SPORTS EVENTS AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION - Key Persons
Chad Culver is a Chattanooga native with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management from The University of Tennessee. He has over 22 years of experience in the sports industry in recruiting and managing events. Prior to Visit Knoxville, Culver was employed by Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau where he served as Director of Sports Marketing. Culver also served on staff with the University of Tennessee Athletics Department from 2001-2005.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Marketing & Special Events for Visit Panama City Beach Florida
Chris O'Brien is the Director of Sports Marketing & Special Events for Visit Panama City Beach Florida. As the Director of Sports Marketing & Special Events, he oversees the marketing, promotion and recruitment of sporting events. In addition to the sports market, his department develops and executes special events/ festivals/concerts that bring visitor spending and overnight stays to the region. From 2012 to 2014, he created and expanded the sports tourism department for Collier County Florida / Naples / Marco Island. Chris has also served as Director of Finance and Administration of the Tallahassee CVB and Assistant Director of the Tallahassee Sports Council. In Tallahassee, he developed and administered the grant program and successfully bid for and planned/ hosted regional, collegiate, state and national events. Chris is originally from Wellesley, Massachusetts; graduated from George Mason University with a history degree and he worked several years for Circuit City Stores, Inc. in Human Resources, Systems and Benefits at the headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. After moving to Tallahassee to obtain a masters in Sports Administration from Florida State University, he worked five years for Seminole Boosters Inc. , the fundraising arm of FSU athletics, where he started as an intern and moved up to the Director of Systems & Donor Records. His wife and two daughters are enjoying the "World's Most Beautiful Beaches" and upcoming projects for Panama City Beach include planning, developing and opening a $39 million dollar multipurpose rectangle field venue and planning for a new indoor special event center.
Cindy and her husband Ray live in Houston, Texas and have been married for 25 years. They have 2 daughters, Kennedy 23 and Kolby 22.
Clay Partain has been actively pursuing sports related events for Visit Salt Lake over the past 7 years. Over Clay's watch, the sports segment has grown from a relatively small market space to representing a significant portion of Visit Salt Lake's total production.
In 2021, Visit Salt Lake launched Sports Salt Lake with the purpose of growing Salt Lake's reputation as a sports destination. Clay took on a new expanded role as Managing Director of Sports Salt Lake, and now oversees all sales, servicing, marketing, and promotion for the sports market.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chairman of Play Tennessee
Frank Lett is the President and Chief Tourism Officer of Visit Kingsport and has been with the organization since 2005.
Frank is the immediate Past Chairman of Play Tennessee, an organization he assisted in founding as a state-wide sports tourism partnership. Frank is a Sports Tourism Specialist as well as a Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional.
30+ year veteran in the hotel industry, 20+ years' experience in the sports tourism; currently Global Account Director - Sports at Sonesta International. Sports ETA member since 2007, Sports ETA member of the L.E.A.D. Community Group, past Sports ETA Board Member, Graduate of Niagara University with BS in Travel & Tourism - 1985. Completed STS certification in 2011, Cornell University certificate program in Executive Leadership in 2016. Married to Mary-Jo, Children James and Erin, both married, and grandfather to Wee Ellie, EverlyJo, and Rawley. Hank enjoys craft beer/wine tasting and singing with world champion Vocal Majority Chorus in Dallas.
Job Titles:
- Sports Events & Tourism Association As Vice President of Events & Experiences
- Vice President, Events & Experiences
Janis Ross Breedlove joined Sports Events & Tourism Association as Vice President of Events & Experiences in January 2020. In her former role as Executive Director of the Eugene & Coast Sports Commission in Oregon, Janis was a member of the Sports ETA Board of Directors for over five years, most recently as Treasurer.
Janis has extensive experience in meeting and event management, and served on organizing committees for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, the IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships and World Athletics Championships. She is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was the Oregon Chapter President in 2015-2016. Janis currently volunteers on the MPI Meeting Executives Advisory Board, assisting in educational initiatives for senior level meeting planners.
A native Oregonian, Janis earned both an MBA and Bachelors in Business Administration from Portland State University. Working remotely from the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon, Janis can be found exploring trails, wineries and covered bridges; hiking, kickboxing and weightlifting.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Northstar Meetings Group Sports Division
Jason Gewirtz is the vice president of the Northstar Meetings Group Sports Division and the executive editor and publisher of SportsTravel. Gewirtz joined SportsTravel in 2008 as managing editor and has served a variety of roles since, overseeing editorial coverage of SportsTravel and content at the Sports Division's events, including the TEAMS Conference & Expo, TEAMS Europe and the EsportsTravel Summit. A veteran newspaper journalist and editor prior to joining SportsTravel, Gewirtz worked for the Long Beach Press-Telegram from 2000-2008 as a city hall reporter and city editor. He also worked as a reporter at the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colorado, and at the Broomfield Enterprise in Broomfield, Colorado. Gewirtz graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and has won numerous awards as both a writer and editor.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Sales With Richmond Region Tourism
Jerrine Lee is Vice President of Sales with Richmond Region Tourism. Her passion and commitment to recruiting sports events to her destination led to her promotion from Convention & Sports Services Manager (2016) to Sports Development Manager (2018), to Director of Sports (2019), Vice President of Sports (2021) and now Vice President of Sales (2022). As Vice President of Sales, she oversees and manages the sales teams responsible for recruiting meeting, conventions, and sports tournaments to the Richmond Region. Prior to joining Richmond Region Tourism in 2016, Jerrine worked for the local MiLB team Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, where she served as the Assistant Director of Corporate Sales and Director of Suite Sales and Client Relations. Jerrine received her undergraduate degree from James Madison University and her master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Sport Leadership where she currently serves on the Advisory Board.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- President and CEO of the Sports Events & Tourism Association
John David is the President and CEO of the Sports Events & Tourism Association. He served as a member of the Sports ETA Board of Directors for eleven years, representing the Rights Holder category. In 2022, John became the Secretary of the Board, making him the first Rights Holder elected to the Executive Committee.
Prior to joining Sports ETA, John was the Chief Strategy Officer of USA BMX, the world's largest sanctioning body for the Olympic sport of bicycle motocross racing (BMX). During his 23-year tenure at USA BMX, John helped the association double its membership and more than triple its revenue. He also produced two Olympic Trials, co-coordinated the unification of the sport in the USA, and spearheaded the campaign for the creation of the new USA BMX headquarters, arena, museum, and Hall of Fame in Tulsa, OK.
John also serves on the City of Chandler Parks and Recreation Board and is a UCI International Commissaire. He has received numerous industry awards, most recently being named the Sports ETA Rights Holder of the Year in 2021.
John and his wife Jennifer reside in Chandler, Arizona, and have three daughters: Faith, Grace, and Jolie.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Sports Tourism at Visit Myrtle Beach
Jonathan Paris is the Executive Director of Sports Tourism at Visit Myrtle Beach where he leads the efforts to bring sporting events, meetings, and tourism to the communities and sports facilities along the 60 miles of the Grand Strand.
Jonathan got his start in sports tourism in 1999 at the Massachusetts Sports Partnership in Boston. For 13 years, the last 6 as the Executive Director, he worked to attract and support world class sporting events and meetings to the cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Notable events included the NCAA Div. I Women's Final Four, the NCAA Lacrosse Championships, the US Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials, the US Figure Skating National Championships, the Dew Tour action sports tour, and the US Olympic Committee Board of Directors Meetings to name just a few. Additionally, Jonathan worked hard to create opportunities for the youth of Massachusetts through the events MSP attracted.
Prior to joining Visit Myrtle Beach, Jonathan served as Director of Events at Austin Junior Volleyball in Austin, Texas. In this role, he organized and executed convention center-based USA Volleyball sanctioned girls and boys club volleyball tournaments, including the Mizuno Lone Star Classic National Qualifier in Dallas, one of the largest USA Volleyball sanctioned events in the country with over 1,800 teams on two 3-day weekends.
Jonathan and his wife Sarah have three children, Isabella, Stevie, and Charlie and a corgi, Georgie.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Events at the West Michigan Sports Commission
Katy Tigchelaar is the Director of Marketing & Events at the West Michigan Sports Commission, where she has been for 13 years. She also serves on the Board of Directors as Vice Chair for the Michigan Sports Commission and has been a part of that organization for 9 years. Katy currently serves as Co-Chair for the State Association Community Group with Sports ETA and has played host of the Sports ETA Annual Symposium in the past.
Job Titles:
- Events
- under Armour As Associate Manager of Sports Marketing
Mr. Hamm is no stranger to the sports world. He played six years of professional basketball throughout Europe, four years of college basketball at Towson University and won a Pennsylvania AAAA High School State Championship.
After officially retiring his basketball uniform in 2012, Lawrence joined Under Armour as Associate Manager of Sports Marketing, where he managed marketing campaigns and events for the basketball division at the high school, college and professional levels.
Lawrence is the creator and CEO of Hamm Camp Incorporated, a non-profit basketball and life skills camp based in Harrisburg, Pa., offered free of cost to the city's youth since 2009. Mr. Hamm is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, The Harrisburg Regional Diversity Coalition (HRDC) and is on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Lanham, MD.
Lawrence has a strong passion for sports, motivating young people and Washington DC.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Executive Director of the Maryland SoccerPlex
Matt Libber is currently the Executive Director of the Maryland SoccerPlex. He oversees the 24 multipurpose field complex as well as the 66,000 sq. ft. indoor sports venue. Prior to the SoccerPlex, Matt spent 20 years at Elite Tournaments as the Vice President of Business Operations. Before working in the sports industry full time, Matt spent near 10 years working in the IT industry as a contractor for both the federal government and state governments including managing projects for the United States Postal Service and the Maryland State Board of Elections. Matt holds Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science and History with a minor in Philosophy from McDaniel College and a Master's of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University. Matt also has a Graduate Certificate of Sports Administration from The George Washington University School of Business and the Certified Sports Event Executive designation from the National Association of Sports Commissions. Matt also has Certificates in Sports Event Risk Management and Evacuations and Personal Protection in Sports Venues from the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security. Matt is a former Rights Holder Representative on the Sports ETA Board of Directors and previously served on multiple Sports ETA Committees including the: Mentoring Committee, Bylaws Committee, Advocacy Committee, and Facilities Summit Committee.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Meagan Grau is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Sports ETA, a non-profit organization that promotes sports tourism in the United States. She began her career at Sports ETA as an intern in 2012, assisting with membership and member services. After graduating from Miami University with a degree in Strategic Communication and a minor in Marketing, Meagan was hired full-time as the Member Services Coordinator. In 2017, she left Sports ETA to work as the Director of Marketing for a Cincinnati insurance company. The following year, she returned to Sports ETA as the Director of Member Services & Engagement. In 2020, Meagan was promoted to Director of Marketing & Communications, where she is now responsible for overseeing all association marketing and communications.
Meagan is a highly skilled and experienced marketing professional with a proven track record of success. She is passionate about sports and tourism, and she is committed to using her skills and experience to help Sports ETA achieve its goals. In her spare time, Meagan enjoys gardening, reading, a good glass of red wine, and being outside. Meagan and her husband, Ryan, reside in Cincinnati, OH, and have two sons, Jackson and Lucas.
Job Titles:
- Chief Community Officer at Indiana Sports Corp
- Project Manager at Hathaway Strategies
Melissa Thompson is the Chief Community Officer at Indiana Sports Corp and is responsible for board affairs, community initiatives, event bids, serves as Indiana Sports Corp's board appointment to Sports Indiana in addition to handling government relations.
Job Titles:
- Director of Membership & Engagement
Michelle Wessels re-joined the Sports ETA staff in March 2020 as our Business Services Manager. She was promoted to Director of Membership & Engagement in March 2023. Michelle is now responsible for membership recruitment & retention, fulfillment of member services, event registrations and supporting all business operations.
Michelle earned her Associate of Administrative Management Technology, with a focus on Meetings and Events in April 2015, followed by a Bachelors of Technical and Applied Studies, specializing in Applied Administration in December 2016, both from the University of Cincinnati.
When Michelle is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeremy, and their two children, Brooklyn and Owen.
Phil is new in his role as CEO at USA Fencing. Prior to this, he was the CEO at USA Weightlifting. Phil transformed the sport's governance and reputation beyond recognition, attracting record participation levels and sponsorship, before taking on an interim leadership role of the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) and PAWF (Pan American Weightlifting Federation) during crisis years. Born and raised in England before moving to the U.S., Phil has a global perspective and a vast array of experience in sport and business. He has worked in professional ice hockey for British Champions Coventry Blaze; the FTSE 250 student hospitality business Unite Group PLC; and David Lloyd Leisure.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO of Pensacola Sports
Ray Palmer is President and CEO of Pensacola Sports, founded in 1955. Since joining the organization as Executive Director in 2002, Pensacola Sports (formerly Pensacola Sports Association) has seen unprecedented growth. Ray is a Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) recipient and 15-year member of NASC. He has been active in the Annual Symposium as a presenter and awards committee member as well as served on the membership committee.
Focusing on event development and management, sports tourism, and its foundation, Ray has led Pensacola Sports by adding and growing both local events as well as sports tourism event creation, hosting and support. Events include the Subway High School All-star Series, multiple regional and national championships in various sports, Pensacola Double Bridge Run, Pensacola Marathon, Beach Firefighters Challenge, cycling events, collegiate national championships, and annual awards and scholarship banquets are part of the long list of events now produced and/or hosted by Pensacola Sports. In 2017, the National College Tennis Invitational and Pensacola Fishing Rodeo join the ever-growing list of quality events.
Ray has long been a servant to the community, having served on too many boards and having volunteered for too many causes to mention them all. Notably, he is a past president and Paul Harris Fellow of Five Flags Rotary, a recent recipient of the Florida Sports Leadership Award, serves on numerous committees for Visit Pensacola and recently completed terms on the Board of Directors for the Florida Sports Foundation. In 2016 Ray was honored by the Pensacola Sports Executive Board as their Sportsman of the Year at their Annual Awards Banquet.
Ray enjoys spending time with wife, Susan, and his three sons and grandson, particularly on the water. Not surprisingly, he is passionate about sports and is a tireless promoter of the Pensacola area to the outside world.
Job Titles:
- Director of League Operations for the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
Rob Coggin is the Director of League Operations for the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA). As a sports management professional whose career has also included stints with USA Hockey and USA Volleyball, he has produced the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships since 2006, growing the even in size and scope through partnerships with destination Sports Commissions and CVBs. In 2014, he was instrumental in the creation of USA Roller Hockey as a sanctioning organization for the sport, and currently serves as its Executive Director. Coggin has also been an ice hockey official for the past 30 years, beginning his on-ice career in 1989 while a student at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
An accomplished C-Level Executive with a diverse business background who has produced measurable results in areas of business development, recruitment, and marketing. Mr. Strickland, a St. Lucie County native, is a results-oriented leader with a proven track record to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. An athlete of St. Leo University, Ryan also earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from this institution. As an employee of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, Mr. Strickland will spearhead marketing, business development and financials throughout the Treasure Coast.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Experience Columbia SC Sports
Scott Powers has served as the Executive Director of Experience Columbia SC Sports since October 2004. The Experience Columbia SC Sports markets and sells the Columbia region as a premier destination for hosting sporting events and is an economic driver for the region's billion-dollar tourism industry. Scott came to the Sports Council from the Plantation Club in Blythewood, SC where he served as Director of Membership & Activities and oversaw operations of the tennis and swim facilities. Scott is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Sport & Entertainment Management After graduation, he spent 10 years working alongside the Carolina athletic department for Gamecock Sports Marketing. Scott has earned his Certified Sports Events Executive accreditation from the National Association of Sports Commissions. He is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Columbia and served on their Advisory Board for 3 years. Scott was also a founding member of the South Carolina Sports Alliance and served as their treasurer for the past three years. When Scott is not working, he enjoys traveling with his wife Helen, movies, reading, Gamecock athletics, outdoor activities, and competitive shooting.
Tammy has been with the Snohomish County Sports Commission, sports division of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau since 2005. Prior to the sports industry, she worked in the restaurant industry for 20 years. She has been a NASC member since 2005 and has been actively involved with many NASC committees; NASC Symposium, Member Mentoring and Membership. She is a CSEE graduate. She is actively involved within Snohomish County as she serves on a variety of boards including Camp Fire Snohomish County. Tammy is actively involved in the Snohomish County by serving on many local organizing committees, parks & recreation boards, and Rotary International.