MILWAUKEE (April 30, 2015) – The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), the governing body of the $8.96 billion sport tourism industry, celebrated record attendance at its 23rd annual symposium held here this week.
Some 945 sports tourism professionals, including 276 first-timers, attended the 23rd annual NASC Symposium to elect new NASC leadership, honor members with industry awards and participate in dozens of continuing education programs led by industry leadership.
“As the only non-profit industry association offering an annual meeting for serious-minded sports event professionals, we are thrilled with our record attendance this year in Milwaukee,” said Don Schumacher, CSEE, executive director of the NASC. “In future years, our members will have the opportunity to visit four great American cities in Grand Rapids, Sacramento, Minneapolis and San Diego as we host our annual Symposium in each city.”
Future Host Cities for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 NASC Symposium
Future host cities and dates for the NASC Symposium include: The 24th annual NASC Symposium will be held April 3-7, 2016 in Grand Rapids, and the 25th annual NASC Symposium will be March 26-30, 2017 in Sacramento.
Additionally, the 26th annual NASC Symposium will be held April 22-26, 2018 in Minneapolis and the 27th annual NASC Symposium will be April 14-18, 2019 in San Diego.
NEW NASC Leadership Elected
New NASC board leadership was also announced, including Greg Ayers, CSEE, President & CEO, Discover Kalamazoo as the new chair of NASC.
Additional officers include: Ralph Morton, CSEE, Executive Director, Seattle Sports Commission,Vice Chair/Chair Elect; Mike Anderson, CSEE, Executive Director – Sports Tourism, Myrtle Beach Area Sports Alliance, Treasurer; Kindra Fry, CSEE, SMP, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Bryan-College Station CVB, Secretary; and Immediate Past Chair, Kevin Smith, CSEE, Director, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission.
The slate of NASC directors includes: Board term expiring 2016: John Gibbons, CSEE, Executive Director, Rhode Island Sports Commission; Michael Price, CSEE, Executive Director, Greater Lansing Sports Authority; Janis Schmees Burke, CSEE, Executive Director, Harris County – Houston Sports Authority; and Matt Dunn, CSEE, Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches, Vice President, Tourism Development.
Directors with Board terms expiring in 2017: Brian Hickey, CSEE, Director of Sports, Visit Tallahassee/ Tallahassee Sports Council; Janis Ross, Executive Director, Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports; Benjamin Wilder, CSEE, Director, Savannah Sports Council; and Marc Zimmerman, CSEE, Sales & Events Manager, Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing.
Directors with Board terms expiring in 2018: Janna Clark, Sports and Sales Director, Elizabethtown Sports Park; Kris Smith, CSEE, Sales Manager, Event Development, Detroit Sports; Roy Edmondson, CSEE, Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau; and Pete Harvey, Director of Sports Development, Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission.
Allied representatives with a board term expiring in 2016 include Mike Hill, CSEE, Senior Director, Sports Sales, Hilton Worldwide – Sports Sales and board term expiring in 2017: Steve Schell, Sports Strategic Sales Executive, Experient Sports.
Rights Holder representatives are, with a board term expiring in 2016: John David, CSEE, Chief Operating Officer, USA BMX, and board term expiring in 2017: Glen Schorr, Executive Director, Orienteering USA.
NASC Symposium Welcomes a Record Number of Rights Holders
Some 170 Rights Holders representing more than 100 organizations attended the NASC Symposium in Milwaukee to network with NASC members and Host Cities representatives. These organizations included: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU), EVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, LPGA Symetra Tour, National Congress of State Games, The Color Run, United States Olympic Committee, USA Boxing, and USA Gymnastics, to name a few.
NASC Members Raise Thousands for the Running Rebels Community Organization
Also, during the meeting the NASC Sports Legacy Fund raised $20,000 to benefit the Running Rebels Community Organization, a non-profit that offers youth programs that focus on education and recreational activities in Milwaukee, and their basketball fundamental program, which will expand the number of youth served and aide in the development of year-round programming
NASC Members Honored
Also presented this week were the Member Awards, signifying outstanding work in the field of sports tourism. The NASC also honored three industry professionals with awards. They include: Sports Tourism Executive of the Year: Don Staley, Executive Director, Foley Sports Tourism Complex; Game Changer Award: Tammy Dunn, CSEE, Sports Marketing Manager, Snohomish County Sports Commission; and Sports Event Organizer of the Year: RB Thomas, Jr., Executive Director, International Senior Softball Association.
Organization Award Winners include:
- Locally Created Event of the Year, population under 250,000: SPORTyler – Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
- Locally Created Event of the Year, population 250,000 and above: Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
- Marketing Campaign of the Year, population under 250,000: Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Marketing Campaign of the Year, population 250,000 and above: Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, population under 250,000: Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Sports Tourism Organization of the Year, population 250,000 and above: Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance
- Sports Commission of the Year, population under 250,000: Rochester Amateur Sports Commission
- Sports Commission of the Year, population 250,000 and above: Atlanta Sports Council
Certified Sports Event Executives Graduates Honored
The NASC this week also recognized its latest class of graduates in its Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) continuing education program. The Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 CSEE graduates include:
Richard Barrett, Wausau/Central Wisconsin Sports Authority
Stephonie Broughton, Twin Cities Gateway / National Sports Center
Amy Cardwell, Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Janna Clark, Elizabethtown Sports Park
Sean Doherty, Charlotte Harbor Visitor and Convention Bureau
John Giantonio, Casper Sports Alliance
Tara Hamburger, Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Pete Harvey, Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission
Gen Howard, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lisa Pacheco, Sports Williamsburg
Matt Robinette, Richmond Region Tourism
Domico Rodriguez, Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jennifer Rothman, Long Island CVB & Sports Commission
Billy Russo, Smith River Sports Complex
Debi Schultz, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
Wendy Scott, Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau
Don Staley, Foley Sports Tourism Complex
Dani Timm, Virginia Beach CVB
Josh Todd, Visit Mesa
Marva Wells, High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau
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About the National Association of Sports Commissions
As the only trade association for the sports tourism industry, the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), and sports event owners. The NASC is committed to the success of more than 700 member organizations and 2,000 sports event professionals. Our promise is to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members – sports destinations, sports event owners, and suppliers to the industry – and to protect the integrity of the sports tourism industry.
For more information, visit http://www.sportscommissions.org.
Tags: CSEE, membership, NASC, NASC Sports Event Symposium, National Association of Sports Commissions, Rights Holders, VISIT Milwaukee
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