Our Hockey Directors
Sports Management Worldwide's agency utilizes it's sports directors in each sport to provide expertise to our network of agent advisors. Having sports directors allows SMWW to provide better service to our athletes as well as our agent advisors by having an experienced sports agent working closely on all aspects of the agent business within their sport of expertise.
Manny Schmidt - NHLPA Certified Agent
Manny Schmidt is the founder and President of Link Management International and has been a key influencer within the Sports and Entertainment Industry for more than 19 years. Based in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and a graduate of the University of Alberta, Manny oversees all aspects of Link Management, its various operational divisions and all members of the Link Management Team.
Since first established in 1995 as a leading provider of business and personal market branding solutions for the sports, entertainment and service sectors, Manny has lead Link Management to expand its market presence with the formal introduction of the Link Management International Sports Agency in 2009 and The Link High-Performance Athlete Development Division in 2013. The Link Management International Sports Agency is a full-service micro agency that specializes in the development, representation, and management of elite athletes throughout North America, with an active and growing client base in its Hockey, Football, and Olympic Divisions.
Over the years Manny has had the opportunity to work with and guide the careers of numerous top Professional Athletes, Olympians, and Entertainers and has been called upon as a strategic advisor to many corporate executives both in North America and aboard. As part of his experience, Manny has structured and negotiated multi-million dollar transactions and professional contracts, has led the design and implementation of numerous specialized brand positioning and marketing campaigns and has facilitated the partnerships of various personal endorsement deals along with a variety of product and property sponsorship deals.
As President and CEO of Link Management International, Manny oversees and remains responsible for all contract negotiations and strategic direction of its clients, and to continue to guide the ongoing growth of the firm as one of the leading full-service micro sports agencies in the industry.
Lynn Lashbrook
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook is the President and Founder of the Sports Management Worldwide Agency. Lynn has been a certified agent with the NFL for over 20 years and has personally represented over 100 NFL clients including first rounders. Under Dr. Lashbrook’s leadership, the Sports Management Worldwide Agency has grown into an international full-service sports agency with over 200 Agent Advisors worldwide representing hundreds of clients in the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, minor leagues and international leagues.
Having spent forty years on university campuses, as an NCAA Athletic Director, Compliance Officer, Coach, Scout and Academic Advisor, Dr. Lashbrook brings keen insight. His diverse background is unmatched as a sports agent and he is known for his integrity and ethical compass. Client’s benefit from his wealth of connectivity, experience, and guidance from all facets of the game. In addition, Dr. Lashbrook brings a wealth of knowledge in contract negotiation, endorsements, handling media, marketing, financial, draft preparation, and long-term career planning for athletes at every level of the game.
Dr. Lashbrook worked for Sports Management Group (SMG), which is now Creative Artists Agency (CAA), for five years. Dr. Lashbrook was mentored in the agent business by CAA Football Director Jim Steiner, then Jerry Rice’s agent, alongside Ben Dogra. During these years Dr. Lashbrook gained years of experience from the top talent negotiators in the world.
SMWW trains thousands of students every year for sports business careers, including athletes, agents, and other sports industry leaders. Under Dr. Lashbrook’s direction, SMWW offers a global sports faculty via online training, with over 15,000 alumni from over 162 countries. Internationally, Dr. Lashbrook is a sought-after sports business speaker, having spoken on 5 continents in addition to hosting and moderating sports career conferences at major sporting events. For the legal profession, he provides an online CLE "Winning with Ethics" seminar through Legalspan.
Dr. Lashbrook spearheaded an effort to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Portland, Oregon during the relocation of MLB’s Montreal Expos. Lynn led the lobbying efforts that resulted in a $150 million construction bill for a new stadium. Under his leadership, the group secured legislative action to subsidize a new stadium with players payroll taxes. Due to this campaign, a 25,000-seat stadium in the heart of the city was revitalized rather than torn down, now home to the MLS Portland Timbers.
Dr. Lashbrook's former clients
Dr. Lashbrook's full bio and list of clients
Sports Articles by Dr. G. Lynn Lashbrook:
Article #1: We Must Do More
