Prodigy Search Assists USA Lacrosse in the Recruitment of New CEO
August 16, 2021 – Following a nationwide search, Prodigy Search has assisted in the recruitment of experienced sports, media and technology executive Marc Riccio as the new chief executive officer of USA Lacrosse. He replaces Steve Stenersen, who has led the company since it began in 1998.
“We set out to identify a leader who was an innovator and a connector, a critical thinker and a strategist, someone with integrity and deep passion for the mission of USA Lacrosse. We found that leader in Marc,” said Beth Lyman, chair of the USA Lacrosse board of directors. “Marc is a seasoned sports and media executive with a proven track record of revenue growth. We have every confidence he will lead the organization and game to new heights.”
“Leading the ongoing development of USA Lacrosse and the sport over the years has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I know Marc feels the same way,” Mr. Stenersen said. “Marc’s career journey and passion for lacrosse combine to make him ideally suited for this role, and I look forward to seeing the positive changes and significant growth USA Lacrosse will achieve under his leadership.”
Mr. Riccio spent 17 years leading business operation and development for the NFL’s New York Jets before spending the last seven years working in roles focused on strategy, growth and organizational change for major sports brands and events.
In Mr. Riccio’s most recent position, he was chief commercial officer for KlarisIP, a boutique intellectual property and media consultancy. He advised major sport and esports properties on strategy, growth and organizational transformation. Prior to KlarisIP, Mr. Riccio operated his own consulting business where he guided global esports and video-game companies on mergers and acquisitions. His career included stops at Lagardère Sports (now Sportfive), a full-service global sports agency where he was executive vice president of commercial.
As CEO of USA Lacrosse, Mr. Riccio will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization and will work with the board of directors and the senior management team to implement board policies and directives, as well as develop and execute mission priorities. Additionally, he will provide leadership to the staff management team, overseeing and evolving staff structure, assuring the board of directors is well informed of strategies and challenges, and will lead the direction the organization’s financial function, including the development and management of the annual operations budget.
“I’m looking forward to building off the foundation and tremendous momentum around USA Lacrosse,” said Mr. Riccio, who played the sport at Hofstra University. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with early-stage and start-up companies who approach their business and mission with new ideas and technologies. I believe we can benefit from that entrepreneurial mindset. We want to keep innovating with the goal of always growing the game and continually improving the experience for players, coaches, officials and parents.”
With nearly 400,000 members nationwide, USA Lacrosse is a member and donor-driven non-profit organization that serves as the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the U.S. Located in Sparks, MD, US Lacrosse provides national leadership, structure and resources to fuel the sport’s growth and enrich the experience of participants. Since the organization’s founding, it has committed more than $275 million to advance the sport. In that time, national participation has more than tripled.
Respected Recruiters
Prodigy Search, which has been involved with the sports and entertainment business for years, is one of the sector’s boutiques. The firm has placed hundreds of candidates into a variety of functions and roles. It represents all disciplines, including senior management, sales, marketing, operations and administration.
Prodigy Search Assists United States Association of Blind Athletes in Selecting New Board
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) has announced its new board of directors, which includes seven new appointees. Prodigy Search helped to lead the search process for the board member positions. The at-large board directors are chair Mark Ackermann; vice chair Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning; treasurer Gary Remensnyder; secretary Amy Wasson, and David Cohen. Two independent directors, who are both new to the USABA board, are Eve Wright Taylor and Brian Eaton.
Prodigy’s client roster reads like a Who’s Who of the sports world. It includes: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, PGA Tour, Boston Bruins, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Dolphins, City Football Group, Miami Heat, Churchill Downs, Nitro Circus, AEG, Los Angeles Kings, UFC, Roc Nation, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers and the United States Olympic Committee.
An industry veteran with nearly 40 years experience in wide array of disciplines within the sports and entertainment business, Scott Carmichael founded Prodigy Search in 2007. Prior to founding the firm, he served as head of the National Hockey League’s club marketing department for nearly 10 years.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
