Chuck Menke Named Marketing and Communications Director

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Triathlon, the National Governing Body for the sport of triathlon in the United States, named Chuck Menke to the position of marketing and communications director, USAT executive director Skip Gilbert announced Thursday.

Menke brings more than 14 years of high-level marketing and communications experience in the sports industry to USA Triathlon, including stints in the U.S. Olympic Movement, the National Hockey League and NCAA Division I athletics.

As a member of USAT's senior management team, Menke will be responsible for establishing and overseeing the execution of a strategic marketing platform, inclusive of all corporate sponsorship, licensing and advertising revenue streams. In addition, he will direct organizational-wide branding and promotional initiatives, while supervising a department of eight full-time staff members.

As the organizational spokesperson, Menke also will lead USAT's communications tactics, such as media and public relations, creative services and print and online publishing - including USA Triathlon Life magazine and usatriathlon.org.

 "We are thrilled to have Chuck join our team," said Gilbert. "His experience with a large NGB, an NHL team and an NCAA Division I university enable him to bring a unique skill set that will help us raise the bar in our marketing and communication efforts."

"I am excited to join USA Triathlon's national headquarters, and it is a privilege to return to the U.S. Olympic Movement. The organization's unparalleled growth and accomplishment over the past decade offer tremendous opportunities," said Menke. "I also look forward to collaborating with the talented and dedicated members of USA Triathlon's staff and volunteer leadership. I would like to particularly thank CEO Skip Gilbert and President Brian Harrington for this unique opportunity."

Menke takes over for Tim Yount, who has shifted to USAT's newly-created position of senior vice president, sport development.

Menke's background includes three years with Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Conn.) in the newly-created position of director of athletic communications. As the primary spokesperson for a 21-sport NCAA Division I athletics program, Menke supervised the sports information director and all athletic communications efforts, while securing unprecedented national media coverage. He was instrumental in opening the TD Banknorth Sports Center, a $52-million, state-of-the-art facility that hosts Quinnipiac's basketball and ice hockey programs.

Menke also assumed a leadership role at QU in the areas of athletic marketing, strategic planning, radio/TV broadcast and event management. He directed all print and electronic publishing initiatives and was responsible for generating new levels of online revenue. In addition, Menke created QU's first-ever annual marketing campaigns, resulting in record-breaking ticket sales and men's hockey attendance figures, which led the nation in capacity percentage for much of the 2008-09 season.

Prior to joining Quinnipiac, Menke was director of broadcasting and communications with the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, beginning in August 2004. During his tenure with the Blues he oversaw strategic communications plans throughout the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the league-wide re-launch in 2005-06 and the subsequent team sale later that same season. In addition, he guided all local/national television and radio broadcast operations, player public appearances and the team's official web site and publications.

From 1995-2004 Menke served as director of media and public relations at USA Hockey, Inc. - one the largest and most successful NGBs in the Olympic Movement - in Colorado Springs, Colo. His staff appointments for U.S. national and Olympic teams included the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and numerous IIHF World Championships.

During his nine years with USA Hockey, Menke developed benchmark television agreements with national and regional networks such as ESPN2 and FOX Sports Net, served as editor-in-chief of American Hockey Magazine, the world's most widely circulated hockey publication, and was instrumental in the start-up of the organization's official web site.  

Most recently, Menke served as managing director of business development and communications for the Ultimate Players Association in Boulder, Colo.

The Pennsylvania native graduated from the nation's top-ranked journalism school at the University of Missouri in 1995. He has written for various magazines and newspapers, including serving as a special reporter for USA Today.

About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the national governing body for triathlon - the fastest growing sport in the world - as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 130,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.