Post by Banana Cat on Apr 13, 2012 2:34:00 GMT -5
www.goifl.com/news/news-archive/64-allen-wranglers/550-wranglers-fill-out-leadership-team
Wranglers Fill Out Leadership Team
Allen, TX: The Allen Wranglers announced today, at a press conference at the team's practice facility the Blue Sky Sports Center that they have filled out the leadership team for the organization, adding a new team President and two new Vice Presidents.
Joining the team in the role of team President and Co-Owner is Tommy Benizio. Benizio joins the Wranglers organization following a four Allenyear stint as the Indoor Football League's first Commissioner. Over the course of his time as Commissioner the league grew in both strength and stability.
Prior to being named Commissioner, Benizio was the owner and operator of both the Intense Football League and the Odessa Roughnecks for five seasons, winning Franchise of the Year and Executive of the Year awards for his work with the team. Benizio brings over two decades of experience in the operation of professional minor league sports franchises, getting his start in the early 1990's as a player for the ECHL's Roanoke Valley Rampage.
Following his brief professional hockey career, he took a position in the front office of the ECHL's Roanoke team. From that point on he worked hard at every position he held, while moving through organizations in Dayton, OH, Baton Rouge, LA, Tucson, AZ, El Paso, TX, and Knoxville, TN. It was during his second stint with the team in Roanoke that Benizio served as a founding member of the af2 while operating both the hockey and football franchises. “I am pleased to add Tommy as a partner with the Wranglers and as a leader to spearhead our operations.”, stated team owner Jon Frankel.
Benizio's first order of business was to hire two professionals who could assist him in fulfilling his visions for the team. First, the Wranglers new Vice President of Sales, Barney Welch brings 18 years of sales experience to the organization. Welch got his first job in sports as a member of the Odessa Roughnecks in 2004 as the Assistant Director of Sales, eventually moving up to the position of Director of Operations.
Prior to the 2008 season Welch accepted the position of General Manager with the Centex Barracudas of the IFL, a position he held through the season before becoming the General Manager of the Abilene Ruff Riders in 2009. Following brief stints with both the River City Rage and Omaha Beef, Welch returned to Odessa to work in the oil fields, prior to joining the Wranglers and jumping back in the world of professional sports. Welch brings years of Game Operations experience, winning the league's Game Ops of the Year award in 2007.
Joining the Wranglers as the Vice President of Operations is Charlie Hildbold. Hildbold broke into the sports business in 2005 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates front office. As a member of the Outbound Ticket Sales Department, Hildbold was one of the top sales people in the department and was hired on by the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL in September 2006 as a full-time Account Executive. In the spring of 2007, Hildbold joined the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League, an A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
After serving as the team's Ticket and Box Office Manager for the season he was hired by Tommy Benizio in Odessa as the Roughnecks Director of Marketing and Promotions. Following two seasons in Odessa, including the 2008 season in which he won Game Operations of the Year, Hildbold moved on to Richmond, VA, where he launched the IFL's Richmond Revolution franchise. The 2010 season saw the Revolution win the Franchise of the Year award and Media Relations of the Year award, following a 13-1 season.
“I feel blessed to have both Charlie and Barney join us as we begin efforts to serve the community and provide a great product to our fans.”, said Benizio, “Both bring tremendous talent and character to our organization and I am excited about the future.” With sights set on the future, the ownership and new management teams of the Wranglers move forward with great anticipation of success both on and off the field.
Allen, TX: The Allen Wranglers announced today, at a press conference at the team's practice facility the Blue Sky Sports Center that they have filled out the leadership team for the organization, adding a new team President and two new Vice Presidents.
Joining the team in the role of team President and Co-Owner is Tommy Benizio. Benizio joins the Wranglers organization following a four Allenyear stint as the Indoor Football League's first Commissioner. Over the course of his time as Commissioner the league grew in both strength and stability.
Prior to being named Commissioner, Benizio was the owner and operator of both the Intense Football League and the Odessa Roughnecks for five seasons, winning Franchise of the Year and Executive of the Year awards for his work with the team. Benizio brings over two decades of experience in the operation of professional minor league sports franchises, getting his start in the early 1990's as a player for the ECHL's Roanoke Valley Rampage.
Following his brief professional hockey career, he took a position in the front office of the ECHL's Roanoke team. From that point on he worked hard at every position he held, while moving through organizations in Dayton, OH, Baton Rouge, LA, Tucson, AZ, El Paso, TX, and Knoxville, TN. It was during his second stint with the team in Roanoke that Benizio served as a founding member of the af2 while operating both the hockey and football franchises. “I am pleased to add Tommy as a partner with the Wranglers and as a leader to spearhead our operations.”, stated team owner Jon Frankel.
Benizio's first order of business was to hire two professionals who could assist him in fulfilling his visions for the team. First, the Wranglers new Vice President of Sales, Barney Welch brings 18 years of sales experience to the organization. Welch got his first job in sports as a member of the Odessa Roughnecks in 2004 as the Assistant Director of Sales, eventually moving up to the position of Director of Operations.
Prior to the 2008 season Welch accepted the position of General Manager with the Centex Barracudas of the IFL, a position he held through the season before becoming the General Manager of the Abilene Ruff Riders in 2009. Following brief stints with both the River City Rage and Omaha Beef, Welch returned to Odessa to work in the oil fields, prior to joining the Wranglers and jumping back in the world of professional sports. Welch brings years of Game Operations experience, winning the league's Game Ops of the Year award in 2007.
Joining the Wranglers as the Vice President of Operations is Charlie Hildbold. Hildbold broke into the sports business in 2005 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates front office. As a member of the Outbound Ticket Sales Department, Hildbold was one of the top sales people in the department and was hired on by the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL in September 2006 as a full-time Account Executive. In the spring of 2007, Hildbold joined the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League, an A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
After serving as the team's Ticket and Box Office Manager for the season he was hired by Tommy Benizio in Odessa as the Roughnecks Director of Marketing and Promotions. Following two seasons in Odessa, including the 2008 season in which he won Game Operations of the Year, Hildbold moved on to Richmond, VA, where he launched the IFL's Richmond Revolution franchise. The 2010 season saw the Revolution win the Franchise of the Year award and Media Relations of the Year award, following a 13-1 season.
“I feel blessed to have both Charlie and Barney join us as we begin efforts to serve the community and provide a great product to our fans.”, said Benizio, “Both bring tremendous talent and character to our organization and I am excited about the future.” With sights set on the future, the ownership and new management teams of the Wranglers move forward with great anticipation of success both on and off the field.