Recognizing the dedication and achievements of those who work so tirelessly to put on sports events that seem to run flawlessly and effortlessly is often a side note in this industry that never stops. We move on from one event to the next with little more than a hurried “thank you” to the ones who sacrificed countless hours over months, if not years, of researching, meeting, strategizing, coordinating and planning to ensure success not only for the event itself but also the participants, sponsors, spectators, volunteers and community partners.

SportsEvents wanted to recognize planners’ stalwart efforts and innovative ideas, so we asked readers to nominate planners they felt were making a difference in the marketplace. We weren’t surprised that, for some, the very reason they were nominated was also why they declined to be recognized—their “team-first” attitude wouldn’t allow them to take the spotlight. Some of the most common praises noted for the nominees were attention to detail, ability to foresee potential problems, understanding the individual goals of the different parties, and a combined passion for sports and care for all involved. 

Many of the nominees shared the favorite sports moment of their careers—all of which were about the experience of the athletes, unified efforts of volunteers, and impact on the community or charity. Overwhelmingly, they said sports are about fun and entertainment, even when it comes down to the business of sports. As one planner said, “It’s not the easiest field to work in, but it certainly is the best.” Read more about their experiences and insights in this special profile of some of the industry’s best “sports event planners to watch.”

Indiana Sports Corp. Vice President of Event Operations Susan Baughman has helped plan a variety of events, such as the 1996 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, 2001 World Police & Fire Games and 2006 NCAA Convention, and she said it’s the unique culture and atmosphere of each event that she enjoys most. The nonprofit organization is challenged with running “the best event for the athletes, while making trades and getting the most of out of every dollar,” she said. According to the industry peer who nominated her, Baughman “sees potential obstacles and addresses them before problems arise.” Baughman attributes this ability to working with “some of the best people in the industry and learning by watching how they handle issues, which leads to better decision-making with each event.”

Bill Burke, race director for Premier Event Management, produces more than 40 races from New York to Hawaii, but the “quality of events is consistent from one location to another,” said Burke’s nominator. Burke said he is proud to have brought the Olympic Triathlon Trials to Hawaii for the first time in 2004, and “working with the USOC was the best ever!”

Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Senior Sports Manager Eddie Clinton’s devotion to youth sports is such that “he would give the shirt off his back and then his whole closet to help youth athletes achieve their goals,” according to the person who nominated him. That’s likely why Clinton said, “Planning sports events never seems like work to me, which is my definition of success.” In his 30 years in the industry, Clinton said the 1997 National Invitational Championship (NIC), now known as the Division II National Championships, is most memorable because it was the first NIC for girls’ basketball. “It opened the door for so many additional girls to enjoy the unique experience that is AAU.”

Karen Collins, assistant executive director of member programs and services for USA Field Hockey, coordinates 3,500 athletes playing simultaneously on 26 contiguous fields for the organization’s annual National Hockey Festival. She said she relies on a strong core group of volunteers to help her keep the event on a time schedule, including interns “who are hungry to learn about event management. I think they learn a lot from our events.”

In his 12 years as vice president of race operations for Elite Racing Inc., Peter Douglass has found that having a good attitude and working hard are more essential to success than is talent. “I am aware of my limitations,” he said. “Most of the quality work being done by our operation is a credit to our incredible employees.” Despite the thousands of events he’s witnessed and hundreds he’s designed, Douglass said the 1998 inaugural Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon in San Diego stands out because “it helped lay the groundwork for the current running boom.”

Greater Birmingham CVB Director of Sports Marketing David Galbaugh has helped place a sporting event in every major sports facility in the area, due to an understanding of many sports and of the sports facilities in the area, according to his nominator. Among those events was an Olympic soccer match between the U.S. and Argentina men’s teams at Legion Field in 1996, which Galbaugh described as “a thrill. We had a crowd of 84,000 fans…and the stadium was electric.”

John Korff, president of Korff Enterprises, has organized such events as the New York City Triathlon, World Archery Championships and Albuquerque Balloon Festival in his 30 years in the industry. He said organizing sports events is “like throwing a party for 50,000 people I haven’t met yet.” He believes all events boil down to “touching one person. Success is based on other people having fun.”

As executive director of Richmond Sports Backers, Jon Lugbill has found that the biggest challenge of his job is “getting companies or organizations to try something new and take a chance on working with us to create a new event,” he said, adding that he loves to work on events that bring the community together. One of the area’s events, the 2007 Ukrop’s Momument Avenue 10K, which raised $300,000 for the Massey Cancer Center, was described in the Richmond Times-Dispatch as being “about love, friendship, support and commitment.” Lugbill said organizing events that motivate people to exercise and help change people’s lives makes him feel good about his work.