Baseball
The Chicago Cubs hired Justin Piper as general manager for Mesa spring training operations. Piper was executive vice president of business operations for the Reno Aces.
The St. Louis Cardinals named former Cardinals player Willie McGee a special assistant to the general manager.
The Texas Rangers promoted Jon Daniels to president of baseball operations and general manager and Rick George to president of business operations.
The Class AA Southern League’s Birmingham (Ala.) Barons named Don Leo corporate sales manager, Brett Oates group sales manager, Steve Bayko community group ticket representative, Sydney Weldon corporate event planner, Joseph Cooper director of retail sales, Randy Prince chief financial officer, George Chavous director of community relations and Nick Lampasona director of stadium operations.
The Baltimore Orioles named Nelson Norman director of baseball operations for the Dominican Republic.
The New York Mets promoted Dick Scott to director of player development, Adam Fisher to director of baseball operations, Jon Miller to director of minor league operations, T.J. Barra to manager of minor league operations/baseball information and Ian Levin to manager of baseball analytics.
The independent Northern League hired Dan Evans as commissioner. Evans is president and chief executive officer for Evans Baseball Consulting.
Colleges
East Carolina University hired Jeff Compher as athletic director. Compher was associate vice president and athletic director at Northern Illinois University.
Floyd Keith resigned as executive director of Black Coaches & Administrators to become a consultant with the NCAA Office of Inclusion and Leadership Development and a senior adviser for the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida.
McNeese State University hired Bryant Carter as associate athletic director for internal affairs. Carter was associate director of games and event management at the University of Alabama.
Grand Canyon University named Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman, a special assistant to the president.
Ohio University hired Lauren Ashman as associate athletic director for compliance. Ashman was assistant athletic director for compliance at Coastal Carolina University.
The University of Massachusetts Boston hired Garin Lee Veris as director of external business development and marketing.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hired Amanda Braun as athletic director. Braun was executive senior associate athletic director at Northeastern University.
Marketing
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JAMES
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BEHYMER
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GOLDBERG
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Learfield Sports named
Scott Goldberg associate general manager for its Xavier Sports Properties,
Mike Behymer associate general manager for its K-State Sports Properties and
Kyle James associate general manager for its Red Raider Sports Properties at Texas Tech University.
Repucom America named Ibrahim Koese head of consumer insights.
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MARTINEZ
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O’SULLIVAN
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RSE Ventures hired
Jennifer Pogorelec O’Sullivan as general counsel. O’Sullivan was chief executive officer and commissioner for Women’s Professional Soccer.
Media
ESPN promoted Kevin Martinez to vice president of corporate outreach.
Olympics
Ken Read stepped down as director of Canada’s Own the Podium winter sports program.
USA Hockey hired Rob Koch as director of communications and social media. Koch was senior director of public relations and team operations for the Atlanta Thrashers.
Ron Rossi stepped down as executive director and chief executive officer for USA Luge.
Soccer
Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing hired Matt Chavlovich as senior director of licensing, Mauricio Cruz as coordinator of player relations and competition and Ali Nicastro as coordinator of partnership marketing, and named David Scholl coordinator of player relations and competition.
The Colorado Rapids hired Richard Fleming as director of broadcasting and play-by-play analyst.
The Philadelphia Union hired Tommy Wilson as director for the Philadelphia Union Academy. Wilson was technical director and reserve team coach for Rangers FC in Scotland.
Sporting Goods and Apparel
Prince Global Sports promoted Mike Ballardie to chief executive officer.
Killerspin hired Kenneth Valdiserri as vice president of marketing and strategic alliances.
Newton Running named Craig Heisner president. Heisner was vice president of marketing, sales and product merchandising for Li-Ning.
Skins Compression hired Johnny West as general manager for North America. West was director of brand and sports marketing for 2XU North America.
Tennis
Lawn Tennis Association Chief Executive Officer Roger Draper will step down, effective at the end of September 2013.
Other
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PAPPAS
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Bellator MMA hired
George Pappas as vice president of sales. Pappas was vice president of corporate alliances for Dick Clark Productions.
Parker Executive Search promoted Daniel Parker to vice president of its sports practice.
Awards and Boards
The Bowl Championship Series presidential oversight committee named University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman chairman.
Oliver Tait resigned from the Breeders’ Cup 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 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.
