Just months into his new role as President and CEO of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA International), industry veteran Tom Cove has made it clear he intends to focus on creating more sustainable value for SGMA members – and a sharper presence in Washington. So far, he is building strong momentum and scoring points for SGMA.

Underscoring his vision that SGMA can deliver value to Members beyond The Super Show, Cove’s first initiative – moving the corporate headquarters from Florida to Washington, DC – resulted in a talented team of seasoned SGMA professionals mixed with Washington insiders who bring strong expertise in sports management, member relations, and legislative affairs.


SGMA Vice President Gregg Hartley and Mike May, Director of Media Relations, represent for Cove the storied success of SGMA’s member programs and media relations and will continue to help SGMA members take product to market through sophisticated research programs and media outreach.

Inside the Beltway, Cove recently announced Bill Sells as his successor as the lead staffer on legislative affairs. Sells’ primary contribution will be to build advocacy programs leveraging his network of key affiliations throughout Capitol Hill, developed over two decades of association lobbying and national campaign administration.

Chris Strong, Director of Membership and Business Development, carries fifteen years of member relations success with one of Washington’s largest trade associations, the National Association of Manufacturers. In hiring Strong, Cove validates his intention to develop a member-centric organization focused on stronger, more meaningful ties to the SGMA membership community.

In further support of this vision, Cove adds to his new leadership two marketing and member communications professionals whose responsibilities will be to drive interaction with SGMA companies and create new value through targeted programs and networking opportunities.

Kalinda Mathis is a foremost sports and fitness industry expert, most recently serving seven years as the Executive Director of the International Inline Skating Association. As SGMA's Director of Marketing, Mathis will drive new development of member programs focused on product innovation, technology advancements, and thought leadership.

Andrea Cernich recently joined as the Director of Communications and will build on past roles at the American Bankers Association to develop a targeted, aggressive membership communications platform that promotes the new SGMA value through membership activity, interaction, and participation.

Cove rounds out his transition team with SGMA’s new CFO, John Mamone. Mamone brings years of association management and financial expertise with various Washington trade organizations and highlights the level of expertise and focused management that Cove represents as the Association’s new leader.

Collectively, the new SGMA team under Cove has already begun to deliver on the promise of a new and stronger SGMA – one associated with value beyond The Super Show. Cove and his team recently organized the most successful single lobby day in SGMA history, bringing corporate leaders, celebrity athletes, and partner PE4life into Washington, DC, to lobby over 100 Members of Congress on the important issue of increased funding for school physical education programs.

Cove hopes his new commitment to make SGMA a truly member-oriented institution will be prominent as the organization enters its 100 year celebration in 2006, encouraging leading industry brands to collaborate under the SGMA umbrella and build a stronger association for the next 100 years.