Miami Honored With Synergy Award: The Collegiate Licensing Program Of The Year

June 18, 2002

Cleveland, Ohio – The Awards Committee of the National Collegiate Licensing Association (NCLA) honored the University of Miami with the Synergy Award: the Collegiate Licensing Program of the Year. The award was presented at the NCLA’s Fourth Annual Workshop, June 14-16 at the Wyndam Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The Synergy Award is presented to the institution that has made significant contributions in the collegiate licensing industry through innovative or new programmatic ideas during the current academic year, and has demonstrated teamwork from multiple components in the licensing process.

The University of Miami’s licensing program has been refurbished with leadership from Mel Tenen, director of auxiliary services; Patrick Nero, senior associate athletics director for external affairs; and Chris Prindiville, assistant athletics director for marketing.

The university has opened internal lines of communication to ensure that all entities of campus are involved in licensing, including athletics. The university established a new brand identity program with the assistance of Nike, including a new Hispanic mark appealing to the area’s Hispanic community. The athletics department has gained control of its marks and has conducted multiple successful promotions from local and regional promotions with the Sports Authority to its Wear Orange replica jersey with the Miami Herald and WQAM radio.

The university’s success can be attributed to its investment in the licensing program. Miami was one of the first institutions to specify funding for primary licensing initiatives. An NCLA Board Member, Prindiville is responsible for positioning and promoting the Miami brand through integrated licensing campaigns for each sport.