Danny Blandford, Program Director for the Professional Anglers Association, has resigned to accept another position in the fishing industry.
Blandford worked with the PAA since 2009 in a variety of roles, including Business Development Manager and most recently as Program Director handling sponsor partnership contracts, sales, promotions and operations, among other duties. His final day is July 22.
During his tenure the PAA experienced double-digit membership growth, sponsorships have grown extensively and the PAA has enjoyed a tremendous increase in industry presence through traditional and social media. Television partnerships with VERSUS (NBC Sports), the Sportsman Channel and the Texas Channel put “FishPAA Television” into over 100 million households in 2011. The PAA also recently entered into a partnership with Game & Fish publications for additional exposure to its 4.2 million magazine readers and Web visitors.
“Im proud of what my team and I accomplished in such short order and they deserve a tremendous amount of credit for our successes,” Blandford said. “It’s a testament to our passion for fishing, belief in the PAA, and strong work ethics. I truly believe I left it better than I found it, which is very satisfying. I look forward to watching the organization continue to flourish and build upon the foundation that we have laid as teammates and ultimately friends.”
PAA President Dave Mansue said Blandford’s energy and passion was evident in his initial job interview with the PAA Board of Directors and continued during his tenure.
“Throughout his time with the PAA, Danny continued to impress everyone with his energy, vision, commitment and passion for our organization,” Mansue said. “Danny raised more than $1 million in funding, our partnerships quadrupled, and our membership has been growing by double digits since his arrival. Danny will be sorely missed by everyone who worked with him.
“However, he now embarks on a great new opportunity, one in which I am certain he will engage as vigorously as he did with the PAA and will experience the same successes. My hope is that Danny’s new position will present a great opportunity for the PAA to establish a solid relationship with collegiate fishing, as these young men and women are the future of the sport. The entire Board of Directors, staff and PAA partners join me in wishing Danny great success in the future.”
Blandford has accepted a position with CarecoTV in San Antonio, a multi-faceted company involved with television production, post-production, marketing, advertising and event promotion. More than 50 of the biggest and most well-known companies in the hunting and fishing industry are or have been clients.
Blandford will serve as the Director of the Association of Collegiate Anglers and the “BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series,” the nation’s longest running collegiate tournament circuit. Blandford will be involved with tournament operations and continuing to build the circuit’s brand as well as other projects for the collegiate anglers.
“This is a special opportunity for me personally,” Blandford said. “My time as President of the Indiana University Bass Club inspired me to chase dreams, work hard and be a leader. I can honestly say that collegiate fishing changed my life for the better and set me on a path to work in an industry I set my sights on when I was just a boy. To have an opportunity to give back in such an influential way has both invigorated me and reminded me how lucky are those who love what they do and do what they love.”
