NAIA Announces Hiring of Three New Employees
July 13, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Eric Olson as director of championships, Elizabeth Rine as controller and Chesney Allen as manager of legislative services.
“As our core objectives and strategic plan continues to grow and develop, so does our need for highly qualified professionals to accomplish our goals and advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics,” said Jim Carr, NAIA president and CEO. “I am happy to welcome Eric, Elizabeth and Chesney to help the NAIA build out our services and focus on the student-athlete experience.”
Olson comes to the NAIA with over ten years of marketing communication, event management and sales experience. In his role as director of championships, Olson will serve as the liaison to the NAIA National Administrative Council and oversee championship personnel responsible for the association’s 23 national championship events. Specifically, Olson will organize and supervise women’s soccer, Division II women’s basketball and women’s golf national championships and guide site selection, host contract negotiations and budgets for all sports. He will work directly with the official merchandise vendor and lead efforts for departmental strategic plans and projects.
Prior to working with the NAIA, Olson was marketing manager at Sprint Nextel Corporation. He is the founder of Eat Sleep Breath Lacrosse, LLC, where he served as executive director. Olson is a graduate of Missouri State University.
Rine joins the NAIA as controller with extensive accounting and consulting experience in the athletics industry. She will work closely with Kevin Dee, NAIA vice president for operations, in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, systems implementation and operations management. She will be responsible for budgeting and forecasting, general ledger, accounts payable, payroll, billing and revenue recognition.
Before joining the NAIA Rine was an accountant for the athletics department and Bursar’s office at the University of Kansas. She is a graduate of Washburn University.
Allen has been selected to serve as the manager of legislative services for the NAIA. Allen will be charged with implementing and overseeing NAIA member institutions and conferences regarding compliance with NAIA rules and regulations. Allen will serve as a staff liaison for legislative and eligibility exceptions, waivers and appeals including preparation of case summaries and correspondence with appropriate committees and individuals. In addition to her primary duties, Allen will assist various selection committees for the A.O. Duer, Emil S. Liston and Wally Schwartz awards.
Prior to the NAIA, Allen interned for the NAIA legislative services department and the NAIA Eligibility Center. She also served as a research assistant for the Law Offices of Keleher & Eastman and a legal intern for the Public Counsel Law Center. Allen received her Juris Doctorate, with Business & Commercial Law certificate from the University of Kansas and completed her undergraduate degree in print journalism and sociology/criminology at Kansas State University.
About the NAIA: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.
Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.
