www.sportseventsmagazine.com
January 2015
17
A W A R D S R E C O G N I T I O N I S S U E
t
found a niche in the crowded running
events marketplace.
H
er organization introduced the Across
the Bay 10k, which sold out nine months
before race day with a starting field of
20,000 participants. Racers cross the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge during the only
time of the year that pedestrian traffic is
allowed.
Rogers advised that for running races
to stand out, they must provide not only a
great route but also a great overall expe-
rience for the participants.
Austin Bennett
As the championship event administrator
for the past three years with the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA), Austin Bennett is linked with
m
any firsts. Part of a group challenged
to raise the bar with NAIA champi-
onship events, he has also been part of
the first annual NABC-NAIA Men's
Basketball All-Star Event and is the cre-
ator and lead for the NAIA Showcase, a
combine-styled event that allows poten-
tial student-athletes to showcase their
skill and abilities in front of NAIA
coaches.
"We have worked tirelessly to chal-
lenge the way things have always been
done in an effort to provide a best-in-
class experience for the student-athletes
of the NAIA," he said.
Matt Libber
M
att Libber gave up his "regular job" as
an IT project manager for government
entities in 2010 to go full-time with Elite
Tournaments, an organization he has
been involved with since 2000. Now vice
president of operations and business
development, Libber has been a strong
contributor to the company's notable
growth rate and resume.
"We found a niche market and have
been able to parlay that model into rapid
growth, going from a single tournament
in 2002 to more than 50 tournaments a
decade later," he said.
Leigh
Schlumper
Together with her
business partner
Tom DeBole,
Leigh
Schlumper's
MonkeyUP
Tournaments is growing the number of
lacrosse events in the United States.
"There are several choices for lacrosse
events throughout the United States, but
when you have users coming and asking
you to run an event in their state, you
have to believe you are doing something
right," Schlumper said. "This year, we
were asked to run lacrosse for the State
Games of Texas, which will offer the
sport for the first time."
Cindy Smoak
When Cindy Smoak came on board as
vice president of SPORTyler in Tyler,
Texas, seven years ago, her position and
department had to be built practically
from the ground up.
"I started by educating city leaders,
businesses and residents as to the pur-
pose of SPORTyler, bringing more
awareness to how the department would
benefit tourism," she recalled. "I was able
to grow the number of regional and
national sporting events hosted in Tyler
in conjunction with Tyler Junior College
and The University of Texas at Tyler.
And, the list of events interested in Tyler
continues to increase each year."
n
ALABAMA
Foley Sports Tourism Complex (Foley)
www.foleysportstourism.com
Greater Birmingham CVB
www.sportsbirmingham.com
See Ad On Page 21
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Sports Commission
www.gulfshoresorangebeachsports.com
See Ad On Page 49
ARIZONA
Phoenix Regional Sports Commission
www.azsportsent.com
Scottsdale CVB
www.experiencescottsdale.com
See Ad On Page 67
ARKANSAS
Conway CVB
www.conwayark.com
Fayetteville Visitors Bureau
www.experiencefayetteville.com
CALIFORNIA
Bakersfield CVB
www.visitbakersfield.com
Sacramento Sports Commission
www.sacsports.com
VenturaCountyWest
www.venturacountywest.com
See Ad On Page 19
COLORADO
Colorado Springs CVB
www.visitcos.com
See Ad On Page 63
Greater Grand Junction Sports
Commission – Colorado Mesa University
www.coloradomesa.edu/wp/
sportscommission
CONNECTICUT
Chelsea Piers
www.chelseapiersct.com
Congratulations
2015 Readers' Choice Award Winners!
The organizations and venues listed below and on the
following pages represent the 2015 class of
SportsEvents Readers' Choice Award winners. These
organizations were nominated by SportsEvents readers
based on a high standard of professionalism and quality
service in hosting sports events. Congratulations to all
of the winners!