Don King. It was 1920 in an old firehouse in Indianapolis where the company started manufacturing class rings, medals, pins and other emblematic jewelry. BSN SPORTS was founded by my father, actually, selling tennis nets out of the trunk of his car and they recently celebrated their 45-year Anniversary in 2017. Hutchinson will report to Varsity Brands’ CEO, Adam Blumenfeld, and will serve as a member of the Company’s Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”). Their digital offers expanded to virtual e-cards, free coaching clinics and webinars and personalized backgrounds. Will you highlight the history and heritage of Varsity Brands and how the business has evolved? These are the skills we need in a CFO, and I’m delighted that John has joined our impressive and growing group of leaders.”, Hutchinson added, ““I am excited about the opportunity to join Varsity Brands and look forward to working with the team to build on the impressive foundation that has been established over the years while ensuring that all aspects of the operational and financial functions are aligned in support of the Company’s truly inspiring mission and enormous potential.”. Herff Jones acquired BSN Sports in 2013. Varsity Brands, Inc. Its operations are split between three major subsidiaries: BSN SPORTS, a distributor of sports uniforms and equipment; Varsity Spirit, which produces apparel, competitions and camps for cheer, dance and band; and Herff Jones, a manufacturer of products such as class rings, graduation caps and gowns, and yearbooks. How proud are you to see the way the Varsity Brands’ workforce has adapted and adjusted the way they work to be effective during this uncertain time? Celebrating their 45-Year Anniversary last year, Varsity Spirit is now the worldwide leader in all things spirit â€“ including cheerleading, dance team and performing arts apparel, educational camps and competitions. How has Varsity Brands worked to help schools, teams and coaches adjust to the new normal? Steve Down. Hutchinson holds a B.S. Resources consisted of customizable face masks and wall and floor signage featuring schools’ mascots and school colors, videos and student journals rooted in social and emotional competencies for grades 3-12 as well as virtual pep club creation, virtual spirit kits and E-Cards for staff to connect with students. Varsity University, an enterprise powered by Varsity Brands, offers comprehensive educational programming to schools and athletic programs nationwide. Through a combination of specialized online courses and in-person seminars, Varsity University provides the resources necessary for educators, coaches and gym owners to enhance the student experience. 2020 marks 100 years that Herff Jones has been celebrating student achievement. Tara's career started at the JAM Brands in Louisville, KY where she was a rising star both in event sales and customer service. a distributor of sports uniforms and equipment; Varsity Spirit, which produces apparel, competitions and camps for cheer, dance and band; and Herff Jones, a manufacturer of products such as class rings, graduation caps and gowns, and yearbooks. It was 1920 in an old firehouse off Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis where Harry Herff and Randall Jones started an … The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. "The most important thing for a leader to do is have a … jmorgan@perryst.com Click here to download a PDF of An An Interview with Adam Blumenfeld, When the pandemic hit, we leveraged Microsoft Teams to do weekly and now twice monthly town halls for our team members. Unified three divisions with cohesive growth strategy — bolstering leadership, innovation and marketing across the platform and developing a One Company culture. Prior to his tenure at ALG, Hutchinson served with American Airlines for 24 years, progressing through several finance and planning roles including Senior-Vice President of Planning and Chief Financial Officer of American Eagle, Managing Director of Corporate Development, and Managing Director of International Planning at American Airlines. What have been the keys to being successful offering virtual graduation ceremonies, virtual sports tryout platforms and virtual coaching clinics during this unprecedented time? During our ownership, Varsity Brands filled or created 39 senior leadership positions, grew its combined sales force by more than 50% to over 1,700 reps, and invested in training and systems to drive significant growth in penetration and same-school sales. When COVID first hit, our team did a quick pivot and were dedicated to meeting our customers where they were â€“ in their homes. Click here to download a PDF of An An Interview with Adam Blumenfeld. Sheila Noone It is quite remarkable that is has grown to be the nation’s leading marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods apparel and equipment to the school and league markets. 2020 marks 100 years that Herff Jones has been celebrating student achievement. “We have a handful of digital tools that have enabled us to pivot our salespeople from seeing clients in schoolhouses to having eight to 10 Zoom meetings a day and introducing our entire line virtually,” Blumenfeld said. Degree in Civil Engineering with a Spanish minor from Brigham Young University, and a M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. At Varsity Brands, we aim to build school pride, student engagement and community spirit through three unique but interrelated businesses: BSN SPORTS, Varsity Spirit and Herff Jones. DALLAS, June 19, 2018 — Varsity Brands, the market leader in team sports, school spirit and achievement recognition, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to be acquired by Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global private investment firm. First, I want to recognize our incredible team working in the plants and factories that have been dedicated to keeping our company moving forward and delivering to our customers despite the pandemic. DALLAS, TX, January 9, 2020 – Varsity Brands, the market leader in team sports, school spirit and achievement recognition, today announced that John Hutchinson has joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Varsity Spirit created virtual tryouts for cheer and dance teams and then virtual consultations and fittings for their apparel. Brian Fleming. We will listen and we will learn. The acquisition is expected to be finalized by December. In July 2020, we launched our IMPACT Now campaign which aimed to help unite and drive school spirit in communities in anticipation of the school year. John’s experience, proven leadership and skill set represents an ideal fit in this regard. Then Varsity created national cheerleading competitions, which eventually were broadcast on NBC and ESPN. They wanted to ensure that the had the talent and processes to take their organization to the next level. Steve Down joined Herff Jones as President on October 22, 2019. 901-251-5959, Perry Street Communications They wanted to ensure that the had the talent and processes to take their organization to the next level. The company's vertical … Blumenfeld has been the Chairman of BSN since July 2007 and also its Director since January 2000. An Interview with Adam Blumenfeld, In June 2014, it was announced that the company as a whole would operate under the Varsity Brands name in order to reflect a more integrated operation. After the acquisition, Varsity Brands' leadership structure will remain in place. Varsity Brands on Thursday announced the appointment of John Hutchinson as executive vice president and CFO, effective immediately. He will report to CEO Adam Blumenfeld and serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team. 212-333-5525 Varsity Brands, LLC provides cheer-leading and dance team products and services. They also wanted clarity on their top leadership. RECOGNIZED LEADER IN SPORT, SPIRIT & ACHIEVEMENT. We will reject the status quo and assume nothing along the way. Chief Executive Officer, Varsity Brands, Inc. See other features from LEADERS Magazine's January, February, March 2021 edition. Down joins Herff Jones with proven strategic acumen and an impressive ... Jon Neale. The speakers are … While our three divisions - BSN SPORTS, Varsity Spirit & Herff Jones – officially came together as Varsity Brands in 2014, each division has rich history in their respective market. Adam Blumenfeld stated, “Varsity Brands’ financial leadership must excel across two fronts:  ensuring the resources are in place and accessible to deliver on our important corporate mission while unlocking value and delivering profitable sales growth. Varsity Brands is the leader in elevating student experiences in sport, spirit, and achievement through BSN SPORTS, Varsity Spirit, and Herff Jones. While our three divisions - BSN SPORTS, Varsity Spirit & Herff Jones â€“ officially came together as Varsity Brands in 2014, each division has rich history in their respective market. Universal Cheerleaders Association Founded in 1974 by Jeff Webb with the goal of incorporating high level athleticism with traditional crowd leadership. snoone@varsity.com Our Mission At Varsity … They held their first live, inperson competition events this Fall and have a total of 250 events planned through Spring 2021 with comprehensive safety protocols in place. Varsity Brands is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity. Learn more about the Varsity Brand family Meet the Executive Leadership Team. A few months ago, that stool helped the company, Varsity Brands, get sold to Bain Capital for a cool $2.5 billion . Andrew Checketts. We offered administrators, faculty and coaches a digital playbook and related resources that helped advance school health, safety, and emotional and physical needs of students in both physical and virtual classroom settings. He assumes broad responsibility for Varsity Brands’ financial priorities, reporting, strategy and operations and will work closely with both the ELT and financial leadership at the Company’s three divisions: Varsity Spirit, Herff Jones and BSN SPORTS. Prior to his current role, Adam Blumenfeld served as the Chief Executive Officer of BSN SPORTS, Inc. Before BSN, he served in a number of roles at Sport Supply Group including as its President. Herff Jones’ factories flipped on a dime and started manufacturing masks and supplied them to a number of companies across the U.S. To support schools early on, they were able to offer a virtual graduation option leading throughout that recognition season. Where business allowed, we did shift to have employees work from home to keep them safe. DALLAS, TX, January 9, 2020 – Varsity Brands, the market leader in team sports, school spirit and achievement recognition, today announced that John Hutchinson has joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Jonathan Morgan Meet the Executive Leadership Team. As the years went by, the company has grown to include yearbooks, graduation announcements, diplomas, caps and gowns, and diploma frames. Three things: The innovation and grit of our people, turnkey programs and easy implementation. We implemented turnkey programs and offered resources that provided step by step direction so that it could be easily implemented by the customer. We use it as an opportunity to inform, inspire and recognize our team as we continue to persevere through uncertainty. Varsity was founded on the commitment to provide the highest quality training camps and this remains our promise to you today. Varsity Brands, Inc. (varsitybrands.com) is an apparel company owned by Bain Capital that is focused on American academic apparel and memorabilia. Previously, he served as CEO of … His successful ability to harmonize business units at ALG around shared corporate priorities aligns with our own structure, and he has introduced world-class financial accounting and reporting systems – all while demonstrating a keen attentiveness to analytics and informed pursuit of the right commercial priorities. In the suit, Jones, et al. Recently, there have been virtual learning sessions with yearbook staffs to help them navigate new coverage plans and they introduced QR code functionality for Herff Jones products that will allow customers to celebrate their achievements in a personal and digital way. Hutchinson joins Varsity Brands from Apple Leisure Group (“ALG”), a leading North American travel, hospitality and leisure management group, where he served most recently as President with responsibility for ALG’s resort management, vacation club, and tour operator businesses. Varsity Spirit, LLC, also known as Varsity, is an American cheerleading company owned by Varsity Brands.Founded in 1974 as the Universal Cheerleaders Association, the company is a manufacturer of apparel for cheerleading and dance teams, organizer of cheerleading competitions, and operator of training camps and sanctioning bodies.. Pure-play bandwidth infrastructure provider, which grew exponentially during our investment through continuous M&A and strong organic growth strategies. Jaramillo will report to CEO Adam Blumenfeld and work closely with Varsity Brands’ leadership team to build digital technology solutions that provide visibility, intelligence, and efficiency across the company’s three business units and at the enterprise level, the … Our field sales teams immediately gained confidence in hosting virtual conference calls and uniform fittings to keep up with the new norm and support our customers. Blumenfeld has been CEO of Varsity Brands, the parent of Varsity Spirit, Herff Jones and BSN Sports, since April 2017. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our essential workers. 214-965-9955, Copyright 2020 Varsity Brands | All Rights Reserved |, JOHN HUTCHINSON JOINS VARSITY BRANDS AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, Varsity Brands surpasses $10 million raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, An Interview with CEO Forum Radio: Adam Blumenfeld, CEO, Varsity Brands, Social and Emotional Learning A Top Priority Amid Pandemic, Local Educator Discusses Social & Emotional Learning, Varsity Brands Deepens Commitment to Social and Emotional Learning as Schools Work to Reopen for the 2020-21 School Year. Focused on safety, entertainment and traditional school leadership, Varsity Spirit's 1,200 employees have been helping raise cheerleading's influence and … Together, we promote personal, school and community pride through customizable products and programs for elementary, middle and … v. Varsity Brands, et al., plaintiff cheer parents allege the defendants and their co-conspirators have abused Varsity's … Now more than ever, communication is key. He also oversaw a diverse range of corporate functions and led the company from a collection of family-owned businesses to a true enterprise characterized by operational excellence and a 400% increase in profitability in six years. Varsity Spirit, a part of Varsity Brands, is focused on elevating student experience- in sport, spirit, and achievement. They’ve shown rugged persistence and inspiring fortitude over these last few months. Incredibly proud. Stay driven and motivated in our current landscape and be a team player. in English from Tulane University. Zayo. And Varsity Brands has been conducting many operations remotely, including virtual meetings and webinars. Jeff Webb Master Entrepreneur, Founder Varsity Brands, President International Cheer Union, Business & Politics commentator. CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. What do you see as the keys to effective leadership? Hutchinson joined Apple Leisure Group as Chief Financial Officer in 2013. They’ve launched a virtual competition series that allows programs to participate in a cheer or dance competition without having to travel. How has Varsity Brands adapted the way it works to address the challenges the business has faced due to the pandemic? Varsity Brands. Varsity Brands: Strengthening Leadership Capabilities. The camps, the apparel and the competitions became the three legs of the stool, says Webb. BSN SPORTS started manufacturing customized face masks and social distancing signage as well as sold PPE equipment. They shifted their summer camp program, traditionally training 350,000 athletes each summer, to virtual training camps and “home” camps where an instructor goes to the school for their training. Varsity partnered with Performant Solutions for a simple reason. Hutchinson will report to Varsity Brands’ CEO, Adam Blumenfeld, and will serve as a member of … Varsity Brands said the hiring accelerates its investment in a digital, technology-enabled future. In this new role, she will focus on leading the Varsity All Star Advisor team to build on their partnerships with our customers. And then, empowered with new insights and compassion, we will be purposeful and effective change agents, champions and leaders. Varsity Brands gives customers something to cheer about. What advice do you offer young people beginning their careers during this challenging and unprecedented time? Varsity University, an enterprise powered by Varsity Brands, offers comprehensive educational programming to schools and athletic programs worldwide. Varsity Brands, LLC provides cheer-leading and dance team products and services. Webb is currently Varsity Brands' chairman. Its founder and CEO Jeff Webb became president and CEO of Herf Jones. Chief Executive Officer, They impact more than a million athletes each year across their platforms. Through a combination of specialized online courses and in-person seminars, Varsity University provides the resources necessary for educators, coaches and gym owners to enhance the student experience. The organization’s commitment to the health and well-being of the young people who participate is embedded in its high-quality educational curriculum and its leadership in establishing instructional safety standards. Varsity Brands, a Dallas-based market leader in team sports, school spirit, and achievement recognition, announced that John Hutchinson has joined the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Residents of a New York town where one of the accused Capitol rioters grew up helped the FBI identify him after spotting his varsity football jacket on CNN, according to federal court records. Varsity Brands, a subsidiary of Herff Jones, is the world's largest maker and distributor of cheerleading and dance team uniforms and accessories for youth, high school, and college programs.Varsity also organizes cheerleading and dance team training camps and clinics (with more than 350,000 participants annually), and … Hutchinson will report to Varsity Brands CEO, Adam Blumenfeld, and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team. Employing over 8,000 people in all 50 states, Varsity Brands has achieved year-over-year growth in sales and profits for 43 out of 44 years. He has been a Director of Collegiate Pacific Inc. since January 2000. Varsity Brands is guided in this journey by fostering and investing in a culture that respects and values inclusion. Since 2017, she has been managing the Midwest territory for Varsity All Star Fashion. Blumenfeld holds a B.A. Varsity Brands: Strengthening Leadership Capabilities Varsity partnered with Performant Solutions for a simple reason.