For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-345-5120
mschreiber@stlsports.org

BOB CIAPCIAK NAMED NEW CHAIR OF THE
ST. LOUIS SPORTS COMMISSION

ORGANIZATION ADDS 13 NEW DIRECTORS
TO ITS VOLUNTEER BOARD

            ST. LOUIS – Feb. 15, 2010 – The St. Louis Sports Commission’s board of directors elected Bob Ciapciak, partner at Edward Jones, as the organization’s new chair.  He will lead the Sports Commission’s volunteer board for an initial one-year term.  Ciapciak previously served as the Sports Commission’s vice chair and treasurer, and has been a longtime member and supporter of the organization.

“We are honored to have such a respected individual from such a respected company lead the organization,” said Sports Commission President Frank Viverito.  “Bob and Edward Jones have been so generous to the Sports Commission with time and resources.  We are fortunate they call St. Louis home and are connected to our organization.  We are delighted that Bob has the confidence in us to agree to serve as our chair, and we hope we can live up to his standards and expectations.”

Ciapciak, whose career with Edward Jones started in 1982, has been affiliated with numerous civic and charitable causes in the region, including Old Newsboys Day, the United Way of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis area chapter of the American Red Cross.  Regarding his role with the Sports Commission, he said, “It is a great privilege for me to serve as chair of an organization that has built such an outstanding track record of success.  Even in challenging and uncertain times, the Sports Commission continues to be a positive force for economic development and enhanced quality of life for the St. Louis community.  I’m proud to be associated with its board, staff and supporters.”

In additional to Ciapciak’s appointment, the Sports Commission’s board approved the nominations of 13 new directors for three-year terms: Richard Bradley (City of St. Louis Board of Public Service president); David Braswell (Armstrong Teasdale, LLP attorney at law / St. Louis partner); Tom Chulick (UMB Bank CEO); Kevin Demoff (St. Louis Rams executive vice president football operations & COO); David Higbee (U.S. Bank senior vice president / senior portfolio manager); Jim Koman (Koman Properties, Inc. president); Mark Lombardi (Maryville University president); Whity Meyer (Lockton Companies - St. Louis chairman); Roger Miller (Gateway Packaging president); Jim Sanger (SSM HealthCare CEO); Tom Strunk (World Wide Technology CFO); Bill Suntrup (Suntrup Automotive Family); and Mark Wright (Anheuser-Busch, Inc. vice president – sponsorship, media & activation).

Additionally, the board confirmed the appointment of current director Joe Ambrose, First Bank St. Louis regional president, as the organization’s new treasurer.

Ciapciak succeeds Sun Security Bank President & CEO Shaun Hayes, who served as the Sports Commission’s chair since 2008.  Under Hayes’ leadership, the Sports Commission produced such events as the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, 2008 and 2009 Illinois vs. Missouri State Farm Arch Rivalry, and was part of the local organizing committees for the 2009 NCAA Women’s Final Four and 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.  During Hayes’ tenure, the NCAA selected St. Louis as one of six cities to participate in its “Championship City” pilot program.  Hayes will continue to serve on the Sports Commission’s board and executive committee.

Ciapciak becomes the Sports Commission’s 10th chair since its inception in 1989.  Previous chairs were: Tee Baur, Harry Morley, Nick Penniman, Joe Farrell, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Walter Lamkin, Doug Albrecht, Scott Schnuck, and Hayes.

The Sports Commission is the independent, privately funded nonprofit organization that makes St. Louis a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.  Its efforts focus on attracting, creating and managing major sporting events for the St. Louis region – and contributing to its quality of life.  This year, the organization will host or help produce the NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional on March 26 & 28 at the Edward Jones Dome; the Illinois vs. Missouri State Farm Arch Rivalry on Sept. 4 at the Edward Jones Dome; the College Hockey Ice Breaker Tournament on Oct. 8-9 at Scottrade Center; the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship on Nov. 18-20 at Washington University; and the AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards (date and site TBA). 

To see a list of the organization’s entire board of directors, visit www.stlsports.org.

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.

Its mission is to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.

- www.stlsports.org -