Rhinos promote Ford

(Rochester, NY)… Rochester Rhinos owner and CEO Rob Clark announced today that the club has promoted Executive Vice President Matthew Ford to President and General Manager effective immediately. The team also announced today it is introducing Joe Valenti as the new Director of Ticket Sales.

Ford enters his new role after serving as the team’s Executive Vice President for the past two seasons since starting with the organization in 2006. Ford oversees all business and player operations for the Rochester Rhinos and PAETEC Park.

A native of Grimsby, England, Ford graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and East Stroudsburg University with a Master of Education in Sport Management.

Ford followed graduate school with a position as the Team Operations Coordinator with the Hershey Wildcats of the USL A-League in 1998. He was charged with directing and managing the business and game day operations of the franchise as well as planning and executing international tournaments and events such as the 2000 Olympic Qualifying tournament for CONCACAF. Ford is also credited with the successful management of the 1998 A-League All-Star game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Ford was honored with the USL Key Grip Award in 1998 as the A-League Operation’s Director of the year.

Continuing to elevate up the Wildcats hierarchy, Ford was promoted to General Manager in October 2000. Accepting the role of leading day-to-day operations, including ticket sales, marketing and personnel issues, much of his efforts were reflected in the Wildcats most successful season in the history of the club.

In December of 2001, Ford became the General Manager of the Sports and Entertainment Group in Hershey. His successes included the operation of multiple sports and entertainment venues with over 1 million ticket sales annually.

He is also credited with the booking of several regional and nationally known events to Hershey properties. In 2002, Ford oversaw operations for the opening of the Giant Center, Hershey's state of the art Arena, home of the Hershey Bears AHL franchise. Most recently Ford served as the Director of Special Events and Entertainment for the Hersheypark Sports and Entertainment Complex in Hershey. In 2006, Ford was honored as the USL’s Top Executive of the Year in just his first year with the Rhinos organization.

Ford and his wife, Jenny, reside in Rochester where they live with their three-year old-daughter, Jayden.

Valenti takes over the Rhinos’ ticket department after serving as the top Youth Sales representative with the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.

“I am very excited to be part of the Rochester Rhinos at this time,” said Valenti. “We have a great opportunity to elevate this club to its potential within this great soccer community.  We have programs for all local youth soccer clubs with amazing ticket benefits, corporate packages to entertain clients and employees, and we will be hosting special event nights with local organizations including Special Olympics, as well as other plans to create a social, fun and exciting atmosphere.”

 “Our first season ticket promotion is to offer authentic game-worn autographed jerseys to current and new season ticket holders that refer two or more new season tickets,” added Valenti.

Current season ticket holders who renew all of their full season tickets from 2007, and new season ticket holders who purchase two or more full season tickets will receive an authentic 2007 game-worn autographed Rhinos jersey by referring two or more new full season tickets before Mother’s Day, while supplies last. 

Full season tickets start as low as $99.00 and include 15 regular season home games, three bonus game tickets and the first two rounds of the 2008 USL playoffs.

The Rhinos begin their 13^th season on Friday, May 2^nd at 7:30 p.m. in Charleston, SC, as they take on the two-time USL-1 champion Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Rochester opens its 2008 home slate at PAETEC Park on Saturday, May 17^th against Charleston at 7:35 p.m.