GM News
Sue and I got to spend an afternoon in the Wolf Bar and Restaurant recently with Dan Hawley and his wife Anne and their two daughters, Hayden and Henley. It wasn’t just an ordinary bar. It belonged to Dan’s uncle and aunt on the other side of the “Snowys” in beautiful Saratoga, WY. We had a great afternoon with them.
Today I’ve learned that he’s taking a new job at Learfield as GM of Boise State–a new property for us. I remember Dan in Laramie when we first signed Wyoming where he worked as Corporate Sales manager for the University of Wyoming. Congratulations, Dan!
Jared Newland moves up to the GM job at Wyoming from Senior AE. Like Dan, Jared is also a UW graduate. He worked seven years as the Athletics Development Officer for the Cowboy Joe Club.
Just before joining Learfield he was Western Region Director for Red Foxx Solutions and has experience at Texas/San Antonio and Utah State. Jared also was an account executive for GEM Group.
Also I’ve learned today that Joe Weiss is the new GM at New Mexico. He’s been the AGM there for three years and before that–for ten years–was the Lobos Assistant Athletic Director for Sales and Marketing. Joe and his wife, Roxanne, are true Lobos. Joe has an MBA from there; Roxanne has both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from there. Darren Dunn, our good friend who has led LSP, is off to the University of Houston Athletics Department.
–clyde
D.J. Volko lands in Louisville
New AE D.J. Volko has joined our Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties (LASEP) to help Lynn Saltzman tackle the numerous sponsorship sales initiatives for that city’s downtown arena which opens November, 2010.
D.J. earned his master’s degree at Louisville and then worked as a sales executive for the University for two years. Most recently he was VP for Momentum Worldwide, managing the US Army and Coca-Cola accounts. Prior to that he was account manager at Relay Worldwide. D.J. has a ten year old son, Ryan and enjoys basketball and golf.
–clyde
Berridge new media guru
Kirk Berridge joins us a dual role next month: a Regional VP in the Pacific Region and head of digital media. Until he moves to Dallas, he’s helping us in a consulting role. Kirk was the founder and head of Fan Media Network, an independent news and entertainment media company that featured fan video journalism and social media for sports fans.
That’s exciting for me and for Learfield because he’s got a depth of understanding in an area that is defining tomorrow’s media. We feel we’re a leader already, but Kirk gives us a decided edge in the marketplace. Our schools will definitely see this strength as will our advertisers. So, Kirk is a real strong fit for us.
He was founder of SportsAdMarketplace, a online ad network of official pro and college sports team web sites. Isn’t that cool? He sold corporate partnerships for the 49ers, iSL/Big Ten Conference, San Jose Sharks, Cincinnati Cycloses, and the Atlanta Knights. Kirk has a journalism degree from the University of Indianapolis, where he was a scholar athlete competing in pole vault, triple jump and 4X100 relay. Kirk has a five-year-old daughter, Sophia.
Go Buffs!
Can you believe it? We’ve been successfully operating Colorado’s property for all these years without a contract! Finally we got it fully executed. It shows the mutual trust the Buffaloes had in Learfield and us in them. Got the deal inked yesterday in Boulder. L-R: Mike Bohn, Athletic Director; Andrew Wheeler, GM Buffalo Sports Properties; Clyde Lear; Greg Brown; Tom McGrath, Senior Associate Athletic Director [larger version of photo]
–clyde
Louisville Arena to host tournament in 2012
Yesterday the NCAA announced the sites for the 2012 men’s basketball tournament and the Louisville Arena will host first and second-round games. The new arena is scheduled for completion in 2010, in time for the Louisville men’s and women’s basketball seasons. WDRB-TV’s Chris Turner has good story on the big news, along with a video package. The Arena’s advertising and sponsorship sales are handled by Learfield Sports’ Louisville Arena Sports & Entertainment Properties (LASEP).
–clyde
New Minnesota stadium on campus
Last Saturday the Minnesota Golden Gophers played their first game ever on campus instead of in a dome belonging to someone else. It was a tremendous day for all and the spirit is captured so well in the great piece of video by a local TV outlet: KARE-11 News.
Matt Lear lands in Dallas
A Texas-sized welcome awaits Matt Lear as he joins our Learfield Sports’ Plano headquarters as Research Coordinator. Matt will serve as point person for our sellers at 50+ properties and provide research, competitive and political analysis and information on industry trends.
Since 2000, he has built databases and analyzed data for various clients as Owner of Lear Technology Services. He also has experience creating and storing customized online performance appraisals for banks and other industries as Vice President for Graham Lear, Inc., and from 1994-’96, he served as an Affiliate Relations Manager at Learfield working on a variety of school radio networks.
Matt, a graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, enjoys biking, climbing, snowboarding, cooking and TiVo. He and his wife, Stefani, and dog, Kayla, will be relocating from Colorado to the Dallas area soon.
Matt’s parents, Clyde and Sue, live in Jefferson City and are associated with Learfield as well.
Kick Off 2009 is… tomorrow!
The Sports Admin Musical Ensemble produced a little video in anticipation of tomorrow’s official kick off of the 2009 football season.
Congrats to everyone who has worked hard getting ready for “tomorrow.”
–clyde
Michael back to Muskies; Spack joins Purdue; Setzman to Penn State
Michael Albanese brings lots of experience to his new role as Senior Account Executive at Xavier Sports Properties. He was Director of Corporate Sales for the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati; Director of Marketing Partnerships at The Superlative Group (a Cincinnati sports marketing firm); and Marketing and Sales Associate with Xavier Men’s Basketball. Michael has a Bachelor of Science from Miami University and a M.Ed.-Sports Administration from Xavier. He enjoys golf, basketball and photography, and he and his wife, Katie, have three children (Bennett, Ryan, Colin).
Alicia Spack, a former member of the Purdue Women’s Softball team, joins Purdue Sports Properties as an Account Executive for Ticket Sales. Alicia interned with the Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union and NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. She calls West Lafayette home, and still makes time to play slow pitch softball and water ski.
Penn State grad Rob Setzman is the new Marketing & Sales Coordinator at Penn State Sports Properties where he’s been interning in the University Park office. Rob worked with Penn State Olympic Sports Marketing and Promotions before joining us. Rob’s a serious Nittany Lions’ fan but follows all Philly sports teams and enjoys supporting Penn State Dance MaraTHON, which raises funds and awareness to fight pediatric cancer, the largest, student-run philanthropy in the world.
The Valley
Watch today for the announcement of a ten-year deal with The Missouri Valley Conference. We’ll deliver sponsorship rights to championship events, sponsorship of the 33-game Fox Sports Midwest television network and provide brand-strengthening efforts for the 10-school conference.
The photo above is Learfield Sports President Greg Brown and me with MC Commissioner Doug Elgin signing the deal a few weeks ago at the Valley’s headquarters in St. Louis.
“We’re pleased to call Learfield Sports our partner and look forward to the great things ahead in which we can increase visibility for the MVC,” Elgin told us. “We firmly believe that our schools on an individual basis, and collectively under the conference umbrella, will benefit deeply from a proven leader like Learfield Sports.”
“The Valley” has a rich history. At 102 years old, it’s the nation’s second oldest NCAA Division 1 conference. Its schools are: Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Wichita State.
