SGB WEEKLY 1122

MAY 30, 2011

A Weekly Web Magazine for the Sporting Goods Industry

UNDER FORTY 2011

Group Publisher Bill Garrels bgarrels@sportsonesource.com 303.997.7302

MAY 30, 2011

Editor In Chief James Hartford (704.987.3450 x104) james@sportsonesource.com

A Weekly Web Magazine for the Sporting Goods Industry

Senior Business Editor Thomas J. Ryan (917.375.4699) tryan@sportsonesource.com Editor/Analyst Kyle J. Conrad (704.987.3450 x111) kconrad@sportsonesource.com Creative Director Teresa Hartford Graphic Designer Camila Amortegui Advertising Sales Katie O’Donohue (704.987.3450 x110) katieo@sportsonesource.com Sean Hall (704.987.3450 x107) shall@sportsonesource.com Circulation & Subscriptions subs@sportsonesource.com Technology Chief Information Officer, Mark Fine VP Research & Development, Gerry Axelrod Manager Database Operations, Cathy Badalamenti

2011 FORTY UNDER FORTY AWARD RECIPIENTS SportsOneSource Publications SGB TEAM Business Sportsman’s Business The B.O.S.S. Report Sports Executive Weekly SGB Update Footwear Business Update PSR Update Sportsman’s Business Update

NEWS

4

6

7

8

ACADEMY SPORTS To Be Bought By Kohlberg Kravis Roberts FAMOUS FOOTWEAR'S 1Q Challenged By Tough Comps, Weather DSW Keeps Momentum Going With Solid 1Q FOOT LOCKER, INC. Shifts Management Roles PAYLESS Weakness Dents Collective Brands' Q1 MOVERS AND SHAKERS GENESCO'S Q1 Profits Soar 75 Percent

Team Business Update SGB Weekly

FEATURES

Team Business Weekly Sportsman’s Business Weekly Footwear Business Weekly

10 40UNDER40 - Leadership, Innovation, Entrepreneurship And Energy.

SGB Honors 40 Sporting Goods Industry Individuals Under The Age Of 40

Outdoor Business Weekly

DEPARTMENTS

18 I AM... SGB Mike May

Director of Communications, SGMA SportsOneSource, LLC 2151 Hawkins Street • Suite 200 • Charlotte • NC • 28203 t. 704-987-3450 • f. 704-987-3455 www.SportsOneSource.com

Copyright 2011 SportsOneSource, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by writers & contributors to SGB WEEKLY are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. SGB WEEKLY is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Articles appearing in SGB WEEKLY may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher.

SGB WEEKLY is published weekly by SportsOneSource, LLC, 2151 Hawkins Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28203; 704.987.3450. Send address changes to SGB WEEKLY, 2151 HAWKINS STREET, SUITE 200, CHARLOTTE, NC 28203; 704.987.3450.

WEEK 1122 | SGBweekly.com

3

NEWS

FAMOUS FOOTWEAR'S 1Q CHALLENGED BY TOUGH COMPS, WEATHER

ACADEMY SPORTS TO BE BOUGHT

BY KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Academy Sports + Outdoors. As part of the transaction, the founding Gochman family will retain a minority ownership stake. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Upon completion of the transaction, Rodney Faldyn will continue to serve as president of Academy Sports and also assume the additional responsibilities of chief executive officer.

Fayden, formerly chief financial officer, was promoted to president in 2007. The company is currently owned by current Chairman and CEO David Gochman, the grandson of the founder.

The transaction is expected to close in six to eight weeks, subject to customary closing conditions.

"We are excited to announce this agreement with KKR and we are confident this transaction is the absolute right thing for Academy's associates, partners and customers," said Faldyn in a statement. "This transaction with KKR will help accelerate Academy's continued growth and provide even greater flexibility to achieve our strategic goals. KKR understands our industry and our business well, and will be a tremendous partner as we build upon our leadership position, continue to implement our strategic plan and continue to exceed the needs of our customers. Our success is driven by the ongoing efforts of our talented associates, and I thank them for their continued hard work and dedication. We look forward to working with KKR to quickly complete the transaction."

"Academy Sports + Outdoors is an outstanding company with a rich history and an unmatched commitment to its associates, partners and customers," said Mike Calbert, a member of KKR and head of the firm's retail investment team. "We are long term investors who look for leading retail franchises and Academy Sports + Outdoors is a perfect fit. The Gochman family has built an unparalleled business and we look forward to continuing in their tradition of providing great value, outstanding service and an unrivaled shopping experience for its customers. We are excited to partner with the management team, the Gochmans and all the associates of Academy in accelerating the company's future growth."

Academy Sports + Outdoors has 131 locations throughout 11 states in the Southeast U.S. with approximately 16,000 associates and has generated more than $2.7 billion in revenue in 2010. The stores are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Founded in 1976 and led by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR is a leading global investment firm with $61.0 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2011. KKR's current and previous retail investments include Sealy, Dollar General, Toys 'R' Us, Pets at Home, Maxeda, Duracell, Gillette, RJR Nabisco, and Safeway.

4

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

Brown Shoe Co. said Famous Footwear delivered its second-best first quarter in the family shoe chain's 50-year history.

Unfortunately, those results were going against its top performance in Q1 2010, when toning footwear was king. Traffic was also hurt by rains and tornados in key parts of the country.

Largely as a result, Brown Shoe reported earnings tumbled 63.0 percent in the first quarter to $3.7 million, or 8 cents a share.

Excluding extraordinary items such as those tied to its acquisition of American Sporting Goods, earnings fell to 16 cents from 26 cents. Wall Street's consensus estimate was 13 cents.

Sales jumped 4.5 percent to $624.6 million.

Famous Footwear's sales were down 5.4 percent to $342.7 million with same-storesales off 3.9 percent. Operating profits slumped 33.3 percent to $18.8 million. Famous' gross margin was up 40 basis points to 45.7 percent, due in part to the elimination of five weeks of BOGO that offset lower toning margins.

On a conference call with analysts, Brown Shoe's CFO Mark Hood noted that toning sales increased in units sold but the impact on Q1 comps was 2.6 percent due to lower AURs. "We remain confident in our strategy to replace the expected decline in toning with running, which was up more than 20 percent in the first quarter," said Hood. "Running and toning performed well during the quarter, when the weather was actually in our favor. We lead the industry in toning revenue in the first quarter of last year, and we are still up against strong comparisons in the second quarter."

Overall sandal sales at Famous were down mid-singles due to the weather but are expected to rebound with more seasonal weather. While traffic was down, Famous' conversion rate was up 3.8 percent and average unit retails were 2.4 percent higher.

Presenting a more durable, comfortable denim.

HARD WORKING COMFORT… Where can you find long-lasting durability, abrasion-resistance and comfort all woven together?

Presenting CORDURA® Denim fabric, a special blend of cotton and INVISTA’S T420 nylon 6.6 fiber.

It’s tough stuff with the look, feel and comfort of traditional 100% cotton denim. Work hard. Play harder.

To learn more about CORDURA® Denim fabric call 1-800-577-3733, email cordura@invista.com or visit cordura.com. © 2011 INVISTA. CORDURA® is a registered trademark of INVISTA for durable fabrics.

NEWS

DSW KEEPS MOMENTUM GOING WITH SOLID 1Q DSW, Inc. reported first quarter sales increased 12.0 percent to $503.6 million. Comps jumped 10.8 percent on top of a 16.2 percent increase in the first quarter of 2010. Net earnings rose 27.2 percent to $38.4 million, or 85 cents a share, well above Wall Street's consensus estimate of 75 cents a share.

Gross profit margins expanded 140 basis points to 34.2 percent of net sales.

On a conference call, Mike MacDonald, president and CEO, said the first quarter represented "a continuation of the very positive momentum" seen in 2010 and partly reflected growing national awareness of the off-price shoe chain.

The comp gain reflected increases in customer traffic, customer conversion and units-per-transaction. Strong growth was seen

FOOT LOCKER, INC. SHIFTS MANAGEMENT ROLES In a wide-ranging management reorganization, Foot Locker, Inc. has promoted Richard Johnson, currently president and CEO of the company’s Footlocker USA group, to EVP and group president with responsibility for all of the company's domestic and international store banners. Key operational areas will be consolidated under 6

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

across categories and genders, led by strategic growth areas of accessories, men's footwear, private brands, and key items.

Accessory comps grew 18 percent, driven by hosiery. Men's comps climbed 16 percent.

Women's footwear recorded a "solid" comp despite the cold and wet weather in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country that particularly hurt sandal sales. Sandal sales in the South and the West were much stronger.

For the full year, the company now expects earnings per share between $2.65 and $2.80, up from a previous estimate of $2.60 to $2.75 per share. It expects revenue at stores open at least a year to increase by "mid-single digits."

Robert McHugh, who will be promoted to the new position of EVPoperations support, with responsibility for information systems and technology, real estate, logistics, sourcing and team edition.

The retailer will elevate its direct-to-customer business unit to report directly to company Chairman, president and CEO Ken Hicks.

As part of the broader moves, Lauren Peters will be promoted to EVP and CFO, succeeding McHugh. Peters was previously SVP of strategic planning. Succeeding Johnson in his current position is Stephen "Jake" Jacobs, president and CEO of Champs Sports.

Bryon Milburn will assume those responsibilities from Jacobs, and Milburn will be succeeded as managing director-Foot Locker Canada

by Nick Jones, who is currently general merchandise manager of Foot Locker Europe.

Ron Halls, currently president and CEO-Foot Locker, Inc.International, will retire later this summer.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

PAYLESS WEAKNESS DENTS COLLECTIVE BRANDS' Q1

Led by Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider, Collective Brands' Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG) Wholesale segment delivered strong increases in sales and operating profit in the first quarter. But Collective's overall earnings fell due to weak North American retail sales at Payless as well as higher product costs.

Net earnings tumbled 51.3 percent to $26.4 million, or 42 cents per share, far short of Wall Street's consensus estimate of 82 cents. Revenues eased 1.1 percent to $869 million.

PLG Wholesales’ sales climbed 22.5 percent to $212.5 million. Sales grew both domestically and internationally with global gains in all four brands, led by strong double-digit gains in Sperry and Saucony.

Operating earnings in the segment improved 8.6 percent to $25.3 million. Based on backlogs being up 39 percent currently, PLG Wholesales’ sales in the second quarter are projected to increase 20 percent.

On a conference call with analysts, Matt Rubel, chairman, CEO, and president, said Sperry's women's business nearly doubled and sales were near parity to the men's business. The brand is also finding faster growth at key premium and better department and specialty store channels and a good response from younger consumers.

Saucony saw growth across all geographic regions in both technical and athletic running product. Said Rubel, "Our strength in minimalism continues, leveraging the overwhelming success of the Hattori.

We're platforming minimalism into new models with both the Mirage and the Hattori off to great starts."

At its Payless Domestic segment, sales slid 8.8 percent to $498.4 million as same-store sales decreased 8.3 percent due to unseasonably cold and wet weather in the northern tier of North America and the impact of continued high unemployment and rising gas and food prices on the chain's target customers, particularly African-Americans and Hispanics. Operating profits at Payless Domestic tumbled 73.6 percent to $13.0 million, reflecting the sales decline and higher product costs.

Nautilus, Inc. has named Bruce M. Cazenave as CEO and M. Carl Johnson, III has been elected non-executive chairman of the board. Edward J. Bramson has resigned as CEO and chairman and resigned from the company’s board.

Diane M. Sullivan has assumed the role of president and CEO of Brown Shoe Company, Inc. The appointment came following the annual shareholders' meeting. The company announced in January its promotion of Sullivan, who previously served as president and chief operating officer. Meanwhile, Brown Shoe appointed Peggy Reilly Tharp to the position of vice president-investor relations and tapped Timothy J. Joyce to the position of senior vice president & general manager, American Sporting Goods.

Orange 21 has hired Jim Sepanek as vice president, Optical, effective May 9, 2011.

Sepanek, an executive with nearly 20 years' experience in the optical industry, will lead business development and sales for Spy and the company's other licensed products as it evolves its global presence in the optical category. He reports directly to Orange 21 president, Michael Marckx.

SwingAway Sports Products has signed Bryce Harper, Major League Baseball's 2010 No.1 Overall Draft Pick, to an exclusive multi-year contract. The 18-year-old Harper has agreed to an exclusive 3-year contract to represent the baseball training aids company.

Sportsquest, Inc. said its Fielding Eyewear unit appointed Jim Spangler as vice president of marketing and brand development. Spangler was previously president of World Axis Group in Thomasville, GA, a full-service advertising agency originally based out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Three executives of Li Ning Co. have left the Chinese sports apparel and footwear maker. Guo Jian Xin, chief operating officer, Fang Shih Wei, chief marketing officer, and Lin Li, head of Li Ning's e-commerce department, have all "resigned from their respective positions with the Group to pursue their personal interests," according to a company statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Shock Doctor has signed an endorsement contract with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star, World Muay Thai Champion and Universal Combat Challenge (UCC) World Lightweight Champion, Duane "Bang" Ludwig, and American professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight, Ben Rothwell. Both Ludwig and Rothwell will be wearing Shock Doctor mouthguards including the new Nano 3D mouthguard, Ultimate Martial Arts padded shorts, and Ultra Carbon Flex or Titan Alloy Flex protective cups during all training and fights.

McDavid USA hired Paul Andre in a new position as sales manager-Western U.S. Andre has served as national sales manager and director of team sales for a number of protective sports gear and apparel companies and brings 30 years of experience to the sporting goods business, not to mention his focus on team sports.

Hans Nutz joins industry veterans Bob McDonough and Mark "Snowy" Robertson as a fellow lead designer at Confluence Watersports. Also joining the design and engineering teams are two new engineers - Andy Robinson and Geoffrey Bergmark.

NEWS

GENESCO'S Q1 PROFITS SOAR 75 PERCENT Genesco Inc. reported first-quarter earnings surged 75 percent, driven by double-digit sales growth at its two largest businesses, Journeys and Lids Sports. Earnings from continuing operations reached $15.0 million, or 63 cents a share, up from $8.6 million, or 36 cents, in the prior-year quarter. Excluding non-recurring items, profits climbed 54.3 percent to $15.7 million, or 67 cents, exceeding Wall Street's consensus estimate of 48 cents a share.

Net sales grew 20.0 percent to $481.5 million. Comps increased 14 percent for the quarter over a 5 percent growth reported last year.

May comps advanced 12 percent through May 21.

At Journeys Group, revenues climbed 14.7 percent to $208.7 million with comps ahead 15 percent. Operating earnings surged 93.6 percent to $16.3 million. Comp gains of 14 percent were seen at both Journeys stores and Journeys Kidz. Shi by Journeys' comps were up 21 percent. Through May 21, Journeys Group comps rose 13 percent in May. On a conference call, Bob Dennis, Genesco's chairman, president and CEO, said the company believes the limited distribution of its branded product assortment within the mall continues to drive traffic into its Journeys stores.

"We saw it in men's and women's casuals for the fall/winter season, and that trend continued as we repositioned our stores for the spring/summer selling season with strength in casual, canvas, sandals, and skate brands," said Dennis. "We believe our casual offering and core skate assortment has become even more distinct

8

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

within the mall, as many of the athletic retailers continue to dedicate more space and resources to capturing share of the lightweight running and basketball categories, which have been performing well for them."

At Lids Sports Group, sales jumped 41.4 percent to $169.7 million. Operating earnings climbed 48.8 percent to $14.0 million. Overall comps increased 16 percent and were up about 9 percent in the month-to-date through May 21. E-commerce comps surged 42 percent for the quarter, and 45 percent monthto-date.

Much of the earnings growth was driven by Lids headwear stores, where sales were up 19 percent. Dennis said Lids headwear stores are running much stronger than planned for the year, driven primarily by new product introductions. Lids.com,'s 42 percent quarterly comp increase was fueled by a much greater selection of merchandise, as we've transitioned the website to include a full range of licensed merchandise beyond just hats.

Genesco now expects full-year EPS in the range of $2.90 to $2.97, which represents a 17 percent to 20 percent increase over last year's earnings, up from its previous guidance range of $2.78 to $2.85. The guidance assumes comp gains of 5 percent to 6 percent for the year. The company estimates that the loss of the full 2011-2012 NFL season could result in a reduction of up to $5.5 million in pretax earnings in the Lids Sports Group, reducing EPS by up to 14 cents a share.

update

YOUR DAILY ONLINE NEWS SOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS

LOG ON IT’S FREE WWW.SGBUPDATE.COM • 2151

HAWKINS STREET • SUITE 200 • CHARLOTTE • NC • 28203 • 704.987.3450

L

eadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and energy. The sporting goods industry requires these elements to maintain its growth trajectory and remain a market that will continue to draw great talent for years to come.

Each year, SGB honors 40 sporting goods industry individuals under the age of 40 who exemplify these attributes and enable the industry to continuously move forward. This year, the list of SGB’s 40 Under 40 honorees again exhibit the embodiment of these qualities, with each making a mark on his or her respective company, staff, mentors, peers, colleagues, customers and friends.

The fourth annual SGB 40 Under 40 awards process started with over 450 nominations submitted by those who know these people the best – the people they work with every day. The preliminary list was then vetted by editors and analysts from The SportsOneSource Group and finally voted on by a group of industry leaders and former honorees. Nominees can only make the final SGB 40 Under 40 honoree list once in their career and are considered members for life. With only 160 distinguished and ambitious members, it is truly an exclusive club.

The 40 individuals honored on the following pages may not all yet be household names, run the largest business or carry the biggest pen, but they are recognized by those around them as the best this industry has to offer as leaders that will ensure that the sporting goods world continues to be an environment that rewards hard work and fosters success.

For more on this story and complete biographies, please see the May/June Issue of SGB Magazine

10

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

NATE ALDER >

KLYMIT / FOUNDER & CEO / AGE 30 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 4

In 2008, Nate Alder became founder and CEO of Klymit, one of the sporting and outdoor industries’ most innovative young companies manufacturing noble gas-insulated outerwear and ultra-light camping pads. Klymit and Alder continue to push the boundaries of technologybased gear.

JEREMY ANDRUS

TRIPP BAIRD

>

SKULLCANDY / PRESIDENT & CEO AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 6

PARTNERSHIP CAPITAL GROUP ADVISORS FOUNDING PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR / AGE 35 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 8

Tripp Baird has led transactions across a variety of industries including action sports, outdoor recreation, footwear/apparel, sustainable/ natural/organic consumer products, fair trade, healthy nutrition, wellness and relaxation/ leisure. Tripp serves on the Advisory Council for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).

Prior to founding PCGA, Tripp was a Principal at North Castle Partners, a leading middle-

market private equity firm in the health and wellness markets. Prior to North Castle, he was a management consultant for Bain & Co. where he directed analysts and researchers supporting strategic decisions for Fortune 500 companies.

He previously worked for Goldman Sachs Global Equities Management Group in London where he focused on Pan-European equities strategy and Fred Alger Management in New York, a growth-focused family of funds providing investment management research & analysis for consumer products. Mr. Baird earned dual magna cum laude A.B.s from Harvard University. He is a devoted outdoorsman and can be found enjoying an active lifestyle with his wife, son and two dogs.

Jeremy joined Skullcandy in March 2005 and currently serves as president and CEO. Prior to joining Skullcandy, Jeremy served as strategic planner for Kimpton Hotel & RestaurantGroup from 2003 to 2005 and developed Marriott hotel properties from 1998 to 2000. Jeremy worked as a consultant for Monitor Company from 1996 to 1998. He currently serves on the Contour, Inc Board of Directors. Jeremy holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He lives in Salt Lake City, UT with his wife and daughters.

VARETTA BANKS

HIBBETT SPORTS / KIDS’ FOOTWEAR BUYER / AGE 35 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 12

Varetta is responsible for creating assortments, meeting with vendors, managing the open-to-buy and inventory. She started her career with Hibbett in the stores later relocating to the home office where she worked as a merchandiser for the men’s footwear categories. After being promoted to Assistant Buyer/Kids’ Footwear, Varetta received Hibbett's Buyer Of The Year Award in 2006 before becoming head buyer for Kids Footwear.

For more on this story and complete biographies, please see the May/June Issue of SGB Magazine

WILLY BOOKER

NORDICA USA / PRESIDENT AGE 34 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 10

JED BERGER

MODELL’S SPORTING GOODS / SENIOR VP MARKETING AGE 32 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 11

A graduate of George Washington University in 2001, Jed co-founded Dime Magazine, a basketball lifestyle publication. Soon after he acquired a second publication, Bounce, and founded the marketing agency 94x50, which became Nike’s primary agency in New York. At 94x50, Jed worked with Modell’s Sporting Goods evolving their directto-consumer and sports marketing initiatives. In 2009, he lead the company’s Rebirth initiative and prominently figured in the renovation of their 140+ stores as well as leading the company’s visual rebranding, CRM migration, and local marketing strategies. Jed lives with his wife and son in Brooklyn, NY.

Born and raised in Evergreen, CO, Willy was 5 years old when his mother began working in the Loveland Ski and Sport Shop to make season ski passes affordable for her family. Thirty years later she still runs the same shop and Willy's connection to skiing has been the driving force behind his professional career.

Ski racing at Loveland lead Willy to Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont where he competed through high school. He attended The University of Vermont Business School and was a member of the NCAA ski team. Upon graduation, he spent a year coaching and teaching at Burke Mountain Academy before accepting a job with Nordica as their Racing and Promotions Manager. Willy lives with his wife and son in Hanover, NH.

LINDA C. BRUNZELL

WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE VP INTL. THE OUTDOOR GROUP AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 3

Linda started her career in banking, went to business school, jumped to management consulting, and then found herself leading several brands at PepsiCo. In 2008, she was recruited to lead Marketing of the Merrell Brand at Wolverine Worldwide. She has led the positioning and marketing of the Global Merrell brand and now leads the development of their Outdoor Brands in Latin America and Asia/ Pacific. She and her husband were recently married and live in Michigan.

KIMBERLY CAYCE

KALYX / FOUNDER & CEO / AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 3+

Kimberly has dedicated her life to entrepreneurship and the pursuit of athletic excellence.

She earned her Bachelor's in English from Duke University while playing for their topranked women's golf team. She later received her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and was awarded the 2007 Wolfen Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Recently she was honored again as one of their 100 Most Inspirational Alumni. While pursuing her MBA, Kimberly worked with a team of experts developing the innovative KALYX Sports Bra line. Less than 4 months after launching her brand, KALYX sports bras were selected by SHAPE Magazine as one of "The Best Sports Bras For Every Body."

WEEK 1122 | SGBweekly.com

13

KELLY DACHTLER

THECLYMB.COM / CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AGE 34 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 10

>

Kelly has helped to create an entirely new distribution channel for the outdoor and sporting goods industries. His commitment to brand stewardship and innovation have helped the company become the fastest growing e-tailer in this space. Kelly is responsible for all consumer facing communications, including user experience design, marketing and brand strategy. Prior to cofounding the company, Kelly lent his vision and expertise to global brands like Merrell, Sebago, Liz Claiborne and Mossimo.

>

STEVE CUTHBERT

POLARTEC, LLC / DIRECTOR OF SALES NORTH AMERICA AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 14

Steve joined Polartec (then Malden Mills) in 1997, after graduating with a Masters in Textile Technology as an account manager. In 2002, he worked in their headquarters managing national accounts and achieving significant growth year-after-year. In 2004, he went to work for Primaloft as Eastern US Territory Manager. In 2007, Malden Mills was restructured becoming Polartec, LLC., and Steve returned as Director of Sales & Customer Service - North America.

Steve has played a significant role in the Polartec brand achieving record sales in 2010 through his relationships with many of the world's best outdoor apparel brands including The North Face, Patagonia, Marmot, Arc'teryx, and Mountain Hardwear.

PETER R. DAVIS

NCAA / DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE ALLIANCES / AGE 40 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 9

Peter oversees the corporate sponsorship, licensing and official equipment programs for NCAA as Director of Corporate Alliances. He and his team are responsible for identifying, developing and providing value to the team of corporations financially supported by the NCAA. His career started in sales followed by a logistics consulting role before returning to graduate school. He later joined NationsBank and earned a leadership role in rebranding the bank after merging with Bank of America. Peter then joined a brand consulting agency before his tenure began at the NCAA in 2002.

Peter is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH (B.S.) and earned his MBA from Wake Forest University where he currently serves alongside his wife, Sarah, on the Babcock Alumni Council.

S. HOBY DARLING

VOLCOM / SENIOR VP STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL AGE 36 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 15+

S. Hoby Darling currently serves as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development and General Counsel for Volcom and is a member of their Global Executive Committee. He combines his understanding of business, people, branding and legal acumen to help run one of the hottest global sport and lifestyle companies. He has profitably transitioned Volcom from a privately held $116 million revenue, US-centric brand into a publicly traded, multi-branded, international company. Mr. Darling introduced Volcom’s internal peak performance university (VolcomU). He holds a Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University and graduate degrees in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and Columbia University. He earned a BA from Western Washington University. He resides in Newport Beach, CA with his family.

14

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

DRIVEN

MARTIN DEAN

WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE, INC. / CREATIVE DIRECTOR CUSHE FOOTWEAR, CREATIVE DIRECTOR WOLVERINE LONDON DESIGN NEST / AGE 34 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY 16

Prior to starting Cushe in 2005, Martin spent 9 years designing and developing branded footwear for large international footwear companies. After leaving Leicester South Fields School of Footwear in Leicester, England, Martin designed for Fila, followed by Pentland, and then created a new brand for Doc Marten called 'WEAR-AER'. He joined 'Overland' on the highly successful Caterpillar Footwear brand, later acquired by Wolverine World Wide. He went on to co-found his own footwear design consultancy firm before his next venture - setting up a design consultancy - Supervision Design, providing footwear design for brands including Merrell, Caterpillar, Sebago, Harley Davidson, Clarks and Patagonia. His footwear brand, Cushe, encapsulates the footwear he loves and offers the ability to push the boundaries of design, technology and styling. He is proud of the team he has built and sees a successful future for Cushe now that it has been purchased by Wolverine.

KEITH DUPLAIN

DR. SCHOLL'S BROWN SHOE, DR. SCHOLL'S DIVISION / SENIOR VP & GM AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 16

Since 2009, Keith has helmed the reimagining of a venerable American brand, preserving its comfort legacy while ensuring its relevance to modern consumers. He joined Brown Shoe in 2005 to oversee the Naturalizer brand and the expansion of the brand family including NaturalSoul and Naya. He spent the early years of his career with H.H. Brown in Greenwich, CN, moving through positions within the Born Footwear brand including becoming VP of Sales in 2000 and being appointed General Manager in 2002. Keith graduated from Ohio State University in 1994 and received his MBA in 2009 from Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in St. Louis with his wife and twin daughters.

ELIZABETH EARLEY

ROBERT M. FARINHOLT

Elizabeth is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and an equally strong commitment to family. She co-founded Tifosi Optics with her husband Joe as a way to balance both.

Elizabeth directs the daily operations and has grown Tifosi into a leading sports sunglass brand sold in 38 countries. Her simple but effective formula for running the company is clear - recruit team players, treat them as family, empower them to lead, demand their best and reward big wins.

Robert received his education from The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. After gaining valuable training at JP Morgan in New York City and the Royal Bank of Canada in Atlanta, he cofounded the investment banking boutique Silver Steep Partners and assisted outdoor and active lifestyle companies raise capital and complete mergers and acquisitions.

Robert has recently sold the business to D.A. Davidson & Co.

TIFOSI OPTICS, INC. / CO-FOUNDER / AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 15

D.A. DAVIDSON & CO. / PRINCIPAL / AGE 32 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 10

For more on this story and complete biographies, please see the May/June Issue of SGB Magazine 16

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 23, 2011

CHRIS FARLEY

PACERS RUNNING STORES / OWNER & GM AGE 35 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 12

Chris Farley wanted to meld his passion for running with his genuine concern to help others.

In 2006, he got his chance and has become a respected leader in the running specialty industry and a driving force in his community.

Starting on the sales floor, he convinced the then-owners of Pacers Running Stores to sell and his parents to mortgage their house to purchase the single-door business in 2006. Since then, Pacers Running Stores has grown to a six-door retailer in the greater Washington, D.C. area and has expanded to include one of the largest race management companies in the mid-Atlantic, Pacers Events.

VIN FERRARA, MD, MBA XENITH / FOUNDER & CEO AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 7

Vin Ferrara is founder and CEO of Xenith, LLC, a Massachusetts-based company, which has developed novel impact protection technology. Xenith’s primary focus is protective headgear, with the goal of reducing the risk and severity of traumatic brain injury. Vin is a 1996 graduate of Harvard University, where he was the starting quarterback for the Varsity Football Team, and is a 2004 graduate of Columbia University’s Medical and Business Schools. He lives with his wife and four children in Massachusetts.

>

RONNIE FIEG

KITH, INC. (CO-FOUNDER) AND RONNIE FIEG DESIGNS AGE 29 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 16

At 13, Ronnie was jump-starting his career in the footwear industry. He began working as a stockboy for his uncle, who owned David Z, becoming a student of all things footwear. By 15, he was a footwear salesman.

By 19, he was the manager of the 2000-square foot flagship store. He began to explore product development, how to change the landscape of the market, and bring a boutique-esque stocklist to one of New York's biggest footwear chains. He progressed further when he became the general buyer and branched out into footwear design, collaborating with a broad range of footwear brands ranging from Asics to Adidas, Sebago and Timberland. As an industry leader, Fieg has established himself as a designer whose projects are synonymous with quality. Next up, look for Ronnie to serve as Creative Director of a new retail shop he co-founded in Brooklyn named "Kith".

BRIAN FRANK

RAMPAGE SPORTS GROUP (BASEBALL RAMPAGE) - PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER AGE 30 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 5

After graduating with honors from Ohio State in 2004, Brian joined AC Lens as their Affiliate Marketing Manager.

When AC Lens diversified in 2007, Brian was chosen to head up the new venture. After researching a host of sports, Brian identified that the online retail market for baseball goods was underdeveloped. Under his guidance, Baseball Rampage has grown to a top 50 account with Easton and other manufacturers, and sells a large selection of baseball and softball equipment online. In 2009 Rampage Sports Group launched Softball Rampage to compliment the baseball site. They are an authorized account with all major baseball and softball retailers. Brian lives in Pickerington,OH with his wife and son.

WEEK 1122 | SGBweekly.com

17

JONATHAN HIRSHBERG

ENI-JR286 AND JR286 TECHNOLOGIES CEO/PRESIDENT / AGE 40 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 22

JOEL HEATH

>

Photo courtesy of Shane Macomber

DECKERS OUTDOOR CORPORATION SENIOR GLOBAL MARKETING DIRECTOR, TEVA AND SIMPLE BRANDS / AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 10

Joel is currently the Senior Global Marketing Director for the Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ: DECK) for the Teva and Simple brands based in Santa Barbara, CA. Joel sold his Vail, CO-based business, Untraditional Marketing in 2008 after running it for seven years as President & CEO and where he founded the Teva Mountain Games. Prior to Untraditional, Heath was Vice President of the Vail Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau overseeing visitor services while he also co-founded the non-profit First Descents, an adventure camp for young adults with cancer. Heath graduated valedictorian from the University of Redlands’ Business School where he was an All-American swimmer and water polo player.

Jonathan is president & CEO of a manufacturing and licensing firm specializing in sporting goods accessories.

He started the global firm in 1998 with offices in the U.S., China and Europe. He currently holds global licenses with Nike, Inc. and Livestrong. His firm is responsible for the design development, manufacture and distribution for the products under license.

He has 300 employees, manufactures in 35 factories world-wide and distributes to 120 countries. Jonathan also runs a technology company that holds design, utility patents, and trademarks used in their products. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California and is very involved with the RSH Pancreatic Center at UCLA. He lives with his wife and three children in Manhattan Beach, CA.

ROBERT A. HOUGH, CFI

DUNHAM'S SPORTS / REGIONAL MANAGER LOSS PREVENTION, AUDIT AND FIREARMS COMPLIANCE AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 18

Robert has been a Retail Loss Prevention professional for 18 years and joined Dunham’s Sports in 2001. Prior to joining Dunham’s, Robert held various positions in Loss Prevention with Saks Fifth Avenue in Troy, MI after obtaining a BS in Criminal Justice from Eastern Michigan University.

In 2004, Robert was promoted to Regional Manager of Loss Prevention, Audit and Firearms Compliance; and in 2005 he achieved the CFI (Certified Forensic Interviewer) designation. Recently, Robert was given the challenge of several special projects which not only protected company assets, but contributed to the profit and success of the company. Examples include drafting the company’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for disaster preparedness, implementation of an automated companywide Footwear Singles Matching process and serving as Project Manager for a new Store Manager training program.

TODD KIRSSIN

DTLR, INC. / DIVISIONAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER, FOOTWEAR AGE 36 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 24

Todd joined DTLR in 1999 and has a laser focus on buying and creating the right product for DTLR’s niche customer. He oversees a team that merchandises and assorts the latest and best footwear in 8 markets (Baltimore, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, North Carolina, South Carolina, Norfolk Virginia, and Richmond Virginia). He prides himself in creating strong relationships with his vendors, always striving to create “Win-Win” outcomes. Kirssin has helped DTLR become one of the fastest growing and innovative concepts in Footwear and Apparel retail.

Working in Footwear over two thirds of his life, shoes are his passion from the first day he started working in his uncle’s shoe warehouse at age 12. Todd and his wife, Alyssa recently welcomed their first son, Regan.

PASSIONATE

MICHAEL MARTIN

VIBRAM USA, INC. / VP SALES, VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS / AGE 39 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 17

>

Photo Courtesy of KT Merry Photography

TIM KNOWLTON

SAUCONY, INC. - VP FIELD SALES / AGE 40 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 9

Tim attended LaSalle University majoring in Marketing & Communications with a minor in Engineering. He accepted a job after graduation working at General Electric as an electrical engineer and spent 8 years with the company. While working for GE, he became an avid runner developing a passion for the sport. Several opportunities arose within the running industry and his first break came from Pearl Izumi, mid-Atlantic, as a company rep for running. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Beacon Hill Sports who represented Brooks Sports, Superfeet, Feetures!, and PowerBar. Just over a year later, Saucony had a position open for the SouthEast regional and offered Tim the position as VP Field Sales.

A native of Manchester, NH, Michael received his BA from Saint Anselm College.

He got his start in the sporting goods industry as a customer service rep with Atomic Ski USA. Thinking it would be a short stopover on his journey to beginning a career in law enforcement or the legal profession – he stayed for 13 years, the last eight as Director of Sales Operations. He joined Vibram USA as National Sales Manager in the new FiveFingers division in January, 2007, tasked with developing retail distribution and helping build out the company's infrastructure. After four years of solid growth, he was promoted to VP of Sales. When not racking up frequent flier miles on company business, Michael enjoys doing projects around his home in New Hampshire and attending sporting events with family and friends.

CARIE MCAULIFFE

REEBOK INTERNATIONAL SR. MANAGER, BRAND LICENSING AGE 36 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 5

Carie has been in her current role at Reebok for one year and along with her team members is tasked with managing an extended family of Reebok products that broadens the consumers’ fitness experience beyond footwear and apparel.

Prior to her current role, Carie was on Reebok’s Brand Strategy team where she uncovered powerful insights and opportunities that were used to reposition and strengthen the Reebok brand.

She also worked on various product technologies, such as EasyTone and ZigTech.

Prior to working at Reebok, Carie was on the Consumer Insights Team at Dunkin’ Brands International. There, she worked on numerous brand strategy projects and was a key part in the creation of the America Runs on Dunkin’ campaign.

Carie is recognized for her brand building skills and ability to create forward-thinking ideas based on insights. She is also a wife, mom and certified yoga instructor.

JASON MCGIBBON

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR - NATIONAL SALES MANAGER AGE 38 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 13+

>

Oh the joys that lie ahead…What an opportunity to help define the evolution of our industry. Gone are the days of transactional business. Here are the days of providing a fully integrated solution for our retail partners. My soapbox is filled with defining how we truly ensure relevancy with our customers and how we put the pieces of the puzzle together to help our retailers grow their overall business is ever-critical to all of our success. Creation of an amazing consumer experience, engaging the emotional foundation of humans and bringing what we do to life is what drives me.

20

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

For more on this story and complete biographies, please see the May/June Issue of SGB Magazine

MELANIE MITCHELL

POPPY SPORTS - OWNER / AGE 40 YEARS IN INDUSTRY - 2

PETER MESSANA

AUSTIN CANOE & KAYAK - CEO & CO-OWNER AGE 37 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 6

Peter, along with his brother Steve, acquired Austin Canoe & Kayak, a specialty retailer based in Austin, TX, in 2005. Together they have led a path of success from a small, single brick and mortar business into a threestore chain with a highly acclaimed Internet presence. ACK has been recognized by Canoe & Kayak Magazine as “Retailer of the Year” two years running and was also awarded “Reader's Choice” in the paddlesports category in 2010.

Melanie immigrated to the US from Britain in 1997. Immediately she noticed the amazing range of sports gear for women and an idea took hold. What if all athletic women had access to this great gear in the US and UK? With her professional background in international sales and marketing, she founded Poppy Sports in 2010 – a dedicated online store, community and tri training camps. The mission is to connect active women on both sides of the Atlantic with gear that does what it promises and training opportunities with other inspiring women.

BOB PHILION

COBRA-PUMA GOLF - PRESIDENT AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 18

Bob Philion joined PUMA in 2005 as the Global Head of Golf, a start-up division at the time, and had a pivotal role in launching PUMA’s golf business. In April 2010, PUMA acquired Cobra Golf and Bob was named President, COBRAPUMA Golf. Bob is charged with initiating the clear, strategic vision, acting as the driving force behind sales, marketing and operational efforts and managing product creation, international marketing teams and developing an effective global structure. Prior to joining PUMA, Bob worked for 10 years in various capacities with Reebok International, spending the last 6 years living and working in Europe where he completed the YMP Executive Training program at the INSEAD Business School in Paris. Bob lives in Carlsbad, CA with his wife and two children.

CHRIS PAPPAS

GRABBER, INC. - NATIONAL SALES MANAGER / AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 14

Chris began his career at Grabber in 1996 as a product specialist for an Energy Bar line that was eliminated shortly thereafter. He switched responsibilities and hasn't looked back since, taking on various sales roles until he was promoted to his current position in 2004. Chris has responsibility for all wholesale sales activities in the U.S. market and works with marketing on new product development, packaging and displays for Grabber's retail partners. Chris has been a key contributor in helping Grabber more than double its sales since his arrival and has been instrumental in broadening additional distribution channels into a variety of markets.

WEEK 1122 | SGBweekly.com

21

JESSE PORTER

SPECIALIZED BICYCLES / REGIONAL SALES MANAGER, WESTERN USA AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 27

Jesse began racing bicycles at age 13 and played baseball and lacrosse in high school.

At 17 he played Rugby internationally before moving to the Southern Hemisphere - New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji – where he was encouraged by his family to play multiple sports.

He enrolled in Colorado State University where he played and coached the rugby team and coached Collegiate and Men’s Club Team All-Stars for the Western Rugby Football Union.

After graduation, he continued coaching and began working for Lee's Cyclery as Store Manager before becoming Buyer and then General Manager. After 6 years, he was hired as a Territory Manager in the Midwest for Specialized Bicycles. He laster was promoted to Regional Sales Manager - Western USA and moved to the Corporate Headquarters in Northern California. Jesse has held multiple Management roles including Inside Sales Manager, USA Marketing, USA Sales, and USA Demo Programs.

DARREN ROVELL CNBC - SPORTS BUSINESS REPORTER / AGE 33 YEARS IN INDUSTRY 11

Darren Rovell covers the business of sports for CNBC. He spends his life searching for the latest and greatest in shoes, apparel, sponsorships, advertising, promotions, tickets, stadium food, sports drinks, auctions, and video games and brings stories about these topics to sports fans and consumers nationwide.

LANCE RICHARDSON

ARC'TERYX EQUIPMENT, INC. - VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / AGE 40 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 21

Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Lance Richardson first became interested in outdoor gear trying to stay dry on Vancouver’s ski slopes. He took a part- time job at a local outdoor retailer when he was in college and from there the Outdoor industry has allowed his career to combine his personal interests with work. In 1996, after finishing his master’s degree in economics, he joined the still small Arc’teryx. Starting with customer service, accounting, payroll, etc, he quickly took on new roles as the company grew. From working on the company’s groundbreaking outerwear launch in 1998; to running sourcing, forecasting and purchasing; and then to being named VP of Business Development in 2008, Lance has been an integral part of Arc’teryx’s successful growth. In his current role he focuses on profitable growth, line management, systems and structure improvements and management of the companies military and law enforcement division. He lives with his wife and 2 children in Port Moody, BC.

DAVID SCHULTZ

TIMEX GROUP USA, INC. / VP SALES, SPORT AND MILITARY AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 4

David grew up playing football, baseball, and basketball. In 1990 he was drafted in the 40th round by the Montreal Expos in the June free agent baseball draft. Rather than play professional baseball after high school, he played division one collegiate baseball for San Jose State University. After college, he worked for 10 years with Black and Decker with best-in-class brands including Dewalt, Newell Rubbermaid, and Stanley Tools. In 2006, he moved into the sports industry as a Sales Leader for Timex / U.S. Sport Channel where he holds his current position as VP Sales, Sport and Military.

22

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

For more on this story and complete biographies, please see the May/June Issue of SGB Magazine

INNOVATIVE

LISA THOMPSON ICEBREAKER USA / PRESIDENT US OPERATIONS / AGE 33 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 12

MARC SIMON

PGA GOLF EXHIBITIONS GROUP SALES DIRECTOR AGE 39 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 20

Marc has been involved in the golf industry his entire life. As a player, he progressed from top regional amateur to standout player on the Hamilton College golf team, earning Academic All-America Honors and election to the Town of Kirkland Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. His golf industry career started in the pro shop at Skenandoa Golf Course, progressing to Reed Exhibitions on the PGA Golf Shows - beginning in sales and eventually becoming Sales Manager, National Accounts Manager and then Sales Director. Marc has twice been awarded Reed’s Sales Manager of the Year and received Reed’s “People’s Choice” Award. He lives in Stratford, CN with his wife and four children.

Lisa has been vital in creating the Icebreaker culture. She has worked for the brand since its earliest days in 1999 as Icebreaker’s fifth employee. Through the years, Lisa honed her skills in sales and management working as market manager, account manager and general manager of Icebreaker’s New Zealand market. She moved to Portland, OR, as VP of US Sales in 2010 and became president of US Operations shortly thereafter. She has helped build a team with the mission of continuing to strengthen the Icebreaker culture. Lisa lives with her husband and three children in Portland, OR.

CRAIG D. VANDEROEF

ADIDAS AG - CATEGORY MANAGER, GLOBAL RUNNING APPAREL AGE 37 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 12

Craig joined adidas in June 2008 and drives the creative process for running apparel. His product insights come from a lifetime of running from an early age through to competing for the University of Virginia. His love of running and search for better equipment solutions has driven him to help runners through better gear. Craig has held product marketing positions in all facets of the running business from accessories to apparel and footwear. This well-rounded approach has helped Craig to appreciate the needs of runners and to work toward holistic solutions. He holds a BA in English Literature and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia.

ROB WILL

SPORTS AUTHORITY – VP & DIVISIONAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER - TEAM SPORTS AGE 34 / YEARS IN INDUSTRY 12

Rob’s career in sporting goods began with his first job out of college as an assistant buyer of men’s licensed and active apparel at Kaufmann’s Department Stores in Pittsburgh, PA. He developed a passion for retail when he helped the company capitalize on the Browns’ return to Cleveland in 1999.

In 2002 Rob joined Dick’s Sporting Goods as an assistant buyer of cleats and in-line skates and subsequently became the buyer of kid’s footwear. In 2005, he moved into hard goods as a buyer and then senior buyer of baseball. He played an instrumental role in the launch of the company’s adidas baseball private brand initiative. In 2009 Rob joined the My Macy’s Midwest Regional team as District Planner and further honed his skills of maximizing regional retail opportunities. In 2010, Rob and his family moved to Denver to explore new opportunities with Sports Authority.

24

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLIENTS, PARTNERS, FRIENDS AND PEERS FOR BEING NOMINATED AS THIS YEARS 40 UNDER 40 AWARD WINNERS

ONE SOURCE UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS

I AM... SGB

MIKE MAY Director of Communications, SGMA

WHEN DID YOUR LIFE IN SPORTS START? As a competitive swimmer at age 4.

WHAT'S THE SECRET OF NOT FLUBBING IT ON TELEVISION? Knowing what you

PROUDEST ATHLETIC MOMENTS? Hitting a home run in a youth baseball all-star

FAVORITE SPORTS FIGURES YOU'VE MET? Bob Costas, Chris Berman, the

T-Ball, flag football, and basketball also kept me busy. After moving to England in 1977, I played golf and started a rugby career lasting 25 years. tournament in Mitchell, IN in 1974; a hole-in-one on August 4, 1980; being named MVP of the Atlanta Renegade Invitational Rugby Tournament in October of 1987; winning two state championships with the Palm Beach Rugby Club in 1991 and 1993; and completing my first triathlon in 2006.

FAVORITE SPORTS HEROES IN YOUR YOUTH? Forward Roger Brown, Indiana

Pacers (of the old ABA), running back Leroy Kelly, Cleveland Browns, and catcher Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY IN COLLEGE? I graduated from the University of Florida

with a degree in Telecommunications (Broadcasting). I chose broadcasting because it gave me a great chance to acquire experience while in college and those skills have helped me tremendously in my PR role with SGMA.

FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE? Director of Events of the National Collegiate Sports Festival in Daytona Beach.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB? The diversity. It ranges from writing news releases, responding to media inquiries, spending time on Capitol Hill lobbying for funding, and booking ‘live’ appearances on local TV newscasts to talk about new sports products to negotiating agreements with baseball’s national governing bodies on baseball bat performance standards.

26

SGB WEEKLY l MAY 30, 2011

are talking about before you go ‘on the air,' and treating every interview like a personal conversation. `

late Ernie Harwell, the late Ray Scott; golfer turned broadcaster Gary McCord; baseball legend Larry Doby; and former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

ANY EXPERIENCES STAND OUT? George Steinbrenner’s keynote speech at The

Super Show in 1989. He retold the story of how he convinced Thurman Munson to assume the captaincy of the Yankees in August 1978, which led to their winning the World Series .

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN NOW? Touch rugby, golf, tennis, running, swimming, and basketball.

IF MONEY WERE NO CONCERN, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? I’d be on the driving range trying to become a great amateur golfer and volunteer as a PE instructor at a local school in the area.

IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER WITH ANY THREE PEOPLE, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY? Abe Lincoln - We need his ability to ‘heel’ a nation in times of stress. Bobby Jones - How did he hit the ball so far with clubs which were inferior to today’s? Jim McKay -The stories behind “Wide World of Sports” must be priceless.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure” Peter Drucker

BRAND STRENGTH REPORT Order Your Copy Today!

Comprehensive Nationwide Survey • Brand Strength Index Listing In-Depth Consumer Behavior Analysis • Detailed Individual Brand Analysis Customizable Format For more information or to customize your personal copy, please call 704.987.3450 or email research@SportsOneSource.com

www.SOSresearch.com