Kent State Athletics Announces Additions To Marketing Staff
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | General
KENT, Ohio — The Kent State Department of Athletics announced Friday (Sept. 16) that Dennis Watson and Kristan Dolan have been named to a pair of newly created positions within the marketing department.
As the Group Ticket/Marketing Manager, Watson is responsible for selling group tickets for all Kent State sporting events while raising awareness of Golden Flashes Athletics in Northeast Ohio. In addition, he also oversees BBQ tailgate packages in the pregame Fan Experience in the Field House before every home football game and fundraising opportunities for youth programs at Kent State football, basketball, and volleyball games.
Watson joins the Flashes family after spending three seasons as the Director of Group Sales & Account Executive for the independent Southern Illinois Miners baseball team. Prior to that, the Champion, Ohio, native was in management positions with the South Bend Silver Hawks from 2005-06, before moving over to the Miners. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Youngstown State University in 2002 and then went on to earn his master's in sports management from Kent State University in 2004.
Meanwhile, Dolan has been named Coordinator of Marketing & Promotions and will look to expand Kent State Athletics' brand and make it one of the top entertainment choices for sports fans in Northeast Ohio. Â She will also head up the department's efforts to enhance the game day experience for all 18 sports.
Dolan comes to Kent State after spending the past six years as the Coordinator of Hosted Events & Catering with the Cleveland Indians. The Chardon, Ohio, native also has minor league baseball experience, having served as the Assistant General Manager for the Canton Crocodiles (1999-01) and as the General Manager for the Rockford RiverHawks (2001-03). Dolan graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in sports management from Campbell University, where she was a captain on the softball team.
"As our funding model continues to change, our department must evolve along with it," says Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen. "Revenue generation is vital to maintaining — and growing — our strong comprehensive program; and the addition of Dennis and Kristan, coupled with the reorganization of our marketing department will allow us to increase our ticket sales while expanding our fanbase."
Lastly, former Associate Athletic Director Pete Mahoney has taken a new position in Kent State's Center for Student Involvement as an assistant director.
"I'd like to thank Pete for his more than two decades of service to our department," says Nielsen. "He continues to be a great ambassador for Kent State in the community and we're looking forward to working with him on a regular basis, identifying ways to enhance student involvement in Golden Flashes Athletics."
