Alexandria, VA – January 5, 2017 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, is pleased to announce personnel changes and additions, intended to position the organization to help effectively meet its members needs and its commitment to growing the recreational fishing industry.

“As our industry’s trade association, it’s important that we adjust to meet the needs of our membership,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “I am confident that our entire ASA team will allow us to effectively respond to the rapid changes in business and policy that are shaping the realities of today’s outdoor recreation industry.”

Liz Ogilvie will take on the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As CMO, Ogilvie will manage the marketing and communication efforts across all association functions, ensuring that ASA’s promotional and marketing efforts are aligned. She will also oversee the industry’s role in the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s “60 in 60” initiative, which aims to increase annual recreational angler participation from 46 million to 60 million by 2020. Ogilvie has been with the association since 2014 as Director of the grassroots advocacy program, Keep America Fishing®. She will continue to oversee this program.

New hires and a title change have been made within the Government Affairs team. Mike Leonard, formerly the Ocean Resource Policy Director, is now Conservation Director. The title change more accurately reflects a broadening of responsibilities on fisheries access, management and conservation issues at the national, state and local levels.

Allen Luck has joined the ASA staff as Digital Content Manager for Keep America Fishing. Both Luck and program veteran John Stillwagon, the Online Community Manager, will bolster the program’s focus on outreach to the vast network of recreational anglers across the country and engage them in advocating on behalf of ASA’s policy goals.

Ashley Brinkman is the 2016–2018 Everett R. Hames Policy Fellow, providing support for a broad spectrum of Government Affairs functions. She joined the Government Affairs team in November 2016.

At the end of 2016, Blake Swango joined the ASA staff as Trade Show Director for the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. To support the continued success of this important global trade event, Koryn Cramer, previously the Trade Show Coordinator, has been promoted to Trade Show Operations Manager. Both Swango and Cramer will leverage their trade show experience to continue ICAST’s growth and help retain its reputation as the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show.