Our Team
With more than 25 years as a marketing professional and a lifetime as a sports fan, Rita co-founded Stride Marketing. Throughout her career, Rita has been instrumental in helping companies – from across the Americas and throughout the world — Fiding your Stride.
In addition to marketing experience, Rita has an impressive public relations and corporate responsibility (CR) background. Her relationships with executives and major corporations, media outlets and nonprofit organizations (including those led by current and former pro athletes) are helping CORE grow at an impressive rate.
Prior to co-founding Stride Marketing, Rita served as Americas Director of Community Engagement for Ernst & Young, a global accounting firm with $25 billion in annual revenue. There she directed regional charitable giving and volunteerism for North and South America, as well as Israel, in the company’s (then) three focus areas: education, entrepreneurship and the environment.
Rita received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication from the University of St. Thomas. She organized her first community fundraiser at the age of six, The rest, as they say, is history. Rita joined the board of directors of MDA in Houston at the age of 23, and has served on several boards since, including Boys & Girls Clubs, March of Dimes and Jim Brown’s Amer-I-Can Foundation.
Currently, Rita donates her time to organizations such as Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, The Fairman Adams Project, Taylor Gabriel Foundation, and Game Changers Worldwide. Rita lives in Double Oak, Texas, and has one son. She is originally a small town in Western Pennsylvania, and considers that “home.”
Larry Centers
Prior to partnering with Stride Marketing, Larry Centers spent 14 years as a player in the National Football League (NFL), followed by 12 years as an investor and operator in residential real estate. Today, Larry spends most of his time in the sports media and marketing space, as well as delivering thought-provoking and inspirational content through his website, LarryCenters.com
One of the most prolific pass-catching running backs in football history, Larry played nine seasons for the Arizona Cardinals (1990-1998), and went on to play for the Washington Redskins (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2001-2002), and New England Patriots (2003-2004). Ending an outstanding career on top, Larry served as a member of the Patriots’ second Super Bowl team, earning a ring in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Larry’s 827 career receptions are currently the most by any running back in NFL history, and the third most by any non-wide receiver. This is particularly impressive, as Larry was a fullback, and spent much of his time blocking. In fact, Larry has more career receptions than 8 of the 15 wide receivers currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Larry topped 100 receptions in 1995 (the first NFL running back to do so), and had 99 receptions in 1996. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1995, 1996 and 2001).
Prior to joining the NFL, Larry attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he served as an integral part of the team’s offense, and caught the attention of several NFL recruiters. He is a long-time supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs, and supports many other organizations including the Kevin Turner Foundation, Prostate On-Call Project, Miracle for Mom and Game Changers Worldwide. Larry lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, and has five children (three of whom have played or are playing collegiate sports). He is originally from a small town in East Texas, and considers that “home.”
Larry Centers
Prior to partnering with Stride Marketing, Larry Centers spent 14 years as a player in the National Football League (NFL), followed by 12 years as an investor and operator in residential real estate. Today, Larry spends most of his time in the sports media and marketing space, as well as delivering thought-provoking and inspirational content through his website, LarryCenters.com
One of the most prolific pass-catching running backs in football history, Larry played nine seasons for the Arizona Cardinals (1990-1998), and went on to play for the Washington Redskins (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2001-2002), and New England Patriots (2003-2004). Ending an outstanding career on top, Larry served as a member of the Patriots’ second Super Bowl team, earning a ring in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Larry’s 827 career receptions are currently the most by any running back in NFL history, and the third most by any non-wide receiver. This is particularly impressive, as Larry was a fullback, and spent much of his time blocking. In fact, Larry has more career receptions than 8 of the 15 wide receivers currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Larry topped 100 receptions in 1995 (the first NFL running back to do so), and had 99 receptions in 1996. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1995, 1996 and 2001).
Prior to joining the NFL, Larry attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he served as an integral part of the team’s offense, and caught the attention of several NFL recruiters. He is a long-time supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs, and supports many other organizations including the Kevin Turner Foundation, Prostate On-Call Project, Miracle for Mom and Game Changers Worldwide. Larry lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, and has five children (three of whom have played or are playing collegiate sports). He is originally from a small town in East Texas, and considers that “home.”
Ben McMahon
Raised in England, Ben McMahon has been an American Football fan since the age of four – when all he wanted for Christmas was a Dan Marino jersey and helmet! Ben met Rita Mort and Larry Centers when the Super Bowl was in Houston in 2017 and has been affiliated with Stride ever since.
Prior to joining Core, Ben served as Global Development Manager of Equilibria in Sports, a division of the personality diversity consulting organization Equilibria. This company works with individuals, corporations, and teams to identify and maximize strengths, and recognize and address potential limiters. In short, they help everyone achieve their full potential, and maximize their contributions to any group – both professional and personal.
Ben is also a professional photographer and uses this skill to create impactful display and video communications collateral for Core clients. He is also a former championship coach with the British American Football Coaches Association and remains an avid American Football Fan.
Today, Ben resides in Spain with his wife, Aisha, who is a professional singer. He leads all Stride operations in Europe, which includes anything Stride does related to NFL games played in London.
Kenny Gant
Kenny Gant joins Stride after a successful NFL career, including two Super Bowl Championships with the Dallas Cowboys. He also played one year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kenny played safety throughout his career & is known for his signature “Shark” dance.
A proud graduate of Albany State University in Georgia, Kenny lived in Florida for a number of years before returning to the Dallas area. Kenny has a nonprofit organization called Shark 29 charities which helps victims of domestic violence. He founded the charity in memory of sister, Cynthia, who lost her life to domestic violence.
Kenny hosts the Shark Shootout Celebrity Golf Tournament each year to benefit his charity. He is also a frequent star in Locker Room Laughs which Stride produces on behalf of Game Changers Worldwide, which raises money for education, economic empowerment and social justice.
Kenny Gant
Kenny Gant joins Stride after a successful NFL career, including two Super Bowl Championships with the Dallas Cowboys. He also played one year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kenny played safety throughout his career & is known for his signature “Shark” dance.
A proud graduate of Albany State University in Georgia, Kenny lived in Florida for a number of years before returning to the Dallas area. Kenny has a nonprofit organization called Shark 29 charities which helps victims of domestic violence. He founded the charity in memory of sister, Cynthia, who lost her life to domestic violence.
Kenny hosts the Shark Shootout Celebrity Golf Tournament each year to benefit his charity. He is also a frequent star in Locker Room Laughs which Stride produces on behalf of Game Changers Worldwide, which raises money for education, economic empowerment and social justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a brand?
A strong brand can convey a sense of trust, quality, and credibility to consumers, and can create an emotional connection with them. It can also help a company differentiate itself from its competitors, and can serve as a valuable asset that can increase a company’s value and long-term success.
In short, a brand is more than just a name or logo; it is the overall perception and reputation of a company or product in the minds of consumers.
Why is branding important?
- Differentiation: A strong brand helps a company stand out from its competitors and establish a unique identity in the marketplace.
- Recognition: A well-established brand can be easily recognized by consumers, which can help build customer loyalty and trust.
- Trust: A strong brand can convey a sense of trust, quality, and credibility to consumers, which can lead to increased sales and customer retention.
- Emotional Connection: A well-crafted brand can create an emotional connection with consumers, which can lead to a more loyal customer base.
- Value: A strong brand can be a valuable asset for a company, as it can increase the perceived value of its products or services and lead to higher profits.
Overall, branding is a crucial part of any business strategy, as it can help establish a company’s reputation, build customer loyalty, and ultimately drive sales and profits.
What makes a successful brand?
There are several key factors that contribute to a successful brand:
- Differentiation: Successful brands are able to distinguish themselves from their competitors and establish a unique identity in the marketplace.
- Consistency: Successful brands are consistent in their messaging, design, and customer experience, which helps build customer trust and loyalty.
- Relevance: Successful brands understand their target audience and are able to create products and services that meet their needs and desires.
- Emotional connection: Successful brands are able to create an emotional connection with consumers, which can lead to stronger customer loyalty and brand advocacy.
- Quality: Successful brands are known for delivering high-quality products or services that meet or exceed customer expectations.
- Authenticity: Successful brands are authentic and true to their values, which helps build trust and credibility with consumers.
- Innovation: Successful brands are always looking for ways to innovate and improve their products or services to stay relevant and meet the changing needs of their customers.
Overall, a successful brand is able to differentiate itself, build customer loyalty and trust, and consistently deliver high-quality products or services that meet the needs and desires of its target audience.
How do you create a brand?
- Define your brand strategy: This involves identifying your target audience, understanding your competition, and defining your unique value proposition.
- Develop your brand identity: This includes creating a name, logo, color scheme, and other visual and design elements that represent your brand and differentiate it from competitors.
- Develop your brand voice and messaging: This involves defining the tone, language, and messaging that will be used to communicate with your target audience.
- Build your brand experience: This involves creating a consistent customer experience across all touchpoints, including your website, social media, customer service, and product packaging.
- Launch and promote your brand: This involves developing a launch plan and promotional strategy to introduce your brand to your target audience and build awareness and interest.
- Measure and refine your brand: Once your brand is launched, it’s important to continually measure its success and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it continues to meet the needs and desires of your target audience.
Creating a strong and successful brand requires a lot of effort and attention to detail, but by following these steps and working with experienced professionals, you can create a brand that resonates with your target audience and helps you achieve your business goals.
Where do I start successful brand?
- Define your brand strategy: Start by identifying your target audience, understanding your competition, and defining your unique value proposition. This will help you develop a clear brand strategy that guides all of your branding decisions.
- Develop your brand identity: Once you have a clear brand strategy in place, you can start developing your brand identity, including your name, logo, color scheme, and other visual and design elements that represent your brand.
- Build your brand experience: As you develop your brand identity, you can also start building your brand experience, including your website, social media presence, customer service, and product packaging.
- Launch and promote your brand: Once your brand identity and experience are in place, you can launch your brand and start promoting it to your target audience through various channels, such as social media, advertising, and public relations.
- Measure and refine your brand: Finally, it’s important to continually measure the success of your brand and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it continues to meet the needs and desires of your target audience.
Overall, starting a successful brand requires a lot of effort and attention to detail, but by following these steps and working with experienced professionals, you can create a brand that resonates with your target audience and helps you achieve your business goals.
How much does it cost to build a brand?
For a small business, the cost of building a brand can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. This may include the cost of hiring a branding agency or consultant, developing a brand strategy and identity, creating a website and other marketing materials, and launching promotional campaigns.
For larger businesses or those with more complex branding needs, the cost of building a brand can be significantly higher. This may include the cost of hiring multiple agencies or consultants, conducting market research, developing a comprehensive brand strategy and identity, creating custom software and other tools, and running large-scale marketing and advertising campaigns.
Ultimately, the cost of building a brand will depend on your specific needs and goals. It’s important to work with experienced professionals and develop a clear budget and plan to ensure that you get the most out of your branding efforts.
How do I get a sub-brand or tertiary brand logo?
- Define your sub-brand or tertiary brand strategy: Start by defining the purpose and goals of your sub-brand or tertiary brand. This will help guide your branding decisions and ensure that your sub-brand or tertiary brand is aligned with your overall brand strategy.
- Develop your sub-brand or tertiary brand identity: Once you have a clear strategy in place, you can start developing your sub-brand or tertiary brand identity, including your name, logo, color scheme, and other visual and design elements.
- Ensure consistency with your primary brand: While your sub-brand or tertiary brand may have its own unique identity, it’s important to ensure that it is consistent with your primary brand in terms of messaging, design, and customer experience.
- Launch and promote your sub-brand or tertiary brand: Once your sub-brand or tertiary brand identity is in place, you can launch and promote it to your target audience through various channels, such as social media, advertising, and public relations.
- Measure and refine your sub-brand or tertiary brand: Finally, it’s important to continually measure the success of your sub-brand or tertiary brand and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it continues to meet the needs and desires of your target audience.
To develop a sub-brand or tertiary brand logo, you may want to work with a branding agency or graphic designer who has experience in developing logos and visual identities. They can help you create a logo that is unique, memorable, and consistent with your overall branding strategy.
How long does it take to build a brand?
Building a brand is a continuous process that can take time to fully develop and establish. The timeline for building a brand can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of your business, the scope of your branding efforts, and the resources you have available.
In general, it can take several months or even years to fully establish a strong and recognizable brand. This process involves developing a clear brand strategy and identity, building a consistent customer experience across all touchpoints, and promoting your brand through various channels.
The timeline for building a brand can be broken down into several key stages:
- Brand strategy and identity development: This stage can take several weeks or months and involves defining your brand strategy, developing your brand identity, and ensuring consistency across all branding elements.
- Brand experience building: This stage can take several months to a year and involves building a consistent customer experience across all touchpoints, including your website, social media, customer service, and product packaging.
- Brand launch and promotion: This stage can take several weeks or months and involves launching your brand and promoting it to your target audience through various channels, such as social media, advertising, and public relations.
- Brand measurement and refinement: This stage is ongoing and involves continually measuring the success of your brand and making adjustments as needed to ensure that it continues to meet the needs and desires of your target audience.
Overall, building a successful brand is a continuous process that requires ongoing effort and attention to detail. While it may take time to fully establish your brand, the long-term benefits can be significant, including increased brand awareness, customer loyalty, and business growth.