Tuesday, October 2, 2012
WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY
Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.
Meet Alan Verlander
Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment
City of Jacksonville
In April of 2012, Alan
Verlander was named Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment for the City
of Jacksonville. His role oversees all
sporting operations and events in the City, including being the direct liaison
with the Jacksonville Jaguars on all City related issues. In addition, he oversees special events for
the city and the film and TV office. The
last of his duties will be the oversight of all city sporting facilities
including the management contract.
As Director of
Athletics for Jacksonville University from 2005-2012, the fortunes of the
athletics department changed drastically as the programs gained in stature and
prominence in the community and recognition nationwide.
In his tenure at JU,
JU laid claim to 41 conference or state championship titles and made 29
appearances in NCAA Tournaments. Additionally, the football program won the
Pioneer Football League title for the first-time ever in 2008 and again in 2010
finishing with a 10-1 record, finishing the year ranked in the top 25 for the
first time in the school’s history.
A highlight in his
first and fifth year (2006 & 2010), JU hosted the first and second rounds
of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, with Verlander serving as the
Tournament Director both times.
Through private fund
raising, more than $12 million was spent during his tenure updating and
constructing new facilities.
Verlander also led the
effort in returning JU basketball to the "Downtown" area, as the
Dolphins now call the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena their home. Since
moving the home games to the Arena in 2006, JU has seen its average attendance
double since his first season and season ticket sales have tripled since that
time as well.
In addition to
facility and program upgrades, Verlander worked hard to get all 21 teams
successful in the classroom as well. Upon his hire, 10 teams were under the 925
NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) bar. In 2012, only one team will be below the
925 mark.
In the spring of 2008,
under Verlander’s guidance, JU announced the addition of two new varsity sports
-- men’s and women’s Lacrosse. The men’s team is the first Division I team in
the state with women’s team becoming the second. Both seasons were successful
in 2010, with the women’s program winning the National Lacrosse Conference
Championship with an undefeated record. In 2011, a nationally televised event was
created and sold (Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic) on ESPN which featured Duke,
Notre Dame, Georgetown and JU. The game was played at EverBank Field, home of
the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, as JU athletics worked with the city of
Jacksonville to promote the event.
Nationally, Verlander
served on the NCAA Recruiting and Personnel Issues Cabinet, which sets and
monitors all NCAA legislation for recruiting and personnel Issues. He also has
served on the Executive Committee within the Atlantic Sun Conference and
currently chairs the membership committee.
Verlander, 40, is a
Jacksonville native who worked at the University of North Florida and with the
Gator Bowl Association before leaving the First Coast in 1997. He is a 1990
graduate of the Bolles School and his grandfather, Ash Verlander, served as
Chairman of JU's Board of Trustees from 1982-85.
Verlander spent five
years as Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Samford, where
he oversaw the Samford Athletic Foundation, facility improvements, the
corporate partnership program, ticket sales, athletic media relations,
marketing & promotions, broadcast operations, licensing & merchandising
and the Bulldogs' official athletic web site.
During his tenure at
Samford, the Bulldogs saw dramatic increases in individual and corporate
giving, as well as record attendance and ticket sales in nearly every sport.
Samford-branded merchandise also experienced record growth, while the Bulldogs'
television, radio and Internet coverage was enhanced and expanded to include
football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer and
volleyball.
Prior to working at
Samford, Verlander spent two years as national sales executive for Host
Communications in Atlanta, where he was responsible for securing corporate
partners for the Southeastern and Big 12 Conferences, in addition to all
colleges and universities represented by Host.
Verlander was the
director of marketing and promotions for the Gator Bowl Association in
Jacksonville from April of 1995 until July of 1997. He directed all sales of
corporate sponsors, which totaled more than $1.8 million, while also managing
game operations and serving as a liaison with NBC as well as the Atlantic Coast
and Big East Conferences.
Verlander graduated
with his B.A. in speech communications from Samford in 1994, where he earned
three varsity letters in baseball. He obtained a master's degree in Strategic
Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University in 2007. He and his
wife, Bonnie, have four daughters: Abby (15), Kate (12), Maggie (10) and Mary (9).
Congratulations Stephen Wilson!
Stephen Wilson, Ken Wilson's son attended the Bayatta Regatta in Philadelphia. He won a 3rd place medal in rowing and placed in archery. Rowing and archery are two programs that are part of the Adaptive Sports and Recreation at Brooks. Stephen also works at Brooks.
Recap of
the September 25th Meeting
Greeter: Casey Martin
The
Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer: David Bissell
Craft Talk: Ed Morales
Football Update: Jeremy Miller
Blue Badge Recipient: Leandra Dopazo
Fellowship & Attendance Initiative Update: Dean Scott
Membership Initiative Update: Ron Patrick
Introduction
of Visitors & Guests: Harlan Bost
Guest
Speaker Introduction: Doug Johnson
Speaker: Jeannie Blaylock
Jeannie Blaylock spoke to the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville about "Buddy Check 12", a program to help women and men overcome
breast cancer through early detection.
