Sunday, September 6, 2009

ICE hire three

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The Indiana Ice has announced the front office hiring of Justin Hart, Robert Stahlke and Luci Franklin.

“I am very excited to be able to add Justin, Bob and Luci to our organization for this fall,” said CEO/President Paul Skjodt. “Our staff continues to evolve into one that I believe is the strongest we have had in our five year history in the USHL. We certainly had a special year in 2008-09 with the Clark Cup in hand now and our organization will strive to take it to another level in 2009-10.”

Hart takes over as Vice President of Ticket Sales for the Ice. The graduate of Indiana University returns to the “Hoosier State” after a stint in Corpus Christi, TX with a pair of sports teams. He was most recently the Assistant General Manager and Director of Ticket Sales for the Corpus Christi Sharks (af2) where he earned the “af2 Cares Award” in 2008 for his efforts and increased season ticket revenue over 30% in three years.

Before his run with the football, Hart was the Ticket Manager for the Corpus Christi Rayz of the Central Hockey League (CHL), managing all aspects of the ticket department. Ironically, he began his work in tickets back in 2003 as a ticket sales representative with the Indianapolis Ice of the CHL.

Stahlke comes aboard as Director of Corporate Partnerships and brings more than thirty years experience to the Ice program. Previously, he was a Business Development Strategist for Ashley and Associates, Inc./Octane VTM where he served the vehicle and transportation industries, specializing in new product launch and public relations.

He attended St. Cloud State (MN) and has also had sale stints with Phoenyx Solutions Inc., PowerWay Inc and National Car Rental. With Powerway, he was selected to the “President’s Club” for exceeding sales goals and was also honored as “Sales Representative of the Year.” Throughout his career Stahlke has done business with companies such as Cummins Engine Company, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Corporation, Deutz Diesel and Eli Lilly.

Franklin joins the Ice as the Business Operations Manager. Her responsibilities include merchandising, ticket management, and administrative duties. She has spent the last three years with the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League as the Director of Community and Media Relations.

She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University, earning a degree in public relations and is a native of Yellow Springs, OH.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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