Twin Cities Marathon Appoints New Executive Director
Posted Thursday, 29 April, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS - (April 26, 2004) - The Twin Cities Marathon has announced the appointment of Patricia Ball as Executive Director. Taking the helm of day-to-day operations of The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America, Ball will lead the organization and focus on broadening sponsorships, advancing community partnerships and will oversee a staff of 6 and more than 5,000 race day volunteers. Joining Ball on the TCM staff are new Marketing & Public Relations Manager Megan Ryan and Assistant Race Director Brian Mastel.
"We are very excited that Patricia is joining the Twin Cities Marathon. Our vision is to take a great series of events and make them even better - ratchet everything up a couple notches," states Ron Abrahamson, President of the TCM Board of Directors. "Patricia and the rest of the staff have the talent and desire to do just that."
Patricia comes to the Twin Cities Marathon from the Detroit Free Press Marathon where, in the last four years, she has increased participation by over 50%, more than doubled profits and added a half-marathon to the Detroit weekend of events. Ball's real drive, however, isn't about building numbers; it's about doing the unthinkable. "People who train for and run marathons do just that and it changes their lives forever. We want to heighten that experience," said Ball. "With the staff, board and volunteers I've met, we'll be able to make TCM not only the most beautiful urban marathon but also the most extraordinary for our runners."
Before joining the TCM as Marketing & Public Relations Manager, Megan Ryan ran her own Marketing, Public Relations and Special Events consulting business. Prior to that she was the Director of Marketing & Promotions for the City of Saint Paul, where she created the city's highly successful Peanuts on Parade tribute to Charles Schulz.
As Assistant Race Director, Brian Mastel will work closely with TCM Race Director Virginia Brophy Achman. Mastel has 10 years of experience directing races in Montana and recently helped open a running specialty store in Bozeman. "Brian is a great addition to the staff and will be instrumental in our goal to advance our distinction as the 'best organized marathon in the country,'" explains Achman, who was promoted to TCM Race Director earlier this year. "The TCM's aim is to get to the next level of competition from a race perspective and to grow our Saturday Events, especially our youth fitness program."
The new hires are no strangers to marathons and have run a combined total of 34 marathons between them. The TCM staff also welcomes Administrative Assistant Kathy Pennington to its staff and announces the promotion of Amy Ferstenou to Development and Events Manager.
TCM registration begins this Wednesday, April 28th and is expected to fill within three weeks. The 2004 Twin Cities Marathon weekend is October 1-3. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness includes a 5K run/walk, children's fun runs, pasta dinner, two-day health and fitness expo and a 10-mile race in addition to the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, continues its 14th consecutive year as the designated USATF National Masters Championship for both men and women. Major corporate sponsors for the marathon are Cub Foods and Seagate Technology. Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that directs the TCM weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit us at: www.twincitiesmarathon.org
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