Melangton honored as one of top 40 women in sports biz

Indiana Sports Corp. CEO Allison Melangton is one of 40 women in sports business recognized this month in Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal’s annual Game Changers section.

Melangton is recognized for her role as CEO of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee as well as her position with the ISC, where she replaced Susan Williams as CEO in September.

Melangton is the only woman featured in the Game Changers section working for a local sports commission. The other Game Changers either worked for one of the professional leagues, the U.S. Olympic Committee, a major network, national sponsor, professional sports franchise or facility.

The Game Changers section celebrates women in sports business who have demonstrated leadership, development and success.

“To be listed among such a distinguished group of women is a tremendous honor,” Melangton said. “I have been fortunate to have great mentors and to work alongside great partners. A large part of this recognition should be dedicated to my talented colleagues and dedicated committee members and volunteers who have been an integral part of our community’s success.”

Melangton served as president and CEO of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee beginning in 2008. Super Bowl XLVI received rave reviews earlier this year as one of the best organized, produced and most engaging events in National Football League history.
 
NFL officials were so impressed by some of the local host committee’s initiatives, they are implementing those ideas for future Super Bowls.

In the Sports Business Journal write-up on Melangton, she credits Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick for giving her the best piece of business advice she's ever gotten and former gymnastics coach and director of events at the U.S. Olympic Committee Shelia Walker for having the biggest influence on her career.

Swarbrick told her 15 years ago "learn to be comfortable in silence," Melangton said.

"I have used that wisdom many, many times in negotiations and discussions by not filling the air with talking and letting silence stand till I had formulated the response in my mind," she said.

Two days after the finish of this year's Super Bowl, IBJ conducted an extensive video interview with Melangton for its "Leading Questions" series. The first video is below; the whole feature is available here.