LEADDOG ADDS NBA EVENT AND MARKETING EXECUTIVE TO ITS CORE TEAM
New additions arrive as company is named Marketing
Representative for start-up Sports League

NEW YORK, NY— September 26, 2000

LeadDog Marketing Group, an event/Internet marketing, production and management company has added three new members to its team, led by Karen Ashnault, former Director of Events at the National Basketball Association.

Karen Ashnault, LeadDog’s new Vice President of Account Management, is a seasoned marketing, promotion and events professional who joins LeadDog after seven years at the NBA. During her tenure at the League, she oversaw the marketing and operations of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend Jam Session festivities (since 1995). Ashnault was also responsible for the development of a touring version of this event. Ashnault began her work at the NBA in June of 1993 in the League’s Marketing Department. Prior to her time at the NBA, Ashnault was an account executive for two years at Ski View U.S.A. in New York City, one of the nation’s largest advertising/sports marketing firms, specializing in the ski industry. Prior to Ski View, Ashnault was a media supervisor at Geer DuBois Advertising, also in New York.

"We are very excited that Karen has joined the company as a partner and key part of our team. Karen brings a high level of marketing expertise and event experience that will be a huge benefit to our company and to our clients", states Dan Mannix, President & CEO.

Along with Ashnault, LeadDog has added two account managers with diverse backgrounds to complement the core management team. Brian Lefkowitz joins LeadDog with experience in event production, operations and marketing. Prior to LeadDog, he was the Director of the Sports Division at World Research Group, where he developed and produced the Interactive Sports and Sports Media & Technology conferences for the on-line sports industry. Lefkowitz also worked for the A&P Tennis Classic and Madison Square Garden.

Beth Jowdy also joins the team with a background in event operations and grass roots marketing. Previously Beth served as Director of Women’s Basketball Operations for the Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Jowdy managed all game-day operations, community service activities, fundraising and grassroots promotions for the women’s basketball team. Before Georgia Tech she worked for API Soccer and the 1996 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Atlanta.

The new additions come at a time when LeadDog is also adding Major League Bull Riding (MLBR) to its client roster. Bull Riding, the world’s original extreme sport will debut as a traditional team-based sport for the first time ever when MLBR begins its inaugural season with eight teams in the Summer of 2001. As a League development partner for MLBR, LeadDog is responsible for consulting in the following areas of League operations: sponsorship and internet strategy, television partnerships, league and team marketing and operational planning, event presentation, national grass roots and community relations efforts.

LeadDog combines their overall management experience with creative and strategic business solutions in the following areas:

-Event Marketing, Production and Management – development and implementation of events and sports programming as well as the creation, management and execution of local and national marketing campaigns and promotions.

-Business Development – creation and management of strategic partnerships for new and existing programs, with a focus on Internet startups. Services include directing marketing and communication efforts, research and competitive analyses, and the creation and implementation of national promotional programs.

-Recruiting and Training – recruitment and placement of candidates in the promotions, events and production industries as well as the sourcing and training of managers, staff and volunteers for short and long term projects/events.

LeadDog Marketing Group was formed by two former National Basketball Association executives: Dan Mannix, President & CEO and Siobhan Dennehy, Vice President and former Atlanta based event marketer Charly Schwartz.

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