SFC Was Launched In An Effort to Showcase the Sport of Saltwater Fishing

Sport Fishing Championship was launched in an effort to showcase the sport of saltwater fishing, positively impact the local economies of our championship towns and continuously improve our championship tournaments around a championship competition. Each of our proud SFC events is sewn into the fabric of incredible fishing towns, rich with history and championship pedigree. It is our mission to use our tournaments and our platforms to create a world-class experience for our anglers, corporate partners, fans, families, volunteers, and staff.

Championship Formula

Championship towns
Championship Experience
Championship Competition

SFC's "championship formula" is simple: we produce events in "championship towns," to deliver a "championship experience" around a "championship competition." Our team works with the relentless pursuit of delivering greatness across these three areas while creating an international competition that will award "one champion" across our four competitive divisions.

Educating the "next generation" of anglers in the areas of marine sciences and responsible angling are two of the fundamental principles of the Sport Fishing Championship. Each of our tournaments works alongside their local, state, and federal environmental protection and gaming agencies to uphold the highest standards in sport fishing.

We hope to see you at your nearest Championship Tournament, or at one of the Championship Towns that make Sport Fishing Championship the most prestigious event in sport fishing.

Championship leadership

Sport Fishing Championship is managed annually by the volunteer contributions of our outstanding SFC Board Members and championship staff. The following individuals have contributed their time to the betterment of the sport of offshore fishing and to further the mission of the Sport Fishing Championship:

Sport fishing championship staff

Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Neifeld

Mark Neifeld is a passionate entrepreneur and philanthropist, focusing much of his personal time on supporting local small businesses, coaching young entrepreneurs, working with SFC competitors on building their brands & businesses around their love for angling, and supporting early stage companies. Neifeld is the President, CEO and Commissioner of the Sport Fishing Championship. In 2021, he founded the world's largest saltwater fishing championship series with a goal to "bring people together through world-class competition." As a native of Sarasota, Florida, Neifeld was driven by his passion for saltwater angling and his professional experience working on some of the country's most notable championship events. Neifeld's career includes front office roles with the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Lightning, Georgia Dome and as a Vice President with the Texas Rangers. While CEO of Complex Sports & Entertainment, Neifeld created and launched multiple touring properties including Topgolf LIVE! and Monster Energy Stadium Blitz with co-founder, Rob Gronkowski. Throughout his professional career, Neifeld has worked on multiple championship events including the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship (Final Four), Academy of Country Music Awards, Super Bowl, multiple WWE Wrestlemanias, CONCACAF Gold Cups, championship boxing bouts, college football bowl games and many more. Neifeld lives in Trophy Club, Texas, with his wife Danielle, three children, Cole, Kennedy, and Blakely, and their 65 pound Siberian Husky, Ronin. In his leisure time, he can be found fishing, golfing, exploring new music and coaching football.

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Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Clete McQuinn

Clete McQuinn, C.P.A. has served as a senior executive for the last 35+ years. Most recently he was instrumental in launching two SaaS platforms: MindVue, a technology platform that measures and develops mindsets, and InnerZone, a software platform that identifies and predicts team chemistry. Prior to InnerZone, Mr. McQuinn was COO of a sports technology company. He also provided consulting and fund-raising services to several sports and entertainment technology companies. Mr. McQuinn was a member of executive management for 18 years at two aerospace companies, enterprises that included aviation component manufacturing, aircraft leasing, commercial aircraft operations, real estate, and management services. Mr. McQuinn started his career at Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), an international public accounting firm. He obtained a wide range of experience in working with all sizes of companies, from closely-held to SEC. Mr. McQuinn, a certified public accountant, received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.

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VP Sales & Business
Bill Schoonmaker

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Director of Marketing & Social Media
Courtney Hueston

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Chief of Staff
Shalene Madden

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