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Sports marketers choose Clay County for annual meeting |
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
 Jason Browne/Daily Times Leader Mike Reilly, front left, general manager of Waverly Waters, hosted the ISP Sports general managers of Conference USA universities during their annual planning meeting. ISP Sports is the largest sports marketing firm in the country, representing more than 50 colleges and universities.
By Jason BrowneDaily Times Leader
When the time came for all the ISP Sports' general managers from Conference USA schools to decide where to hold their annual planning meeting, the vote was nearly unanimous. They were coming back to Clay County.
Mike Reilly, general manager of Waverly Waters leisure grounds, has hosted the ISP team for the past three years. University of Alabama-Birmingham General Manager Tony Grillo says he met Reilly about five years ago. In a business that's based around building relationships, he says meeting Reilly was a fortunate contact.
"The meeting place was voted on by everyone," says Grillo. "We asked 'Do you want to go to the beach? To the mountains?' and everyone was like, 'Nah, let's go to West Point.'"
ISP Sports is the multi-media rights holder for more than 50 colleges and universities around the country. It produces print and broadcast publications such as game programs, radio and television shows and commercials. ISP is also responsible for selling advertisements and placing signs.
The group gathered at Waverly Waters Monday and Tuesday represented just the Conference USA schools represented by ISP, such as Tulane University, University of Southern Mississippi and University of Memphis. ISP Sports also has managers representing several Southeastern Conference schools including University of Alabama and University of Georgia.
Joey Thacker, ISP general manager for Marshall University, says the purpose of the meeting is strategic planning, an opportunity for the managers to put their heads together and brainstorm. They also share successful and unsuccessful experiences from the previous year which may be applicable to other schools.
Josh Bullock, general manager for the University of Central Florida, says each manager has a team of around four employees working for them to help implement strategies.
"We'll start selling now the sponsorships and advertising for the 08-09 season," said Bullock.
Grillo says the general managers are even in charge of hiring play-by-play announcers for games and deciding which stations get radio and television rights.
Dan Barrett, vice president for all the Conference USA general managers, says all the managers would return to their respective schools Wednesday.
Grillo says the group spent roughly 70 percent of their time at Waverly Waters in meetings, but Tuesday night they found some time to relax. Several managers spent their time practicing their swing on the putting green while others explored the countryside on four-wheelers. Grillo and Bullock joined Reilly on a hill overlooking the lake for some skeet shooting.
"When we have these meetings, we've got to go to a place we know we'll be taken care of," said Bullock. "Here we're taken care of from top to bottom."
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 February 2008 )
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