We’re your brand’s All-Stars! Whether we’re executing the perfect brand identity or scoring a winning game plan, we approach marketing with the precision and prowess of an All-Pro quarterback. Ready to drive your brand to victory? Let’s strategize together to make marketing magic happen!
Yellow Flag Productions is the ultimate playmaker in the world of Michigan high school sports and higher education marketing communications. Since 2002, we’ve been hitting nothing but net as the proud parent company of our flagship brand State Champs! Sports Network. With seasoned pros on our team, we spotlight the triumphs of high school student-athletes across Michigan through Emmy-winning videos, blogs and podcasts. As the trusted marketing agency for Lawrence Technological University, we turn every marketing challenge into a slam dunk. Our game plan? Armed with a playbook of time-tested marketing strategies infused with emerging AI technologies and customized solutions, we’re ready to elevate your brand into the winner’s circle, leaving the competition scrambling to catch up. Throw a yellow flag on poor marketing results and score big with a winning game plan. Let us be your MVP!
We’re the MVPs of brand development, crafting winning strategies that set you apart from the competition. From logo design to brand guidelines, we’ll ensure your team has a cohesive identity that resonates with fans and sponsors alike.
Our production team specializes in creating jaw-dropping content that leaves a lasting impression. Whether it’s dynamic videos, captivating photography, or engaging podcasts, we’ll help you tell your story in a way that captures hearts and minds.
With our playbook of digital marketing tactics, we’ll help you dominate the online arena. From targeted email campaigns to engaging social media content, we’ll drive fan engagement and boost your brand’s visibility in the digital world.
Elevate your brand with unforgettable events that leave fans cheering for more. From game day activations to experiential marketing campaigns, we’ll create memorable moments that keep your audience coming back for more.
Our photography and videography team captures every moment with precision and flair. Whether it’s capturing the intensity of game day or showcasing your brand’s products in action, we’ll deliver stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression.
Take your brand to the airwaves with our podcasting and broadcasting services. From hosting your own show to sponsorship opportunities, we’ll help you reach new audiences and amplify your message to the masses.
With our social media expertise, we’ll help your brand score big on every platform. From content creation to community management, we’ll engage fans, spark conversations, and turn followers into loyal advocates.
Bring your events to life with our live streaming and broadcasting services. Whether it’s a game day broadcast or a virtual event, we’ll ensure your audience never misses a moment of the action.
Our web design team creates winning online experiences that captivate audiences and drive results. From sleek designs to seamless user experiences, we’ll build a website that’s as impressive as your team’s performance on the field.
Founder, Owner and President
Founder, Owner and President
Lou Bitonti, Founder, Owner, and President of Yellow Flag Productions, is in a league of his own. With a 30-year winning record as a senior manager at Chrysler, Bitonti continues to push YFP to the top of the standings. Inducted into the Experiential Marketing Hall of Fame, Bitonti often draws up innovative plays from his championship-winning playbook. He leads both the YFP and State Champs! Sports Network teams to score big with game-changing content, Emmy-winning productions and innovative marketing strategies. Bitonti earned a BS in Communications and Marketing from Eastern Michigan University, where he is recognized as a Distinguished Alumni. He always wins over fans by flashing his event marketing insights through guest lectures and a book, “the Cosmic Spiderweb: How to Capture Any Customer Through Event Marketing”.
Vice President of Productions and Corporate Partnerships
Vice President of Productions and Corporate Partnerships
John Watson is Vice President of Productions and Corporate Partnerships at Yellow Flag Productions. He is renowned for making the winning shot. With more than 25 years of scoring points in sales and operations management, Watson expertly assists partners in launching effective advertising campaigns like an all-star point guard. His track record from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies almost reads like a highlight reel. His passion and talents keep YFP on the offense while his dedication to family and sportsmanship is always a driving force.
Vice President of Operations and Executive Producer
Vice President of Operations and Executive Producer
Lorne Plant is Vice President of Operations at Yellow Flag Productions, creating and hosting award-winning productions with a Hall of Famer broadcaster’s smooth touch. An Executive Producer and Television Host, the multitalented Plant has been in the game for over 20 years and boasts seven Regional Emmy wins. With technical degrees hanging on the wall from the Academy of Radio and TV Broadcasting and Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, Plant is the mastermind behind YFP’s award-winning playbook for creating powerful content across the State Champs! Sports Network.
Vice President of Communications
Vice President of Communications
Ted Coutilish is Vice President of Communications at Yellow Flag Productions. He quarterbacks the company’s creative messaging, advertising, public relations, digital marketing, publications, brand strategy, special events, social media and communications. An award-winning communicator and passionate advocate for disability awareness, Coutilish is a proud graduate of Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy. He and his wife, Mary Beth Langan, live in the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, along with their son, Andrew, who has Fragile X Syndrome.
Creative Director
Creative Director
Event Planning, Materials Procurement, and Sales
Event Planning, Materials Procurement, and Sales
BJ Cameron is responsible for event planning, materials procurement, and sales for Yellow Flag Productions, State Champs! Sports Network and State Champs W. He was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and was a multi-sport athlete at Birmingham Groves High School, excelling in football, baseball, basketball, and track. He graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BS in Business, emphasizing Marketing and Advertising, and played Division II football and baseball. He has 35 years of sales experience in the paper and printing industry. In his free time, he enjoys golf and platform tennis, and is a proud parent to Kendall and Johnny.
Sports Reporter and Analyst
Sports Reporter and Analyst
Patti Cesarini is a versatile sports reporter and analyst with experience covering football, basketball, hockey, and volleyball for State Champs! Sports Network and Oakland University Athletics on ESPN+. A former NCAA Division I volleyball player and 2024 graduate of Oakland University, she brings strong on-air presence, game insight, and a natural connection to athletes and fans. She has also worked as an in-game host for the United Shore Professional Baseball League and interned with the Windy City ThunderBolts, combining deep sports knowledge with vibrant, engaging storytelling.
Photographer and Content Creator
Photographer and Content Creator
Camren Clouthier is a photographer and Content Creator at Yellow Flag Productions. In his role, he covers everything from university-focused events to sports and more. He is a 2019 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Video Production. In his free time, he enjoys cheering on University of Michigan football, flying his drone, and spending time with his soon-to-be wife Emily and their dog, Kody.
Social Media Manager
Social Media Manager
Robby Elliott is the Social Media Manager for State Champs! Sports Network and State Champs W and is the host of the high school baseball show “Extra Innings.” He played college baseball at Spring Arbor University for two years before transferring to Specs@LTU to complete his education. He has a true passion for storytelling and excels at capturing the excitement of high school sports through his voice and digital media.
Production Manager
Production Manager
Jonathon Kidd, the Production Manager at Yellow Flag Productions and State Champs! Sports Network, is a seasoned veteran with more than two decades of media experience. Since the network’s first pitch with Local 4 WDIV in 2002, Kidd has been coaching, guiding, planning, filming, and editing. A Specs Howard School of Media Arts graduate, his early love for sports now shines through each broadcast.
Social Media Specialist
Social Media Specialist
Vanessa Litchard is a Social Media Specialist at Yellow Flag Productions. In this role, she supports clients and internal projects through social-first content strategy, visual storytelling and brand-forward design. In addition, she develops and manages content calendars across platforms, produces high-quality photography and short-form video for Reels/TikTok/Shorts, and delivers polished and branded creative assets from graphics and copywriting to editing and publishing with a focus on accessibility and performance. Litchard brings hands-on experience leading multi-channel growth and creative production in both sports and residential marketing, paired with a Communications & Media degree from the University of Michigan and a strong command of Adobe Creative Cloud, Meta Business Suite, and analytics-driven reporting. In her spare time, she likes hanging out with her dog and cat, reading, watching hockey, and cosplaying.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Matt Mandarino is a seasoned graphic designer for Yellow Flag Productions with over a decade of experience in the apartments, mortgage, and sports industries. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from Full Sail University and four associate degrees from Macomb Community College, he specializes in print, social media, motion graphics, and marketing assets. With 10 years of high school soccer coaching experience at Notre Dame Prep and Troy High School, he has played high-level soccer for more than 30 years. Married to Natalie, he is a creative hobbyist who designs shirts, merchandise, and home projects, and enjoys golf, bowling, cornhole, video games, and watching sports. They live in Clinton Township, MI.
Photographer and Social Media Manager
Photographer and Social Media Manager
Amanda Mooradian is a photographer and social media manager at Yellow Flag Productions. A proud alumna of University of Colorado Boulder, she captures the essence of Lawrence Technological University through her photography. Whether she’s behind the camera or skiing down the slopes with her family and playful pup, her passion for storytelling is a slam dunk every time.
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Chuck Pellerito is an Executive Producer at Yellow Flag Productions, specializing in athletics. A 2014 graduate of Specs Howard’s Digital Media Arts program, he began his journey with YFP as a freelance videographer from 2016 to 2019 before being hired as a producer. His current responsibilities include editing, videography, motion graphics, directing live broadcasts, and building broadcast graphics. He also explores graphic and audio design.
Marketing Content Writer
Marketing Content Writer
Nurzahan Rahman is a marketing content writer at Yellow Flag Productions. She earned a BA in English from University of Detroit Mercy and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Data Science and Business Analytics. A seasoned writer, Rahman has a devoted passion for language and storytelling, crafting words with intention. She views every sentence as an opportunity to transform perspective and views writing as more than a passion, but a way of seeing the world, one word at a time. Her role encompasses both publication management and crafting tailored content across various platforms.
Content Producer
Content Producer
Alec Sweet started at Yellow Flag Productions as a freelance videographer and quickly became a key player as a Content Producer. Teaming up with Lawrence Technological University, Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, and a lineup of talented student interns, Sweet broadcasts and creates highlight reels for Lawrence Technological University Athletics, ensuring every moment is a game-changer. A proud graduate of Wayne State University with a BA in Media Arts and Studies: Productions, Sweet’s expertise is a home run for YFP.
Web Champion
Web Champion
Gabrielle VanAmberg since 2019 continues to play a starring role in the digital lineup at Lawrence Technological University. After earning a BFA in Game Art from LTU, VanAmberg has become a strategic coach in understanding user behavior and trends. Their efforts make the university’s online presence a true game-changer — with accessible digital spaces that are always a step ahead of the competition.
Project Manager and Content Writer
Project Manager and Content Writer
Renee Ahee is a Project Manager and Content Writer for Yellow Flag Productions, specializing in the College of Architecture and Design at Lawrence Technological University, with additional writing roles for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Business and Information Technology. She is also the owner and president of In Other Words, LLC, a public relations firm founded in 1999, with clients including General Motors. Ahee earned a BA in Journalism and Humanities from Marygrove College, receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019, and an MS in Finance from Walsh College. She serves as president-elect of American Women in Communications and president of the National American Arab Nurses Association.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Since October 2023, Pete Hollinshead has been a Project Manager at Yellow Flag Productions. In this role, he has led the development and production of communications for the new College of Health Sciences and the College of Business and Information Technology at Lawrence Technological University. This work includes writing and editing articles for digital and print channels, including the Lawrence Tech magazine, research magazine, and college newsletters. In 2014, he worked for YFP as a freelance executive producer of Comcast Channel 900 cable TV programs featuring local municipalities in Macomb and Washtenaw Counties.
Finance and Business Manager
Finance and Business Manager
Antonette Phelps is the Finance and Business Manager at Yellow Flag Productions, overseeing the yearly fiscal budget, payments, and contractor invoicing. She supports the “Ready, Set, Cheer” podcast and owns “Private Yoga by Antonette,” where she teaches weekly sessions. She earned an Elementary Education degree from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Special Education, Reading Specialist, and Learning Disabilities from DePaul University. Living in Royal Oak, MI, with her husband and three young boys, she is passionate about sports and fitness. She has been a cheerleader for Notre Dame Prep, Michigan State, and the Pistons; has run multiple Chicago marathons; and currently enjoys yoga and golf.
Freelance Writer
Freelance Writer
Matt Roush is a freelance writer for Yellow Flag Productions assisting with research writing and media relations. He is a seasoned journalist with 35 years of experience as a reporter and editor in various cities followed by 11 years at Crain’s Detroit Business and 13 years at WWJ Newsradio 950. He created The Great Lakes IT Report, a daily newsletter focusing on high tech from a Michigan perspective. An Albion College graduate in Speech, Communication, and Theatre, Roush remains a theater enthusiast and participates in all aspects of production. His side ventures include being a sports PA announcer and podcaster.