Series Adds Marketing and Media Staffing
H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole has announced that Kristine Smutek, Gregg Mansfield and Walt Ottenad are joining Steve Montgomery on the series marketing and media team.
“This is one of the many benefits of our partnership with the Air National Guard,” said Cole. “We are now able to add three professionals to our team with extensive experience and expertise in areas critical to the growth and expansion of the series.”
Cole continued, “As a sport we recognize the need to enhance our marketing, media and technology. As I stated in our annual meetings in Las Vegas, we are emerging as a business entity. I truly appreciate Steve’s efforts and the advances made over the past two seasons and am confident that this expanded team will be able to build upon what we have started and allow us to move to the next level.”
Smutek, from KSixteen Marketing, will execute the Air National Guard partnership. Smutek is no stranger to Unlimited Hydroplane racing. Besides being a life-long fan growing up in Seattle with a wooden hydroplane behind her bike, she was Director of Administration for the former UHRA and handled media and public relations for the Miss E-Lam Plus Racing Team. Smutek has spent the last 10 years in the casino industry specializing in event, loyalty and experiential marketing.”
“I am very honored to be part of the H1 Unlimited team again,” said Smutek. “The potential for the sport I have loved since I was a kid with the Air National Guard partnership and what it brings to each event is mind boggling. Buckle up!”
Gregg Mansfield will handle public relations and social media for H1 Unlimited. Before joining the H1 Unlimited team, Mansfield was the editor at Powerboat Magazine where he covered boat racing (including Unlimited hydroplanes) for nearly 10 years. He also serves on the Board of Directors for San Diego Bayfair. Since high school, Mansfield has been involved in sports journalism at newspapers and magazines, and knows what the media needs to do their job.
“Of all the sports I’ve covered, few fans are as knowledgeable and passionate about their sport as H1 Unlimited fans,” Mansfield said. “In this world of instant information, I look forward to keeping the fans and media updated morning and night about this great sport.”
Ottenad, the owner of Advanced Digital Concepts, has been instrumental in establishing the sport’s on-board video camera program and making the files available to fans on the internet. With his son Steve, owner of Seattle web design company Summit Interactive, Walt has been constructing new websites for a number of H1 race teams and race sites, including the new H1/Air National Guard site. His duties will include managing the H1 web platform and the series multimedia presence.
A long time hydro fan and crew member, Ottenad added, “This opportunity to combine my love for technology and hydroplanes is very exciting and a lot of fun. I can’t wait to show the fans what we can do with our expanded inventory of boatcams and the new series website.”
Commenting on the additions, Montgomery said, “Quadrupling our marketing/media department and adding people with the expertise of Kristine, Gregg and Walt is a huge step forward for us. We are already seeing the positive impact their work is having on the marketing effort, media relations and internet presence. I am very excited about working with all three of them as we move the sport forward in 2011.”
Series Adds Marketing and Media Staffing
H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole has announced that Kristine Smutek, Gregg Mansfield and Walt Ottenad are joining Steve Montgomery on the series marketing and media team.
“This is one of the many benefits of our partnership with the Air National Guard,” said Cole. “We are now able to add three professionals to our team with extensive experience and expertise in areas critical to the growth and expansion of the series.”
Cole continued, “As a sport we recognize the need to enhance our marketing, media and technology. As I stated in our annual meetings in Las Vegas, we are emerging as a business entity. I truly appreciate Steve’s efforts and the advances made over the past two seasons and am confident that this expanded team will be able to build upon what we have started and allow us to move to the next level.”
Smutek, from KSixteen Marketing, will execute the Air National Guard partnership. Smutek is no stranger to Unlimited Hydroplane racing. Besides being a life-long fan growing up in Seattle with a wooden hydroplane behind her bike, she was Director of Administration for the former UHRA and handled media and public relations for the Miss E-Lam Plus Racing Team. Smutek has spent the last 10 years in the casino industry specializing in event, loyalty and experiential marketing.”
“I am very honored to be part of the H1 Unlimited team again,” said Smutek. “The potential for the sport I have loved since I was a kid with the Air National Guard partnership and what it brings to each event is mind boggling. Buckle up!”
Gregg Mansfield will handle public relations and social media for H1 Unlimited. Before joining the H1 Unlimited team, Mansfield was the editor at Powerboat Magazine where he covered boat racing (including Unlimited hydroplanes) for nearly 10 years. He also serves on the Board of Directors for San Diego Bayfair. Since high school, Mansfield has been involved in sports journalism at newspapers and magazines, and knows what the media needs to do their job.
“Of all the sports I’ve covered, few fans are as knowledgeable and passionate about their sport as H1 Unlimited fans,” Mansfield said. “In this world of instant information, I look forward to keeping the fans and media updated morning and night about this great sport.”
Ottenad, the owner of Advanced Digital Concepts, has been instrumental in establishing the sport’s on-board video camera program and making the files available to fans on the internet. With his son Steve, owner of Seattle web design company Summit Interactive, Walt has been constructing new websites for a number of H1 race teams and race sites, including the new H1/Air National Guard site. His duties will include managing the H1 web platform and the series multimedia presence.
A long time hydro fan and crew member, Ottenad added, “This opportunity to combine my love for technology and hydroplanes is very exciting and a lot of fun. I can’t wait to show the fans what we can do with our expanded inventory of boatcams and the new series website.”
Commenting on the additions, Montgomery said, “Quadrupling our marketing/media department and adding people with the expertise of Kristine, Gregg and Walt is a huge step forward for us. We are already seeing the positive impact their work is having on the marketing effort, media relations and internet presence. I am very excited about working with all three of them as we move the sport forward in 2011.”