Grow Learfield

Learfielders pitch in with time, sweat and love

Thanks to Brownfield Network Reporter Julie Harker for this update --with pix-- from a recent Habitat for Humanity work day.

"I was one of four Learfield employees who worked with other volunteers on a Habitat for Humanity house in Jefferson City last Saturday. After hanging vinyl siding, three of our coworkers brought us lunch. It was great to watch the siding go up and work side by side with one of the home owners and a potential home owner. It was SO hot, I hope they earned extra points for their “sweat equity.” Learfield volunteers are going to work several more Saturdays through September on this six-bedroom house, the city’s 59th Habitat house."

--Clyde

Maine gains Melissa Everitt

Nebraska native Melissa Everitt joins Black Bear Sports Properties as an Account Executive, working alongside General Manager Justin Barnes.  Before coming to the University of Maine, Melissa served three years as Capital Campaign Director at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, NC.  Prior to that, she was Assistant Athletic Director, Development at UNC Wilmington, and she has four years of experience with the University of Missouri, as External Operations Associate and as Director of Volleyball Operations. Melissa earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and her master's degree from Mizzou.

Wyoming adds Adelson

Ron Adelson is the new cowboy in town, joining us as Account Executive at our Wyoming property in Laramie.  He started on June 22 working with Dan Hawley and Jared Newland on the Cowboys and Cowgirls' business.  Most recently, Ron spent two years as the Nike representative for the University of Arizona, and he was a marketing representative for the Colorado Rapids during a summer internship.  He went to University of Arizona but will now call Laramie home.  Ron is an avid golfer and hockey player, a member of the Big Brother Big Sister-Sports Buddies program and serves as the Philanthropy Chair for the Arizona Alumni Association.  Glad to have you, Ron.

Nevada nabs Nelson

Natalie Nelson has joined the Wolf Pack Sports Properties team as an Account Executive.  She's in the Reno office representing the University of Nevada Athletics but most recently spent nearly four years as General Manager for Seismic Events also working on the Nevada business.  She is a native of Fallon, Nevada and is married to Justin.  They have a daughter, Mekayla (10) and a son, Patrick (7), and together they enjoy doing mixed martial arts.

Dads: Save your sons

On Father's Day I told you about an article I'd post (Download PDF).  Psychologist Chris Bacorn is saying what I've been thinking for a long time.  Yes, we all have a part we can play in own own families and I suspect all Learfielders are in the game big time.  What we must do is make the problem more prominent in public debate.  How do we do this?  By understanding the need first of all.  By quizzing our political candidates and office holders, by getting involved in Big Brother/Big Sister and like organizations, by urging our institutions to get involved and by giving our hearts to these kids in whatever way seems most appropriate.  Go for it.

Alabama's Bert Bank dies

When we first secured the rights to Alabama, the AD took me out to play golf with broadcast legend, Bert Bank.  He did so because Bank was the founder of the Alabama Football Network and several Tuscaloosa radio stations; he wanted Bank to know the new guys in town.  He was in good health until the end.

What he didn't tell me was who the real Bert Bank was: a survivor of the Bataan Death March; a WWII  hero, a state legislator and an all-around great guy.  Even in his 80's Bank was shooting below his age in golf.  However, he couldn't see well, so I had to keep a sharp eye out for his ball and line him up before shots. 

Bank was 27 when he was assigned to the Philippines and four months later forced to march with 75,000 other Americans 90-miles at gunpoint by the Japanese.  "If you fell, you were shot," he told me.  The Japanese action was later considered a war crime.  He weighed only 100 pounds when it was over and he had other health complications, causing him to lose much of his eyesight. 

--clyde

Director's Cup winners announced

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has announced the final standings for the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Director’s Cup on Friday at the 44th annual NACDA Convention in Orlando. Learfield's Greg Brown made brief remarks (after the jump).

About Fatherhood and sons and daughters

Fathering is so important that my heart aches when men talk about the struggles they had with their own dads; many never had one present.  Such is the case of our President.  Mr. Obama talked about this just yesterday and I commend his comments to you.

Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to post a great article about fathering in America.  Look for it.  Meantime, I have an offer for you.  Vincent Staniforth wrote a wonderful little book Questions for My Father:  Finding the Man Behind Your Dad. 

Most of us have ample opportunity to ask our dads about anything.  Yet we just don't.  It seems like a million reasons come along not to do so.  And, isn't it a waste of everything your dad had ever seen, done and thought about not to hear his answers and learning a little bit more about him?  Staniforth wrote this little book out of that regret; it will help start building a clearer, deeper picture of the man behind the word "Dad"  I'll send you a copy if you'll write me: clyde@learfield.com

--clyde

There's fun in those numbers

Today I'm with the Learfield Accounting Team at its annual retreat at the Lake of the Ozarks.  It's their temperament to work first, then play.  So they're working now, playing tonight and tomorrow. 

When Karri Ball gave her "accomplishment report" I was blown away by the stuff going on right under our eyes.  Here's some of her list:

• Just lowering credit card fees has saved the company $58,000 so far this year!
• Using credit cards for paying accounts payable has added $5,000 per month to our income!
• Buying office supplies in bulk through Samco has saved $47,000 so far this year.
• They've implemented a rolling forecast so management can make real-time decisions.
• They've set up "Webinars" to save on travel costs.
• The 10-day monthly closing process is a reality.
• They implemented the E-Expense system, saving time for employees and money for us.
• They expanded the employee AMEX card program.
• They've implemented new and expanded modules on our Great Plains accounting system.
• They've physically restructured their offices to be more efficient.
• They've improved systems for our annual audit through KPMG.
• They updated our internal financial reporting, particularly inter-company and joint ventures.
• Using overnight sweeping, they've saved us money in interest on our line of credit.
• They moved the 1099 process from H-R to A-P
• They updated the sales tax and use tax processes for our program vending area.
• And this year they overhauled the bad-debt analysis procedure. 
• Kari only mentioned a few of the many things they've done this year. CFO, Paul Schofer, told Karri and the entire group that he was amazed at how smoothly the year went. Congratulations.

--clyde

News Division holding annual sales meeting

Last night division president, Stan Koenigsfeld, and Joyce Steinman lauded praise on this sales team for breaking records in what for nearly every company is a bust year!  Not at Learfield!  These guys and ladies broke all kinds of records and beat their year with still a month to go!  Here John Baker and Jeff Moore display street signs guiding clients their way.  More is planned for today as new goals are rolled out.  Company pres, Roger Gardner, thanked these friends for all they've done to record terrific profits for the company this year.  Couldn't come at a better time!

This year's event was traded by Jennifer Simpson on Radio Iowa.  You wouldn't believe what a nice resort this is in southern Iowa--near Albia.  It's a DNR state park called Honey Creek Resort.  After this schedule on Radio Iowa everyone will know about it.  Perfect for families. 

Great golf too!  (My team won--Baker, Moore and Schofer.  We defeated Gardner, Roberts, Vanderwert and Koenigsfeld by four).

--clyde

Bob Frederick

Former Kansas Athletic Director, Bob Frederick, has died of injuries suffered in a biking accident. 

Bob was AD during much of our tenure operating KU's radio network.  He was a friend.  From St. Louis, Bob was an avid Cardinals fan.  I had St. Louis stadium suite tickets during the 1987 World Series (which the Twins won).  Frederick was my guest.  He had a wonderful time and so did I--just watching the guy enjoy his team. 

--clyde

King Bob's 25 Year Tour

In the trenches

Today your management team has its regular monthly meeting; a day-and-a-half thinking about and working on our company.  While together, we work on building our relationships with one another.  The goal is success--the progressive realization of our plan:  building a great company and having strong interpersonal relationships.  They go hand-in-hand. 

As I reported to you last week in a company-wide conference call, I'm strongly positive about where we are and what we're doing in this lack-lustre economy.  We all are.  Further, I'm so very proud of you and all you do to make Learfield successful.  Thank you. 

--clyde

History of Learfield: Steve Mays

Steve Mays celebrates his 25th year at Learfield today! 

He has a different take on the early years, but here's my view:  In the summer or fall of 1973, I wanted to expand the farm network into the very rich Mississippi River delta--beginning first with five or six stations in Missouri's boot-heal.  KBOA, Kennett, was a very powerful radio station by virtue of its low frequency.   It was managed well by a guy named Charlie Earls--who became a great friend.  And the farm director there was a man about my age named John Mays who had the farm title among many others--he was also the station manager.  They joined our fledgling network and began carrying programs on The DeltaNet in January, 1974.  John had a son, Steve, who I'd listen to as I drove around that part of the state.  He was a natural radio guy:  knew every tune, understood timing and ran a very tight board; not to mention he had a great voice.  I used to tease both Charlie and John that some day I was gonna hire that kid away from Bootheel radio.

We talked on the phone and I invited him to Jefferson City for an interview.  I missed it.  Forgot to write down the appointment as I was off selling somewhere.  But eventually we clicked and the rest is history.  He's done almost everything at Learfield.  When I got tired of news department tirades about equipment, I asked him to oversee Priddy and company.  When we decided to start Radio Iowa, he was our guy to make it happen.  When we started "Straylight", he was Mr. Techno.  He now giving vision to new media.  I think he'll maybe split the journalism atom for us.  And through it all, he's been not only a friend and confidant, but just plain nice.  Ask anyone. 

You can learn more at his blog or follow him on Twitter. 

--clyde

Justin Barnes promoted to GM at Maine

Justin Barnes has been promoted to general manager of Black Bear Sports Properties at the University of Maine (his alma mater), filling the spot vacated by Mike McCollum's move to Army Sports Properties at GM.

Before joining BBSP as Account Executive in February 2008, Justin was an Account Executive for WABI-TV (CW/CBS affiliate) and prior to that, served nearly six years as a Senior Account Executive with Unicel.  He lives on Pushaw Lake in Glenburn, Maine, with his golden retriever, Jasper.

In other personnel news, Josh Moore joins Learfield as a Sales Analyst in our Dallas office, reporting to Shane Coghlan. Josh comes to us from The Bonham Group in Denver where he was a Market Analyst.

What kind of car do you drive?

Best guess it is a foreign model, right?  Many of my friends do; my wife does.  They're good cars, no doubt about it.  But my buddy, Mike, owns a Ford dealership so loyalty has always had me shopping with him.  True, Ford does spend lots of money with us but then so do many other brands.  I've had Mercurys, Explorers, Fords, and many different models over the years.  I've liked them all.  But down deep somehow I always thought maybe the Japanese or Germans really had something with their brands and secretly I liked their styling.  But I wouldn't tell Mike, nor would I change.  Well now I'm a new believer! 

Read this outstanding article about Ford's Alan Mulally.  You'll be proud.  You'll be energized if you are a business lover and if you're into management you'll be plum blown away. 

--clyde

New AE's at Montana State and Iowa State

Pete Korstad joined Bobcat Sports Properties (Montana State) as an Account Executive on May 4th, relocating from Boise, Idaho, where he was the Sponsorship Sales Manager for the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team. Pete is a graduate of the University of Oregon.

Back in the midwest, BGSU graduate and former Falcon Sports Properties intern Krissy O'Neal has moved to Iowa State University as the newest Account Executive for Cyclone Sports Properties, working in the West Des Moines office. [video]

75 Days 'til Kick Dance

Mallory Glosier who handles Learfield Sports' Sports Center on our Intranet, mentioned this morning in her weekly briefing that it's only 75 days until Kickoff and just suggested that maybe an enterprising Learfield office would be dancing at this news.  Well, our friends at (Iowa State) Cyclone Sports Properties, Lawrence Cunningham, Ryan Grant, Krissy O'Neal and Tim Atterberg got down!

clyde 

Learfield News' future

While Learfield is a marketing company, selling opportunities to touch potential and existing customers through events, venues, and media; our early focus was accessing news-makers, selecting what we thought the listeners needed to hear, and distributing that "news" through radio stations. 

To do that, we hired great journalists.  And, we still do.  44 full and part-time people.  But this business is changing.  We all can see that.  It's all around us--newspapers closing, and radio media companies slashing news staffs.  For several years now I've tried to get my arms around how Learfield can prosper and not be a casualty.  Further, I've tried, in vein, to articulate it.  At last I've found someone who can--and did. Ignore the headline, but read this. This article is a signpost for Learfield News. We're going to follow it, so "stay tuned".

--clyde

Stanford, the proud Dad!

It's graduation season.  All parents are so proud of their high school or college graduates; none more than Stanford and Ellen Nyatanga as their daughter, Nolyn, graduated from med school Saturday.  Sue and I were there to watch Nolyn get her degree and be hooded as a new physician--Magna Cum Laude!  She's headed to the prestigious Cleveland Clinic for her residency. 

At a fun party Sunday afternoon, Stanford thanked those who helped make the day, including our own Andy Rawlings who worked tirelessly several years ago to help Stanford stay in the USA.  It was a touching speech that Stanford gave that afternoon.

I was asked to deliver the Commencement Address (PDF) at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.  It was quite an honor for me.  You can read my speech here. 

--clyde