Re-thinking the Otter: Yohannan and Sutton seek sage advice

By VeloNews Interactive, from Sea Otter Classic release

Sea Otter Classic co-founders Rick Sutton and Frank Yohannan on Tuesday announced the formation of a new board of advisors, a step the two promoters say will movethe race to a higher level.

“For the better part of 12 years, we’ve dedicated our efforts to the creationof a family-style festival, celebrating the unabashed joys of the sport ofbicycling,” said Sutton. “Today, we take a significant step toward our futuregrowth. The Classic is proud to announce a distinguished Board of Advisors.Our intent is to maximize the background and expertise that each of theseleaders brings to our developmental plan for future success. Our long-rangegoal is to create world class competition for world class athletes.”

The newly formed Sea Otter Board of Advisors will work closely with presentmanagement’s operational team. This Board of Advisors includes:

Pam Derderian
Pam Derderian has been one of America’s most successful marketing entrepreneursfor 20 years. Her client list includes some of this countries most well knowncompanies and athletes, including Martina Navratilova, Citibank, Subaru ofAmerica, and Puma. In 1987, Pam and her partner, Nancy Becker co-founded“15 Minutes” Inc. a Philadelphia-based agency that specializes in event marketingfor some of the countries largest consumer events. In 1995, Derderian andBecker partnered with Martina Navratilova to co-found DO TELL, Inc. a fullservice agency that specializes in niche marketing in the gay and lesbiancommunity.

Leigh Donovan
Leigh Donovan remains the only athlete to win the National Championship Downhilltitle, the Dual Slalom title, and the Downhill World Championship in thesame season, a feat she accomplished in 1995. She has captured 17 NationalDual Slaloms, nine National Downhills, and three World Cups.

Linda Jackson
Linda Jackson is one of Canada’s greatest female road cyclists. She was honoredby VeloNews as North American Female Cyclist of the Year in both 1997 and1998, one of a few athletes to ever win this award in back-to-back years.A Bronze Medallist at the 1996 World Championships, Jackson has since retiredfrom competition and now works as an investment banker in San Francisco.

Mary Monroe
Mary Monroe was formerly sports marketing director at Trek Bicycles, theworld’s largest bicycle company. Monroe has also served on the board of NationalOff Road Bicycle Association and the International Mountain Bike Association.She also worked as Marketing Director for USA Cycling before returning toher own consulting business, The Bike Evangelist.

Betsy Brunton Peters
Betsy Brunton Peters is a strategic marketing specialist with over 10 yearsexperience in the Outdoor media market. She has worked for ESPN, the OutdoorLife Network, and Cox Communications creating brands for passionate lifestyleaudiences. As the General Manager, COX Communications’ Great Outdoors, shewas responsible for content programming, design, sales, marketing and businessdevelopment for the Outdoor Life Network online site. Currently she is helpingto guide ESPN in extending their Global X and Outdoors properties into consumerproducts and retail environments.

Bruce Ryan
Bruce Ryan has an economics degree from Harvard University and graduate lawand business degrees form Stanford University. He joined Microsoft in 1989and worked in a variety of strategic roles during his 11 years with the company,including launches of home software products, interactive television software,Microsoft Network (MSN), Microsoft Network Japan, and Internet software formobile phones. While in Japan, Ryan was appointed to the Board of Directorsof Speednet Japan Ltd., a high-speed Internet joint venture.

Andrew H. Swartz
Andrew Swartz is a prominent Monterey County business attorney with extensiveexperience at the local, county, and state levels. Swartz has served as Chairmanof the State of California’s Standing Committee on Professional Responsibilityand Conduct.

Lesley Tomlinson
A two-time Canadian Olympian, Lesley Tomlinson is one of Canada’s most prestigiousall-around competitors. Her athletic horizons have stretched into the worldof adventure racing and long-distance cycling. Recently, she completed theTrans Alp, a grueling eight-day mountain bike race from Germany to Italy.

David Wiens
Mountain Bike Hall of Famer David Wiens is perhaps best known as the 1993National Champion. Weins was honored in 1998 with the Richard Long SportsmanshipAward and inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame n 2000. He has servedon the Board of USA Cycling and currently is the Rider/Manager for Team RLXPolo Sport.