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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAllison Melangton, who led organizing efforts for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl, will succeed Susan Williams as president of the Indiana Sports Corp., the organization announced Friday.
Williams plans to retire in September after leading the ISC since 2005.
Melangton, president and CEO of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, will become the Sports Corp’s fifth president in its 32-year history.
Before she took her post with the Super Bowl host committee in 2008, Melangton spent 14 years at the Indiana Sports Corp., where she served in a number of roles, eventually as senior vice president in charge of such events as the men’s and women’s Big Ten basketball championships; NCAA Final Fours; and Olympic swimming, diving and wrestling trials.
“In many ways, I never left the Sports Corp,” said Melangton in a prepared statement. “Over the past few years, the Super Bowl Host Committee has worked very closely with our friends at Indiana Sports Corp, and I’m incredibly excited to build on this historic time in our region’s sports history."
Prior to joining the ISC, Melangton spent 11 years climbing the ladder at USA Gymnastics, eventually landing as director of national and international events.
“The Sports Corp. Executive Committee and I have been working on this leadership transition for many months; developing and then implementing a plan to secure an accomplished and effective new leader,” Williams said in a prepared statement. “The perfect executive for Indiana Sports Corp was obvious and in our midst.”
After the Indianapolis Super Bowl wrapped up in early February, Melangton sat down with IBJ to talk about the experience and possible career paths. She discusses lessons learned while heading the host committee and her management style in the two videos below.
Williams, a former executive director of the Indiana State Office Building Commission and longtime City-County Council member, has overseen steady growth for the ISC, which drives economic development in Indianapolis by hosting sporting events.
“Over the past seven years, Susan has done a phenomenal job leading the Indiana Sports Corp,” said Joe DeGroff, chairman of the board, in a prepared statement. “In many ways, our organization has never been stronger – our event schedule is excellent; our membership base and patron support have grown to record levels; our relationships with the NCAA and the Big Ten are deeper; our volunteer base is larger than ever before; our youth initiatives are reaching more and more kids in need; and our financial condition is much stronger – and Susan is largely the reason. She is leaving an incredible legacy and foundation for our next president.”
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard praised Williams' efforts in landing the first Big Ten Conference football championship game and strengthening the city's relationship with the NCAA, among other accomplishments.
“I commend Susan’s tremendous contributions to our city and her outstanding performance in helping to develop Indianapolis into a world-renowned amateur sports capital," Ballard said in a prepared statement. Succeeding Susan will not be an easy task and I can think of no candidate better prepared and more deserving than Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee President and CEO Allison Melangton.”
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