USL News Release
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO is pleased to announce it has retained the services of respected branding and business development consultant Misann Ellmaker. Ellmaker will immediately begin working as a special consultant for USL PRO at its Tampa, Florida headquarters, and will focus on enhancing the total fan experience at all USL PRO games.
Ellmaker, who developed many successful branding and community relations programs in more than a decade spent with Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball, will also work with USL PRO to enhance community relations outreach, national sponsorships, licensed merchandise sales and website productivity for its teams. Ellmaker’s addition is yet another step that will allow USL PRO to raise the level of overall service provided to its teams.
Family entertainment and community relations are top priorities as USL PRO teams work to integrate into the fabric of their communities and increase attendance.
“We are excited about the expertise Misann brings to USL PRO as we build on a highly successful 2011 season,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “Her many years of working closely with teams to enhance the fan experience in the ballpark will be vital as we continue to build stronger brand value, raise the level of family entertainment at our stadiums and increase revenue streams for our teams.”
With more than 19 years of experience in leadership, management and communication, the hallmarks of Ellmaker’s career are new business development, brand building and public relations.
Starting her career with Minor League Baseball in 1992, Ellmaker worked her way up to become executive director of business operations after she developed a licensed merchandise program that soared in sales from $2 million in 1992 to $40 million in 1998. She created key components of the program including name and logo changes, trademark registration, quality control and royalty auditing. Her achievements helped her be named one of Baseball America’s Top Ten Power Brokers in 1996.
During her tenure at Minor League Baseball, Ellmaker also developed additional new business such as an official on-field uniform program, online fan survey, the National Charity Partners program raising more than $1 million annually and Minor League Baseball’s 100th Anniversary celebration. Her post at Minor League Baseball included management of the annual Baseball Winter Meetings, trade shows, job fairs and business seminars with 3,000-plus attendees each year.
Ellmaker joined Major League Baseball Advanced Media in 2005 to oversee the creation of the MinorLeagueBaseball.com network, launching 100-plus club websites and increasing visitors by 680 percent. In 2008, she established Imagine Consulting and has worked with clients in a variety of industries.
USL PRO completed its inaugural season recently when Orlando City defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders in front of nearly 12,000 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando and a live national television audience on FOX Soccer. Currently featuring 12 teams, USL PRO is the strongest, most sophisticated and most experienced North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field.