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Staff |
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Diane McGraw, Executive Director
No stranger to the sports commission industry, Diane formerly served as the founding President of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, President & CEO of the Orlando Area Sports Commission and Executive Director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress. She was also one of the founding directors of the National Association of Sports Commissions, and industry association representing over 350 cities across the U.S. and served as its Chairman for two years. Her primary function at the Greater Louisville Sports Commission is to manage the day to day operations, solicit major sports events, meetings and conventions that stimulate the local economy, enhance the image of Louisville as an event destination and provide outstanding entertainment opportunities for its local citizens. Her role also encompasses strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, communications and government relations. As Founding President of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment she spearheaded the return of the Grammy Awards and MTV Awards to LA, served as Chairperson for the U.S. Olympic Torch Relay and the 2008 Sr. PGA Championships, implemented the inaugural MTV Save the Music Program, hosted the 1996 PGA Championships, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, the Nike World Volleyball Championships and returned the AFI Film Festival to the City of Hollywood. She also recruited a formidable list of prominent sports and entertainment executives to serve on the Commission's Board. As President of the Orlando Area Sports Commission, she represented the City of Orlando and surrounding five county area. She served as the Chairman of Special Events for the 1996 Olympic Soccer Games, hosted the U.S. Jr. Olympic Volleyball Championships at Walt Disney World, the U.S. Olympic Pan Am Games Team Processing and Training, the U.S. National Field Hockey Championships, Sr. Softball World Series and U.S. Swimming Jr. Nationals, Governor's Baseball Dinner. to name a few. A native of Philadelphia, she served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress from 1988-2004 and led the city's bid to host the 1994 World Cup by hosting the first U.S. Men's National Team Game vs. Russia at Franklin Field, spearheaded an effort to keep the Army Navy Game in Philadelphia by coordinating a city-wide promotion for the traditional classic and served as the liaison to the Academy's on behalf of the city. She hosted and prepared successful bids for the 1992 NHL All Star Game, 1996 Major League Baseball All Star Game, 1993 Navy vs. Notre Dame Game, Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship, World Cup Karate Championships, among many other national U.S. Olympic and NCAA events. In 1978, McGraw began her career in the entertainment industry as the Assistant to the President of the Screen Actors Guild and the Astoria Motion Picture & TV Center in New York . In 1980, she started her own special events/production company and produced the "I Love NY Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament", held at Forest Hills and the National Tennis Stadium in Flushing Meadows which was televised on USA Network. After spending six years in the "Big Apple", McGraw moved to Holland and produced events such as the British Caledonian Airways Tennis Legends Championships, now a stop on the Sr. ATP Tour. She has organized numerous events on behalf of charities such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, UNICEF, the Queen Wilhelmina Cancer Foundation in the Netherlands and Surgicorps International. Her board appointments have included the Women's Sports Foundation Advisory Board, Southern California U.S. Olympic Committee, Sr. PGA LA Host Committee, International Sports Marketing Association, U.S. Field Hockey Federation and the Media Theater for The Society for the Performing Arts. She served on the Sports Advisory Boards for Temple University and Virginia Commonwealth University . She was listed as one of the "40 under 40" top executives by the Philadelphia and Orlando Business Journals and currently serves on the Mayor's Task Force for the Ryder Cup, as Chairman of the Volunteer Committee. Diane was formerly married to the late Philadelphia Phillies and NY Mets relief pitcher Tug McGraw and has 3 children, Christopher, Ian and Matthew and three step-children, Tim, Mark and Cari. Greg Fante, Director of New Business Development
He is a member of several local and national industry organizations including, the Louisville Hotel Sales Association (HAS), International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB), National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC), Kentucky Sports Authority TEAM Ky., and the Greater Louisville Sports Commission bid development committee. Greg is married to the former Jo Nalley of Bardstown, Ky. They have two children: Madison 13, and Calvin 11. They are active members at both Saint Mary Academy Catholic School and Mother of Good Counsel parish in Louisville, Ky. Troy Killian, Event Operations Manager
Troy is married to former Kate Kirby of Bowling Green, KY. They have one handsome little boy: Camden Mont Killian along with two dogs: Kaya, a beautiful Golden Retriever, and River, a distinguished Doberman. Kevin Woodward, Sports Marketing Manager
After working for the University of Louisville Athletic department, Woodward served as the Assistant Operations/Logistics Director at the University of Louisville Venues for the U.S. National Senior Olympic Games. He is a member at St. Agnes church where he serves on the Pastoral council, mentors students, and coaches basketball. |
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