Hackman named Mallards executive VP and GM

Published on August 5, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (August 5, 2009) - The Quad City Mallards of the IHL announced on Wednesday that Shawn Hackman has been named as the Mallards executive vice president and general manager, according to Christopher Lencheski, managing member of QCHT, LLC. As executive vice president and general manager, Mr. Hackman will direct all business activities, sales, and media and hockey operations for the Mallards professional hockey club in the new IHL.

Lencheski stated, "We are very fortunate to have someone of Shawn's abilities and experience come into the Mallards. His success in NASCAR, the "World Of Outlaws" and specifically in the world of live entertainment and sports marketing with International Speedway Corporation makes Shawn an ideal fit for the Mallards mission to deliver family fun and excitement all season long. His experience in selling large NASCAR scale events will help immeasurably with fans and corporate sponsors alike. He has been speaking with some of his staff, as well as some of the new staff yet to be announced, and they are on board and motivated to bring the Mallards back!"

Mr. Hackman added, "I am very glad to join Chris and Eric and the Quad City Mallards Organization. I have had the great opportunity to work with them for many years and am excited to join in this latest venture to return to the Quad City area the model franchise in all of minor league professional hockey."

Mr. Hackman possesses over thirteen years of sports marketing experience. Most recently, he served as vice president of new business development of SKI & Company. While at SKI & Company, he oversaw new business development for the company's various global divisions of Activation, Soccer, Events, Digital and Motorsports.

Following a two-year stint at "Musikfest," the largest US music festival that annually attracts over a million attendees to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Hackman returned to SKI & Company in 2008, the company at which he was the first employee in 2003.

Prior to joining SKI & Company, Mr. Hackman served a brief period with the World of Outlaws as their first director of marketing in the organization's 25-year history. The World of Outlaws is recognized as the leading Sprint Car sanction body. While with the Outlaws, he was responsible for securing a television presence, negotiating a three-year contract with The Outdoor Channel.

Prior to joining the World of Outlaws, Mr. Hackman served as general manager of National Grand Prix Holdings (NGPH). NGPH was founded to return world-class auto racing to Washington D.C. for the first time in more than 80 years. NGPH was part of a triad of companies, including The Source International (TSI), a sports and entertainment agency, and the NASCAR Busch Series team, IMI Innovative Motorsports Incorporated. The inaugural Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington D.C., held in July 2002 and nationally televised by CBS and NBC, featured the American Le Mans Series and was widely acclaimed domestically and internationally. While with NGPH, Mr. Hackman served as a guest lecturer in the sports management department at The George Washington University.

Before NGPH, Mr. Hackman held a dual role as director of sales for International Speedway Corporation's Watkins Glen International and Nazareth Speedway. Prior to the merger of the two speedways' marketing departments, Hackman held the director of marketing and sales position at Nazareth Speedway where he oversaw all aspects of the marketing department, including sponsorship, event marketing, hospitality sales, promotions and other related initiatives.

Previous to re-entering the sales area of the business at Nazareth Speedway, Mr. Hackman held a senior account executive position with Summit Marketing of Atlanta, GA in 2000. While there, he managed the daily operations of Kellogg's NASCAR program, including event marketing, hospitality, sales promotions and other related initiatives. Mr. Hackman was involved in the initial planning that led to the rebranding of the Kellogg's program to the Frosted Flakes brand and "Tony the Tiger" icon.

Mr. Hackman started in motor sports at Protech and Associates, a Long Pond, Pennsylvania-based sports marketing agency owned by Joe Mattioli, III. While at Protech, Mr. Hackman was responsible for sponsorship and hospitality sales for NASCAR events at Pocono Raceway and South Boston Speedway and was the key contact for other Protech clients, including Tom Bolles Racing, Team Rizzo, and Pepsi Cola. Additionally, he was responsible for all management and marketing of Hook Line & Sinker I IV, a NASCAR celebrity sailfish tournament held in West Palm Beach, Florida, generating over $250,000 for the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary.

Mr. Hackman is a 1993 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University.

Jim Riggs, who was granted an official two-week leave of absence by club ownership in order to address a personal family matter in South Carolina beginning on Tuesday, July 14, was initially introduced as the club's executive vice president on July 8. Although Riggs currently can attend to work, Mallards' ownership strongly believes the directing of day-to-day operations of the club demands a Quad Cities presence. Mr. Riggs has been offered an opportunity to serve the Mallards in a different capacity.

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