Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles named Brady Anderson special assistant to the executive vice president of baseball operations, Rick Peterson to director of pitching development, Sarah Gelles to baseball analytics coordinator and Ben Werthan to advance scouting coordinator, and promoted John Stockstill to director of player personnel, Tripp Norton to director of baseball administration, Ned Rice to assistant director of major league operations and Mike Snyder to assistant director of scouting and player development.

The Chicago Cubs promoted Jodi Reischl to senior director of finance, Brian Garza to director of ticket sales, Connie Falcone to vice president of development for Chicago Cubs Charities, Mike Van Poucke to assistant controller, John Morrison to manager of brand activation and marketing and Drew Cook to associate for strategy and development.

The Chicago White Sox promoted Buddy Bell to vice president of player development and special assignments, Nick Capra to director of player development and Kirk Champion to minor league field coordinator.

Pam Gardner resigned from her role as Houston Astros president of business operations and will become a special adviser to the team’s owner and chairman, Jim Crane.

Freedman

Mandalay Baseball Properties promoted Larry Freedman to president.

The Milwaukee Brewers named former MLB player Craig Counsell special assistant to the general manager.

Basketball
The Cleveland Cavaliers named former player Zydrunas Ilgauskas special assistant to the general manager.

Colleges
Ball State University athletic director Tom Collins will leave the school at the end of his contract in June.

Concordia University named Regan Tekavec assistant athletic director.

Kansas State University promoted Casey Scott to senior associate athletic director for operations and event management, Laird Veatch to senior associate athletic director for strategic initiatives, Chad Weiberg to senior associate athletic director for development and Mike Clark to senior director of development.

Loyola University Maryland promoted Bill Wnek to associate athletic director.

Manhattan College named Noah Lefevre senior associate athletic director. Lefevre was athletic director at The College at Brockport.

Football
The Denver Broncos promoted Matt Russell to director of player personnel and named Brian Stark to West Coast scout.

The Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers named Jim Bell vice president and chief operating officer.

The Buffalo Bills promoted Dan Evans to vice president of IT, Andy Major to vice president of event operations and guest experience and Gregg Pastore to senior director of digital media.

Hockey
The Nashville Predators promoted David Kells to vice president of booking for Bridgestone Arena.

Marketing
CSE named Jim Weiss to the newly created position of vice president of communications and public relations.

Littleton

Valdiserri

KemperLesnik promoted Tom Valdiserri to executive vice president and Amy Littleton to senior vice president.

Other
Ilitch Holdings named Carly Strachan communications manager.

International Rugby Board chief executive and Rugby World Cup limited managing director Mike Miller is stepping down.

Awards and Boards
Gow Broadcasting, which launched Yahoo! Sports Radio, named Bob Cohen, president of Bob Cohen Strategies, to its board of directors.

Hain Celestial Group named Scott O’Neil, MSG Sports president, to its board of directors.

Justin Burnett, associate producer at Speed, won a Russ Catlin Award as part of the Taxslayer.com Motorsports Journalism Awards.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington’s Sports Hall of Fame inducted sports attorney Ellen Zavian and awarded Ted Leonisis, founder, chairman and majority owner of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the Abe Pollin Humanitarian Award.

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 email 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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Swinging some deals at the PGA Show

PGA President Allen Wronowski, Ken Griffey Jr., members of The Boys & Girls Club of America, Jack Nicklaus and PGA CEO Joe Steranka appear on stage after the opening ceremony of the 59th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Jan. 26. Photo by: MONTANA PRITCHARD / THE PGA OF AMERICA

Marking National Car Rental’s new status as an official partner of the PGA of America on Jan. 25 were (from left) Brad Carr, National’s VP of business rental development; Holly Campbell, National’s VP of media, creative and sponsorship; PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka; and Pat Farrell, National’s CMO. Photo by: MONTANA PRITCHARD / THE PGA OF AMERICA

PGA President Allen Wronowski (second from right) joins (from left) Paul Potwin, Mike Biggs and Gil Sanchez of Jani-King to announce its partnership as the official cleaning company of the PGA of America on Jan. 27. Photo by: MONTANA PRITCHARD / THE PGA OF AMERICA

Golf Digest and Golf Channel celebrated their new partnership with electronic tee time reservation platform GolfNow, a Comcast digital business affiliated with Golf Channel, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando on Jan. 26. From left: Golf Digest President and Publisher Peter Hunsinger, instructor and Golf Digest teaching professional Hank Haney, Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde and Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. Photo by: MONTANA PRITCHARD / THE PGA OF AMERICA

NACDA holds Mid-Winter Meetings

JMI Sports sponsored an event at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Mid-Winter Meetings in Florida during the last weekend in January. From left: Jeff Schemmel and Tom Stultz of JMI Sports, Earl Edwards of UC San Diego, Judy Rose of UNC Charlotte, Erik Judson of JMI Sports, NACDA 1st VP Kevin Anderson of Maryland and NACDA President Dan Guerrero of UCLA. Photo by: NACDA

NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione (left) attended an event with NACDA sponsors Rick Jones of FishBait Marketing, Jim Host of iHigh.com and Ken Haines of Raycom Sports. Photo by: NACDA

Sticking it to the coach

Steve Stenersen (right), president and CEO of US Lacrosse, presents former NFL player and coach Herm Edwards with a historic lacrosse stick during Edwards’ keynote address at the 2012 US Lacrosse National Convention, presented by Champion, Jan. 13-15 in Philadelphia. Photo by: JOHN STROHSACKER / US LACROSSE

Energized for the Red Bull Signature Series

Attending the Red Bull Signature Series launch event in New York City on Jan. 17 (from left): NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus; Rob Simmelkjaer, SVP of NBC Sports Ventures; Werner Brell, managing director of Red Bull Media House, North America; TV host Sal Masekela; and Wade Martin, Alli Sports president and CEO. Photo by: RED BULL CONTENT POOL

Agassi group helps cut ribbon on Philly project

At the ribbon cutting ceremony Jan. 24 of the first Canyon Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund project in partnership with KIPP Philadelphia Schools (from left): Richard Mills, president of Citigroup – North America; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; KIPP Philadelphia Schools CEO Marc Mannella; KIPP Foundation CEO and President Richard Barth; Andre Agassi, CACSFF co-managing partner, CEO of Agassi Ventures and founder of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy; and Bobby Turner, CACSFF co-managing partner and chairman and CEO of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors. Photo by: PAOLA NOGUERAS

Manager on hand at Ashland

Vada Manager (second from left), co-director of APCO Worldwide Sports Business and a corporate board director of Ashland Inc., joins colleagues in front of a NASCAR vehicle in the lobby of the Ashland Inc./Valvoline headquarters in Lexington, Ky., after his remarks to inaugurate a new employee leadership network Jan. 24. From left: Dionne Hall, Ashland consumer research; Manager; Sam Mitchell, president of Ashland Consumer Markets/Valvoline; and Daryl Love, Ashland community relations. Photo by: ASHLAND

Cheers to MillerCoors-NASCAR renewal

At the MillerCoors-NASCAR renewal announcement in Concord, N.C., on Jan. 26 (from left): Penske Racing owner Roger Penske, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, MillerCoors CMO Andy England, Miss Coors Light Rachel Ruper and NASCAR CMO Steve Phelps. Photo by: AUTOSTOCK

Working it with Reebok

Celebrities Elizabeth Banks, Paula Patton, Chace Crawford and Ed Burns participated in a CrossFit workout in New York City on Jan. 26 in New York City, led by Reebok CrossFit Games champions Rich Froning and Annie Thorisdottir, for Reebok’s official launch of its “Sport of Fitness Has Arrived” campaign. From left: Froning, Reebok global head of fitness Chris Froio, Thorisdottir and Reebok President Uli Becker. Photo by: REEBOK

Philips Arena Partner Network Breakfast

At the Philips Arena Partner Network Breakfast on Jan. 24 at the arena (from left): Jeff Genthner, Fox Sports South and SportSouth SVP and GM; ACC Commissioner John Swofford; and Bob Williams, president of the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena. Photo by: JENNIFER BOXLEY

Rolling out the Fusion for 2013

NASCAR President Mike Helton, team owner Jack Roush, driver Greg Biffle and hall of famer Richard Petty were among those on hand for Ford’s unveiling of its 2013 Fusion race car at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Jan. 24. Photo by: NASCAR

Please submit photos for review of industry conferences, parties, product launches and openings showcasing the people and personalities at the event. Include the event date, location, names/titles of those featured along with credit information. The photo specifications are as follows: 300dpi, tiff, jpeg or eps color images. Submit digital photos for review at: photo@sportsbusinessjournal.com or send color prints to: Faces & Places, c/o Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, 120 W. Morehead St., Suite 310, Charlotte, NC 28202.

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Sundance London
This year’s opening news conference included news of AEG Europe’s new Sundance-related role. Among the initiatives outlined by The

AEG Europe is partnering with Sundance at the O2. Photo by: MOLLY MAZZOLINI

Sundance Institute was the Sundance London Film and Music Festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival whose inaugural run will take place April 26-29 at London’s O2 Arena. AEG Europe, which owns and operates the O2, will be a partner in the project. The four-day festival is set to kick off with an opening event featuring Redford and record producer T Bone Burnett and moderated by Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity”). Fourteen films from the Park City lineup (to be announced in March) will make their U.K. debut.


Sundance Seen
In addition to film celebrities, athletes and sports executives made appearances to support their projects at the festival.

Pearce was part of the Bing Speaker Series. Photo by: BING BAR / GETTY IMAGES

The Bing Bar was also a Sundance concert spot. Photo by: BING / GETTY IMAGES

Kevin Pearce, the U.S. snowboarder seriously injured in 2009 while training in Park City, returned to town and discussed his recovery from head trauma at the Bing Bar, the Microsoft search engine’s party and gathering space. As the official search engine of the Sundance Film Festival, Bing activated with this temporary event space featuring a lineup of premiere parties for the filmmakers and concerts from the likes of Drake, Jason Mraz and Lil’ Jon, as well as the Bing Speaker Series.

“Because Bing is for people who do interesting things, we are honored to shine a spotlight on Kevin’s incredible journey through our new advertising campaign,” said Bing’s Lisa Gurry. Pearce appeared along with one of his doctors, Holly Ledyard, and ESPN X Games commentator Sal Masekela.

Donnie Nelson, the Dallas Mavericks’ president of basketball operations and general manager, flew in for the premiere of “The Other Dream Team,” about the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team. Nelson appeared in the film and has a long relationship with the Lithuanian national program.

Photo by: SALLY GARRISON

Kim Bohuny, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations-international, interviewed in “The Other Dream Team,” was also at the premiere. She has worked with members of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team since 1992 and was instrumental in supporting the film with NBA footage, interviews and team access. At right, Bohuny (center) and film producer Jon Weinbach (left) posed with ’92 team members Arturas Karnisovas (second from left) and Sarunas Marciulionis (second

Actress Isla Fisher plays ping pong, Puma style. Photo by: JOHN SHEARER / GETTY IMAGES

from right), and director Marius Markevicius.


Sundance Play
The invitation-only Puma Social Lounge has been part of the Sundance scene for five years. “It has been very successful for us and has given us the opportunity to let the film and entertainment industry experience our brand,” said Tara McRae, vice president of strategic planning and brand management for Puma North America. The footwear company, whose list of international athlete endorsers is led by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, provides mini air hockey stations, classic board games and a slick ping pong table, all ready for break time in a lounge setting. It’s more of an experience than a gifting lounge to reflect the Puma Social campaign. By the end of the festival, the matte black ping pong table was covered in silver signatures ready for auction to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club.

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