Prodigy Search Fills CEO Post for US Sailing; Recruits First Diversity Leader for the Denver Broncos
May 13, 2021 – Prodigy Search has assisted in the recruitment of Alan Ostfield as the new chief executive officer of the United States Sailing Association, the national governing body for sailing, based in Bristol, RI. “We are extremely proud to welcome Alan Ostfield to US Sailing and excited to introduce him to our sailing community,” said Cory Sertl, the organization’s president. “Alan offers a wealth of experience across a broad spectrum of sports and entertainment industries that will help advance US Sailing as a leading national sports organization, while helping grow the sport of sailing to new audiences. Alan has demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout his distinguished career, and these attributes will serve him well in this leadership role.”
“I believe Alan’s sports management and industry experience combined with Paul’s expertise in the sport of sailing, and our current leadership team, offers a strong complementary dynamic and a union that will strengthen the organization for years to come,” said William J. Ruh, chair of the US Sailing Foundation.
Mr. Ostfield joins US Sailing with a comprehensive background in several major professional sports leagues and leading live entertainment organizations. For the past nine years, he served as president, North Atlantic | New York & Philadelphia for Live Nation Entertainment, where he was responsible for Live Nation’s concert business in the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Prior to joining Live Nation, Ostfield was president and CEO of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment, which owned and operated multiple professional sports teams and entertainment venues, including the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, WNBA’s Detroit Shock, The Palace of Auburn Hills, St. Pete Times Forum and DTE Energy Music Theatre. Previously, he served as senior vice president and general counsel of the San Diego Padres and as an attorney with Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering in Washington, D.C., whose clients included the Dallas Cowboys.
Denver Broncos Search
Prodigy Search also just placed China Jude as the first-ever vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with the Denver Broncos. Ms. Jude, who has more than 23 years of collegiate athletic administration and coaching experience, most recently served as the University of Wyoming’s senior associate athletics director for administration/senior woman administrator.
Prodigy Search launched its diversity & inclusion educational initiative in 2019, which includes executive recruitment for senior-level DEI positions but also provides strategic direction from a 10-member board of advisors who are esteemed DEI professionals in the sports and entertainment industries. In the coming months, the search firm said it expects to expand its DEI portfolio for executive-level hiring needs across several industries.
Founder and CEO, Scott Carmichael, said: “While we continuously increase our efforts in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, it is an exciting time for the Broncos organization but also for our firm. Prodigy endeavored to learn more about the DEI world with our educational initiative, while also conducting other executive-level DEI-specific recruitment projects, which we are humbled by both. While vetting through dozens of qualified candidates, we are pleased to have identified someone as immensely talented as China. Prodigy Search wishes China and the Denver Broncos the absolute best as she leads the charge to expand the DEI efforts in Denver.”
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 of experience in wide array of disciplines within the sports and entertainment business, Mr. 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.
Related: Executive Recruiters Prove Invaluable to Thriving Global Sports Sector
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
