# Jackie Reau

> Jackie Reau is the Cincinnati-based CEO and co-founder of Game Day, a media and marketing agency born from a 2000 dinner conversation with former ESPN anchor Betsy Ross and launched in 2002. A former hospital communications professional and Cincinnati Art Museum marketing director, Reau built a career at the intersection of public relations, sports, live events and civic storytelling. Her work has included the Flying Pig Marathon, Cincinnati’s bid to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, the Cincinnati Media Center around Super Bowl LVI, and the Cincinnati Fear professional esports team, which she founded in 2022 and serves as president.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-founder at Game Day; President of Cincinnati Fear
- **Organizations:** Game Day, Cincinnati Fear, Cincinnati Art Museum, Flywheel Social Enterprise, Mount St. Joseph University, Ohio University Foundation
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Master’s degree in sports administration, Ohio University, Executive studies; program not publicly specified, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Game Day in 2002 and grew it into a Cincinnati media and marketing agency serving sports, entertainment, arts, nonprofit and corporate clients., Led communications and civic storytelling work connected to Cincinnati’s bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches., Helped create the Cincinnati Media Center around Super Bowl LVI, where Cincinnati leaders promoted the region during the Bengals’ championship run.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked in public relations at The Christ Hospital after beginning her professional career in communications.
- **Before 2002** — Served as director of marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
- **2000** — Developed the idea for a Cincinnati sports marketing firm over dinner with former ESPN anchor Betsy Ross.
- **2002** — Co-founded Game Day with Ross on July 1; the Flying Pig Marathon became the agency’s first client.
- **2012** — Completed a master’s degree in sports administration at Ohio University.
- **2017-2021** — As a Cincinnati Sports Commission leader, worked on the region’s bid to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
- **2021** — Received Ohio University’s Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumni Award in sports administration.
- **2022** — Game Day created the Cincinnati Media Center near SoFi Stadium during Super Bowl LVI; Reau founded the Cincinnati Fear professional esports team and became its president.
- **2022** — Recognized in the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Women Who Mean Business program.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Game Day in 2002 and grew it into a Cincinnati media and marketing agency serving sports, entertainment, arts, nonprofit and corporate clients.
- Led communications and civic storytelling work connected to Cincinnati’s bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
- Helped create the Cincinnati Media Center around Super Bowl LVI, where Cincinnati leaders promoted the region during the Bengals’ championship run.
- Founded Cincinnati Fear, Cincinnati’s first professional esports team, in April 2022.
- Received the 2021 Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio University’s AECOM Center for Sports Administration.
- Named a 2022 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Appeared on The Transaction Report to discuss Cincinnati’s World Cup bid, esports and the future of fan engagement.
- **2025-09** — Presented a session on marketing and social media strategies using AI at SCORE Greater Cincinnati’s Confluence 2025.
- **2025-08** — Discussed Game Day’s 23-year history, small-business resilience and practical AI adoption on My Cincy Small Business Story.

## Links

- Website: https://www.gamedaypr.com/jackie
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiereau
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/gamedaypr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamedaypr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gamedaypr/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jackie-reau
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22