WSGB: Meet The '99 WOTY Nominees

For the sixth straight year, SGB will name its Women Of The Year In Sports, commending an array of female executives for their outstanding achievements in the sports industry. As is always the case, every WOTY nominee is a hands-down winner.
The 1999 SGB Women Of The Year In Sports nominees together form a diverse group of overachievers. Combining a unique mix of passion for the game, sound business sense and drive for excellence in all aspects of life, the nominees are an inspiration for all women looking to make a mark in the business of sports.
Next month, SGB-along with event sponsors New Balance and DuPont's Lycra, Supplex and Tactel-will announce the 1999 WOTY winners at a special Super Show event in Atlanta. If you haven't yet cast your vote, fill in the ballot on the opposite page and fax it to SGB offices immediately. But be sure to do so only after you've read the bios of this year's nominees-all winners in their own right.
Kathy Chuckas
Executive Director, A Sporting Chance Foundation
Nominee: Non-Profit Award
In 1995, Kathy Chuckas founded A Sporting Chance Foundation to provide and promote sports and fitness opportunities to girls, enhancing their physical well-being, self-esteem, leadership, team-building skills and academic excellence. ASCF is one of only a few organizations in the nation devoted solely to promoting the advancement and growth of young girls through their involvement and participation in athletics. To date, ASCF has served more than 3,500 girls through its programs and thousands more through advocacy and resource materials. Chuckas has worked on behalf of women and children for the past 15 years in the non-profit field and volunteers for The Children's Place Association and the Women's Sports Foundation. She also coaches basketball, softball and volleyball at area elementary schools, and is the parent of two children.
Ann Kletz
Executive Director, SportsBridge
Nominee: Non-Profit Award
Twenty-nine year old Ann Kletz is the founder of SportsBridge, a San Francisco-based, non-profit organization that empowers girls through sports. After years of competing at the collegiate and national level in soccer, Kletz realized that sports played a key role in her life and wanted other girls, particularly girls from under-served communities, to have ample opportunity to play and learn through sports. For the past three years, SportsBridge has created innovative, quality, sports and leadership programs for girls that have served as models in other cities across the country. Responding to a national need, Kletz hopes to help lead the charge of a growing movement toward achieving gender equity in sports for youth in every corner of the country. Kletz was raised in Berkeley, California and holds a BA in biological anthropology from Harvard.
Dana Watts
Executive Director, Leave No Trace
Nominee: Non-Profit Award
Dana Watts joined Leave No Trace-a national non-profit program that promotes responsible outdoor recreation-in 1995 as marketing manager and became executive director in 1996. At the helm of LNT-which partners with federal land agencies, the outdoor industry, user groups, individuals and others to teach minimum impact outdoors skills clinics-she has helped to enlist more than 100 new program partners including JanSport, LL Bean, Tom's of Maine and Walt Disney Corp. Last year, Watts secured a three-year partnership with Nike, which will donate more than $300,000 to LNT for specific projects. She has played a key role in developing national education programs and materials, including the LNT Outdoor Retailer Program, the LNT Educational Fund, the LNT front country initiative and LNT youth organization efforts. Originally from Denver, Watts has lived in Boulder for seven years and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.
Glenda Flechtner
VP/Administration, Nation's Best Sports
Nominee: Retailer-Business Achievement Award
Glenda Flechtner began her career at Nation's Best Sports in 1970, when the buying group had only 66 members. At that time, the closed-meeting portion of NBS markets was held at the Sheraton/Fort Worth Hotel, with booth buying done in the "cattle barns" at the Will Rogers Coliseum. Total booths sold at that early show were 129, compared to current occupancy of 500 booths in the Tarrant County Convention Center to support a membership of 1,000 store fronts. At NBS, Flechtner has climbed from secretary to administrator to her current position of vice president of administration, as she now manages all facets of the daily operation of both the group and the very successful markets held semi-annually in Fort Worth. Flechtner has been married for 38 years and spends most of her family vacations pursuing one sport or another-from fishing trout streams to riding motorcycles to skiing the Rockies.
Heather Green
Franchisee, Play It Again Sports
Nominee: Retailer-Business Achievement Award
During the mid-'80s, Heather Green and her husband homesteaded in Southeast Alaska where they learned a lot about themselves-most of all, how to be resourceful. In 1992, the Greens purchased a Play It Again Sports franchise in Anchorage and have been in the sporting goods business ever since. Together with her husband of 17 years, the Greens work the store and enjoy many outdoor pursuits, such as hiking, kayaking and softball. At the store, the Greens have one mission-to have fun. They help the community recycle outgrown sporting goods, offering newer equipment at a reduced price and allowing more people to get involved in sports at a lower cost. The Greens have run the most successful store in the Play It Again system for the past two years-thanks largely to a close knit staff and a "have fun" attitude.
Lisa Voorhees
Founder, The Sporting Woman
Nominee: Retailer-Business Achievement Award
In its seventh year, The Sporting Woman-a unique women's sports store in Denver, CO, founded by Lisa Voorhees-addresses the needs of female athletes. A pioneer in the growth of the women's market, The Sporting Woman is a retail business with a conscience and sponsors a number of community events to encourage women to empower themselves and each other. The Wild Hare Snowshoe Trek, an example of such an event, attracted 375 women and raised $10,000 for the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault last year. Last fall, Voorhees was selected Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year by the Colorado Business Council and currently serves on the board of ORCA. In addition to being a writer and industry consultant, she is an avid cyclist and runner, having completed the Boston Marathon in April.
Melissa Crawford
Buyer/Team Sports & Golf, Target
Nominee: Retailer-Merchandising Award
Melissa Crawford began her career at Target in 1991 as a merchandise analyst for toys, and has climbed through the ranks to her current position as team sports and golf buyer. Through the '90s, Crawford was widely recognized for her work at Target, receiving merchandising planning awards in '93, '94 and '96. Crawford received a BS in business from the University of Minnesota.
Harriet Jackson
Owner, Bill Jackson's
Nominee: Retailer-Merchandising Award
Harriet Jackson met her husband Bill in 1941, and helped him in founding and growing his Army surplus business in Florida soon after. In the '50s, the business expanded to include scuba and fishing tackle, with pure outdoor sports soon replacing the surplus business. Presently, the St. Petersburg-based business is situated in five acres of woodland, and thrives thanks to a knowledgeable staff of more than 30 that sell as well as teach. Scuba, fly fishing, inline skating, rock climbing, snorkeling and many other sports are currently taught at Bill Jackson's. While past retirement age, the Jacksons still work six, six-hour days a week and have no intentions of retiring.
Kathy Spinzig
VP of Apparel, Gart Sports
Nominee: Retailer-Merchandising Award
Kathy Spinzig began her retail career with May Department Stores where she was a buyer for domestics, men's furnishings and women's handbags, and also served as branch store divisional manager. Spinzig's career at Gart Sports began in 1994, when she had buying responsibilities for men's and women's activewear and outdoor sportswear before moving on to department buyer for ski apparel, accessories and outdoor sportswear. She received her appointment to vice president of apparel in January, 1998.
Rita Cinque Kriss
Executive Vice President, Active Apparel Group
Nominee: Supplier-Business Achievement Award
Rita Cinque Kriss founded Active Apparel Group in 1992 and has served as director since 1994. Previously, Cinque Kriss was the president of management consulting company ITEW, Ltd., serving the apparel industry. She has also worked for such companies as Brooks and Oscar de la Renta, and has served on the fitness apparel committee of the SGMA. She is very active in charities such as the New York Race For The Cure.
Joanna Jacobson
President, Keds Corp.
Nominee: Supplier-Business Achievement Award
Joanna Jacobson joined Keds in April 1996 to engineer a turnaround of the well-known American brand. Keds is now being successfully rejuvenated by the introduction of a reinvented basics strategy, new national TV advertising and an in-store communications program that has produced strong sales and profitability. Before joining Keds, Jacobson was integral in bringing Converse back from bankruptcy to a leadership position in athletic and leisure footwear. Jacobson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in '82 and studied for her MBA at Harvard Business School. Today, she is channel her expertise in reaffirming Keds as an American icon.
Sara Levinson
President, NFL Properties
Nominee: Supplier-Business Achievement Award
Sara Levinson assumed her role as president of NFL Properties in 1994 and is responsible for the overall business development of the league's marketing and licensing arm. She has spearheaded a number of integrated marketing programs at NFLP, including the "Play Football" youth development initiative. Prior to joining NFLP, Levinson served as president/business director of MTV. A native of Portsmouth, VA, she is a 1972 graduate of Cornell University and received her MBA from Columbia.
Sue Levin
U.S. Women's Business Director, Nike
Nominee: Supplier-Product Promotion Award
At Nike, Sue Levin is responsible for the company's billion-dollar U.S. women's footwear and apparel business, after serving as U.S. women's brand director and global director of women's sports marketing. Before joining Nike, Levin was a freelance writer of books and magazine articles, specializing in sports and fitness. Her work has appeared in Outside, Self and Women's Sports & Fitness, and she received a National Magazine Award in 1994. Levin graduated from Swathmore College, where she played varsity soccer and softball.
Nancy Lopez
Principal/Founder, NancyLopezGolf
Nominee: Supplier-Product Promotion Award
Last year, LPGA Hall of Fame member Nancy Lopez debuted NancyLopezGolf, a company dedicated to offering a complete line of golf equipment designed specifically for women and girls of all abilities. In addition, the company is committed to ensuring that all steps are taken to match its customers with the best possible equipment for maximum performance and enjoyment. Twenty years ago, Lopez exploded onto the pro golf scene, and is today revered for the excellence of her performance. A four-time LPGA Player of the Year and three-time Vare Trophy winner for lowest score average, Lopez is still the only woman to have won the LPGA Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Vare Trophy in the same season.
Julie Radke
Business Manager/Women's, Wilson Sporting Goods
Nominee: Supplier-Product Promotion Award
Julie Radke was promoted to business manager, women's sports at Wilson in 1995, and has since been the driving force behind the company's new focus toward women's athletics. Radke is responsible for developing products and marketing programs for women's fast-pitch softball, basketball, volleyball and athletic uniforms. Her accomplishments include developing the company's FastPitch softball glove, which hit $1 million in sales in 1998, while making FastPitch softball the fastest-growing division in the company. Radke's advocacy of women's sports continues outside Wilson, where she is an active member of Women in Sports Events (WISE). Prior to her business career, Radke was an outstanding athlete at St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph, MI, where she was voted MVP and All-Conference in three sports, and at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, where she was a scholar/athlete.