In an effort to better service the needs of a growing and divergent client base, The SportsOneSource Group has added three solid industry professionals to its business development team.

Susan Tauster has joined SportsOneSource as advertising sales manager for the Western U.S. She will represent the company’s trade publications, including Sporting Goods Business, Outdoor Business, Sporting Goods Dealer, and Performance Sports Retailer, as well as all newsletter and website ad properties. Susan was most recently national sales director for footwear and product sales for Running Times magazine. Previously, she was group publisher for Vegetarian Times and Nutrition Times magazines. Susan works out of Chicago, Ill. and reports to Sam Wender, publisher for the SportsOneSource Media Group.

Lisa Smith has joined the company as client services manager for all SportsOneSource properties, but will focus primarily on servicing the needs of SportScanINFO reporting retail partners and clients. Her primary role will be developing and managing training programs for all clients and retail partners, while ensuring that they receive the full benefits of the SportsOneSource portfolio of information services. Lisa has a 20-year history with the active lifestyle market, from sales representative to regional sales manager for a number of major beach lifestyle and sportswear brands, including Ocean Pacific, Jimmy’Z, Vuarnet, and Gotcha, and more recently as a merchant on the retail side of the business. Lisa works out of the company’s operations and IT headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla. and reports to Bill Bratton, VP business development.

Cyrus Severance has joined The SportsOneSource Group as regional business manager for the Western U.S., representing the company in all business development activities related to SportScanINFO and other subscription and consulting services. Severance comes to SOS from Fila USA, where he represented the company in the Midwest. He also has previous experience with Adidas, serving in a project management role in the company’s Europe region. Cyrus is a graduate of the University of Portland and has an MBA from Pepperdine University. He competes in triathlon in the U.S. and abroad, and is a former sponsored snowboarder. Cyrus will work out of the company’s new Denver office. He reports to Bill Bratton, VP business development.

“The addition of Susan, Lisa, and Cyrus comes at a key period for our company’s growth,” said James Hartford, president and CEO of The SportsOneSource Group. “They join a seasoned group of current team members that have driven this business to new heights this year. We were very lucky to find such talented additions to that team. They bring solid industry experience to the table and each offers a unique perspective that broadens the capabilities of our organization.”

Hartford said a number of additional hires will be made in the coming months as the company expands its analyst team and client services staff.