John brings 35 years of corporate, entertainment, sports, and media experience to Sound Relief. John began his career at age 15 as a DJ and local radio host, and was booking music acts by the time he was 20. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in Electrical Engineering, John moved into acquisition and disposition of telecomm assets, working on deals with such giants as Sprint, U.S. telephone, Western Union, and GTE.
John’s mentor, Dr. Tom Durfey, is credited with inventing “Low Power Television” for the FCC. Naugher added to his on-air skills as well as his media promotion and sales experience while working for Durfey’s highly success WHVW AM & FM radio stations in New York. John gained most of his production skills while working with Durfey’s long time friend, Dick Horan, who was then the head of mobile sports production for ABC Sports in New York. At the request of veteran sportscaster, Roone Arlidge, Horan designed and constructed the mobile production vehicles used to establish ABC's “Monday Night Football” program. Naugher worked closely with those who helped "develop the game" of live sports broadcast.
John was instrumental in initiating the “all sports talk” radio format which is now the third most listened to radio format worldwide. He developed partnerships to include the Oakland Raiders, Oakland A’s, and the Golden State Warriors to establish a sports media outlet in the Greater Oakland / East Bay area; and worked with the National Football League (NFL) to produce, distribute and market radio game coverage of the NFL Europe professional football league over western Europe and the United Kingdom.
John has developed and implemented a variety of high-profile projects with renowned corporations such as the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the Oakland Raiders, Sprint, and Disney. John has produced world-class events ranging from REO Speedwagon, Foghat, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, to international championship boxing bouts and martial arts events in London, Manchester, Rome, Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei and Las Vegas.
John’s wealth of experience and mentorship from some the leaders in media and marketing have provided the insight needed to develop the unique business model we now call Sound Relief.
JOHN NAUGHER
CEO
WHO WE ARE
Jerry A. Wolff
COO
Jerry is the Founder and President of Bluefish Group, Inc. (BGI). Jerry is celebrating his 35th year as an entrepreneur specializing in the creation and implementation of strategic marketing programs for a wide range of clientele. His marketing experience includes these disciplines: branding, advertising (electronic, online, impact), creative development, promotional activity, entertainment, sports marketing, and media planning / negotiating / buying.
Over the years, Jerry has been intimately involved in the forefront of cutting edge new media trends such as the advent of FM Radio, the emergence of cable television, the development of sophisticated sports marketing programs and the growth of online opportunities. Here is a partial roster of distinguished clients that Jerry has worked with on a variety of projects: Mirage Hotel/Casino, Sharp Electronics, Gulf Oil Co., Toyota North America, Sprint, Milton Bradley, Taj Mahal Hotel-Atlantic City, LG Electronics, NAPA Auto Parts, Shubert Organization, Best Western Hotels, Anheuser Busch, Brooklyn College, and many others.
Kendall Keith
Chief Business Development Officer
Kendall’s degrees in Management, Marketing and Economics and his 20 years of experience in the record, concert and promotion industries have provided much of the insight and know-how for creating and developing the new business model fostered at Sound Relief. Having directed tour promotions for Chrysalis Records, Kendall branched out to manage independent promotions for high-profile heavy metal, rock, and country acts.
Kendall maintains relationships with some of the world’s top artist management entities. Kendall’s public marketing, sponsor support, and media relations acumen have been sharpened through his global experience as a tour promotional director. Kendall has been a business partner for many years with John Naugher in various projects including those with industry giants like MGM Grand Casino, the Oakland Raiders, and various radio station and television entities.
Robert "Kool" Bell
Exec VP Industry Relations
Kool heads the legendary group Kool & The Gang and has sold over 70 million albums worldwide over the course of three generations. The release of the band’s self-titled debut album in 1969 launched a string of hits, including “Celebration,” “Cherish,” and “Jungle Boogie.” Kool & The Gang have won two Grammy® Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 Gold and Platinum albums. Kool’s songs have been used in over 200 movie scores, more than any other artist to date.
Kool & The Gang are recipients of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers Chairman’s Award For Sustained Creative Achievement, a distinguished honor whose past recipients include Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, and Barbra Streisand. Kool has spent four decades learning firsthand the intricate ins and outs of the entertainment business. He brings this valuable experience, along with his vast contacts, to the Sound Relief team mix.
Dennis Gelbaum
Industry Consultant
Dennis Gelbaum is an international award-winning Creative Director, Producer, Director, Writer, Author, and Inventor. He joins the Sound Relief team focusing on helping our clients define and refine their creative and business strategies, producing brand funded multimedia content and live, interactive branding experiences.
Dennis is presently the Chief Executive Officer of ramp it up entertainment, a full-service brand promotional agency and international event company. Dennis was recently featured in VoyageDallas! (Read it here)
Dennis is the former COO/CMO of Septien Entertainment Group, the #1 music artist development studio in the US. Dennis is also the former Chief Operation Officer and Executive Creative Director of TourDesign Creative Services, a Live Nation Company, where he worked with the biggest touring artists/performers, major record labels, top radio stations and live event venues in the world. “Nobody has sold more tickets to more live events - NOBODY!"
Rick Barry
Sound Relief Brand Ambassador
Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring. His name appears near the top of every all-time offensive list. He scored more than 25,000 points in his professional career and in four different seasons averaged more than 30 points. He was named to 12 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and five All-ABA First Teams. Barry was a nearly unstoppable offensive juggernaut, a passionate competitor with an untempered desire to win. Occasionally his fiery competitiveness would grate on rivals -- and teammates, too.
OUR SPECIALIST
Wendy Manteris
Brand Partnerships /
Sponsor Valuation
Wendy is a proven professional with significant program and budget management experience in Marketing/Strategy, Project & Account Management, Administration, Financial & Statistical Analysis, Securing & Managing National Strategic Alliance Partner Accounts, Budgeting & Forecasting.
Specialties: Strategic Planning, Sales, Building & Maintaining Staff, Budget Development & Maintenance, Vendor Supervision, Marketing ROI Analysis, Conflict Resolution, Database Administration, Contract Negotiation/Execution/Management, Program Valuation, Cost Benefit Analysis, Design & Implement Analytical Reports
Julia Blair
Corporate Administrator
Sound Relief is proud to have Julia Blair as our full time corporate administrator. With her 30 years of business management and consulting experience, Julia oversees wide-ranging office operations, corporate bookkeeping, as well as acting as banking liaison and delivering customary support services to clients such as the production and distribution of corporate marketing materials and communique’s.
She has made her home and business headquarters in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada where she provides a full range of commercial support services to a local, national and international business clientele.
Julia has assisted in creating and managing several regional and national corporations over the last three decades. Her vast knowledge of day-to-day corporate operations provides Sound Relief the ability to provide our clients the highest level of administrative services, creative solutions no matter the demands for each project.