January 12, 2009
PrestoSports Names Patrick Summers As Chief Operating Officer
Former ECAC Assistant Commissioner takes lead role in tech company's expansion into Division I
Rockville, MD - PrestoSports today announced that Patrick Summers has been promoted to chief operating officer of the company.
In his role as COO, Summers will manage PrestoSports' continued expansion into the Division I market. Summers' duties will include overseeing the company's nationwide business performance including operations, sales, marketing, and strategy functions across the entire collegiate market.
Summers co-founded PrestoSports in 2003 to use technology to connect athletic departments with their fans, the media, and their conference office. Summers guided the development of the product and staff as Director of Operations through 2006.
Summers was promoted in 2006 to Vice President and oversaw PrestoSports' growth in the Division II and III market. Between 2006 and 2008, Summers' leadership and relationships built PrestoSports into the #1 provider of Division II and III scores. Today more than 500 colleges and universities input their scores into the PrestoSports Network, which includes hosting every Division III football and basketball score, over half of all other Division II and III scores, and over 150 college sports web sites.
In 2008, Summers began preparing PrestoSports for the Division I market. Summers oversaw the development of a real-time stats platform for every Stat Crew supported sport, launched a best-in-market e-commerce store system, and built relationships with multiple national advertisers.
Summers is a 1994 graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and played singles and doubles tennis throughout his tenure. He was the assistant coach for both men's and women's teams beside three-time Conference Coach of the Year, Lynn Miller.
After graduation, Summers was the assistant to the Executive Director of Athletics at Wheaton College, and assistant athletic director and head varsity coach at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac.
Beginning in 1996, Summers worked for seven years at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the country's largest athletic conference. As Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Technology, Summers launched the conference's first web site, moving all ECAC officiating and championship administration online. He also negotiated sponsorship and event contracts resulting in added value to the conference office and its membership.
"I want PrestoSports to be the best provider of its kind, to continue to revolutionize how this industry manages and shares information, and provide the best client support and satisfaction," says Summers. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but more proud of our team who has made it what it is today."
PrestoSports is a leading technology provider to collegiate athletic departments with services including web site design and hosting, live stats, award management, merchandizing, and officiating. With more than 40 years of combined staff experience in college athletics and collegiate marketing solutions, PrestoSports creates innovative solutions as unique as each of its clients.
For more information, please contact Mike Donlin at (301) 841-7327 or via email at mike@prestosports.com.
