital Marketing

About Us

LEARN ABOUT OVATION DIGITAL MARKETING

One thing to learn about Ovation Digital Marketing: We are not just a PR and Digital Marketing agency; we are your partners in success. Our team of seasoned professionals is dedicated to understanding your business goals and devising strategies that align with them. Our approach to PR and digital marketing is rooted in strategy and knowledge. We work tirelessly to understand your brand and services, crafting customized solutions that will make people stand up and take notice. We help you navigate the complex digital world and achieve measurable results through services such as:

Geotargeting

Media Placement

Public Relations

Google Business

MEET OUR TEAM

Rich Libero

PRESIDENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT RICH

A sports-obsessed kid exceeded his wildest dreams via a long and successful career as a sportswriter, broadcaster and digital and sports league executive.

Rich launched Ovation Digital Marketing as an extension of Suncoast Advertising Network. ODM helps clients — particularly those in the government space — with a variety of digital marketing tools and techniques.

His career started as a sportswriter covering the New York college and pro sports scenes for The Bergen Record, The Journal-News, and USA Today.

Rich moved into the digital space early in his career, picking consulting work for the Prodigy Online Services Company. By the end of 1994, he constructed a unique resume of having 7+ years of journalism experience combined with four years of digital consulting work.

When the internet went mainstream, Rich was able to parlay his experience to become Editorial Director of FoxSports.com, building and leading a dynamic team of people in a shop that also housed FoxNews.com and TV Guide Online. A 23 year-old James Murdoch assumed his first management role over the team and Rich often worked with James and the Los Angeles-based Fox Sports team.

Rich landed a dream role as color commentator for New York’s Major League Soccer team, the NY/NJ MetroStars (now Red Bull), in 1998.

With a long history as an amateur hockey player, official and professional beat writer, Rich was named VP of Editorial and Production of NHL.com in 1999. He shaped and built the team that transformed NHL.com into the most popular hockey website in the world.

At every turn Rich kept one thing in mind: Content teams need to earn their keep on a P&L. As a result, he always maintained a team within his group designed specifically to work with marketing and sales. The team shaped and aided sales pitches and implemented marketing and sponsorship messaging.

Rich joined Comcast SportsNet in 2008, with the mandate to create a digital culture and merge it with the network’s broadcast operations for eight Regional Sports Networks. His teams integrated digital reporters into television and online broadcasts. The teams created unique online programs and social media products. Rich helped set up the first live-streamed, geo-fenced NBA local games in Philadelphia working with broadcast operations and technology vendors to launch the product. His team created innovative social media products and video shows that morphed into linear broadcast productions. Several members of his team evolved into television mainstays on YES Network and the NFL Network.

Rich moved to Florida in 2014 and evolved into a serial entrepreneur by launching several business ventures including the forthcoming TV show Food Scouts, Suncoast Advertising Network and Upside Advisors, a sports and media consulting agency.

In his free time Rich enjoys coaching Little League and going to the beach with his family.

Andy McGowan

MANAGING PARTNER

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANDY

Andy McGowan is a senior-level strategic public relations and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience across several high-profile brands and industries.

He has spent his career in leadership roles at companies including UPS, Qualcomm, Red Bull, and the National Hockey League.

Most recently, he served as the Director of Global Media Relations and Brand Reputation for UPS, a Fortune 50 company. In his role, he led a team that was responsible for external media relations, financial communications, quarterly earnings, brand reputation, mergers and acquisition, safety, labor, technology, corporate sustainability, healthcare. He also oversaw the company’s issues management strategies and crisis communications – including a CEO transition, a plane crash and active shooter incident.

Before joining UPS, he led marketing communications for Qualcomm’s Firethorn business unit, which developed mobile payment technologies and applications. While there, he was part of a team that launched a new brand, SWAGG, while also showcasing the company’s thought leadership in mobile payments.

Over the course of his career, he has handled everything from traditional and social media relations, content development, digital strategy, crisis communications, issues management and executive communications.

Prior to working in corporate communications, he served as the Vice President, Communications and Community Relations for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. There he oversaw all aspects of communications – including the team’s internal and external communications, television and radio broadcasting, web content, social media. As a member of the senior leadership team, he was also involved in the construction and launch of Red Bull Arena, one of the top soccer-specific stadiums in North America.

In 2015, he joined the faculty of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business where he teaches strategic communications in both the MBA and undergraduate business programs. He has also been a faculty member at a number of other universities including: the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, George Washington University, the University of Hartford, and Iona College.

Andy is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and served on its national executive committee as co-chair for the National Sections. He is also the three-time chair of the Entertainment and Sports Section and served on the Independent Practitioner’s Alliance board.

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, a M.Ed. from Springfield College with a concentration in sports management, and an MBA from the University of Hartford.

Ready to Talk Strategy?

Our team of experienced professionals is ready to help you create and execute a PR & Digital Marketing plan that will drive your success. Let us be the keystone in your brand’s journey and help you achieve the results you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s get to work. Together, we can elevate your brand to the next level.