Sean Phaler

About Sean Phaler

Sean got his first taste of marketing in 8th grade when he won an online web design contest and was offered a $60k job. The offer was rescinded once they discovered he was only 14, but that moment launched a lifelong passion for building in the marketing space. By 2001, he had built a custom e-commerce business and has since reimagined marketing for small businesses, professional sports teams, Fortune 100 brands, and corporate-backed start-ups.After four years of Division I basketball and a brief professional career, Sean launched a successful web design and marketing firm in Charlotte. He then joined the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), where he expanded the team’s digital footprint through innovative web experiences, social media, email marketing, and mobile adoption. He also played a key role in the franchise’s rebrand to the Hornets, including the widely celebrated backbuzzcity.com, a microsite with rolling Hornets updates throughout the final Bobcats season.During his time at Pentair, Sean helped transform multiple business units into digital leaders by building modern infrastructure for e-commerce, SEO/SEM, social advertising, and content creation. He grew e-commerce revenue by double digits year over year and scaled marketing success globally, including award-nominated campaigns spanning North America, South America, and Australia. At Ingersoll Rand, he stepped into a pivotal corporate moment, leading digital transformation during the corporate spin-off that created Trane Technologies and transitioned Ingersoll Rand assets to Gardner Denver. Sean was part of the enterprise marketing team that launched the new global brand, directed the digital separation of legacy assets, and led two Centers of Excellence (COE) Programs in demand generation and digital marketing across 10+ global business units and 750+ marketing employees.Most recently, at Tepper Sports & Entertainment, Sean completely transformed marketing’s role from a cost center to a revenue driver across the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, and Bank of America Stadium. He built a sophisticated revenue attribution model, tightly aligned marketing with sales, and drove measurable growth through advanced marketing strategies. He played a foundational role in launching Charlotte FC, helping set MLS attendance records and building one of the league’s strongest fan bases from day one. Most notably, Sean also spearheaded the Panthers’ international expansion into Germany under the NFL Global Markets Program.

Experience

1. Chief Marketing Officer

   Blumenthal Arts

   Sep 2025 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Blumenthal Arts is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit arts organizations, presenting the Carolinas’ largest Broadway season and managing four theaters that host more than ticketed events annually. The organization also produces immersive and original experiences through Blume Studios, a creative production hub focused on new formats, storytelling, and audience innovation, while delivering education and access programs that reach more than students each year.As Chief Marketing Officer, leads all marketing, ticketing, sales, data, and audience engagement functions. Focused on driving growth through brand storytelling, performance marketing, and data-informed decision-making, with responsibility for expanding audience reach, increasing revenue, strengthening the Blumenthal brand, and deepening community impact across Broadway tours, concerts, immersive experiences, and educational programming.

Education

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  BSBA in Business Administration, Marketing

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

• Fullerton College

  Associate's Degree, Liberal Arts

• The University of New Mexico

  Business Administration

Skills

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Customer Service
• Photoshop
• Javascript
• Html
• Email Marketing
• Microsoft Office
• Html + Css
• Online Marketing
• Social Media
• Advanced Css
• Facebook
• Dreamweaver
• Web Design
• Marketing
• Videography
• Digital Photography
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Advertising
• Graphic Design
• Digital Marketing