Donald E. Wagner
Founder/CEO
Sarah Nasif
Chief Marketing Officer
Sydney Huff
Senior Marketing Representative
Nicole Pizzo
Marketing Representative
Don Wagner has spent his entire career and entire life in service to others - and that's exactly why he started this firm. He saw a gap in the industry: athletes who deserve better-more transparency, more inclusion in the process, and representation that actually put them first. So he built the firm he wished had existed for them. With 20 years of Army service - advising generals, fighting for clients in high stake courts-martial, and overseeing the legal review of multimillion-dollar contracts - Donald brings a rare combination of legal firepower and genuine human care to everything he does, He started as a sportswriter and storyteller, which means he knows how to listen, communicate clearly, and make sure your voice is always heard.
Penn State '97 | J.D., University of Miami School of Law '12 | U.S. Army (Ret.)
Sydney Huff is an experienced marketing specialist. She has experience in brand development, social media strategy, event coordination, and client operations through professional roles in hospitality and legal environments, as well as academic work. Sydney is passionate about sports marketing, NIL opportunities, and athlete branding and representation.
Nicole Pizzo is a May 2026 Clemson graduate with a B.A. in Communication and a Spanish minor, as well as a former NCAA Division I student-athlete in cross country and track & field. A three-season competitor, All-ACC Academic Team member, and Tiger Leadership Academy participant, she brings firsthand insight into collegiate athletics. Nicole has experience in strategic communication, brand development, and operational planning through academic and professional roles. Her academic work includes producing a full operational and media plan for a national-level event concept. At SMG, Nicole coordinates all staff functions and positions and supports strategic and organizational development, applying her athletics background to athlete representation at multiple levels.
Sarah Nasif is a dynamic sports media and communications professional with over seven years of experience spanning marketing, content creation, public relations, contract negotiation, and player operations, She has worked across both collegiate and professional sports, building a reputation for strategic storytelling and athlete-centered brand development.
A strong advocate for authentic player representation, Sarah had collaborated with player personnel throughout the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era - helping athletes amplify their voices, protect their interests, and connect meaningfully with fans and communities.
Georgia Barr
Director of Player Portfolios - Golf
Georgia Barr comes to Southern Roots from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She played Division 1 golf at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina while studying Business Management and minoring in Marketing. She is extremely passionate about college sports and helping other collegiate athletes find opportunities that support their success. She will work mainly as the Director of Southern Roots’ golf portfolio but will also spend significant time as a golf agent, helping grow SRSMG’s client base.
Cali Bishop
Legal Intern
Cali Bishop joins the Southern Roots team after a long and distinguished lacrosse career at both Florida and Louisville. Now, as she prepares to attend Boston College School of Law, Cali joins the team as a Legal Intern.
A native of New Hampshire, Cali will rely on expansive knowledge she gained from her career as a Division I athlete to assist SRSMG with state-registration compliance and researching the laws and regulations governing athlete representation, among other things. Her work will ensure we have the most updated information and understanding of the ever-changing legal landscape in athlete representation to advise our clients.
Meet the Team
From the CEO's Desk
As a team operating daily in the athlete representation space, we wholeheartedly agree with the use for stricter agent credentialing. In fact, we would gladly submit to a universal exam to qualify for the privilege of representing college athletes.
Every day, we see the alternative: young athletes relying on advice from people who, at best, are well-intentioned but unqualified, and at worst, are looking to make a quick buck at the athlete's expense.
The first question any athlete should ask a prospective agent isn't, "How much money can you get me?" It should be "Where are you registered?" Sadly a large number of individuals operating in the space are not even registered in the states where they do business. That isn't just cutting corners; it's illegal.
At Southern Roots, we register in every single state where we have clients, regardless of the cost or the administrative hurdles. It shows our commitment to doing things the right way because it matters - because our clients matter.
This is not an industry where you can simply create an Instagram page and start managing careers. It takes work, dedication, and genuine care. Every day, we look at our clients and their families and feel the awesome, weighty responsibility they have placed in us to steward their athletic future. Everyone at Southern Roots takes that responsibility very seriously.
While there are plenty of excellent, ethical professionals out there, there are still too many unqualified actors. Mandatory agent registration and testing would help window out those who don't belong in this business, protecting athletes and elevating the industry as a whole.
- Don Wagner
