FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Gary Ewen, Visitor & Convention Bureau
                (941) 338-3500

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 2, 2001) – Gary Ewen, Senior Sales Manager with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, has been appointed to the 15-member Board of Trustees of the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC).

In his duties at the VCB, Ewen is in charge of the county’s Sports Marketing Program, as well as represents Southwest Florida as regional Sports Commissioner for the Florida Sports Foundation. He is a 17-year county employee.

The Cincinnati-based NASC’s primary mission is to facilitate communication between host cities and sports event rights holders. It also promotes the value of sports commissions and educates its members on sports marketing and fund raising. More than 260 cities participate in the Association.

"I supported Gary's appointment because he will add valuable insight from a mid-sized market, and his experience and tenure will benefit the organization’s long range strategic plans," says Don Schumacher, the NASC’s president.

Ewen has been instrumental in attracting amateur and professional sporting events to Lee County and securing funding from the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and state Sports for Life (Tobacco Settlement funds) Program.

Over the last three years, more than $403,000 has been distributed to local organizations and venues to promote and market sporting events through the county’s Sports Marketing Program and Sports Organizing Committee. Such events include Roy Hobbs Adult Amateur Baseball Tournaments, the Tour de Cape, the Fort Myers Beach Off Shore Grand Prix, the City of Palms Basketball Tournament, the North American Roller Hockey Championships and numerous Amateur Athletic Union National Championships.