MICHAEL RITZ
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

A veteran of over 18 years in the sports marketing and special events industries, Ritz has worked on many sides of the business for a variety of leading clients and companies. He joined the New Jersey Ironmen as Director of Corporate Partnerships in July of 2007. Previously, he was President of BucStar Consulting, a marketing and sales consultancy he started in January 1994. Before BucStar Ritz was Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).

While at Advantage Marketing Group (AMG), Ritz handled marketing and endorsements for professional athletes.  Before AMG he was the Director of Business Development at Turner Broadcasting.

Prior to Turner Broadcasting, Ritz was at Scholastic, Inc., in the dual roles of Executive Publisher of "Coach & Athletic Director" magazine and Managing Director of "CoachPlus Marketing".

Before Scholastic Ritz was Vice President of Marketing and Promotions Sports Publications, the leading publisher of game program and souvenir magazines in the nation.

From 1987 through 1990, Ritz was at HMG Sports, a leading international sports marketing firm that was part of the Saatchi & Saatchi worldwide empire.

Ritz started his sports marketing career with Athletes and Artists (later part of SFX) as a player agent responsible for a stable of baseball, hockey, and broadcasting clients. In addition to recruiting and contract negotiations, his duties included promotional and endorsement activities.

Ritz is married to his wife, Joanne, and lives in New York City with his three children. He is also a New York State Emergency Medical Technician.