People

Baseball

Chiera

The Pittsburgh Pirates hired Brian Chiera as senior director, marketing. Chiera was with SMG as assistant general manager and director of marketing of Mellon Arena.

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Bowling

Gil (left), Schiller

The Professional Bowlers Association promoted Carol Schiller to vice president, consumer marketing and Lisa Gil to vice president, brand communications. Schiller was the director of licensing, and Gil was director of brand communications.

The United States Bowling Congress named Tom Clark director of communications. Clark was sports assignment editor at USA Today.

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Facilities

Bisman

The Office Depot Center and the Florida Panthers hired Seth Cantor, Gretchen Dorfman, Jessica Innis and Marcus Overstreet as account executives in the new business development department, and hired Sara Bisman as an account executive for the group sales department.

Racette

Front Row Marketing Services named Jason Racette corporate sales director for the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. Racette worked at the University of Colorado in the premium seating department.

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Football

Walls

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc. named Rick Walls executive director of the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. Walls was the foundation’s director of operations.

Paul

The Minnesota Vikings promoted J.P. Paul from suite sales consultant to director of suite sales and services.

The Indianapolis Colts hired Brian Woodrum as director of production and promoted Andrew “A.J.” Macht to director of creative and Internet services, Natalie Palmer to manager of special events and Matt Gonso to special events coordinator.

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Hockey
The Phoenix Coyotes named television color analyst Charlie Simmer executive director of the Phoenix Coyotes NHL Alumni Association.

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Marketing

Galloway

Pepsi-Cola North America promoted John Galloway to vice president of sports marketing and media.

Warschawski promoted Samantha Oehl from senior associate to junior vice president.

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Media

O'Neal

FSN West and FSN West 2 added Patrick O’Neal and Priscilla Hojiwala as members of the “Southern California Sports Report” team.

Potovsky

Eclipse Television and Sports Marketing LLC added David Potovsky as vice president of events.

America Online promoted Jimmy Lynn to vice president of partnerships and strategic development for AOL Sports.

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Motorsports
Dirt MotorSports appointed Joseph Dickey chief administrative officer.

General Motors named Mark Kent director of racing. Kent was the GM Powertrain design systems engineer for the Northstar V-8 lineup of engines.

NASCAR hired Kristal Shipp as manager of media outreach for the West. Shipp was communications director for the Los Angeles Sparks.

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Soccer

Minkow

Ajax Orlando appointed David Minkow director of corporate sales.

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Softball
Mentium Athletics and the Ladies Professional Fastpitch Association Tour named Tom McCarthy president and CEO.

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Other
Warren Friss was named vice president-general manager-Topps Sports for The Topps Co.

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Awards and boards
University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams and sports journalist John Feinstein have joined the Booz Allen Classic’s board of governors.

O'Brien

Dan O’Brien, Cincinnati Reds general manager, was named the Distinguished Alumnus of 2005 by the Ohio University sports administration and facility management program.

Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission appointed Gene DeFilippo, Wyc Grousbeck, Jonathan Kraft, Richard Krezwick, Larry Lucchino (designee Larry Cancro), Mike Bavis, Lyman Bullard Jr., Christy Cashman, Deb Catania, Sandy Dunn, Paul Foster, Richard Friedman, Patrick Lyons, Pat Moscaritolo and Scott Solombrino to its board of directors. Foster will be chairman.

PEOPLE NEWS

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