Curt Knapp admits that his career path has been unique. He started out as a biochemical engineer, then obtained an MBA in finance, and he’s moved from the motor-oil business to the waste business and now to the agency business. Along the way he has had the opportunity work with the NBA, NFL, PGA Tour and champion NHRA driver John Force. Knapp recently discussed his new career path at USM&P with staff writer Brandon McClung.

Age: 47
New title: Managing director and senior vice president, U.S. Marketing and Promotions
Previous title: Vice president of marketing, Waste Management Inc.
First job: Box closer in an aluminum siding factory
College education: Bachelor of science, biochemical engineering, Rutgers University (1980); MBA, finance, Rutgers University (1988)
Resides: Relocating to Dallas with wife Susan and children Christopher and Ashlee from the New York City metro area
Grew up: Colonia, N.J.
Executive most admired: Mark Lazarus, president, Turner Entertainment Group
Brand most admired: Ping
Favorite vacation spot: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Last movie seen: “Match Point”
Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump”
Favorite musician: Red Hot Chili Peppers

What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?

I’ve got to build and direct a team to develop and execute a new piece of business that will be one of the largest and most complex programs that our company has ever tackled.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

When I took the challenge to go to work for Waste Management. It was a very high-profile turnaround situation. Waste Management had recent highly negative press related to an Arthur Andersen accounting scandal and Waste Management’s landfill properties. Plus, they had never done strategic marketing before and their brand ID was all over the map. There was a tremendous amount of inertia that had to be overcome there and the company had a totally new senior management team, so I couldn’t have a full understanding of what I was coming into. Fortunately, it worked out great.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?

There are really two that come to mind. The first is developing and executing the launch of Castrol Syntec Motor Oil, which was one of the most successful new product launches in automotive aftermarket history. The second was the results coming out of Waste Management. To take what was there, which was virtually nothing in the way of strategic brand marketing, and develop and execute a program that culminated in a $20 million network campaign was very satisfying.

What is one story you are continuing to watch in sports today?

Michelle Wie. As a sports fan, it is a great story. Here you have a product, someone that has an incredible level of talent and anything short of her having a career that is absolutely phenomenal would be a disappointment. At the same time, you could have a great debate whether she is being handled the right way. Whether she needs to learn how to win or whether she just needs to be challenged by the toughest competition.

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Baseball
The Boston Red Sox promoted Brian O’Halloran to director of baseball operations and Zack Scott to assistant director of baseball operations.

The Cincinnati Reds hired Wayne Krivsky as general manager. Krivsky was assistant general manager for the Minnesota Twins.

The Minnesota Twins hired Doug Beck and Brock Maiser as account executives. Beck was a sales executive for the Star Tribune and Clear Channel, and Maiser was an account executive for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Long Beach (Calif.) Armada of the Golden Baseball League named Gus Sampras general manager. Sampras was vice president of IMG Tennis.

Facilities
Global Spectrum named Matt Lowney sales manager for the new Arizona Cardinals Stadium. Lowney was sales manager for the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott in Glendale, Ariz.

Football
The Fiesta Bowl named Jay Fields vice president of marketing. Fields was vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless in Arizona and New Mexico and was the Fiesta Bowl committee chairman.

Hayes

The Buffalo Bills promoted Joe Frandina to vice president of stadium operations, Peter Guelli to vice president of business development, Marc Honan to vice president of marketing and broadcasting, Bill Munson to vice president of public affairs and David Wheat to vice president of business operations and ticketing.

The Kansas City Chiefs promoted Bill Kuharich to vice president of player personnel.

Golf
The LPGA named Liz Ausman to the newly created position of chief strategic officer. Ausman was executive vice president and director of corporate business for Initiative Media Worldwide.

Hockey
The American Hockey League named Katie Turner coordinator of marketing services, Rob Madrid coordinator of corporate communications, Lauren Peterson executive assistant to the president and Anna Marie Travaglini administrative assistant.

Hughes

The Boston Bruins hired Brian Hayes as promotions manager, John Hughes as fan relations manager, Jeremy Lemoine as Boston Bruins content manager, Liz d’Entremont as advertising coordinator, Eryn Gallagher as community relations manager and Dave Mello as promotion coordinator.

Horse Racing
The Maryland Jockey Club hired Lou Raffetto as president and Chris Dragone as senior vice president and general manager. Raffetto was chief operating officer for Laurel Park and Pimlico racetracks, and Dragone was general manager for Portland Meadows racetrack.

Marketing
Image Factory hired Randy Rovegno as vice president of marketing and sales. Rovegno worked for Fox Cable Networks.

Leverage Sports Agency named Keith Wan sports marketing manager. Wan worked for NASCAR’s corporate marketing office.

Lemoine

Maloof Sports and Entertainment hired Emily Begley as an account executive.

OnSport named Mary Reiling Spencer to the firm’s corporate consulting group. Spencer was director of marketing and promotional programs for the WNBA and was also vice president and managing director for NBA Asia Pacific and managing director for NBA Australia.

Media
ESPN Radio named Marc Horine general manager of new media for ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Horine was senior director of new media for ABC Radio Networks.

Juma Entertainment hired Lewis Fenton as production head and executive producer and Danny Tepper to oversee development in its East Coast office.

Runner’s World hired Brad Feldman as sales development director. Feldman was senior manager of integrated marketing for Golf Digest Cos.

d'Entremont

Setanta Sports North America named Chris Low director of marketing and public relations. Low was a consultant for the BRC Group in San Francisco.

Entercom Boston promoted Jason Wolfe to vice president of programming for WEEI-AM and WRKO-AM in Boston.

YES Network named Nicole Zussman vice president of human resources. Zussman was vice president of human resources for World Wrestling Entertainment.

Motorsports
The International Hot Rod Association promoted Mike Perry to director of communications, Kim Parsons to senior graphic designer and Jennifer Pohorence to take over Drag Review Magazine’s graphic design. The IHRA also named Travis Reynolds director of media relations and Tommy Dupree director of contingency and official products.

The National Hot Rod Association named Brian Hacker media relations manager.

Apex Media, the parent company of Apex Motorsports Promotions, named Ron Woodbridge director of bookings and business development. Woodbridge was senior vice president and general manager of Glendale Arena.

Olympics
The U.S. Olympic Committee named Robert Fasulo chief of international relations. Fasulo was director for the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

Awards and Boards
The Association of Luxury Suite Directors named Pat McCaffrey president. McCaffrey is director of season sales for the Cincinnati Reds.

The Independence Bowl promoted Missy Setters to executive director.

The International Ticketing Association awarded Derek Younger, director of ticket operations for the Washington Nationals, as the Outstanding Ticketing Professional of the Year.

Timothy Freer, New Era Cap Co.’s vice president of global human resources, was named to the Fair Labor Association’s board of directors.

People news To have your personnel announcements included in the People section, please send information and photos to Brandon McClung at 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202, or e-mail them to careers@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Electronic photos must be a jpg or tiff file for Macintosh, 2.25 inches wide at 300 dpi. Color only, please. News items may also be sent via fax to (704) 973-1401. If you have questions, call (704) 973-1425.

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