Baseball
The Tampa Bay Rays promoted Melanie Lenz to chief development officer, Jeff Tanzer to vice president for ticket sales and service, Eric Weisberg to vice president for marketing and creative services and Patrick Smith to senior director and controller. The team hired Jim Previtera as senior director of game operations and security and Michael Weinman as director of game presentation and production.
The Texas Rangers hired Juan Leonel Garciga as director of its youth academy and youth baseball and softball programs. Garciga was manager of community outreach and player relations for the Miami Marlins.
Little League International promoted Dustin Solomon to senior director of marketing for Little League Baseball and Softball.
The Class AAA International League Charlotte Knights promoted Tom Gorter to vice president of stadium operations, Tommy Viola to vice president of communications, Chelsea Herre to director of special events and David Woodard to inside sales manager. The team hired Chuck Arnold as vice president of sales; Cassidy MacQuarrie as director of community relations; Kyle Guertin as director of video production; Patrick Lally as client services manager; Daniel Straney as a ticket membership sales associate; Dylan Evans and Amanda Bullard as ticket sales service representatives; Nicole Copsis as special events coordinator; Nicole Dietrich as premium services manager; and Erik Drew, Ryan Lank, Jacklen McManus and Jeffrey Reisner as inside sales representatives.
Basketball
The National Basketball Association promoted Melissa Rosenthal Brenner to executive vice president of digital media and Eric Hutcherson to executive vice president of human resources.
Colleges
The University of Hartford hired Craig Sandlin as senior associate athletic director for external relations. Sandlin was associate athletic director for external relations at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga named Scott Altizer deputy athletic director, Laura Herron executive associate athletic director and senior woman administrator, Dr. Emily Blackman senior associate athletic director and Dr. Jay Blackman senior associate athletic director for strategic communications; and hired Lee Roberts as associate athletic director for development and Beth Luehrs as director of business affairs. Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations Andrew Horton added oversight of men’s basketball and soccer to his duties.
The University of Illinois hired Cassie Arner as associate athletic director for marketing, fan development and strategic communications. Arner was associate athletic director for public relations at Auburn University.
The University of South Carolina named Jerry Meyers assistant director of athletics development. Meyers was pitching coach on the school’s baseball coaching staff before taking a medical leave of absence.
Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis announced his retirement.
Miami University hired Katie Sherman as assistant director of athletic events and facilities. Sherman was an event coordinator at Ohio State University.
The University of North Dakota named Bill Chaves athletic director. Chaves was athletic director at Eastern Washington University.
Northeastern University named Jeffrey Konya athletic director. Konya was athletic director at Oakland University.
The University of South Carolina Upstate hired Andrew Thomas as associate athletic director for development. Thomas was assistant director of development at the University of Texas at El Paso.
The University of Tulsa hired Erich Anthony as assistant athletic director for athletic performance. Anthony was associate director of applied performance at the University of Texas.
The University of Wyoming hired China Jude as senior associate athletic director for administration and senior woman administrator. Jude was assistant vice president and athletic director at Queens College, City University of New York.
The Colonial Athletic Association hired Lynn Newton as associate commissioner for finance and internal affairs. Newton was assistant athletic director for business operations at Georgetown University.
The University of Houston hired David Tagliarino as deputy athletic director. Tagliarino was chief operating officer and senior vice president for Forever Orange.
Muskingum University named Steve Brockelbank vice president and athletic director. Brockelbank was associate athletic director for communications and administration at Miami University.
Washington State University named Patrick Chun athletic director. Chun was athletic director at Florida Atlantic University.
Facilities
AEG Facilities promoted Richard Krezwick to senior vice president for its newly opened New York office.
Texas Motor Speedway hired Gavin Faretra as media relations manager and Jake Young as broadcast media relations manager. Faretra was communications manager for New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Young was a multimedia journalist in Dallas.
Football
The Green Bay Packers promoted Jason Wahlers to vice president of communications, and hired Charlie Millerwise as director of development and hospitality. Millerwise was vice president of innovation and concepts for Delaware North Sportservice.
The New York Jets hired Brooks Neal as director of corporate sales. Neal was director of global partnerships for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Marketing
GMR Marketing hired Jamie Ennis as vice president of client consulting and services. Ennis was West Coast vice president for Mosaic.
Octagon promoted Matt Malichio to senior vice president and creative director; Meredith Kinsman to vice president of digital strategy; Lindsay Wynalek to vice president; Michael Taft to senior sales director; and Kelly Duffy, Sarah Masters, Adam Polansky, Elizabeth Ritchie and Melissa Woltman to group director.
Relevent Sports hired Heather Breen as senior vice president of marketing and partnerships. Breen was vice president of sponsorship, development and business strategy for MKTG.
Team One promoted Damian Areyan to vice president and group director for partnerships and experiential marketing.
Media
BAMTech Media hired Kevin Swint as senior vice president and general manager. Swint was vice president of product, content and services for Samsung.
Barstool Sports hired Peter Morris as executive vice president. Morris was executive vice president of entertainment for IMAX Corp.
CBS Sports Digital promoted Jeff Gerttula to executive vice president and general manager.
Showtime promoted Stephen Espinoza to president of sports and event programming.
truTV promoted Simmy Kustanowitz to vice president of development and original programming.
Motorsports
IndyCar hired Neale Hood as senior director of partnerships. Hood was director of sales and marketing for Furniture Row Racing.
Hendrick Motorsports hired Alba Colon as director of competition systems. Colon was NASCAR Sprint Cup program manager for General Motors.
Team Penske named Robby Benton NASCAR team manager.
Multiteam Companies
AEG hired Jonathan Treisman as director of global partnerships. Treisman was director of corporate partnerships for Comcast Spectacor.
Soccer
The National Women’s Soccer League hired Susie Piotrkowski as vice president of sales. Piotrkowski was director of sponsorship sales for Spartan Race.
The Colorado Rapids promoted Pádraig Smith to executive vice president and general manager and Wayne Brant to senior vice president of business operations, and hired Fran Taylor as assistant general manager and Ena Patel as director of player personnel.
Sporting KC promoted Marty Nevshemal to chief financial officer.
Sporting Goods and Apparel
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association promoted Alex Kerman to manager of business operations, and hired Alli Schulman as coordinator of communications and marketing.
Tennis
The United States Tennis Association restructured its Community Tennis division and named Kurt Kamperman chief executive for the USTA National Campus, Craig Morris chief executive for Community Tennis and Jeff Waters managing director for Community Tennis. Gordon Smith was named USTA chief executive officer and executive director.
Awards and Boards
The Orange Bowl Committee named Sean Pittman president and chair, José Romano president-elect and chair-elect and Jeff Rubin first vice-chair.
Nonprofit Up2Us Sports named Dan Mannix, LeadDog Marketing Group president and chief executive officer, chair of its board of directors.
Other
Glory Sports International hired Marshall Zelaznik as chief executive officer. Zelaznik was global head of business development and content for Major League Gaming.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association named George Taylor chief executive officer. Taylor was vice president and chief marketing officer of the marketing and digital division for Caterpillar.
