GRIFFINS ANNOUNCE PERSONNEL CHANGES

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Monday announced the promotions of Matt Batchelder to director of ticket sales, John Hoffa to group sales manager and Rich Meyers to director of game operations, in addition to the appointment of Kevin Curnow as marketing and season ticket account manager.

Batchelder has been with the Griffins for eight years and most recently held the position of group sales manager. Hailing from Grand Rapids, he attended Davenport University prior to joining the team as a game operations intern. Batchelder will be responsible for overseeing the Griffins’ entire ticket sales department in his new role.

Hoffa is coming off two successful years within the group sales department as both an account executive and manager. A native of Riverview, Mich., he graduated from Grand Valley State University with a business management and marketing degree prior to his hiring in May 2006. With his promotion, Hoffa will take over the management of the team’s group sales department.

Meyers has continued to move up through the ranks of the Griffins’ front office, beginning his career in 2005 as a game operations intern after earning his hospitality and tourism management degree from Grand Valley State University. At the conclusion of his internship, the Grand Rapids native was hired as a season ticket sales account executive and was later promoted to season ticket sales manager. In his new role, Meyers will coordinate all game day operations for the Griffins.

Curnow’s career with the Griffins began in June 2006 when he was hired as director of fan experience. A Port Huron, Mich., native and graduate of Oakland University with a degree in communications, he brings over 20 years of marketing and sales promotions experience to his new position, in which he will oversee the Griffins’ marketing initiatives and develop new season ticket accounts.