Grow Learfield

Maine gains Melissa Everitt

Nebraska native Melissa Everitt joins Black Bear Sports Properties as an Account Executive, working alongside General Manager Justin Barnes.  Before coming to the University of Maine, Melissa served three years as Capital Campaign Director at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, NC.  Prior to that, she was Assistant Athletic Director, Development at UNC Wilmington, and she has four years of experience with the University of Missouri, as External Operations Associate and as Director of Volleyball Operations. Melissa earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and her master's degree from Mizzou.

Wyoming adds Adelson

Ron Adelson is the new cowboy in town, joining us as Account Executive at our Wyoming property in Laramie.  He started on June 22 working with Dan Hawley and Jared Newland on the Cowboys and Cowgirls' business.  Most recently, Ron spent two years as the Nike representative for the University of Arizona, and he was a marketing representative for the Colorado Rapids during a summer internship.  He went to University of Arizona but will now call Laramie home.  Ron is an avid golfer and hockey player, a member of the Big Brother Big Sister-Sports Buddies program and serves as the Philanthropy Chair for the Arizona Alumni Association.  Glad to have you, Ron.

Nevada nabs Nelson

Natalie Nelson has joined the Wolf Pack Sports Properties team as an Account Executive.  She's in the Reno office representing the University of Nevada Athletics but most recently spent nearly four years as General Manager for Seismic Events also working on the Nevada business.  She is a native of Fallon, Nevada and is married to Justin.  They have a daughter, Mekayla (10) and a son, Patrick (7), and together they enjoy doing mixed martial arts.

King Bob's 25 Year Tour

Justin Barnes promoted to GM at Maine

Justin Barnes has been promoted to general manager of Black Bear Sports Properties at the University of Maine (his alma mater), filling the spot vacated by Mike McCollum's move to Army Sports Properties at GM.

Before joining BBSP as Account Executive in February 2008, Justin was an Account Executive for WABI-TV (CW/CBS affiliate) and prior to that, served nearly six years as a Senior Account Executive with Unicel.  He lives on Pushaw Lake in Glenburn, Maine, with his golden retriever, Jasper.

In other personnel news, Josh Moore joins Learfield as a Sales Analyst in our Dallas office, reporting to Shane Coghlan. Josh comes to us from The Bonham Group in Denver where he was a Market Analyst.

New AE's at Montana State and Iowa State

Pete Korstad joined Bobcat Sports Properties (Montana State) as an Account Executive on May 4th, relocating from Boise, Idaho, where he was the Sponsorship Sales Manager for the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team. Pete is a graduate of the University of Oregon.

Back in the midwest, BGSU graduate and former Falcon Sports Properties intern Krissy O'Neal has moved to Iowa State University as the newest Account Executive for Cyclone Sports Properties, working in the West Des Moines office. [video]

Great catch for the Red Raiders

Say hello to Earle Fisher, who we hooked for the newest Texas Tech Account Executive position.  Earle will be selling for Red Raider Sports Properties out of our Dallas office, and he comes to Learfield Sports from General Sports & Entertainment (2008-'09) and NFL's Detroit Lions (2001-'08).  He graduated from Tufts University then headed to Ohio University for his master's in Sports Administration.  Earle and his wife, Dayna, have three children, Alexa (12), Mason (5) and Grant (3).

All in the Family

Our very own Events Director Lori Bland has moved over to the Team Services' side of the business.  Her new role will involve activation and strategy implementation for Dairy Management, Inc. as it relates to the company's extensive NFL partnership.  Lori will continue working out of the Dallas office, while Amber Armstrong will continue overseeing the Learfield Sports' events.  This June marks eight years Lori will have been with Learfield Sports, having got her start at Mizzou Sports Properties upon graduating from Central Missouri State University.  Lori and her husband, Adam, were married last year on July 4th.

McCollum moving to Army

Beginning June 1st, Mike McCollum will leave his General Manager post at Maine's Black Bear Sports Properties to serve as General Manager for Army Sports Properties.  Mike has been with us since early 2006, when we first landed the rights to Maine and he was serving as the Associate AD for External Operations with the Maine Athletic Department.  Originally from nearby Brookfield, Connecticut, Mike and his wife, Kristen, who is from nearby Lake George, New York, are excited to make the move closer to home.

Sean Moler new AE at Cardinal Sports LLC

Sean Moler comes to Cardinal Sports LLC from Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes, where he was Account Manager, Corporate Partnerships.  He also served a brief stint in ticket sales with the the NFL's Oakland Raiders and is a former history teacher and basketball coach for a San Francisco high school. 

Sean is originally from Aptos, Calif. and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and master's degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco.