Baseball
 |
BARREN
|
The
Cleveland Indians hired
Brian Barren as executive vice president of sales and marketing. Barren was director of Procter & Gamble’s Kroger customer business development team.
The San Diego Padres hired Gordon Cooke as senior director of Padres Premium Plus. Cooke was director of sales and marketing for the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe.
The Texas Rangers promoted Gil Kim to director of international scouting and Rafic Saab to director of Latin America scouting.
The Class A Midwest League’s Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps promoted Abby Naas to director of promotions and community relations, Brad Shank to vice president of ticket sales, Erik Lose to facilities manager and accounting manager, and Justin Shurley and Brent Harring to senior ticket account managers. The team hired Evan Ashton as a corporate partnerships manager, Jen Wall as merchandise manager, Tara Cahill as a ticket account manager and Dan Preuett as assistant ticket office manager and reading program manger.
Basketball
Women’s Basketball Coaches Association manager of communications Andrea Kane is leaving the organization.
Colleges
The Sunshine State Conference hired Ed Pasque as commissioner. Pasque was senior associate commissioner for external affairs at the Atlantic 10 Conference.
American University hired Doug Dull as associate athletic director for communications. Dull was founder and president of DGD Communications.
Fresno Pacific University named Leslie Schuemann athletic director.
Saint Peter’s University named Bill Stein athletic director emeritus. Stein served as the school’s athletic director from 1981-2008.
UNLV senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie resigned from his position.
The University of Minnesota promoted Dan O’Brien to senior associate athletic director overseeing the football program and athletics facilities.
The University of Northern Colorado hired Darren Dunn as athletic director. Dunn was deputy athletic director at the University of Houston.
The University of Tennessee at Martin hired Julio Freire as athletic director. Freire was associate athletic director for development at UNLV.
Facilities
Global Spectrum named Fran Rodowicz general manager for Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center and Ron Rideout general manager for the Bicentennial Center in Salina (Kan.) Rodowicz was general manager for the Global Spectrum-managed Liacouras Center at Temple University, and Rideout was assistant general manager for the CFE Arena at the University of Central Florida.
 |
RE
|
Sonoma Raceway promoted
Michael Re to vice president of ticket sales and operations and
Chris Palmer to ticket operations manager.
Tony Capretto was hired as an account representative.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course named Steve Beckman ticketing manager for all Mid-Ohio events and the Mid-Ohio School driving and riding programs. Stephen Timms was named event operations coordinator for the track’s parent company, Green Savoree Racing Promotions.
Football
Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Robert Shelton resigned.
Golf
 |
STERANKA
|
Buffalo Communications and
Billy Casper Golf named
Joe Steranka chief global strategist. Steranka is the former PGA of America chief executive officer.
Hockey
The Buffalo Sabres promoted Randy Cunneyworth to special assistant and player development coach for the Rochester Americans and hired Tim Murray as general manager and Craig Patrick as a special assistant and adviser to the hockey department.
The Ottawa Senators promoted Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee to assistant general managers.
Marketing
 |
| LALONE |
 |
SCHWARTZKOPF
|
 |
ILLIF
|
 |
SCHERR
|
The Aspire Group hired
Mike Scherr as business development consultant,
Ben Iliff as group events consultant, and
Katelyn Schwartzkopf and
Justin LaLone as ticket sales consultants at Arizona State University.
GroupM ESP promoted Autumn Nazarian to senior vice president, Evin Dobson to vice president, Meghan Harrigan and Erin Thompson to account directors, Sarah Ax to senior account manager, Christopher Wallace to account manager, and Margot Freedman to account executive. Amanda Soto was hired as an account executive.
 |
MAROTTA
|
LeadDog Marketing Group hired
Kevin Marotta as vice president of client partnerships. Marotta was vice president of media strategy for Madison Square Garden.
Regan Communications Group hired Julie Kahn as executive vice president for sports and media, and as a special adviser to President George Regan Jr. Kahn was a senior vice president for New England at Entercom.
Sports Marketing Partners launched with Steve Schwartz as principal and founder.
 |
WHEELER
|
Learfield Sports promoted
Andrew Wheeler to senior vice president.
Sports agent Gustavo Vasquez formed SPSports Group, a full-service sports and entertainment company.
Media
Active Interest Media named Rory Strunk president of Warren Miller Entertainment and the rebranded AIM Studios Powered by Warren Miller.
ESPN consolidated its programming and production departments and named John Wildhack executive vice president of programming and production; Norby Williamson executive vice president of production, program scheduling and development; Burke Magnus senior vice president of programming acquisitions; Rob King senior vice president of “SportsCenter” and news; and Mark Gross senior vice president of production and remote events. Patrick Stiegman, vice president of editorial for digital and print media, will take over King’s previous role.
One World Sports hired Randy Brown as executive vice president of distribution. Brown was executive vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Outdoor Channel.
Sports USA Media hired Brandon Randazzo as director of social media.
Motorsports
Petty Holdings Chief Marketing Officer Mike Bartelli will leave his position, effective Feb. 14.
Turner Scott Motorsports hired Kevin Ray as director of business operations. Ray was team manager for Red Horse Racing’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams.
Soccer
Nelson Rodríguez will step down as Major League Soccer executive vice president of competition, technical and game operations, effective Jan. 31.
 |
DURKEE
|
The North American Soccer League’s
Minnesota United FC promoted
Eric Durkee to director of public relations.
Other
Comcast-Spectacor named Dan Gallagher chief of staff. Gallagher was vice president of learning and development operations for Comcast.
Fantasy Alarm named Rick Wolf president.
Getty Images named Ethan Green senior director of global events and sponsorships. Green was vice president of global sponsorships and marketing for Citi.
 |
OATS
|
The
National Athletic Trainers’ Association named
Rachael Cole Oats associate executive director. Oats was director for the NATA Research and Education Foundation.
Rugby Canada hired Mark Lemmon as chief marketing officer.
Moss Sports named Scott Lange executive director of venues and events. Lange was vice president of media and marketing for The Active Network.
Awards and Boards
 |
CRALL
|
Golf 20/20 named
Darrell Crall, PGA of America chief operating officer, 2014 chair.
Adidas named Eric Liedtke to its executive board of directors in Germany, effective March 6.
Joseph Hunt was named to the Edwards Jones Dome board of directors.
The LPGA named Mike Trager chairman of the board of directors.
 |
FINCHEM
|
The
World Golf Foundation named
Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, 2014 chair.
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.
