Team Insight

Miller Joins NSGA Board; Geiger Named Chairman Adding another dealer voice to its leadership team, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) recently appointed Justin Miller, of Scholastic Sports Sales, Manlius, NY, to the District IV board seat. Also at NSGA, Gordon Geiger began his three-year term as board chairman on June 1. Miller is the president of Scholastic Sports Sales, which is in its third generation as a family- owned and operated team dealer in suburban Syracuse. Scholastic recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Geiger takes over as board chairman aer Pat Donnelley concluded his four-year tenure. Geiger is the executive VP and co-owner of Geiger's, which has provided clothing, footwear and gear for snow sports and outdoor activities since 1932 and has two locations in the Cleveland suburbs of Lakewood and Chagrin Falls. Bob Fawley (Capitol Varsity Sports, Oxford, OH), who has also been on the Board since 2021, becomes the treasurer/ chair elect and joins the Executive Committee with Geiger and Donnelley. Miller replaces David Labbe (Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME), whose 14 years of service on the board included a tenure as chairman from 2016-19 SFIA's Tom Cove To Retire Tom Cove, president and CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), will be retiring in October. Cove has led the organization since 2005 and previously served as SFIA's VP– government relations for more than 13 years. During his tenure, Cove oversaw the transformation of the association from a traditional tradeshow-focused manufacturers' group into a full- service industry organization delivering sport and business advocacy, sports participation research and analysis, innovative thought leadership and events and a variety of targeted member services to address the specific needs of industry companies. "It is a tremendous privilege to work every day for a mission you believe in, a cause you have passion about, with people who challenge and inspire you," said Cove in announcing his retirement. "I feel honored to have had the opportunity to do this with SFIA and this industry. It has been a great run and I look forward to new chapters, both for myself and for SFIA." Momentec Names Execs Momentec Brands, formed out of the merger of Augusta Sportswear Brands and Founder Sport Group, recently appointed David Baxter as chairman, Mike Moore as a chief financial officer and Joel Bennink as SVP–product development. • Most recently, Baxter was the president of Under Armour for the Americas Region. In this role, he was responsible for the company's largest revenue region, including wholesale, retail, e-commerce and team sports. Before Under Armour, he led the Lids Sports Group as president and CEO. • Moore has spent eight years with Fanatics, most recently as the CFO of Fanatics Brands, a $1 million division of Fanatics. At Momentec Brands, Moore will oversee Momentec's financial responsibilities. • Bennink spent 13 years at Under Armour, where he led the growth and development across Team, Golf and Curry- branded apparel and outfitted UA's global sports partnerships across collegiate, professional and Olympic Teams. Before Under Armour, Bennink spent time at New Era and Abercrombie & Fitch. He is now responsible for leveraging customer and consumer insights to identify new product opportunities across Momentec's brands portfolio. Wilson Partners With Clark Wilson Sporting Goods recently signed a multiyear deal with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark as part of its athlete roster, one of its most significant female signings to date. As part of the deal, Wilson will create signature basketball collections celebrating her "continued legacy," while its product team will work with her on innovations across the WNBA, NBA and basketball categories. e first product in the collection features Wilson's classic white and gold WNBA basketball with "personalized laser engravings celebrating iconic Clark moments." Consumers can choose one of three designs to personalize their basketball. is product is available exclusively at Wilson.com. n END ZONE 34 • Team Insight ~ July/August 2024 teaminsightmag.com Buying Group Shows Go Big e annual summer shows of the two major team sports buying groups – Sports Inc. and Nation's Best Sports (NBS) – brought together most of the major players in the business and featured some different activities and speakers to rev up the excitement. Above, Sports Inc. brought in keynote speaker Johnny Cupcakes (center in photo) to inspire and engage its members with unique marketing and sales techniques. (An example: Johnny Cupcakes' stores do NOT sell any cupcakes. Rather, they design and sell T-shirts and other lifestyle products. Look it up at johnnycupcakes. com.) And below, building on the momentum of the "fastest-growing sport in America," NBS put a full-size pickleball court on the show floor to introduce team dealers to a new sales opportunity. n

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