West Michigan Sports Commission hires National Sports Sales Manager

WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION HIRES NATIONAL SPORTS SALES MANAGER.

Margaret (Peggy) Keiper Brings National Sports Sales Experience from Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

Press Release

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 20, 2013 – The West Michigan Sports Commission will soon welcome a new member to its team dedicated solely to attracting more youth and amateur sporting events to West Michigan – Margaret (Peggy) Keiper joins March 4 as national sports sales manager, a newly created position for the commission.

“We are excited to welcome Peggy to our team not only because of her great credentials, but because of what it symbolizes about our growth as a sports commission,” said Mike Guswiler, President of the West Michigan Sports Commission. “In just six years since our inception, our small staff assisted or booked more than 280 sporting events and tournaments in the region. Imagine how we can multiply that number with a national sales manager dedicated solely to pitching our area as a premier youth and amateur sports events destination.”

A Michigan native, Keiper most recently hails from the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau where she also served as national sports sales manager, booking national and international events such as the 2013 USA Synchro Masters Championships, the 2013 Intercollegiate Downhill Skateboarding Championships, the 2014 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Reunion and USA Diving Regional Championships. Through her position, she has worked with a number of national sports groups, including CrossFit, National Senior Games, NCAA, USA Diving, USA Rugby and USA Ultimate. Keiper also served as director of business management with the NBA Development team New Mexico Thunderbirds and as assistant women’s basketball coach at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., and Louisiana State University-Eunice in Eunice, La.

“I was very excited when I heard of the opening with the West Michigan Sports Commission because of my deep connection to Michigan – it is home for me! When I met Mike Guswiler and his staff I was truly impressed with the quality of people and all that they have achieved in the short time the commission has been around.” said Keiper. “I am looking forward to coming home and contributing as a part of this dynamic team.   I feel grateful to fill the sales manager position at the commission and am ready to help book even more sporting events for the region.”

Keiper completed her master’s of business administration degree in sports and athletics administration from Lynn University in Boca Raton, and she is pursuing a doctoral degree in sport administration from the University of Mexico in Albuquerque, which she will look to finish remotely as she takes on her full-time role with the West Michigan Sports Commission. She received bachelor’s degrees from both Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., and Tri-State University in Angola, Ind. Keiper excelled as a basketball player at both Lakeland College and Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Mich. Keiper is originally from Stalwart, Mich., in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

About the West Michigan Sports Commission

The West Michigan Sports Commission, a non-profit 501 (c) (3), works to identify, secure and host a diverse level of youth and amateur sporting events to make a positive impact on the economy and quality of life in the region. Visit http://www.westmisports.com for more information.