Eident Bio

Eident Sports Marketing is a seasoned group of sports marketing professionals based in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded by John Mathews, Eident has over 80 years of collective experience in the industry, primarily in event management and sponsorship marketing.

The team has worked on various sports and entertainment projects including professional hockey, NFL football, college basketball/hockey, skating events, indoor lacrosse, PGA Tour events and the X Games. They have worked for industry leaders Centre Management, Octagon, Peter Jacobsen Productions, as well as leading collegiate programs at Maryland and Providence.

Management Team Bios

John Mathews – President                                                                                 John has a well-rounded twenty-two year career in the Sports Marketing Industry. After graduating from Johns Hopkins, he worked for Centre Management, based out of the USAir Arena – home to the Washington Capitals and Bullets (now Wizards).  Following that he founded Emcee Sports, where he brought the State Farm Senior Classic to Baltimore. John joined Peter Jacobsen Productions in 2001 to manage their East Coast Division and act as the Tournament Director of the CVS/pharmacy Charity Classic. John has vast experience in Sponsorship, Hospitality, Ticket Sales, Broadcast Marketing, Event Management, Operations and Financial Management. He now serves as President of Eident Sports Marketing.

Karen Zyons – VP Operations                                                               Karen brings over thirty years of Food & Beverage and Event Planning experience. A graduate of Johnson & Wales College with a Culinary Arts Degree and Restaurant Management Studies, she owned and operated a very successful restaurant, catering company and gourmet food store for 9 years. In 1998, Peter Jacobsen Productions, Inc. recruited Karen as the Operations Director for the inaugural CVS/pharmacy Charity Classic. She now serves as Vice President of Operations for Eident Sports Marketing.

 Tiah DeGrofft – VP Client Relations                                                            Tiah brings a diverse sports marketing background with her to Eident. A graduate of Oregon State University, Tiah has worked for a non-profit Sports Foundation, Professional Rodeo, College Football and added golf to her repertoire by joining Peter Jacobsen Productions in 2002. Tiah continues that role as Vice President of Client Services for Eident Sports Marketing. 

Brewer Rowe – VP Events                                                                        Brewer a graduate of the University of Vermont brings a wide array of sports marketing knowledge to Eident through his ten years of industry experience. Brewer worked for Octagon Sports Marketing, in their Event Management and Consulting Divisions, and Aggreko Event Services before joining Peter Jacobsen Productions in 2004. He now serves as Vice President of Events for Eident Sports Marketing.  

Todd Saunders – VP Development                                                            Todd has been in the sports marketing industry for 7 years. A graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, he started at the CVS/pharmacy Charity Classic in Operations. In his tenure there, he was in Operations, Ticket Sales, Marketing, Sponsorship Sales and Hospitality. He was then promoted to Director, Business Development and oversaw Peter Jacobsen Productions new initiatives and clients. Most recently, Todd was awarded the Bank of America Q2 All-Star for the famed hospitality venue – Hogan’s Alley. Todd’s client list includes best in class corporations from the automotive to financial sectors. Todd now serves as Vice President of Development for Eident Sports Marketing.

Jennifer Perrault – Director of Sponsorship & Development                     Jennie, a 2001 graduate of Providence College and the PC MBA program, joins Eident after most recently directing the Anchor of Hope Scholarship Fund for the Diocese of Providence. Prior to her non-profit development work, Jennie spent six years in the Collegiate Sports Marketing industry in a variety of roles for the Providence Hockey and Basketball programs ranging from Group Ticket Sales to Marketing and Promotions to Hospitality and Fund Raising. Jennie served as the Asst. Tournament Director of the NCAA East Regional Hockey Tournament in 2003. She also worked as a sales representative and event manager at F1 Boston Indoor Kart Racing. She now serves as Director of Sponsorship & Development for Eident Sports Marketing.

Charles Breagy- Vice President, Racing Events

Charles has over thirty years experience in the running industry and directs some of the largest races in the country since 1990. As an athlete for Providence College, he has won New England Titles and was a two time member of the Providence College NCAA Division I runners up cross country teams. Charles is the Race Director for the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K with over 7000 participants each year and also directs the New Balance Ocean State Invitational, the largest high school cross country meet in the New England with nearly 5000 competitors. In addition, he is the Race Coordinator for then Armagh International Road Race and the Ras na hEireann International XC, both held in Ireland annually. Charles will be directing the new Cox Rhode Races and the Ironman Rhode Island events in his new Role with Eident Sports Marketing.

Our Collective Resume of Experience

Hockey East Association

Cox RI Sports Awards

Bank of America – Hogan’s Alley

SynchroEast Skating Championships

Cox Charities Cycling Classic

Newport Sports Experience

CVS/pharmacy Charity Classic

US Women’s Open 

Turning Stone Invitational

JELD-WEN Tradition

The Masters Experience

PNC Financial Services Group Pro Am

NCAA East Regional Hockey Tournament

Pendleton Round-Up

US Bank PBR Classic

Arthritis Foundation Grand Prix at F1 Boston

Constellation Energy Classic

New Hampshire Presidential Primary

NCAA Frozen Four

Providence College Hockey

Fight Night Charity Boxing

Bonnaroo Music Festival

Pan-Am Games

Salt Lake City Winter Olympics

Anchor of Hope Scholarship Fund

Lexus – USGA Partnership

Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational

Providence College Basketball

Fred Meyer Challenge

Reno-Tahoe Open

Greater Hartford Open

Golden Spike Tour

BMW Mountain Driving Tour

Gravity Games

X-Games

State Farm Senior Classic

Toyota Invitational

Maryland Football & Basketball

Australian Rules Football

Pro Beach Volleyball

U.S. Senior Open

Washington Capitals

Washington Bullets

Georgetown Basketball

Indoor Soccer-Washington Warthogs

NFL Exhibition Game

Camden Yards Signage

Concert Tours

NCAA Basketball Hospitality

First USA Alumni Challenge

MILL Indoor Lacrosse

Red Bull Final Five

Ketel One Vodka Ultimate Challenge

Lexus Naples Intercollegiate Invitational