Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Fills Marketing Staff
7/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | General
July 18, 2014
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State Athletics has announced that Kirsten Makowiec has been promoted, and will lead LBSU's marketing and promotion efforts as the Director of Marketing and Fan Experience.
Completing her undergraduate education at Penn State, Makowiec has worked in both the Penn State and Long Beach State marketing offices. During the 2013-14 season, Makowiec was tasked with leading the marketing efforts for both basketball programs, leading men's basketball to a 18% revenue increase and the women's basketball program to a 9% revenue increase.
Makowiec also served as the point of contact for Long Beach State's spirit program, encompassing the efforts of Long Beach State's cheer team, dance squad, mascot and band, while managing the program's budget.
A three-time NACMA award winner in marketing, sales, and sponsorship, Makowiec also was invited to attend the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar in Indianapolis, Ind., last January, and also assisted with the marketing efforts for the 2014 Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship.
Makowiec and Long Beach State have also identified a candidate to fill the vacant Assistant Director of Marketing position in Kelli Gill, who will begin her duties on August 4.
Gill spent the past year as part of the Big West Conference office, working as the conference's Marketing and Championships Assistant. While with the Big West, Gill focused on expanding youth sports partnerships as well as assisting with promotional efforts for the Big West Tournament.
Gill also has game-day marketing experience with Long Beach State, having worked within the Beach marketing office last season, assisting with various athletics efforts, including working with the Junior 49er Club and the Maniacs.
"Kirsten and Kelli will continue to strengthen our revenue and fan experience growth while bringing new perspective and ideas to the table for community and campus expansion," said Senior Associate Athletics Director Dedan Brozino. "They both have well-rounded backgrounds from different settings in collegiate athletics and we're excited to add that to our team here at Long Beach State."
Long Beach State has also filled both of its graduate assistant positions for the 2014-15 season. Heather Schiraldi and Chris Winans have been added to the marketing team and will assist Makowiec and Gill as the department is fully staffed.
Schiraldi, a Manahattan Beach native, returns to Southern California after completing her undergraduate studies at LSU, where she worked within the Tiger Athletics Department over the last two years.
Winans is a 2013 graduate of Cal State San Marcos, who balanced his studies with working as both the head boy's basketball coach for High Tech High North High School as well as assisting with basketball operations for the CS San Marcos Cougars men's basketball team. Following his graduation, Winans spent time as a gameday intern for both Long Beach State baseball as well as the LA Galaxy.
Both Schiraldi and Winans are currently completing their Master's Degrees at Long Beach State within the Sports Management graduate program.
