The finalists for the first annual SGB 40 Under 40 awards have been selected and will be honored at an invitation-only event on June 9, 2008 during the SGMA Team Sports and Sports Licensing Show. The finalists, honored by their peers as the best and brightest of the next generation of sporting goods industry leaders, were selected by a panel of SportsOneSource analysts and editors and a team of industry executives out of the over 500 nominations received over the first three months of the year.
Each finalist will receive a personally engraved crystal award.
“These awards are a way to recognize the great work done by some of the younger people in our industry,” said James Hartford, president, CEO and group publisher of The SportsOneSource Group, which publishes the SGB trade publication. “This effort coincides with the 40th birthday of SGB magazine and aligns with other industry initiatives to enroll younger professionals in the industry we call home.”
The finalists represent a diverse cross-section of the market from retail, outdoor, footwear, team sports, apparel and golf. The list includes three Internet entrepreneurs that have had a significant impact on how the active sports lifestyle market sells to the consumer.
The finalists are:
David Abeles, GM TM-aG North America, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf
Jen Adams, CFO, JanSport
Isaac “Ike” Alvear, Exec Director – Performance Brands, American Sporting Goods
Steve Battista, Senior Vice President, Brand
Antonio Bertone, CMO, PUMA
Erin Black, Buyer – Casual Footwear, Dick’s Sporting Goods
Adam Blumenfeld, CEO, Sport Supply Group, Inc.
Kalinda Bogue, Director of Marketing, Rollerblade USA
Alex Boian, Director of Trade Policy, Outdoor Industry Association
Jared Briskin, VP/DMM, Hibbett Sports
Craig Chmura, Buyer – Adult Athletic, Sears Holding Corp.
Brian Cousins, CEO, Cloudveil Mountain Works
Ryan Cruthirds, Director Marketing, Spenco Medical
Bryan Davis, V.P. Merchandising, Nation’s Best Sports
Tom DeSimone, Senior Buyer, Modell’s Sporting Goods
Ari Friedman, Optics Buyer, Campmor
Jorge Fuenmayor, Director Market Research, adidas
John Gaither, Vice President, Feetures!
Jason Gautereaux, VP Planning, Sport Chalet
Tony Hsieh, Founder & CEO, Zappos.com
Tyler Jordan, President, Arc’ Teryx Equipment
Vince Kuehler, Footwear DMM, Academy Sports
Dave Lambert, Vice President of Sales – Running, Mizuno USA
Jacqueline Lenox, VP of Marketing, Ahnu
Jill Martin, Senior Buyer – Outerwear, Dick’s Sporting Goods
John McMahon, Marketing Director, Reebok Sports Licensed Division
Andre Murphy, GM Sports Marketing, Russell Athletic
David Nichols, EVP, K-Swiss, Royal Elastics
David Regnerus, Senior Buyer, MC Sports
Dustin Robertson, Chief Marketing Officer, Backcountry.com
Michael Rubin, Chairman, President and CEO, GSI Commerce Inc.
Megan Russell, VP of Marketing and Sales, Penguin Brands, Inc.
Ross Saldarini, CEO, Mountain Khakis
Sean Scales, COO, City Sports
Matt Schlecht, Buyer/Vice President, Bob’s Merchandise, Inc.
Evan Schwartz, President, Aetrex Worldwide, Inc.
Greg Shapleigh, Vice President of Marketing, Easton-Bell Sports
Chris Speak, National Sales Director, RedWing/Vasque
Steve Upham, VP Sales, Crosman Corporation
Todd Vore, President, Implus Footcare LLC
