Richard Searls Email and Phone Number

Hired to lead all business areas for the launch of the Philadelphia Union's affiliate expansion USL Club, including but not limited to overseeing the day to day operations of the Club, hiring all staff and creating a work environment that enforces a positive workplace, maintaining open communications with all staff members, meeting with staff to determine goals for each individual and supervising and tracking staff to make sure each member is on track to reach target goals.• Developing an annual budget and corresponding plan detailing the goals and objectives of each department for the Club. • Delivering an approved annual budget program and cash flow analysis each year to be implemented immediately.• Negotiating and managing all contracts including TV, stadium, merchandise and concessions and overseeing relations between the Club and its partners.• Strategic Team and Sales Planning including developing annual Business Plan which sets the Club's goals and objectives for selling ticket plans, corporate advertising and sponsorship• Developing and implementing method of communicating with and motivating the sales team members to achieve sales goals, process for tracking and, ultimately, closing sales leads.Other responsibilities include leading Sponsorship Sales & Activation, Marketing, Community and Public Relations, Promotions and limited Team Operations

Helped reboot the iconic New York Cosmos soccer club in eight months, and in the first season the club hit the overall budget, lead the NASL in attendance and won the NASL Soccer Bowl.Personally responsible for ticket-related business operations for the reboot, including but not limited to:• Creating and developing all sales and marketing business plans, including pricing, strategic planning and the creation of new inventory for the team's return to professional soccer• Creating and implementing ticket sales business plans including all premium seating and hospitality, arena pricing and renewal/retention strategies, sales budgets, individual AE business plans as well as specific ticket sales programs and one-off event plans• Hiring, managing and training of all ticket sales, fan services and ticket operations staff• Assisted Stadium Operations with planning, development and implementation of new policies and procedures at Shuart Stadium• Assisted Sponsorship with planning and creation of the department’s business plan; including selling• Led the vetting and selection process of the club’s new ticketing partner, including negotiating the contract• Lead redesign of team website to create a fully-integrated ticketing and merchandise shop to provide upsell/cross-sell opportunities and improved CRM capabilities• Redesigned the seating and way-finding signage plans for our temporary stadium while upgrading the fan experience opportunities (concessions, merchandising, etc)• Coordinating and overseeing all sales-related aspects of the game-day experience and ticket program deliverables, as well as all reporting (internal and league) and tracking• Creating and delivering sales presentations to Ownership, Executive Board and other stake holders as requested

Hired to consult on ticket sales, promotion and execution of international soccer matches being promoted by the company.• Oversaw on-site ticket operations at Cotton Bowl event (Club America v Cruz Azul) in July, 2012

A top performer and manager with 15+ years of superior driven results as a team leader, with proven capabilities in both strategic and tactical planning, resource allocation and solutions-based management. Strong relationship management, team building and general business acumen with a history of success, both individually and in a team setting, driving revenue and increasing profitability in a diverse and highly competitive market.• Tripled Season Tickets and Ticket Revenue and contributed to the increase from 8 to 32 Corporate Partners/Sponsors• Led Sales Team to 2010 MLS President’s Awards for Full Season Ticket Sales and Group Sales• Spearheaded all Sales efforts, including pricing, strategic planning and the creation of new inventory for the sold out 2011 MLS All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena• Made improvements to Premium Seat Sales strategy that led to 90% of Club and Premium inventory being sold• Spearheaded transition into new Red Bull Arena while implementing new Ticketing and Access Control Systems simultaneously• Part of team to make Red Bull Arena the first stadium in the US to be completely RFID enabled • Directly managed up to 20+ employees across three departments (ticket sales, fan services, ticket operations) including recruitment and training• Created and implemented Ticket Sales Business Plans, Sales Budgets, Individual Personal Business Plans as well as specific Ticket Sales Programs• Coordinated and oversaw all sales-related aspects of the game-day experience and ticket program deliverables, as well as all reporting (internal and league) and tracking• Directly managed Seating Relocation elements, including developed and evaluated the seat manifest and pricing models• Liaison between Marketing, First Team and Stadium Operations, Communications and Finance as they relate to the Sales Department• Monitored and maintained customer feedback, complaints and inquires and respond as needed

* Sold Season Ticket and Group Packages targeted to the Corporate and Youth Soccer markets* Received three promotions in first 2+ years with organization* Recognized as Top Rookie Sales Rep and won Sales Team of the Year Award* Consistently delivered top sales results in both FSE and Group Sales* Developed mentoring program with Inside Sales to build morale and increase productivity

* Promoted after eight months to oversee the operations of all regional technicians in NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAA venues, as well as operated any venue within region as necessary as an Account Manager.* Identified, trained and maintained 30 technicians and assistants within region.* Created and submitted all paperwork for each team/venue in region, as well as monthly and quarterly work schedules.* Analyzed informative documents from regional venues to verify completion, highlighted inconsistencies and monitored for timely submission.* Communicated with technicians, venues and team personnel to identify requirements to best deliver quality to each individual client.* Troubleshoot problems that may arise throughout region, as well as mentored all technicians to successfully perform all policies and procedures in accordance with company requirements.* Performed evaluations with each venue/team, performance evaluations for all technicians, as well as on-site surveys and off-season maintenance of equipment.* Reviewed, updated, edited, and created new work procedures and policies.

* Responsible for running, maintaining and troubleshooting rotational advertising equipment in local NBA, NHL, MLB and NCAA venues.* Liaison between team and company to facilitate updating artwork and rotation schedules.* Tracked sponsor time and maintained database for each team.* Prepared and maintained schedules for five assistant techs to insure conflicting events were attended and properly completed.