Basketball
The Los Angeles Sparks hired Julio Alcaraz as a corporate partnership sales executive.
Colleges
Virginia Tech hired Pete Moris as associate athletic director for strategic communications. Moris was assistant athletic director for communications at the University of Oklahoma.
Appalachian State University deputy athletics director Rick Beasley will retire, effective June 30.
Facilities
AEG Facilities named Dominique Goulet director of booking for the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
International Speedway Corp. hired John Nowicki as an account manager for partnership marketing.
Football
The Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos promoted Ed Hervey to vice president of football operations, in addition to his role as general manager.
Golf
The PGA of America named Arjun Chowdri PGA senior director of global and corporate strategy and Carol Albert senior director of marketing and communications.
Hockey
The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Amy French as digital marketing analyst and Danielle Childers as corporate development sales coordinator.
The Los Angeles Kings named Melina Kent VIP service executive.
Horse Racing
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association promoted Keith Chamblin to chief operating officer.
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SCHULZ
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Law
Foley & Lardner LLP named
Kevin Schulz vice chair of the firm’s sports industry team.
Marketing
The Aspire Group promoted Mike Cassidy to senior sales consultant for its national sales center, Tony Garrett to regional vice president of fan relationship management, Justin LaLone to senior group events consultant at Arizona State University, Matt Ziemnicki to senior service and retention consultant and William Weir to senior sales consultant at the University of Texas, and Jamel Jodah to director of ticket sales and service at Tulane University. The company hired Zoe Cohen and Kyle Brannigan as sales consultants at Army; Jessica Collova as a sales consultant at Georgia Tech; Eliot Rowland as senior sales consultant at the University of Kansas; Jeff Ross as a sales consultant at the University of Minnesota; Justin Oriente as service and retention consultant, Matt Hines as manager of database marketing and analytics and David McKurth and Michael Kaplan as new business consultants at Rutgers University; Paul Coggiola as a sales consultant at the University of Texas; and Michael Smith as service and retention consultant at the University of California, Riverside.
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BARCKHOFF
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ETA - Creative Event Producers hired
Greg Barckhoff as vice president of sales and marketing. Barckhoff was managing partner for Sports Fan Properties.
IMG College hired Todd Armstrong as vice president of partnership marketing. Armstrong was managing director of business development/automotive and contingency for NASCAR.
CAA Sports promoted Matt Elefant to an agent in the tennis department, Heather Grosz to an agent in the football department and Roman Di Somma to an agent in the property sales department. Jesse Ryback was hired as an executive in properties sales. Ryback was director of business development for Premier Partnerships.
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PACINI
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Learfield Sports hired
Quinn Pacini as Montana State University general manager.
Media
Fox Sports named David Nathanson head of business operations.
Sensory Interactive hired Rob Hedrick as associate director of business development. Hedrick was executive producer for Monumental Network.
Disney and ESPN Media Networks promoted James Rollins to vice president of digital video distribution.
Genesis Communications hired Alex Tallitsch as digital director. Tallitsch was social media coordinator for the Times Square Ball Drop and digital director for www.cheeseheadtv.com.
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BOTTITTA
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SMT promoted
C.J. Bottitta to executive director of its video production services department.
Motorsports
Racing Electronics Business development manager Ashleigh Smith stepped down.
Multiteam Companies
Madison Square Garden Co. Chief Financial Officer Sean Creamer resigned. Isiah Thomas was hired as team president for the New York Liberty.
The New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans named Stephen Pate senior director of community and governmental affairs.
Olympics
USA Gymnastics hired Rhonda Faehn as senior vice president of women’s program. Faehn was the head coach for the gymnastics program at the University of Florida.
Sporting Goods and Apparel
Mizuno USA hired Todd Lewis as global director of performance running — footwear. Lewis was global footwear product director for Columbia Sportswear.
Shock Doctor Sports hired Drew Brassard as senior vice president of operations and Kent Pachl as senior vice president of sales. Brassard was chief operating officer for Bravo Sports, and Pachl was senior vice president of worldwide sales for Cobra Puma Golf.
Trace hired Brad Blankinship as chief operating officer. Blankinship was executive vice president and general manager for C-Preme.
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CAPEWELL
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CHANG
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Other
Turnkey Intelligence hired
Eric Chang as vice president of research and
Bob Capewell as director of entertainment sales.
Awards and Boards
Chad Biagini, managing director of Harvard Group International’s global sports and entertainment practice, was elected to the national board of directors for Pet Partners.
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MARTINS
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The
Orlando Economic Development Commission awarded Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer
Alex Martins the 2015 James B. Greene Economic Development Award.
California Gov. Jerry Brown named Alex Solis to the California Horse Racing Board.
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.
