Fast 15: Will Roth
by January 1, 2016 12:00 am 515 views
Will Roth is a salesman. His merchandise is the Arkansas Razorbacks.
There likely has never been a more perfect match between vendor and product. Roth was raised on the Hogs. In fact, his grandfather, father and brother all played either football or basketball for the UA, and an uncle coached for both Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson.
“I have a great amount of pride in waking up each day and going to work for the most powerful brand in the state of Arkansas,” Roth said. “It is so much a part of me and who I am as a person that I believe so strongly in it.”
From his office inside the Frank Broyles Athletic Complex on the UA campus, Roth, a Harrison native, sells sponsorships and helps market the Razorbacks for IMG College, which handles multimedia rights and marketing services for more than 200 schools around the country. The North Carolina-based company has owned the Razorbacks’ multimedia rights since 2008.
Roth began his career there as a marketing assistant in May 2009, right after graduating from the UA with a degree in broadcast journalism. He formed a good relationship with IMG while working in college as a marketing intern with the UA’s athletics department.
He moved to a full-time sales role as an account executive in 2010 and earned a promotion in 2013.
Roth currently manages a portfolio of approximately 30 companies that includes J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Stephens Inc. and Downstream Resort.
With a strong family background in sales (real estate, clothing retail, automobile), it’s no wonder Roth is flourishing. He prides his sales pitch on one important aspect — relationships.
“We will close the deal from a personal standpoint far before we close it from a business standpoint,” he said. “Then, if we can get a deal done, great.”
Golf and “anything to do with the Buffalo River” are a couple of Roth’s leisure pursuits. He is also involved in several community initiatives, chief among them is the Fayetteville Future Fund, a nonprofit that brings young professionals together to give back to the community.
“You don’t have to be a millionaire to get involved in your community, and I love that concept,” he said. “Every one of us can make a difference.”