Andy Abramson is CEO and founder of Comunicano, Inc., a Del Mar, California based strategic communications agency. He is also co-founder of Solana Beach based Velocity Growth, Inc., a strategic development and social markets services company. Since 2000 56 Comunicano clients have either been acquired or successfully IPO'd for over $5 billion dollars. As part of his work with startups Andy has participated in no less than 10 exits including StubHub (acquired by eBay), SightSpeed (acquired by Logitech), GrandCentral (now Google Voice), Vringo, Nukona (acquired by Symantec), Media Code (acquired by Yahoo) and Vidtel (acquired by Fidelity Investments.)Prior to starting Comunicano in 1993, Andy was an executive with the Upper Deck Company (1991-92) of Carlsbad, CA where he directed all sports marketing and communications activities for the trading card company following his work in sports marketing and account management with Foote, Cone and Belding/Impact. Prior to joining FCB/Impact (1989-1991), Andy spent almost 16 years in professional sports management with the Denver Nuggets as an corporate sponsorship sales executive (1988), following 13 1/2 years with the Philadelphia Flyers in a variety of management roles including Group Sales, Office Manager, Manager of Amateur Hockey Affairs, President and Executive Director of the team's Hockey Central Division as well as leading a series of special projects which ranged from non-revenue based event operations, producing special events including the 1984 Bobby Clarke Retirement Night and the 1998 Celebrity All Star Hockey Challenge. Starting in 1989 Abramson served as General Manager of the Celebrity All Star Hockey Team through 1998 raising over $6 million dollars for charities.During his time with the Flyers, Abramson developed over 25 sponsored properties that promoted, stimulated and developed interest in youth hockey throughout the Delaware Valley. In 1980 Abramson was named Registrar in history for USA Hockey, at age 20, making him the youngest ever to hold that position to date. Under his leadership membership increased over three fold from 330 registered teams to over 1000 in the Atlantic District. He remains a Director Emeritus of the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association. Andy began his communications and event operations career with the Philadelphia Wings Pro Lacrosse Team in 1974 at age 14 working with professional athletes and the media.In his spare time, Andy produces wine under the Comunicano Wine Company brand in conjunction with Doug Margerum of Margerum Wine Company and serves as the USA Ambassador of the International Grenache Association. In 2012 he was the first Californian ever named to the Chevalier du Commanderie in France.