Fiesta Sports Foundation Bolsters Corporate Sales Efforts by Naming Banks Shepherd as Vice President, Partnerships
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Sept. 21, 2026) – As Fiesta Sports Foundation launches a new premium, enterprise tier of corporate partnerships and elevates its position as a year-round live events and community impact organization, it has added Banks Shepherd in the newly-created position of vice president of partnerships.
Consistent with the evolving landscape in college football and the organization’s mission to drive statewide community impact through meaningful partnerships, Shepherd will play a pivotal role in advancing Fiesta Sports Foundation’s efforts to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with key industry and community stakeholders.
He will lead the strategy and execution of impactful corporate partnerships and activation programs, identify and pursue new partnership opportunities for the organization’s year-round portfolio of events and community engagement, and serve as a dedicated resource for the Foundation’s current partners, ensuring their investments continue to deliver value. Shepherd will also help elevate the Foundation’s overall partnership efforts as it supports the philanthropic endeavors of Fiesta Sports Foundation, including its signature Wishes for Teachers initiative, AED Assistance Program and nonprofit grants program.
“Banks Shepherd’s experiences in identifying new partners and building programs from scratch will help create impactful alliances and drive revenue growth for Fiesta Sports Foundation’s new era,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “Banks’ appointment emphasizes our commitment to deliver unparalleled value to current and future partners by identifying new opportunities for organizational alignment and mutual benefit.”
Shepherd joins Fiesta Sports Foundation after serving as general manager at Wake Forest University and Tulane University for the last six years as part of the LEARFIELD Sports Properties team. In those roles, he oversaw the respective athletics departments’ corporate sales, partner activation and multimedia rights programs. Both Tulane and Wake Forest reached school-record partnership revenue outcomes under his leadership at each property.
Prior to Tulane, Shepherd spent four years as manager, business development with Tar Heel Sports Properties, LEARFIELD’s team dedicated to University of North Carolina athletics and held similar roles for the athletics multimedia rights teams at Baylor and LSU.
Named to the Ole Miss Alumni Association Top 40 Under 40 Class, Shepherd holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, a master’s degree in sports administration from Belmont University and an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Shepherd was a recipient of the Winston Under 40 Leadership Award and a member of the Emerging Leaders by Greater Winston Salem, Inc.
ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Cactus Bowl and its year-round events, including the Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.
