Stanton “Stan” Bradford Smith is a seasoned strategist whose career spans the highest echelons of corporate enterprise, professional sports, and government affairs. As the head of Public Relations and Revenue for Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Athletics, Stan leverages decades of high-stakes communications expertise to elevate the Sharks’ brand, build high-value partnerships, and drive sustainable revenue growth.
Corporate Strategy & Professional Sports
Stan’s extensive portfolio in commercial sports enterprise features deep ties to high-profile branding, multi-million dollar corporate portfolios, and major championship events:
• The Huizenga Era: Served as the Director of Communications for Huizenga Holdings, Inc. (HHI) during the mid-1990s. He was the personal spokesman, speechwriter, and primary communications strategist for legendary South Florida entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga. In this role, Stan navigated the complex media landscapes of four NYSE publicly traded companies while simultaneously managing communications for three major professional sports franchises: the Miami Dolphins (NFL), Florida Panthers (NHL), and the Florida Marlins (MLB) across their historic early runs.
• Fortune 500 Media Landscapes: Managed public strategy across high-stakes corporate enterprises including AutoNation, Republic Industries, Extended Stay America, and Panthers Holdings.
• Team IP: Serves as a communications and digital marketing advisor for Team IP, America's leading provider of exclusive merchandise for amateur sports. The company services more than 2,800 annual events nationwide, including 23 premier college football bowl games highlighted by the historic Sugar Bowl.
Political Strategy & Florida's Historic Power Shift
Stan’s background in the political arena features pivotal communications leadership roles at both the state and national levels, including appointments to two Florida gubernatorial transition teams:
• National & Regional Campaigns: Served as the Kentucky Communications Director for George H.W. Bush’s successful 1988 presidential bid. He later acted as a Communications Field Advisor for 11 southeastern states at the Republican National Committee under Chairman Lee Atwater, playing a lead role in the historic 1989 special election of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - the first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Republican Party of Florida (RPOF): Elevated the party's statewide messaging beginning in 1989 as Press Secretary, Spokesman, and Communications Director during a period of unprecedented momentum that permanently shifted the balance of power in Tallahassee after 120 years as the minority party.
• Florida Department of State: Served as the Communications Director for the Florida Department of State under elected Secretary of State Sandra Mortham, managing statewide public information during her historic tenure as the first Republican woman elected to the Florida Cabinet.
• State Branding: Headed the brand creation and massive media rollout of MyFlorida.com for Governor Jeb Bush. Today, this official portal domain is stamped on over 40 million Florida license plates.
• Corporate Public Affairs: Spent a decade as a principal public affairs consultant for Walmart, orchestrating government relations, stakeholder engagement, and community relations across the state of Florida.
Philanthropy & Community Impact
A dedicated advocate for community wellness and mental health, Stan has championed major philanthropic movements:
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Co-chaired the AT&T Jeb Bush Florida Classic, raising over $10 million between 1996 and 2006.
• Thank You First Responder Organization (TYFRO): Co-founded this national nonprofit in 2014 to provide community support and Mental Health First Aid for front-line workers. The organization hosts two marquee annual events in Fort Lauderdale: the 9/11 Never Forget Event and the Fire & ICE (Police vs. Firefighters) Hockey Challenge at the Panthers Baptist Health IcePlex on October 28th, National First Responders Day.
Education & Media Footprint
Stan holds a degree in Political Science from Wheaton College (Illinois), where he got his start in broadcasting doing play-by-play coverage for football and basketball on WETN-FM. His multi-faceted media career also includes work as a writer/narrator for Kentucky Educational Television and an Associate Producer credit on the 2005 feature film Fatboy: The Movie.
As a trusted media authority, Stan’s work and insights have been featured across the globe’s most prestigious media outlets, including:
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox News, CNN, ESPN, CNBC, and The Sporting News among others.
At Nova Southeastern University, Stan synthesizes this world-class corporate, political, and sports marketing expertise. By bridging high-level media relations with strategic revenue generation, he ensures NSU’s student-athletes have the resources, visibility, and partnerships required to remain at the absolute forefront of NCAA excellence.
