About Marisa

As an event producer with more than 20 years of experience, she has linked the sports and non-profit sector by leveraging events to galvanize communities.

As an IEM Event Manager, she supports and coordinates tournament production & logistics, consults on sponsor strategies and is instrumental in the growth of IEM’s corporate initiatives and half-day 9 hole events-The Back Nine.

She has managed golf tournaments in the non-profit sector for more than 15 years with clients that include Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, Junior Achievement of Southern California , Covenant House California and the Weingart Center. She has collaborated with IEM for 9 years, primarily as the liaison with Junior Achievement of Southern California and the Weingart Center.  Marisa has functioned as the point person on the non-profit side handling sponsor relations, managing event committees, creating sponsor decks and digital program ads, coordinating logistics for signage, collecting golfer names, managing online auction and registration platforms as well as creating evening programs and training volunteers. 

Marisa's strength is her knowledge of sponsorship strategy and fundraising best practices from her extensive non-profit background. She understands  how golf tournaments can bring like-minded people together to have a fun day of golf but also make an impactful difference for a cause that is important.

She has a unique background that includes sports tournament & live production (ESPY Awards), high profile athlete relations, programmed panel & athlete speaker events (Thuzio), non-profit fundraising galas, creation of community/corporate partnerships and international event management. She is passionate about the impact sports can make within a community.   During her college studies, she was  strongly influenced by athlete/activists such as Arthur Ashe, Tommie Smith & John Carlos, Dr. Harry Edwards, Billie Jean King and is committed to continuing to advocate for sports as an agent for change.  

Visit her website www.gamefacela.com to see more of Marisa's expertise and passions!

A world traveler, hiker and die-hard LA Dodgers fan. She serves on the Board of Directors for WISE LA (Women in Sports & Events) and is a strong advocate for women & girls' sports.