News
Franzen Featured In Twin Cities Business
Text from the Oct. 09 article:
"Podium Sports Marketing gets new muscle from Marilyn Franzen, who left her post as director of athletic events at Life Time Fitness to become a partner at Minneapolis-based Podium.
Franzen launched Life Time's annual triathlon (which expanded from the Twin Cities to New York, L.A. and other markets) and eventually managed more than 100 events a year.
At Podium she sees entrepeneurial opportunity to grow the portfolio of five events (including Rollerdome inline skating at the Metrodome and the annual James Page Blubber Run) that the firm owns and operates. -D.L."
News about the Minnesota Half Marathon
Franzen Jumps On Podium
For Immediate Release
July 20, 2009
Minneapolis, MN - Sports management expert, Marilyn Franzen joins Podium Sports Marketing, Inc. as a partner in the emerging sports agency.
Franzen is focused on elevating Podium's presence in the marketplace by building on the size and the scope of it's existing events while developing new athletic business opportunities for the organization to pursue.
Franzen's first priority is to lead the marketing and production effort for the new Minnesota Half Marathon scheduled for August 15, 2009 in Saint Paul, MN.
"I love and live fitness" said Franzen, " it breeds healthy minds, bodies, happiness, confidence, excellence and great friendships. I truly believe that well-executed fitness events create opportunities for people to get hooked on fitness and all of its benefits. Podium is the perfect place for me to pursue my passion."
Podium Sports Marketing, Inc., has a portfolio of events that includes the Rollerblade® Rollerdome, the Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon, James Page Blubber Run, the Minnesota Half Marathon, the Life Time Fitness Reindeer Run, the Metrodome Inline Marathon and Dog Days at the Dome. In addition to event management, Podium specializes in sports graphics, sponsorship sales and fulfillment for sports organizations.
"Marilyn joins the team at the perfect time" according to partner Adam Kocinski, " we are engaged in some significant growth and she adds the perfect combination of experience, structure and motivation to help get us to the next level at Podium".
Franzen has been producing athletic events for over thirty years. Recently departing from Life Time Fitness where she is credited for launching and guiding their Athletic Events division to become one of the nation's leading sports management organizations. As Director of Athletic Events, her department produced over 100 events annually including the world renowned Life Time Fitness Triathlon in Minneapolis. This department also managed Life Time's involvement in their national series of triathlons which includes destinations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and New York.
Podium Sports Marketing® is now driven by three partners with a long history in sports management: Adam Kocinski, Marilyn Franzen and Mike Cofrin. Both Kocinski and Franzen are managing partners, working full-time in the organization. Collectively the partners have been involved in sports management for over 60 years. The trio has produced more than 1,500 athletic events that have involved some 650,000 participants. They have also generated and managed millions of dollars for the sports organizations that the firm has represented.
Marilyn Franzen is available for comment, she can be reached directly at (612) 747-5019 or marilyn@podiumsportsmarketing.com
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