Explore our client work in community engagement, partnerships, personal branding, media, and events. Select a name to see that client’s projects, photographs, and press archive.
Client portfolio
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Case studies
Athlete development · Offseason coordination
An offseason built around the athlete.
Erika’s work with Wendell included coordinating a customized offseason development experience in Miami: basketball training, strength and conditioning, recovery, nutrition and meal support, and opportunities to train with professional and top college athletes.
That experience informs GO-TO-E’s consultation-based College Offseason Performance service for basketball and football athletes, with each plan shaped around the athlete’s goals, needs, work ethic, and commitment. The service also includes mentorship from professional athletes and talent to support development on and off the court or field.
Brand strategy · Website design · Community impact
A vision taking flight.
Erika partnered with Pharaoh to develop his vision for Players in Aviation through brand strategy, website design, business concept development, networking, and community impact planning.
Founded by NFL athlete and licensed pilot Pharaoh Brown and his Dream Big nonprofit, Players in Aviation connects underrepresented youth, athletes, and adults with aviation education, mentorship, industry partners, and career pathways.
Pharaoh is a licensed pilot and Indianapolis Colts tight end, bringing his perspective as an athlete into a mission beyond football.
Support included shaping the business concept and brand direction, creating the website, building connections, and developing the community impact vision.
Bubba Dub joined Hall of Famer Michael Irvin for a conversation before a live audience at his new sports bar, Playmakers 88 in Dallas. Explore the live show, fight-week access, and Colts content behind Bubba’s growing comedy and sports-media platforms.
A MARYLAND capsule dinner during Art Basel brought Rudy’s fashion vision together with music, dining, and meaningful connections. Explore the dinner, retirement coverage, and moments beyond basketball.
Touki Toussaint and community partners came together for Season’s Feedings in Miami. More than 200 people received catered lunches, with turkeys and fresh produce to help families prepare Thanksgiving dinner.
Erika planned Players Canvas, a live podcast recording and dinner during Art Basel 2023 at Chotto Matte Miami. Amar’e and his guests explored art, fashion, lifestyle, and collecting in a setting designed for conversation.
An invitation-only tasting and food-pairing dinner for Stoudemire Wines at Casa Matilda in Miami. The private experience brought Amar’e’s kosher wines, dining, and personal connections together.
Press & media coordination · Phoenix & New York
32 Stats of Excellence.
Erika supported the press and media moments surrounding Amar’e’s Ring of Honor ceremony and jersey retirement, helping plan press opportunities and book media outlets to discuss his legacy. This gallery includes photographs and coverage from the Phoenix and New York celebrations, including 32 Stats of Excellence.
Erika planned Mike Mitchell’s first football camp in Pittsburgh, bringing a youth sports experience to life with support from his teammates.
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The briefPlan Mitchell’s first football camp in Pittsburgh, drawing on Erika’s experience planning two camps for Darius Butler.
Erika’s roleCamp planning and coordination, with support from her assistant Kim and the GO-TO-E team.
The experienceTeammates including Darrius Hayward-Bey, Antonio Brown, and Cam Heyward attended. The project reflects the connection between athlete relationships and community-focused experiences.
Another community moment with Mike Mitchell, featured in Erika’s ebook.
Brand strategy & relationship building
Making the right introductions.
From the NBPA offices to a multibrand pop-up, Erika connected Mike Beasley with people and experiences relevant to his off-court opportunities.
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The opportunityExplore a marketing plan and ways for Beasley to get involved in New York City and with the NBPA.
Erika’s roleErika accompanied Beasley to the NBPA offices and introduced him to Fancy, which hosted a pop-up featuring several brands.
The experienceThe Fancy event included brand collaborations and gifts of apparel, technology, and more. The NBPA visit created space for a conversation about marketing and engagement.
Athlete partnerships & philanthropy
Showing up for the hometown.
Erika’s work with Dion Waiters brought together athlete partnerships and community experiences, from Celebrity Sweat to youth events in Philadelphia.
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The partnershipErika arranged Waiters’ first Celebrity Sweat partnership at a charity softball game, where she also began a relationship with Jarvis Landry that led to later work together.
The community workErika describes hosting events with Waiters in Philadelphia, including a basketball camp and a back-to-school event.
The experienceBackpacks filled with school supplies, free haircuts and hairstyles, food, live entertainment, and carnival games supported a day centered on local children and families.
Philanthropy & brand partnerships
A promise to the next generation.
School visits, a backpack partnership, and meaningful connections brought an athlete’s platform into the classroom.
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The opportunitySupport Landry’s relationship with the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, through experiences centered on students and families.
Erika’s roleErika coordinated a backpack giveaway with Sprayground for Landry’s second school visit. She also arranged an introduction and jersey swap between Landry and LeBron James.
The experienceLandry and Christian Kirksey visited classrooms to surprise students with customized I Promise Sprayground backpacks and speak about showing up for themselves and excelling in school.
Events & community engagement
Building a hometown tradition.
Youth football and cheerleading camps created a place for young people to learn, connect, and meet athletes.
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The opportunityCreate a youth football and cheerleading camp with Darius Butler in Fort Lauderdale.
Erika’s roleErika planned the camp at Joseph C. Carter Park and went on to plan two camps for Butler, as documented in her ebook.
The experienceThe camp brought together local and NFL players. The photographs capture the young participants, athlete guests, and team working behind the scenes.
Public relations & career strategy
From the field to the conversation.
A coordinated media schedule helped Butler share his perspective beyond his playing career.
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The opportunitySupport Butler’s media opportunities and his transition into work as a media personality.
Erika’s roleErika arranged a full Super Bowl media run and booked appearances throughout the weekend, including Uninterrupted and The ThomaHawk Show.
The experienceThe archive includes a live draft-day show appearance and a speaking engagement on sports and race at the Black Men Excel Conference.
Philanthropy & community engagement
& Making the holidays brighter.
A holiday shopping experience helped single mothers with gifts for their families.
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The opportunityBring practical support and a holiday surprise to a group of single mothers.
Erika’s roleThe event is featured in Erika’s client-work archive, which documents her event planning and community engagement work.
The experienceButler and Wright surprised the families with a Christmas shopping spree at Walmart to help with their holiday gifting.
Philanthropy & strategic partnerships
Breaking barriers through mentorship.
Community partnerships supported a charitable platform focused on character, leadership, and mentorship.
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The opportunityHelp build community connections around Buckner’s Defeating Barriers initiative and its focus on underserved youth and families.
Erika’s roleErika and her team formed Buckner’s first partnership through a campaign with Big Brothers Big Sisters encouraging adults to become mentors.
The experienceThe team also partnered with Playworks Indy to create anti-bullying content, connecting the charitable mission with messages young people could use.
Brand strategy & media
Style as a brand opportunity.
Fashion introductions and media appearances opened another avenue for Nader to express his personality.
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The opportunityEnhance Nader’s image and introduce him to opportunities in the fashion industry.
Erika’s roleErika arranged media appearances and styling sessions with Dapper Dan and Jim Nelson, then GQ’s editor-in-chief.
The experienceNader walked in a Milano fashion show during BET Awards weekend in Los Angeles. An Uninterrupted visit to Kith explored his sense of fashion and style.
Public relations & communications
Giving the story a platform.
Media opportunities gave Waiters space to share his personality and experiences beyond basketball.
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The opportunityBuild opportunities for audiences to hear Waiters’ story in his own voice.
Erika’s roleErika secured media appearances and placements and pitched storylines and angles for features, as described in her ebook.
The experienceHer archive documents work involving ESPN, Fox Sports, SLAM, Sports Illustrated, and The Players’ Tribune. The focus was on his journey, struggles, accomplishments, and life beyond the court.
Youth camps
Building confidence through basketball.
Youth basketball camps connected Dion with young players in Philadelphia. The archive spans camp promotion, sponsor materials, participant gear, and moments on the court.
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Erika planned and managed camp experiences as part of Dion’s community work, coordinating the details that brought athletes, sponsors, and families together.
Gaming, apparel, and personal branding brought Dion’s personality into new settings. The archive includes a GamerzArena activation and Waiters Island merchandise.
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Partnership materials and branded assets document a platform built around Dion’s identity, including “Bet On Yourself Then Double Down.”
Erika arranged Dion’s first Celebrity Sweat partnership, bringing him into a charity softball event alongside athletes and entertainers.
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At the event, Erika met Jarvis Landry and began a relationship that led to future work together. The partnership shows how one thoughtful introduction can create further opportunities.
Erika’s work extended to personal milestones: curating a welcome-home ribbon cutting for Dion’s mother and booking his son for a children’s fashion show in New York City.
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The archive also documents a special gameday experience for Dion’s son, with pregame introductions and jersey signings by Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr.
Erika collaborated with graphic designers to create camp shirts, bags, banners, media passes, and apparel that connected Dion’s brand across events and everyday touchpoints.
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Erika developed the designs and brand assets with her graphic designers, from flyers and logos to merchandise and event materials. The archive follows the work from production through on-site presentation.
Erika collaborated with graphic designers to develop player branding and merchandise, connecting Mike’s identity across custom apparel and event materials.
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The archive includes custom Mike Mitchell merchandise alongside memorabilia and event materials.
Philanthropy & community events
Showing up, year after year.
Erika planned Mike Mitchell’s Thanksgiving turkey distribution for three years in Pittsburgh and his last year in Indianapolis.
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She also booked Mike for Antonio Brown’s Celebrity Softball Game in Pittsburgh and assisted with the run of show on the day of the event.
Media & client portfolio
From college promise to the professional stage.
Erika began working with Wendell during his three years at Duke, supporting his college and NIL journey, then continued with him as an NBA client.
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His portfolio follows that relationship through college media, the NBA draft, his hometown basketball camp, back-to-school community events, and the Wendell Moore Jr. Invitational.
The media archive documents Mike’s television and radio appearances, including CBS Sports, ESPN NFL Live, NBC Sports Radio, and NFL Network, alongside coverage in Sports Illustrated and IndyStar.
Community engagement
An unforgettable first game.
Mike’s Believe to Achieve ticket program gave children who had never attended an NFL game a special Steelers home-game experience, including a stadium tour, player introductions, and gift bags.
Youth camps & creative direction
A hometown camp, brought to life.
Erika planned Christian Kirksey’s youth football camp in St. Louis. The archive brings together the event team, sponsor presentation, and promotional materials developed with graphic designers.
Youth camps & brand assets
From the invitation to the field.
The GO-TO-E camp archive includes Roosevelt Nix’s 2017 youth football camp in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, with event promotion and branded materials developed alongside graphic designers.
A closer look
Project & media archive
Photographs, campaign materials, interviews, and press clippings from our work.
More from this client’s archive will be added here.
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GO-TO-E event and client design assets developed by Erika Sykes in collaboration with graphic designers. University, team, publication, and other third-party graphics are included as archival coverage and retain their original credits. Additional context and event photography drawn from Erika’s linked Instagram posts. Project descriptions and archival photography adapted from Erika Sykes’ Don’t Psych Yourself Out and her supplied project photos. All case studies describe past work.
