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People and Pop Culture

On the Move

Changing places and positions around the industry

Baseball

The Chicago Cubs hired ADAM BEARD as director of high performance. Beard was director of high performance for the Cleveland Browns.

The Milwaukee Brewers promoted DAVID STEARNS to president of baseball operations and general manager and RICK SCHLESINGER to president of business operations.

The Tampa Bay Rays promoted RAFAELA AMADOR to vice president of public affairs; DAVE HALLER to vice president of communications; BARRY NEWELL to senior director of business operations and analytics; EMILY MILLER to director of marketing and creative services; and NICO CASTILLO to director of soccer operations.

Basketball

The Atlanta Hawks hired ROB LAYCOCK as vice president of marketing. Laycock was senior director of client development for Live Nation Entertainment.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hired JENTRY MULLINS as director of business development and MELANIE SEISER as senior director of group sales and membership development. Mullins was manager of business development for the Phoenix Suns, and Seiser was director of season ticket sales for Minnesota FC.

Colleges

Florida Atlantic University hired MICHAEL MARFIONE as assistant athletic director of marketing. Marfione was assistant athletic director of marketing and fan experience at the Air Force Academy.

The University of Hartford hired KELLY SCAFARIELLO as senior associate athletic director for leadership and senior woman administrator.

James Madison University hired TAYLOR BLAKELY as director of fan and game day engagement and MAGGIE TYLER as director of video services. Blakely was director of marketing and sales at the University of Richmond, and Tyler was digital media content manager at Georgia Southern University. 

The University of New Mexico hired DAVID WILLIAMS as deputy athletic director for external affairs. Williams was deputy athletic director at the University of South Dakota.

Texas State University hired JOSH KELLER as assistant athletic director for annual giving, JOHN SORSBY as director of development and KARINA MEDELLIN as digital media coordinator for the Bobcat Club.

Troy University hired EBONY JACKSON as assistant athletic director for ticket operations. Jackson was athletic ticket manager at the University of Central Arkansas.

Facilities

AEG promoted IGNACIO GUERRA to vice president of operations and parking and BILL GARNER to senior director of parking for Staples Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live; promoted WENDY FUNES to senior director of booking and CHRISTINA MIKHAIL to senior manager of booking and VIP services for Staples Center and Microsoft Theater; promoted ARMEN DEMBEKJIAN to vice president of event production for Staples Center; and hired HALLIE YAVITCH as vice president of booking for Staples Center and Microsoft Theater.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Executive Director and Historian JOE HORRIGAN will retire, effective June 1.

Football

The XFL hired JEFFREY POLLACK as president and chief operating officer. Pollack was chief marketing and strategy officer and special adviser for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Canadian Football League Players’ Association named IAN SANDERSON director of membership administration.

The Carolina Panthers named KRISTI COLEMAN chief financial officer.

Hockey

The Columbus Blue Jackets promoted KAYLA CONSTANTINO to premium experience specialist; and hired JEFF KAUZLARICH as director of premium relationships, SUSAN OILAR as premium experience manager and SCOTT BALL as partnership activation specialist.

The Los Angeles Kings hired MONICA MULCAHY as senior manager of partnership sales.

Horse Racing

The New York Racing Association Chief Executive Officer and President CHRIS KAY resigned.

Marketing

Relevent Sports hired AARON RYAN as chief operating officer. Ryan was senior vice president of the NBA 2K League for the National Basketball Association. 

The Aspire Group promoted BRANDEN LUCAS to development consultant at Purdue University and MICHAEL PETERSEN to senior service and retention consultant and AARON SCHUSTER to senior sales consultant at Georgia Tech; and hired CHARLIE ARVISO as director of ticket sales and service at the University of Kansas, JODY SELLERS as manager of ticket sales and service at Louisiana Tech University, MOLLY CHRISTEL as manager of ticket sales and service at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, ALEX PIERCE as sales and service consultant at Coastal Carolina University, CHELSEA SHELANDER as service and retention consultant at the University of Connecticut, SANDY WHITE as sales consultant at the University of Toledo and AUSTIN SCHEIDT as new sales consultant at Purdue University.

Endeavor Global Marketing hired MICHELE THORNTON GHEE as executive vice president of business development. Thornton Ghee was senior vice president of national ad sales for BET Her.

Media

ESPN hired BRIAN LOCKHART as executive producer for ESPN+ original content. Lockhart was vice president of NFL Media’s original content group.

Fox Sports named BRAD ZAGER executive producer, executive vice president and head of production and operations.

NBC Sports Chicago promoted KEVIN CROSS to senior vice president and general manager.

Motorsports

NASCAR promoted JAY FABIAN to managing director for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Soccer

The Montreal Impact named KEVIN GILMORE president and chief executive officer.

The North Carolina Football Club named BRENNAN BARBER vice president of ticket sales, analytics, and partnership marketing; and hired FRED MATTHES as senior vice president of tickets and premium sales.

Sporting Goods and Apparel

Under Armour hired TCHERNAVIA ROCKER as chief people and culture officer. Rocker was vice president and chief human resources officer for Harley-Davidson.

Awards and Boards

USA Gymnastics named JUSTIN TOMAN, PepsiCo North America Beverages head of sports marketing and partnerships, to its board of directors.

The Winnipeg Football Club named DAYNA SPIRING, president and chief executive officer of Economic Development Winnipeg, chair of board of directors.

Other

The Green Sports Alliance named ROGER MCCLENDON executive director. McClendon was chief sustainability officer for Yum! Brands.

Game Changer MVP hired RICH MEYERS as senior director, business development and solutions. Meyers was director of event presentation for the Edmonton Oilers.

Ironman promoted JENNIFER MOCERINO to chief merchandise officer.

Nolan Partners hired kelly nguyen as a project coordinator.

Stats hired SIMON COTHLIFF as head of broadcast and media sales.

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.

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