USA Wrestling’s Harris Kalofonos to join Nor’wood Development as its Marketing Director
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Wrestling’s Director of Partnership Marketing Harris Kalofonos, who has served with distinction for more than nine years on its national staff, will join Nor’wood Development Group this summer.
Kalofonos will continue to manage USA Wrestling’s 2016 Olympic Hospitality program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will be on site at the 2016 Olympic Games. He will work part-time with USA Wrestling on its corporate and partnership accounts as the department transitions into new leadership.
Kalofonos, a native of Greece, came to USA Wrestling after receiving his graduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and developed his professional career within the Olympic movement. He has been a key leader as USA Wrestling has expanded its sponsorship and corporate partnership program.
“It has been an honor to be trusted by so many within wrestling’s Olympic family. USA Wrestling had been a great life school for me. Coming from a strong European background, I initially had to learn and adjust to many new things. USA Wrestling provided a lifetime opportunity by always supporting my aspirations while at the same time guiding my development diligently. Over the years, I have come to realize that USA Wrestling is one of the best NGB’s in the world because it has great people leading the organization who have devoted their professional lives to better the sport.” said Kalofonos.
In his nine years working in USA Wrestling’s Development and Marketing program, Kalofonos helped changed the way USA Wrestling approaches sponsorship and activating USA Wrestling’s many assets for their clients. He worked continuously to acquire new sponsors and increase USA Wrestling’s sources of revenue. He was able to secure and maintain relationships with companies including Liberty Mutual Insurance, Chobani Greek Yogurt, Asics, KT Tape, Maximized Living and others.
“Harris has been a leader at USA Wrestling, using his background and outstanding skills to make a major contribution for the sport and our organization. He has helped USA Wrestling to grow and improve, and his efforts have been appreciated. We also applaud his commitment to helping the Olympic movement, both through his work here at USA Wrestling and many of his volunteer activities,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director.
Kalofonos’ goal has always been to turn ideas into experiences. He has developed the ability to understand with a unique perspective what Corporate America values and what sport organizations bring to the table in a successful partnership.
In addition due to his unique international background Harris directed and served as a personal host for several of USA Wrestling’s major donors during the 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Prior to working for USA Wrestling, Harris helped the USOC’s Development Department’s efforts at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
On a volunteer basis, Kalofonos was a leader in helping the City of Colorado Springs become a sister city with Ancient Olympia Greece in 2014.
CLICK FOR ARTICLE ON SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
During this initiative, he developed a high school outreach program called “Young Champion Ambassador” that sent a Colorado Springs student to take part in the Olympic torch relay in April 2016 that began right after the lighting of the Olympic torch ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
He has also been a core team member in the City for Champions project, which is helping bring four major venues to Colorado Springs and its community, including the United States Olympic Museum, the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, the U.S. Air Force Gateway Visitors Center and a Colorado Sports and Event Center in downtown Colorado Springs.
Harris joins the team at Nor’wood Development Group as their new Marketing Director and Associate Project Manager on June 1, but will remain on USA Wrestling staff on a part time basis during the summer months.
Kalofonos will continue to manage USA Wrestling’s 2016 Olympic Hospitality program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will be on site at the 2016 Olympic Games. He will work part-time with USA Wrestling on its corporate and partnership accounts as the department transitions into new leadership.
Kalofonos, a native of Greece, came to USA Wrestling after receiving his graduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and developed his professional career within the Olympic movement. He has been a key leader as USA Wrestling has expanded its sponsorship and corporate partnership program.
“It has been an honor to be trusted by so many within wrestling’s Olympic family. USA Wrestling had been a great life school for me. Coming from a strong European background, I initially had to learn and adjust to many new things. USA Wrestling provided a lifetime opportunity by always supporting my aspirations while at the same time guiding my development diligently. Over the years, I have come to realize that USA Wrestling is one of the best NGB’s in the world because it has great people leading the organization who have devoted their professional lives to better the sport.” said Kalofonos.
In his nine years working in USA Wrestling’s Development and Marketing program, Kalofonos helped changed the way USA Wrestling approaches sponsorship and activating USA Wrestling’s many assets for their clients. He worked continuously to acquire new sponsors and increase USA Wrestling’s sources of revenue. He was able to secure and maintain relationships with companies including Liberty Mutual Insurance, Chobani Greek Yogurt, Asics, KT Tape, Maximized Living and others.
“Harris has been a leader at USA Wrestling, using his background and outstanding skills to make a major contribution for the sport and our organization. He has helped USA Wrestling to grow and improve, and his efforts have been appreciated. We also applaud his commitment to helping the Olympic movement, both through his work here at USA Wrestling and many of his volunteer activities,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director.
Kalofonos’ goal has always been to turn ideas into experiences. He has developed the ability to understand with a unique perspective what Corporate America values and what sport organizations bring to the table in a successful partnership.
In addition due to his unique international background Harris directed and served as a personal host for several of USA Wrestling’s major donors during the 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Prior to working for USA Wrestling, Harris helped the USOC’s Development Department’s efforts at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
On a volunteer basis, Kalofonos was a leader in helping the City of Colorado Springs become a sister city with Ancient Olympia Greece in 2014.
CLICK FOR ARTICLE ON SISTER CITY INITIATIVE
During this initiative, he developed a high school outreach program called “Young Champion Ambassador” that sent a Colorado Springs student to take part in the Olympic torch relay in April 2016 that began right after the lighting of the Olympic torch ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
He has also been a core team member in the City for Champions project, which is helping bring four major venues to Colorado Springs and its community, including the United States Olympic Museum, the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, the U.S. Air Force Gateway Visitors Center and a Colorado Sports and Event Center in downtown Colorado Springs.
Harris joins the team at Nor’wood Development Group as their new Marketing Director and Associate Project Manager on June 1, but will remain on USA Wrestling staff on a part time basis during the summer months.
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