The BPAA Names Kelly as Its New CEO - Bowling Proprietors Association of America; John P. Kelly - Brief Article

JOHN P. "JACK" KELLY, A LONGTIME sports marketing executive, has assumed the duties of chief executive officer of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. The BPAA represents more than 3,200 bowling centers throughout the United States.

The 54-year-old Kelly has an extensive background in sports marketing and management, including his most recent position as founder and president of Atlanta-based Event Partners Inc., a company that focuses on all aspects of major event creation, such as planning, licensing, merchandising, and marketing. Event Partners directed all merchandise and marketing activities for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games.

"Jack's knowledge and expertise of the entire sports industry, both in the U.S. and around the world, along with his exceptional relationship with the Olympic community, is a tremendous asset for the BPAA and the entire sport of bowling," said BPAA president Rex Haney.

Before founding Event Partners in 1995, Kelly served as president of the Goodwill Games and twice as president of the U.S. Olympic Festival, in 1986 and '90. Both festivals were considered highly successful, with the 1990 event generating records for attendance and revenues.

An alumnus of Northeastern University and Purdue's Krannert Graduate School of Business, Kelly has also served as the chair of the USOC International Games review committee. He is on the board of directors for USA Baseball and USA Team Handball, the executive committee of the U.S. Sports Academy, and the advisory board for the Jesse Owens Foundation and the International Taekwondo Federation. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award from USA Baseball in 1993.