Brooks Sports announced a sales team power play designed to lengthen a stellar sales run and reinforce the brand's strategic category drive. Four internal employees, who have recently raised sales figures to new heights, were promoted in unison. Rick Wilhelm now serves as vice president of specialty retail accounts, Parker Karnan as vice president of apparel sales, Dan Sheridan as director of national account sales and Mike Billish as Eastern regional sales manager.
“We're energized by our recent sales numbers and mounting acceptance in the specialty running category,” said David Bohan, COO for Brooks. “We're excited that the core team members who have driven our specialty retail momentum are charged to take us into another banner year.”
Brooks Sports also announced Tamara Otto is lacing up new career shoes as Brooks new corporate communications manager.
Otto brings to Brooks more than eight years of marketing and communications experience, with a focus on public relations. Her historical repertoire includes strategic communications initiatives for an arsenal of prominent consumer brands, including clients Johnson & Johnson, Home Depot, Microsoft, Pyramid Breweries and Starbucks. In her new career path, Otto will serve as Brooks key communicator and media representative, driving awareness of and support for Brooks-branded and corporate initiatives.
“The corporate communications manager plays a critical role in keeping runners informed on what Brooks and its products are all about,” said Jim Weber, president and CEO for Brooks. “Were excited to have Tamara on board. She has the right mix of professional skills and a personal love of the run that can help Brooks customers understand how to make the most of their own personal running experiences.”
Prior to her Brooks appointment, Otto spent seven years with the Seattle office of Edelman, the worlds largest independent public relations firm. Most recently she served as an account supervisor, providing strategic public relations counsel and program management for Microsofts Macintosh Business Unit and Home Retail Division Software account teams. Throughout her Edelman tenure, Ottos work was recognized with five Totem Awards coveted recognition granted from the Puget Sound Chapter of Public Relations Society of America.
An avid runner with an Adrenaline GTS ride, Otto holds a bachelors degree in public relations with a double major in Spanish from Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa.
