FALCONS ANNOUNCE FRONT OFFICE PROMOTIONS
Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today that Bob Oliver has been named Senior Vice President/Alternate Governor, Chris Thompson has been appointed Vice President of Business Development, and Mike Kelly has been named Manager of Group Sales/Broadcaster.
“These internal moves all position us better as we go forward for next season,” said Falcons President and General Manager Bruce Landon. “Bob Oliver has been with the Falcons since 1994 and has been a key member of the staff in handling all of the business operations for the team and has been my right hand man in a number of other areas as well.”
Oliver enters his 16th season with the Falcons organization after spending the previous five years as the team’s Vice President of Business Operations. As VP of Business Operations, Oliver’s responsibilities included all finance matters with the hockey club, as well as general office administration, payroll, human resources and information technology. As Alternate Governor, Oliver represents the Falcons at all AHL meetings and also serves on the league’s Team Business Services Committee. Born and raised in West Springfield, MA, Oliver is also a member of the Amo “Betts” Bessone Awards Banquet Committee, which honors high school hockey players in Western MA.
Thompson served as the Falcons Director of Sales and Service during the 2008-09 season where he led the staff in both ticket package sales and group sales. Thompson joined the Falcons staff in December of 2005 after spending four years working within the Marketing Department of the American Hockey League Office. A native of West Springfield, MA, Thompson’s primary focus was the overall branding of the AHL.
“Chris Thompson has served as our Director of Ticket Sales and he now also takes on the responsibility of overseeing our corporate sponsorships,” said Landon. “Chris is a rising star in the sports industry. He has outstanding relationship building abilities and has proven to be tremendous revenue producer for us. Chris will be assisted by Mike Kelly who now takes on the added role of Managing our Group Sales Department.”
Kelly will be entering his third season with the Falcons organization. Prior to arriving in Springfield in August of 2007, Kelly spent seven seasons in the ECHL with South Carolina and Mississippi, where he was selected as the 2004 ECHL Media Relations Director of the Year.
He also has broadcast experience in the Ontario Hockey League with Barrie and Toronto St. Michael's, Brantford of the Colonial Hockey League, and in the Ontario Hockey Association with Orangeville.
“Mike in addition to being an outstanding broadcaster has a wealth of sales experience both with us and during his time in the ECHL,” said Landon. “He is a work horse who understands and enjoys the sales process and is the perfect candidate to now manage our Group Sales.”
