Tag: chicago PR

Audent Global Asset Management Selects KemperLesnik as Agency of Record

Posted on by KemperLesnik

CHICAGO, February 28, 2024 – Audent Global Asset Management, an advisory and investment management firm primarily serving high-net-worth individuals and family offices, has partnered with KemperLesnik for public relations, content creation, social media and event support.

KemperLesnik will work with Audent Global Asset Management (“Audent GAM”) to help grow awareness of Audent GAM’s brand and distinctive investment services among consumer and B2B audiences, primarily through a complementary mix of media relations and social media efforts ranging from executive positioning to content development to ad campaigns. The agency will also provide event support by coordinating speaking and sponsorship opportunities at regional and national events.

“We wanted a communications team with a demonstrated track record of understanding and explaining the nuances of complex industries and delivering impactful results, which is why we chose the KemperLesnik team,” said Gregg Kaplan, senior vice president at Audent GAM. “The agency’s proven expertise and thoughtful approach aligns perfectly with our objectives.”

Led by its CEO and CIO Paul Feinstein, an award-winning wealth management advisor with 25 years of experience, Audent GAM delivers holistic financial planning through custom portfolios, and three investment funds that combine traditional and alternative investments, such as options, venture capital and real estate. The firm utilizes state-of-the-art technology to construct portfolios and provides daily, active stewardship of client investments. Audent GAM also offers its technology and services as a resource to RIAs.

“Telling our clients stories, no matter the industry or the medium, is at the heart of what KemperLesnik does best,” said David Prosperi, executive vice president and managing director at KemperLesnik. “We are excited to collaborate with Audent GAM and deliver on a strategic communications plan that can help the team achieve their business goals.”

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About KemperLesnik
KemperLesnik is a Chicago-based public relations, content creation, social media management and event support agency. Founded in 1976, it serves clients nationally and specializes in the insurance and financial services, professional services, and sports, recreation and hospitality sectors. Ranked by Crain’s Chicago Business among Chicago’s top PR agencies and recognized by PRSA for creative campaigns that deliver powerful results, KemperLesnik produces strategic business- and consumer-targeted communications programs that integrate earned, shared, owned and paid media tactics. Along with sister company KemperSportsLIVE, KemperLesnik manages media for local, regional and national events, such as the Maui Invitational. Learn more at www.kemperlesnik.com.

 About Audent

Based in Los Angeles, Audent Global Asset Management is a full-service investment boutique focused on tailoring portfolios to align with clients’ individual goals for capital preservation, income, and growth. Founded in 2020, the firm’s clients range from successful individuals at the beginning of their wealth accumulation cycle to established family offices charged with pursuing multiple investment objectives. Audent uses its three flagship funds in conjunction with customized strategies to achieve their clients’ goals and objectives. Audent also helps registered investment advisors (RIAs) grow their business through access to the firm’s online platform. Visit the website and follow the team on LinkedIn to learn more.

Five Schools Leading the Way for Collegiate Esports

Posted on by KemperLesnik

With each passing year, esports becomes a larger part of the college sports landscape. In 2018, there were only 70 full-time collegiate esports programs in the country. By 2020, that number had ballooned to 170, with more schools joining in every month.

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Similarly, in the 2015-16 academic year, esports scholarships totaled $2.5 million nationally. By 2019, national scholarship dollars were up to $15 million, a 600% increase. As schools across the country focus on expanding their programs and enticing top recruits, a battle is playing out for who can offer, and deliver, the most to potential players. 

Here are five schools that are leading the way for collegiate esports when it comes to competition, facilities, and educational opportunities for student-athletes.

 

  • Maryville University- For fans of college esports, it should come as no surprise that Maryville University in Saint Louis is at the top of this list. After starting their program in 2015, Maryville made a name for themselves after going 40-0 and winning the 2016 League of Legends Championship. They won the same championship again in 2017 and 2020. The school has a state-of-the-art practice facility for their team that includes high-speed computers, high-end gaming headsets, and gaming chairs, creating an environment where the team can practice without any distractions. The school offers gaming scholarships up to $2,000 per year and hopes to continue to improve its offerings moving forward.

 

  • The University of California at Irvine- UC Irvine was the first public school to create a varsity esports team. Their campus features one of the most extravagant esports facilities in the country, housing over 70 high-speed computers and a large arena to host games and tournaments. Also included in the facility is a “Console and Community Corner” that features several gaming consoles where players can compete with or against each other, making the facility appealing to more than just PC gamers. The school focuses primarily on League of Legends and Overwatch, offering scholarships of up to $5,610 per year for varsity players in each game.

 

  • Miami University (Ohio)- Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is known for becoming the nation’s first Division 1 varsity esports program after creating their varsity program in 2015. In 2016, the school started offering varsity esports scholarships for student-athletes, competing primarily in Overwatch, Rocket League, and Hearthstone. The school developed an arena for the esports program on the first floor of the campus library, which features 16 gaming stations that each include a gaming computer that possesses a high-end graphics card and monitor. The university also offers summer esports camps where students can visit campus to compete in tournaments and train like varsity esports athletes.

 

  • Boise State University- Boise State created its esports program in 2017. Originally focusing on Rocket League, Overwatch, and League of Legends, the program has since expanded to include Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone. The tryout process for the BSU varsity team is extensive, taking up a full week at the start of the school year. Players on the team are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, well above the standard requirement for student-athletes. The Broncos’ home arena includes several impressive amenities such as a broadcasting section, a graphics and technical mixing area, and a two-tiered stage with a large spectating area.

 

  • University of Utah- The University of Utah is new to the competitive gaming scene, starting its program in 2017. However, the school has some of the most expansive gaming offerings outside of the competitive scene, including a game development program that has been offered since 2007 and an undergraduate degree in gaming that was started in 2017. The university has a gaming facility that is stocked with 20 gaming computers and top-notch keyboards, headsets, and gaming mice. Utah brands itself as “Gamer U,” with more than 200 students trying out for 30 spots on the school’s varsity Overwatch, League of Legends, and Hearthstone teams.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Four Technologies That Will Define the Future of Gaming

Posted on by KemperLesnik

Speed is the name of the game. As technology evolves so does the esports industry. Here are four technologies influencing the future of gaming.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.

Augmented Reality – Augmented reality (AR) is defined as “a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.” AR has already hit mainstream gaming culture, most notably in the summer of 2016 when Pokémon GO had endless waves of gamers wandering the streets in search of their elusive prey. Now, Nintendo is looking to double down on its investment in AR technology.

The gaming giant has etched a new deal with Niantic, the creators of Pokémon GO, to develop AR games based on Nintendo franchises. The first of which will “encourage walking in a way that will combine elements from the Pikmin games and Niantic’s real-world AR technology.” Nintendo is known for pushing the technological envelope and this new deal ensures that AR won’t simply be a forgotten fad, but a legitimate player in the future of gaming.

Virtual Reality – Virtual Reality (VR) refers to a computer-generated simulation where a person can interact with an artificial environment. VR has been involved in gaming since the late 1960s in some capacity, but recent hardware innovations have made advanced VR systems available to consumers at an affordable price point. As the technology continues to improve, VR will allow developers to create gaming experiences unlike anything the industry has ever seen, dropping players directly into fictional universes that are essentially indistinguishable from reality.

Widespread adoption of VR will also enable developers to create their own “metaverses,” which are shared virtual spaces hosted within a game. These metaverses will allow users to connect and interact with each other virtually while remaining in the comfort of their own homes (or wherever they may be connected), ultimately making gaming a more social experience.

5G – 5G is the fifth generation of technology for broadband cellular networks, which began deploying worldwide in 2019. 5G offers up to 10 times the speed currently offered by 4G LTE, allowing players to stream and download games like never before. This will enable more people to play games directly from the cloud, eliminating the need to download games to a device. The biggest impact of this technology will likely come from the improved latency that 5G enables. With response times as low as five milliseconds, gamers can expect to play on the network without suffering any lag between user input and the game’s response.

The technology is already being used to hold esports competitions, with the finals of Asphalt 9: Legends and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds during this year’s Milan Games week both being hosted on Vodaphone Italy’s 5G network. As the technology continues to roll out across the globe, we can expect this trend to become more widespread, allowing gaming competitions to take place from wherever there’s a mobile network available.

Next Gen Consoles – While getting your hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X may seem impossible, the next gen consoles are set to have a significant impact on esports in the coming year. Most obviously, the increased computing power from these consoles allows for games to stably run at a minimum of 60 FPS, something current iterations often cannot run. This eliminates some of the advantages PCs long held over consoles and makes the PS5 and Xbox Series X more viable options for a competitive gaming scene that relies on split second accuracy and smooth uninterrupted frame rates. In addition, Microsoft and 343 Industries have promised an expansive esports ecosystem in the upcoming Xbox title Halo: Infinite and Playstation just purchased the Evo Fighting Game Championship Series, indicating both console creators are committed to fostering competitive gaming on their platforms.

While it’s extremely unlikely these consoles will take over the esports realm, the lineup of next gen consoles are closer to PCs than ever before. This means more people will have access to esports capable machines, which could create a rise in demand and interest for the growing industry across all platforms.

To stay up to date with all of our esports content and news, click here to subscribe to our Esports Newsletter.