Strategy · Endurance · Purpose

Zachary Dicken

Executive. Ultramarathoner. Entrepreneur. Dad. High-agency operator.
Playing the infinite game — on my own terms.

There is no finish line.
"I play my own game. I create value at scale. I solve meaningful problems. I build wealth. I protect my time. I put my family first. There is no finish line."

There are two kinds of games. Finite games have known players, fixed rules, and an agreed-upon endpoint. Someone wins, someone loses, and then it's over. Most people unconsciously play life this way.

An infinite game has no finish line. The players change, the rules change, and the entire point is to keep playing. You're not trying to win — you're trying to build something that outlasts any single milestone.

Every decision gets filtered through one question: does this keep me in my game, or does it pull me into someone else's?

The Golden Circle
What
How
Why

Why

To continuously evolve as a person, leader, and father — proving through action that you can build wealth, solve meaningful problems, and never sacrifice the people and freedom that matter most.

How

By setting audacious goals and learning from the pursuit. By building strong teams, embracing discomfort, leading with trust, and treating every challenge — from a boardroom to a 240-mile desert race — as fuel for growth.

What

Lead strategy and operations at scale. Build systems that create value. Run ultramarathons. Found ventures. Show up consistently as a husband, dad, and friend. Create a life that doesn't require permission.

The short version

I'm a high-agency operator — an executive focused on strategy and business development, with 15+ years leading revenue growth and operational efficiency across the sports and tech industries. I'm motivated by solving problems, building strong teams, and driving strategic decisions that move business forward.

My career has given me opportunities to lead large, dynamic cross-functional teams in both mid-sized companies and Fortune 500 environments. I navigate high-stakes situations while creating clarity, setting culture and pace, and driving results at scale.

Outside of work, I'm an ultrarunner and entrepreneur, drawn to setting big goals and learning from the pursuit. I'm focused on evolving as a person and leader and showing up consistently as a dad, husband, and friend.

15+
Years in Sports & Tech
75+
Team Members Led
240
Longest Race (Miles)
9
Promotions at Chicago Fire
01 — Professional
The path
2023 — Present
Vice President, Partner Services, Operations & Supply Strategy
Ticketmaster · Live Nation Entertainment
Leading the Resale Supply Chain — a large, dynamic performance-based team comprised of several groups working together to drive resale forward at scale. Focus: grow and optimize supply; build and enhance tools & services; remove friction across the ecosystem; foster trusted partnerships; drive operational excellence; power cross-functional initiatives; champion transparent, compliant communication and policies.
Spanning Tooling (Sales, Programs), Operations (BOS, 3PE, Client, Events), Support (APIs, Tooling, Open Ticketing, Salesforce), Partner Services (BizDev & Relationship Strategy), and Communications (Partner Program, Global). Supply strategy represents ~50% of resale GTV and ~70% of marketplace inventory. Record performance across major metrics. Scaled 3PE from zero to an XXX+ vertical. Key role in "Sell Instantly" — XXX in ticket sales, 150% YoY growth.
Supply Record '19, '22, '23, '24 XXX+ Vertical XXX Fan Program
2021 — 2023
Senior Director, Partner Services & Supply Strategy
Ticketmaster
Navigated the resale supply vertical through COVID and back to scale. XXX barcodes and XXX GTV — 2x revenue vs. pre-COVID levels. Grew the Partner Program to 1,500+ sellers. Launched Open Ticketing Resale Validation for MLB.
2019 — 2021
Director of Supply Strategy
Ticketmaster
Joined as IC, quickly became thought leader. Managed top 100 resellers. Saved XXX by revising clawback processes during COVID and recovered XXX in sales collections. Pioneered 15 pivotal NFL deals capturing over half of Ticketmaster's NFL supply.
2010 — 2019
Inside Sales Rep → Senior Director (9 promotions)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club · MLS
Nearly a decade rising from entry-level to senior leadership across ticketing, operations, and business intelligence. Led 35+ professionals across six departments. Founded the BI team. Organized the 2017 MLS All-Star Game at Soldier Field. Represented the club in München for the Bayern Munich friendly. Fastest promotion from Inside Sales in program history.
MLS Commissioner's Award ×3 J.D. Power Best Fan Experience Exec of Year Finalist
2009 — 2010
DIA & Athletic Ticket Office
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dual roles in Marketing and University Ticket Office. Contributed to record-breaking revenue and I-Fund donations.
Foundation
2018
Northwestern — Kellogg
Executive Education in Competitive Strategy & Business
2010
University of Illinois
BS in Recreation, Sport & Tourism — Sport Management
Highest Honors · Tau Sigma Honor Society
2008
Lincoln Land CC
AS in Business Administration
NJCAA Soccer Player
Milestones along the way

Leadership & Management

Ticketmaster Resale Supply Record'19, '22, '23, '24
MLS Commissioner's Award — ST Renewals2018
MLS Ticket Sales Team of the Year Finalist2017
MLS Ticket Sales Impact Award — Outside Sales2017
J.D. Power Best Fan Experience — Chicago2016
MLS Commissioner's Award — Group Sales'15, '17
MLS President's Award — Group Tickets'13, '14, '16

Individual

1st Overall Male — Shawnee Hills 100K (Course Record)2025
1st Overall Male — Cry Me A River 50K2025
1st Overall Male — Shawnee Hills 50K2024
MLS Ticketing Exec of the Year Finalist2017
MLS All-Sales Team — Season Tickets2012
MLS All-Rookie Team — Season Tickets2011
Top 10 Finisher — Zion 100K2020
Top 30 Finisher — Moab 2402018
Ironman Maryland Finisher2017
02 — Ventures & Entrepreneurship
Creating value at scale

The infinite game isn't just a philosophy — it's a business model. Build systems that create value, fund freedom, and compound over time.

Wash Park Ventures
Founder
Entrepreneurial venture focused on building wealth through value creation at scale. Solving big, meaningful problems while maintaining full control over time and priorities.
Building
🌲
The Running Tree
Founder · 2015 — Present
Born from the trails — a venture rooted in the running and endurance community. Connecting the culture of distance running with purpose-driven commerce.
Active
03 — Endurance
The miles that made me

Ultrarunning isn't a hobby — it's a practice. Every race is a conversation with yourself about who you are when it gets hard and you keep going anyway.

Ultramarathons

Potawatomi Trail Runs — 60 Miler
Pekin, IL
2028
Cry Me A River — 50K
Grafton, IL
1st Place Overall Male
2025
Cry Me A River — 50K
Grafton, IL
2024
Shawnee Hills Trail Races — 100K
Ozark, IL
1st Overall · New Course Record
12:40:56
2025
Pinhoti 100 — 100 Miler
Sylacauga, AL
21:27:18
2024
Shawnee Hills — 69K
Ozark, IL
1st Place Overall Male
6:52:47
2024
Grindstone by UTMB — 100K
Swoope, VA
18:38:16
2023
Zion Ultras — 100K
Apple Valley, UT
Top 10 Finisher
2020
Moab 240 Endurance Run
Moab, UT · 240 Miles
Top 30 · 85 hours through the desert
85:25:38
2018
Bryce Canyon Ultras — 100 Miler
Bryce Canyon, UT
28:11:32
2017
Grand Canyon Ultras — 60 Miler
Grand Canyon, AZ
10:27:14
2017

Marathons, Triathlon & Other

Berryman Trail Races — Marathon
Potosi, MO
4:18:13
2024
North Face Challenge — 60 Miler
Park City, UT
12:03:27
2018
North Face Challenge — 60 Miler
Blue Mountain, ON
9:28:38
2018
North Face Challenge — Marathon
Eagle, WI
4:56:54
2017
Ironman Maryland
Full Distance Triathlon
Ironman Finisher
2017
North Face Challenge — 60 Miler
San Francisco, CA
10:08:16
2016
Pere Marquette Trail Run — 7.5 Mi
Grafton, IL
1:05:28
2018
04 — Community & Impact
Beyond the day job

Positive Coaching Alliance

Young Associates Board · Chicago Chapter · 2016 — 2019

Supporting youth athletes through positive coaching practices.

City Year Chicago

Volunteer · 2014 — Present

Life mapping at Schurz High School and day-of-service programs.

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Volunteer · 2013 — Present

Ongoing food drive and social services support.

Chicago Fire Foundation

Marathon Runner & Supporter

Ran the Chicago Marathon on behalf of the Chicago Fire Foundation's P.L.A.Y.S. program.