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  Kevin Flanagan

SAN DIEGO – Bill Walton, executive chairman of CONNECT San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI), announced today Kevin Flanagan, vice-president of marketing at Reef, has joined the SDSI board of directors.

CONNECT SDSI, a business accelerating trade organization, currently reaches out to more than 600 action sport and active lifestyle companies in the San Diego sport industry; a regional economic power house.

“Through his extensive marketing experience with Oakley, Globe and now Reef, Kevin has become a prominent figure in the action sports industry; he knows everyone and anyone”, said Bill Walton. “Kevin will prove to be a major player in the future of SDSI and our continued efforts to accelerate the innovation of our sports economy here in Southern California.”

Kevin Flanagan has 14 years of diverse marketing experience in the action sports industry. Flanagan began working at Oakley in the sports marketing department before moving to Europe to become the director of European marketing.

Following his European experience, Flanagan returned to Oakley headquarters as the director of international marketing. After Oakley, Flanagan became vice president of marketing at Broadband Interactive Group and then Globe Shoes.

Prior to his current position of vice president of marketing at Reef, Flanagan spent four years as Group Show Director with ASR, SDSI partner. Flanagan currently serves on the board of directors for the Surf Industry Manufactures Association.

“Raised as an athlete in southern California, I am a proud product of this sports and business community,” said Flanagan.

“I believe that SDSI is an outstanding way to share my personal expertise and passion for our sports industry. Connecting people is at the heart of building our community.”

“Flanny, as we call him, has been a mainstay of the surf/action sports industry since the days when he headed up the ASR trade show”, said Peter “PT” Townend, SDSI board member and CEO of The ActivEmpire.

“He will be a huge asset in building SDSI’s partnerships within the industry.”

About CONNECT SDSI

CONNECT SDSI is a business accelerator that connects and drives the growth of San Diego’s vibrant sports economy by offering innovative programs and services for start ups, mature companies and service providers.

Building on CONNECT’s world-renown success accelerating innovation in San Diego over the past 25 years, CONNECT SDSI offers mentoring, education and capital funding opportunities for start-ups; best practice collaboration, access to new technology, and public policy advocacy for mature companies; as well as deal flow to our service providers and the San Diego investment community.

The complete list of the SDSI Board of Directors is available on the SDSI website www.SDSportInnovators.org. For more information about CONNECT SDSI please contact Garrett Hale at (858) 964-1314 or GHale@Connect.org