Saints and VooDoo Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc Named Wise Women of the Year Ho
June 3, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Women in Sports and Events (WISE), the leading voice and resource for professional women in the sports and events industry, announced today that New Orleans Saints and VooDoo Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc is one of three honorees for the 2008 WISE Women of the Year Award.
LeBlanc and the other two honorees Pam Oliver, NFL reporter on FOX; and Molly Solomon, coordinating producer, NBC Olympics were honored today at the 14th annual WISE Women of the Year Awards Luncheon held in New York.
LeBlanc oversees the business and administrative operations for the Saints, including sales, marketing, community and youth programs, game entertainment, and stadium operations. She led a record selling sales and marketing effort for 2006 with a season ticket sellout for the reopening of the Superdome, followed by sellouts in 2007 and 2008. LeBlanc also chairs the NFL Employees Benefit committee and has made the rebuilding of New Orleans a business and personal priority.
"These outstanding women have not only made a number of significant contributions to their respective industries, but have broken barriers to do so," said Sue Rodin, founder and president of WISE. "They have been tremendous role models to the next generation of women in this business, while serving as a resource and increasing the opportunities for others along the way."
The honorees were chosen by a vote by the WISE membership nationwide. Criteria for the honorees include leadership in their field, service as a voice and resource for women in the industry, and general professionalism and performance on and off the field that have significantly affected the business of sports.
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