Major League Soccer today announced the 2006 MLS Executive Award winners. D.C. United's front office earned a total of ten honors, with the club's Senior Vice President, Stephen Zack, taking home the highest honor as Executive of the Year. Dan Giffin (Top 10 Group Ticket Sales & Top 10 Ticket Sales Revenue), Mike Harloff (Ticket Sales Director of the Year), Doug Hicks (Team Public Relations Award) and Scott Miller (Account Executive of the Year, Top 10 New FSE Ticket Sales, Top 10 Group Ticket Sales Leader, Top 10 Ticket Sales Revenue Leader) all won awards in their respective categories. The D.C. United sales team also earned top honors as the 2006 Sales Team of the Year.
"I firmly believe that United has the best front office in the League," said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. "Today's announcement certainly validates my thoughts and while I'm proud of the quality work of these deserving United executives, everyone in our front office are deserving of such recognition."
The winners were chosen in a voting process comprising team general managers, the League office and peers within respective departments. Members of the media also voted for the Public Relations Award.
Executive of the Year: Stephen Zack
With the club since its inception, Stephen Zack has worked alongside Kevin Payne on all United matters. In his current position as Senior Vice President, Zack oversees all business operations of United. The League previously honored him in 1997 and 2000 as the Marketing Executive of the Year. Zack also serves as the President of United for D.C., the non-profit arm of the club.
Team Public Relations Award: D.C. United
Vice President of Communications Doug Hicks and staff earned the Team Public Relations Award for the third straight season, having previously received the honor in 2004 and 2005.
The department successfully managed a demanding media schedule, while serving as the team's voice for all aspects of business operations. In addition to routinely developing quality content-based collaterals in English and Spanish, United's public relations department was involved in a host of community relations activities, as well as overseeing broadcasting and internet properties.
Ticket Sales Team of the Year: D.C. United
Led by Director of Sales Mike Harloff and Director of Ticket Operations Fred Matthes - both original United hires in 1995 - the D.C. United sales team earned top honors this year. The combination of United's Box Office, Customer Service and Sales team led the club to exceptional performances in several key categories including rate of renewal (77%), season tickets sold 6,779), group ticket sales (97,086) and average home attendance (18,215), among others.
Ticket Sales Director of the Year: Mike Harloff
Harloff, who has been with the team since its inception, won the top individual sales honor in just his first year as Director of Sales. Before taking over his current position prior to the 2006 season, he had been in the top five in Group Sales for five straight years (2001-2005), He was also in the top five for Ticket Revenue in 2002, and was twice honored with the Commissioner's New Business Leadership Award (1998 & 1999).
Account Executive of the Year, Ticket Revenue Sales Leader, Group Ticket Sales Leader & New FSE Ticket Sales (9th): Scott Miller
In his fifth year with the team, Scott Miller finished first in MLS in Ticket Revenue and Group Ticket Sales and ninth in new FSE ticket sales on his way to being named the Account Executive of the Year. Last year, he finished in the top five in both group ticket sales and ticket revenue sales.
Ticket Revenue Sales (7th) & Group Ticket Sales (8th): Dan Giffin
Giffin, who has been with the team since its first year, finished among League leaders in both total Ticket Revenue and Group Ticket Sales. The senior account executive has been among League sales leaders on numerous occasions during the last eleven years.
