Full Name
Wayne Partello
Job Title
Co-Founder & CEO, former CMO, San Diego Padres
Company
Cuento
Speaker Bio
After more than a decade of media experience followed by more than a decade of NFL and MLB front office experience, Wayne Partello decided it was time for a change. He needed to scratch the entrepreneurial itch that had been with him since his teenage years, but this time, with the goal of using all the experiences amassed throughout his journey to help brands identify who they want to be and how to make that a reality.
Wayne started producing video at 14 years old and always enjoyed media, but the dream of becoming a police officer led him to Winterhaven, Fla., where he attended the police academy at the age of 19. Soon after graduation, Wayne returned to his hometown of Boston and started DJing, a job that eventually resulted in an internship in radio.
Aspirations of becoming an on-air personality took hold, but on the advice of a mentor, Wayne decided the best path to success in the radio business (and it turns out, in life) was versatility. He committed himself to learning as many roles as possible, from sales to marketing to promotions to engineering. Along the way, he did achieve the goal of becoming an on-air personality, but Wayne’s desire to learn, question the status quo and solve problems became a highly-valued asset on the business side. Eventually, one of the company’s leaders left for an opportunity in the National Football League and tapped Wayne to oversee the organization’s newly formed in-house content department.
In Miami, Wayne developed a team-owned daily talk show that aired on radio and television, and was streamed online. Over the course of his tenure with the Dolphins, Wayne’s role grew to oversee marketing, broadcasting, entertainment, digital media and social media, as well as all internal design and production.
An opportunity to make a difference for a new organization brought Wayne to the west coast to serve as the chief marketing officer for the San Diego Padres. In his transition to Major League Baseball, Wayne added oversight of communications to his growing list of responsibilities. During his seven years with the Padres, Wayne and his team created a best-in-class entertainment experience and redefined the overall Padres brand identity, which culminated in the design and rollout of a new uniform collection.
After writing the final chapter with the Padres brand, Wayne knew it was time to move on, to build a new dream. That dream is to help other brands define their identity and tell their story.
Wayne started producing video at 14 years old and always enjoyed media, but the dream of becoming a police officer led him to Winterhaven, Fla., where he attended the police academy at the age of 19. Soon after graduation, Wayne returned to his hometown of Boston and started DJing, a job that eventually resulted in an internship in radio.
Aspirations of becoming an on-air personality took hold, but on the advice of a mentor, Wayne decided the best path to success in the radio business (and it turns out, in life) was versatility. He committed himself to learning as many roles as possible, from sales to marketing to promotions to engineering. Along the way, he did achieve the goal of becoming an on-air personality, but Wayne’s desire to learn, question the status quo and solve problems became a highly-valued asset on the business side. Eventually, one of the company’s leaders left for an opportunity in the National Football League and tapped Wayne to oversee the organization’s newly formed in-house content department.
In Miami, Wayne developed a team-owned daily talk show that aired on radio and television, and was streamed online. Over the course of his tenure with the Dolphins, Wayne’s role grew to oversee marketing, broadcasting, entertainment, digital media and social media, as well as all internal design and production.
An opportunity to make a difference for a new organization brought Wayne to the west coast to serve as the chief marketing officer for the San Diego Padres. In his transition to Major League Baseball, Wayne added oversight of communications to his growing list of responsibilities. During his seven years with the Padres, Wayne and his team created a best-in-class entertainment experience and redefined the overall Padres brand identity, which culminated in the design and rollout of a new uniform collection.
After writing the final chapter with the Padres brand, Wayne knew it was time to move on, to build a new dream. That dream is to help other brands define their identity and tell their story.
