A life-long Razorback fan and proud Arkansas native, Chris is both humbled and thrilled to be back in Fayetteville to launch and lead NIL efforts as the Executive Director of Arkansas Edge in support of Razorback student-athletes and the alma mater he loves.
A Hot Springs, Arkansas native, Chris Bauer graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 2003 and was a member of the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Band and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Read MoreA life-long Razorback fan and proud Arkansas native, Chris is both humbled and thrilled to be back in Fayetteville to launch and lead NIL efforts as the Executive Director of Arkansas Edge in support of Razorback student-athletes and the alma mater he loves.
A Hot Springs, Arkansas native, Chris Bauer graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 2003 and was a member of the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Band and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. While at the UofA, Chris worked in Women's Athletics under Bev Lewis and Chris Pohl in Marketing & Promotions managing in-game promotions, program and merchandise sales and other efforts to increase awareness and in-game experiences at all women's athletic events. He then spent three years leading athletic fundraising and event management initiatives at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Then earning an MBA and a Master's of Science in Marketing from Clemson University, Chris has spent the last 15+ years as a marketing and media expert at customer intelligence giant Acxiom in Little Rock, Arkansas and sister digital media agency companies Kinesso and Matterkind at Interpublic Group in New York. At Acxiom, he built and launched multi-million dollar vertical marketing and sales efforts and led digital marketing client services teams for projects with Fortune 1000 companies like Google, Facebook, Lowe's, Target, Sam's Club, Macy's, General Motors, NY Life, Progressive and others. As VP of Marketing at Kinesso and Matterkind, Chris helped stand up new B2B growth marketing and sales teams and strategies that developed and launched go-to-market strategies for performance, affiliate, influencer and retail marketing solutions.
Sydney is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in public health. As an undergrad, Sydney competed for the University of Arkansas’ gymnastics team and was a four-year letter winner and Academic All-American.
Read MoreSydney is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in public health. As an undergrad, Sydney competed for the University of Arkansas’ gymnastics team and was a four-year letter winner and Academic All-American. After her time as a Gymback, Sydney earned her master’s degree in Recreation and Sports Management at Arkansas while also serving as a Graduate Assistant for the Athletic Director’s office. Upon graduation, she was hired by the University of Arkansas as the first NIL Coordinator in the nation. As a passionate advocate for athlete’s rights, she is committed to reshaping the narrative surrounding collegiate athletics, helping student-athletes navigate brand development, and securing life-changing endorsement opportunities for talented young individuals. Most recently, Sydney was the Assistant Director of ONEArkansas NIL, where she handled all player relations and student-athlete engagements. Sydney also occasionally serves as a color analyst for the SEC Network during gymnastics season. Her journey from the gymnastics mat to the forefront of NIL reflects her dedication to empowering athletes and unlocking the full potential of their personal brands. Sydney married her husband Connor in June 2023, and they have two dogs – Charlie and Dak.