SGMA International last week announced that Tom Rogge, president of Cramer Products, has been elected chairman of the SGMA Board of Directors. Steve Furniss, founder and EVP of TYR Sport, Inc., was elected as vice chairman. Dick Kazmaier will remain on the Board as immediate past chairman.

The election of Tom Rogge, together with Tom Cove’s ascension to the president and CEO role in January 2005, may signal a refreshing new direction for the association and the Board.

“My interest in the chairman role was due in large part to Tom Cove’s recent appointment,” said Rogge in a conversation with Sports Executive Weekly. “I worked closely with Tom on the Governmental Affairs committee.”
“I told the Board I don’t come with an agenda in my back pocket,” Rogge continued, “I’m here to facilitate ideas and agendas from the Board and the SGMA membership.”

Rogge has been Secretary/Treasurer for the last few years and was approached to run for the Chairmanship since the natural succession for the Vice Chairman was broken once again. Over the last twelve years, everyone that has held the Vice Chairman title has left the industry. Tim Joyce, who was the most recent casualty, had been EVP at adidas America after a stint at FogDog and a good run at Nike.
Greg Hege, president of Porter Athletic Equipment Company and a former SGMA chairman, was elected Secretary/Treasurer. Bill Sherman, CEO of Riddell, Inc., was elected to an initial term on the SGMA Board. Bob Monroe, SVP/GM of Reebok North America, Tony Palma, president and CEO of Easton Sports, George Napier, president of Prince Sports, Inc., and Kerry Kligerman, president of Vital Apparel Group, were all re-elected to the Board.

In addition to Joyce’s Board departure, Carol Mabe, former Russell VP; Marty Hanaka, former chairman of TSA; and Bob Mang, former CEO of Galyan’s, have also left the Board.