Executive Transactions

Schulze's Focus Now On Venue Operational Elements

The Dolphins have announced an organizational restructuring, with Land Shark Stadium President BRUCE SCHULZE now focusing exclusively on the operational elements of the venue and the enhancement of the fan experience, and Senior Dir of Community Relations & Government Affairs ERIC KNOWLES refocusing his efforts more on expanding the organization's outreach in the government relations area. In addition, the team hired the following: BRYAN WIEDMEIER as Senior VP/NFL Affairs & Special Projects, TERRY HOWARD as Senior VP & Chief Technology Officer, ADAM GROSSMAN as Senior VP/Public Affairs, MARK TILSON as Senior VP/Sales & Ticket Operations and MATT THOMAS as VP/General Counsel & Football Administration. The organization also promoted ILONA WOLPIN to Senior Dir of Community Relations and DANIELLE SERGEANT to Dir of Client Services (Dolphins).

COLLEGES: The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) announced they have launched a national search to fill the position of Exec Dir, replacing long-time Exec Dir DENNIS COLLINS who passed away in June. KERI LUCHOWSKI will serve as Exec Dir during the search (NCAC)….Univ. of New Orleans AD JIM MILLER announced he is stepping down from his post, which he has held since January '03. Associate AD MIKE BUJOL will serve as interim AD, with Miller remaining with the athletic department in a fundraising capacity until the end of '09 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/31).

EXECS: Rodale President & CEO STEVEN PLESHETTE is leaving his post, effective September 1. Rodale Chair MARIA RODALE, granddaughter of Founder J.I. RODALE, will replace Pleshette as CEO (minonline.com, 7/30)….Billy Casper Golf promoted KATIE BARONGAN to VP/HR (Billy Casper Golf)….Sponsorium Int'l named SETH LEEDS Senior Dir of Business Development. Previously, Leeds managed all business operations for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (Sponsorium Int'l)….The National Baseball HOF & Museum elected IBAF President DR. HARVEY SCHILLER to its BOD, bringing the total of directors to 19 for the non-profit institution (Baseball HOF)….The ECHL Charlotte Checkers named MIKE HENDRIX Dir of Advertising & New Media and ABBY PUCKETT Fan Relations Manager (Checkers).

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