6th Annual Barristers’ Banquet and Awards Program

Atty. Max L. Siegel

NASHVILLE, TN --The Napier-Looby Bar Foundation (“NLBF”) is hosting its 6th Annual Barristers’ Banquet and Awards Program, in celebration of Black History Month. The NLBF is a 501(c)(3) which serves as the philanthropic arm of the Napier-Looby Bar Association, an affiliate of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest association of black attorneys with more than 10,000 members. The Nashville legal community and larger community convene each year at the Barristers’ Banquet and Awards Program, in celebration of black history month, for an evening of great food, music and conversation. The purpose of the banquet is to recognize outstanding achievements in the legal community and, more importantly, to raise money to award scholarships to deserving students and fund the charitable efforts of the organization throughout the year.

This year’s banquet promises to be a memorable and inspiring occasion. The theme for this year’s banquet is “A New Generation of Leadership.” The speaker, Max L. Siegel, is the epitome of a new generation leader.

Max L. Siegel is a man of many talents. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, Siegel initially planned for a conventional career in corporate law. His Jewish father, William Siegel and African American mother, Delores Frazier, were part of the demanding music industry, but he longed for something traditional.

After his law school graduation, Siegel launched a successful career as a corporate lawyer, presiding over legal affairs for Fortune 500 companies, as well as professional sports, entertainment individuals and organizations. Today, the life of this 44-year-old Indianapolis native is far from conventional.

Siegel is an accomplished music and sports executive, attorney, speaker and one of the most sought-after persons in the entertainment industry. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Crain’s New York Business, ESPN and Billboard among others.

In January 2009, Siegel added to his list of accomplishments when he partnered with John Story and Tina DeVeaux to form The 909 Group, a marketing firm catering to companies and individuals in the sports and entertainment industries. The firm’s focus is sponsorship development and representation, event management, television production, public relations, online marketing and lifestyle marketing. The 909 Group’s first clients include the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.

(NASCAR), the sanctioning body for one of North America’s most popular sports. NASCAR executives retained the firm to administer the motorsport industrywide Drive for Diversity initiative aimed at developing and introducing minority and female drivers and crew members to competitive opportunities in NASCAR. It was a much-needed move on NASCAR’s part. Just last December, it settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former African-American official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment when she worked for the organization as a technical inspector from January 2005 until she was terminated in October 2007.
Serving as CEO of the new firm, Siegel has taken a hands-on approach to the day-to-day operations of Drive for Diversity. Charged with taking the diversity initiative to the next level, his goals include increasing Drive for Diversity’s reach inside and outside the motorsports industry; creating mainstream marketing programs for the initiative; and gaining buy-in from the various NASCAR constituents, particularly top-tier racing teams like Hendrick Motorsports, home to Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as from other sponsors.
At first glance, successfully reaching his new objectives might seem like a nearly impossible task to many spectators. NASCAR celebrated its 60-year anniversary in 2008, but since its inception there has only been one African-American, Wendell Scott, to succeed at the elite level of racing. Scott won the NASCAR Grand National race (now part of the Sprint Cup series) in 1963.
For Siegel, however, the role presents a new opportunity. He explains, “The role allows me to have a broad impact on the sport and continue to grow my skill set to one day become involved in franchise ownership.”

First exposed to racing as a child in Indianapolis, Siegel’s professional interest in racing began years ago when he planned to establish the first African American-owned NASCAR team with NFL Hall of Famer Reggie White and former San Diego Padres player Tony Gwynn. That effort failed after the death of White in 2004, but Siegel remained interested in NASCAR. That interest led to his recent role as president of global operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., a top motorsport franchise in NASCAR, which made him the highest-ranking African-American in NASCAR.

It was an unprecedented move for Teresa Earnhardt, CEO of Dale Earnhardt, to bring in someone from outside of the motorsport industry. At the time, Siegel held dual positions as senior vice president of Sony/BMG’s Zomba Label Group and president of Zomba Gospel.

Taking on seemingly impossible tasks is not foreign to Max Siegel. His talent and extensive experience brokering deals and managing various projects enabled him to successfully oversee marketing, promotion, sales, sponsorship and distribution for all Dale Earnhardt properties, including its top-rated motorsports teams, airlines, licensing and auto dealership, as well as the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
The world renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers will also be performing.

For more information or to serve as a sponsor or purchase ticket(s) or a table, please contact Andrea P. Perry at aperry@bonelaw.com or purchase online at www.napierlooby.com.