January 2016
20
www.sportseventsmagazine.com
JOHN DAVID , CEO
American Bicycle Association
dba USA BMX
USA BMX National Series
Gilbert, AZ
18 Years Planning Events
For John David,
the COO of
USA BMX,
bicycle moto-
cross racing
is more than
a sport—it's
life-changing.
"I grew up racing BMX and I am
who I am today because of the lessons
learned during that time," he says. "Our
sport unites families and teaches partici-
pants lifelong lessons."
Though BMX is an individual sport,
David says it lends itself to creating
teams within the family unit. "The fam-
ily actually becomes the team, and it is
not uncommon to have a family of four
all racing and enjoying the sport," he
says.
Part of the reason is the draw of the
sport, as it pulls from a wide demo-
graphic—so wide, in fact, that David
says that's the most unique aspect of
BMX racing.
"When you attend a USA BMX
National event, the frst race of the day
begins with our 2-year-old riders on
pedaless balance bikes. Within 45 min-
utes, you're watching our 65 & Over
category and they are followed by our
Olympic-caliber professional riders," he
says. "There are very few sports where
you can see every aspect on one feld of
play in the same day."
The power of bringing families
together in BMX is just one aspect
of David's job that he loves so much.
Another is his team. "The passion of our
staff is amazing," he says, "and every
day whether at an event or in an offce,
they completely dedicated themselves to
both the sport and our customers."
JAMES E. "OBIE" EVANS , President
Dixie Softball, Inc.
Dixie Softball World Series
Birmingham, AL
Dixie Softball offers
girls in the South an
outlet to compete
for the love of the
game. President Obie
Evans is proud of
the difference his
organization makes,
and he doesn't even earn an income to
promote it.
"What I love most about being presi-
dent of Dixie Softball is getting to meet
so many wonderful people and to see
how the effect of what I founded has
beneftted so many young girls," he
says.
Today's emphasis on winning and
creating elite competition creates the
biggest challenge for organizations like
Dixie Softball. "The biggest challenge
was in trying to get the local programs
to understand that the hundreds of girls
they have in their program are worth
more than the few who play travel
ball," he says. "Dixie Softball is based
on participation for all the girls and not
the so called 'elite' players."
Regardless of playing ability, every
girl plays more than one inning for
each game they attend. There are no
entrance fees for tournaments. And
pitchers are rotated to prevent a team
from relying on a super-pitcher.
Those differences from other youth
softball programs are just a few of the
things Evans cites as to why Dixie
Softball offers girls a fun sporting
experience.
"Dixie Softball is making a dif-
ference because it gives the girls a
wholesome sports program to play and
a program where they know that their
playing ability has nothing to do with
them having fun playing softball,"
he says.
R E C O G N I T I O N I S S U E
t
Congratulations!
2016 Readers' Choice
Award Winners
NEW JERSEY
Wildwoods Convention Center
www.wildwoodsnj.com/cc
Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission
www.atlanticcitynj.com
NEW MEXICO
Las Cruces CVB
www.lascrucescvb.org
Albuquerque CVB
www.visitalbuquerque.org
NEW YORK
Greater Binghamton CVB
www.visitbinghamton.com
Long Island CVB/ Sports Commission
www.discoverlongisland.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Visit Winston-Salem
www.visitwinstonsalem.com
Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance
www.visitraleigh.com/sports-planner
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
www.charlottesgotalot.com
Greensboro Area CVB
www.visitgreensboronc.com
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck-Mandan CVB
www.discoverbismarckmandan.com
Fargo-Moorhead Athletic Commission
www.competefm.com
OHIO
Destination Toledo CVB
www.dotoldeo.org
Lake Erie Shores and Islands
www.shoresandislands.com
Miami County CVB
www.homegrowngreat.com
Dayton CVB
www.daytoncvb.com
OKLAHOMA
Broken Arrow CVB
www.visitbrokenarrowok.com
Oklahoma City CVB
www.visitokc.com/sports
Tulsa Sports Commission
www.tulsasports.org
OREGON
Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission
www.eugenecascadescoastsports.org
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center
www.expo.deschutes.org
PENNSYLVANIA
Erie Area Sports Commission
www.eriesportscommission.com
Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau
www.visithersheyharrisburg.org
Central Pennsylvania CVB
www.visitpennstate.org
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