ABOUT US
Legendary Sports Group is a sports and media company focused on creating legendary experiences for our clients and consumers. LSG serves clients nationally with a variety of services including event logistics and execution, media and marketing services, graphics and video development, production management and sponsorship activation.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Brendan Kelly, CEO
Brendan is the owner and CEO of Chesapeake Sports and Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Chesapeake Bayhawks (MLL) and Legendary Sports Group. Brendan also owns IT Staffing company Smartlink and was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Regional Award Winner and National Finalist in 2013. Kelly also served as coach of the Bayhawks in 2010 where he led the team to their first of four MLL Championships. In addition to his success in business and on the field, Kelly has built a culture of philanthropy and community support across all his companies including supporting various local charities, youth sports organizations, and entrepreneurs. Brendan combined his passion for philanthropy and sports by starting the Kelly Charity Golf Outing to lend support for local families in need.
Dave Cottle, Sr. Lacrosse Advisor
Coach Cottle is one of the most successful coaches in the history of collegiate and professional lacrosse, amassing an incredible 4 Major League Lacrosse Championships, 22 NCAA Tournament appearances and 5 NCAA Final Fours. Cottle was named the 1988 NCAA Coach of the Year at Loyola University, and the 2008 ACC Coach of the Year at the University of Maryland. Cottle also served as an assistant coach for Team USA that won the 1994 World Championship. In 2017, he was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Matt Florio, Vice President, Event Operations
Matt served as the National Events Manager for the LIVESTRONG Challenge cycling event series from 2011-2015 overseeing event operations, logistics, vendor relationships, and budgets. That experience has given him a vast knowledge base for detailed planning and managing complex events. Previously, the Race Director for Corrigan Sports Enterprises, he oversaw full scope operations for nearly 20 endurance sports events ranging from 500-25,000 participants including the Baltimore Running Festival and the Oakland Marathon.
Brett Tillett, Senior Vice President, Creative Services
Brett Tillett is an award winning marketing and event producer with over 15 years experience working in the sports and entertainment industry. With a background in collegiate athletics, as well as event production for NFL, NBA, NHL teams, he has produced hundreds of events around the country. As the Director of Sports Marketing at the University of Maryland his department received seven National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators awards, including the 2007 NACMA Best in Show. In addition to working with collegiate and professional sports programs, Brett has also developed and managed event production for concert tours, corporate events, and festivals.
Lisa LaPlaca, Vice President, Marketing & Administration
Lisa LaPlaca joined Legendary Sports Group as Vice President of Marketing & Administration in January 2020. Prior, she served as Vice President of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, with a background primarily in marketing and operations. Lisa graduated from Loyola College in Maryland with a Bachelors’ Degree in Communications and a minor in Business. After graduating, she spent five years with AOL, specializing in digital marketing, brand management and events, before taking a job with Smartlink in 2014 to oversee the company’s internal and external communications. After seeing Smartlink through its rebrand in 2015, Lisa transferred to Chesapeake Sports and Entertainment Group to focus predominately on the Chesapeake Bayhawks and the community sports park project.
Erin McNeally, Chief Operating Officer
Erin McNeally serves on the leadership team for Legendary Sports Group, specializing in the design and implementation of business strategies, comprehensive goal setting for company growth, and the establishment of policy, procedures, and systems. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Systems, Erin joined Smartlink in 2005 where she held various leadership positions in sales, recruiting, operations and human resources before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2012, a role she served until 2017. After some time off to focus on her family, Erin re-joined the team in 2019 to lead the Chesapeake Park Sports Complex project and quickly transitioned to a leadership role for all of Kelly Group Investments, the parent company to Legendary Sports Group. Currently residing in her hometown of Severna Park, MD, Erin is a recipient of the 2008 TWIN Award and the 2016 Smart CEO Executive Management Award, as well as a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship Program.