Past: 24th Annual Michael Davis Lecture

Kyra Joiner, a 2006 Southeast Missouri State University alumna and integrated marketing account manager with Octagon, the world’s largest sports and entertainment agency, will present Southeast’s 24th annual Michael Davis Lecture,=. The event is free and open to the public and is one of several Black History Month events at Southeast.

Joiner has more than 12 years of experience in the sports marketing and management industry, including expertise in corporate partnerships, event management, sponsorship sales and professional athlete endorsements. She’s also had success in providing advisory services for emerging agencies dedicated to non-profit foundations for professional athletes and client marketing management services.

In 2015, she joined Octagon, where, in her current role, she oversees national partnerships across the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She also manages strategic marketing developments for global partnerships – consumer programs, experiential marketing, community engagement, and NBA player endorsements. In her current role, she oversees brand ambassador integrations for a client in partnership with NBA players Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Harry Giles (Sacramento Kings).

Through Joiner’s role, she was instrumental in the success of the Total Health Forum, an annual summit hosted by the NBA that brings together health professionals, government officials, community advocates, and NBA/WNBA players in an effort to improve the country’s overall health. Prior to Chris Paul’s departure from the LA Clippers, she managed the Chris Paul Family Foundation’s computer lab refurbishment at two elementary schools in Compton, California, in an effort to help bridge the deprivation gap for under resourced youth in the community.

She previously was activation manager of marketing partnerships with the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury, and corporate sales and marketing account executive with the St. Louis Cardinals, where she negotiated and secured key team sponsorships with several brands, including Bank of America, Frito-Lay, Nestle Purina, New Era Cap and Cîroc, among others.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she earned a Bachelor of Science in mass communication, advertising option, with a minor in communication studies from Southeast. She also was a member of the Redhawks track and field team which was Ohio Valley Conference Track and Field Champions from 2002-2006. She also was employed in Southeast’s Department of Athletics as an athletic marketing and promotions intern; honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award; recipient of a student ADDY Bronze Award from the Tri-State Advertising & Marketing Professionals; named to the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List in 2006; and a McNair Scholarship Award recipient.

She continued her education at Lindenwood University where she earned a Master of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in promotions.

Joiner resides in Los Angeles, California, where she is an active member of Women in Sports and Events (WISE), networking and inspiring women in the industry.