Keith Stoeckeler Builds Heartlent Group Into a Senior-Led Creative Studio Defining Modern Sports Storytelling

Keith Stoeckeler is the Founder, Head of Strategy and Operations at Heartlent Group, a senior-led creative studio built by leaders with backgrounds across brands, agencies, teams, and leagues. The studio focuses on athlete-driven stories and sports content, shaping work for some of the most visible names in the industry.

Keith's path began within agencies, where he led creative and strategy work for national brands. That experience pushed him to build a studio built differently, one that pairs sharp creative leadership with a small, senior team that stays close to the work. Heartlent launched with that goal, and the studio's growth has reflected it.

Heartlent is now trusted by agencies such as AKQA, players associations such as the NFLPA and NBPA, teams such as the New York Knicks, media properties such as DAZN, CBS Sports, and Sports Illustrated, and brands including Under Armour and the NBA. The studio's work spans brand creative, athlete storytelling, video production, including social content, to commercial productions, and campaign branding and development.

The team's athlete-focused work stands out. Heartlent has shaped content for the NFLPA Community MVP program for the past 5 years, produced stories for the NBPA, created brand experiences for emerging athletes, and produced custom video, motion, and illustration work that travels across social channels. Their senior-by-design structure allows them to handle strategy, creative, and production within a single team, giving partners a complete process without layers or handoffs.

The studio's work has earned recognition across creative competitions. Heartlent has received awards and honors from American Illustration, Hashtag Sports, the London International Creative Competition, the MARCOM Award, the MUSE Creative Awards, and The One Club, to name a few. These wins span illustration, integrated campaigns, social content, and branded sports work, with highlights including Hoopers Vote, NFLPA CMVP, and Sam Houston State campaigns.

Keith's creative background extends beyond Heartlent. As a dad and a storyteller, he wrote a children's book called The Sparkly Bun, which went on to win several awards. That project proved his creative range and opened a new path within Heartlent. The studio is now creating children's books for athletes and sports figures, including Walt Clyde Frazier and Henrik Lundqvist.

Heartlent's leadership team brings experience from major brands, creative agencies, sports teams, and leagues, and their small, senior setup keeps strategy and craft at the center of every project. Their work blends brand thinking, cultural relevance, and sports credibility, which is why partners bring them in to shape projects that need clarity, quality, and creative leadership.

For brands, teams, leagues, agents, and athletes seeking a partner who understands sports and delivers work quickly with senior oversight, Heartlent Group offers a direct path to results.

You can explore more of Heartlent's work at Heartlent.com, or connect with Keith on LinkedIn at Linkedin.com/in/keithstoeckeler.

Heartlent Group
PO Box 117
Fairfield CT 06824
keith@heartlent.com

Heartlent Group is a sports focused creative studio trusted by players associations, teams, brands, and agencies. The studio delivers athlete stories, brand creative, design systems, and high impact video and content. Built by leaders with backgrounds across brands, agencies, teams, and leagues, Heartlent brings senior level strategy and creative to every project without layers or handoffs.

This release was published on openPR.