Charlotte, NC - Checkers CEO, Michael Kahn
announced today the restructuring of the club's front office staff. At
the beginning of the month, Jeff Longo the team's former president
resigned to assume the position of vice president of marketing for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.
Tera
Black, formerly the team's vice president will assume the position of
Chief Operating Officer. Since joining the Checkers in 2006 Black
managed the overall marketing, community relations, game operations,
merchandise and involvement with non-profit organizations. Under her
direction, the team won back to back ECHL Excellence in Marketing
Awards in 2006-07 and 2007-08. In addition to her current
responsibilities she will oversee the day to day operations of the
front office staff. Black assumes the role she previously held with the
San Diego Gulls until her departure in 2006. She was the first-ever
female COO in ECHL history and only the fourth female in league history
to run an ECHL organization.
Aaron Osborne, the team's
vice president of corporate partnerships since 2004 has been promoted
to senior vice president. Osborne joined the Checkers after a two-year
stint with the Macon Knights Arena Football Team in Macon, Ga. While
with the Knights, Osborne served as the director of corporate
partnerships for the team and SportsTowne, the Knights official
practice and training facility. Prior to his days in the af2, Osborne
served in several capacities with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Baseball Club. While with the Single-A Seattle Mariners
affiliate, Osborne worked in the group sales and corporate sales
departments before being named vice president of sales in 2001. In
addition to his current responsibilities, Osborne will help manage the
day to day operations of the team.
Shawn Lynch has been
promoted to vice president of the team. Lynch joined the Checkers in
2004 as a ticket account manager. In December of 2005, he took on the
role of director of ticket services and in December, 2006 he was named
vice president of ticket sales. In addition to his current
responsibilities of overseeing the entire Checkers ticketing operation,
Lynch will also help manage the day to day operations of the team.
Derek
Wilkinson, the team's head coach and general manager has received a
promotion to vice president. In addition to his current team related
responsibilities of recruiting and coaching players, Wilkinson will be
more heavily engaged in the day to day operations of the team.
Kahn
said, "The position of president will not be replaced. Rather, a
restructuring of the current staff has occurred such that each of the
department heads will assume additional responsibilities to maintain
the operational synergy of the office environment. I have been and
continue to be extremely confident in the staff that is in place.
Simply put, this transition will be smooth and seamless and I look
forward to the upcoming season under this new structure."