Rod Trafford in

Rod Trafford

Initiator · DISC type Di
Co-Founder | Director - Strategic Partnerships & Business Development at SYZMIK Sports
📍 Boca Raton, Florida, United States

Rod Trafford is a former NFL player who has built a career at the intersection of sports technology and player welfare. As the Co-Founder of SYZMIK Sports, he focuses on strategic partnerships and business development, leveraging his experience in launching innovative head protection systems. People who have worked with him describe him as an outstanding communicator, diligent, hard-working, and knowledgeable.

His background as a scholarship athlete and team captain at the University of South Carolina under coach Lou Holtz remains a significant part of his identity. He maintains strong connections with his former coach and teammates, indicating a deep appreciation for the leadership and guidance he received during his playing career.

He was personally awarded the "Winning Performance Award" by Hall of Fame Coach Lou Holtz for excellence in leadership and dedication.

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Experience
21 Years
Current Role
Co-Founder | Director - Strategic Partnerships & Business Development
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Personality Overview

How Rod shows up

Confident
Risk-Accepting
Impact-Oriented

They don’t mind taking a stand if they believe in something. They usually prefer to drive the conversation. They respond well to objective pitches but also attach some value to relationships.

Priorities

Topics Rod cares about

Player Health & Safety
His entire post-NFL career, from VICIS to SYZMIK Sports, has been dedicated to developing advanced head protection and safety technology for athletes.
Sports Technology Startups
As the Co-Founder of SYZMIK Sports, he is deeply involved in the startup ecosystem, from product inception and R&D to pitching and securing partnerships.
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Career

Work history

1-2021
Co-Founder | Director - Strategic Partnerships & Business Development
SYZMIK Sports
11-2016 - 11-2020
Vice President | Elite Accounts & Strategic Partnerships
VICIS, Inc.
4-2015 - 8-2016
VP Southeast
i1 Biometrics, Inc.
1-2013 - 2-2014
Director of Marketing
FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
1-2008 - 12-2012
Regional Sales and Marketing Director - Southeast
Xenith
In the press

Media appearances

No media yetWe could not find public media appearances for this person.
Education
B.A. Sports Psychology
University of South Carolina
2016 - 2016
Accreditation
Babson College
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

D

Dominance (D)

Dominance (D) reflects how goal and task oriented a person is, and their ability to accomplish results irrespective of how demanding the circumstances might be. Those scoring high tend to be motivated by winning, competition, and success.

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