IMG Associations, the association management division of IMG Worldwide, announced it has reached an agreement with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for a 10-year extension to its management partnership. IMG has served as AVCA’s professional management firm since 2006.
“IMG is proud to have a long-term, productive partnership with the AVCA leadership, and the results we’ve achieved together are impressive,” said Steve Cornwell, senior vice president of operations, IMG Associations/IMG College. “To have the opportunity to continue to work at least 10 more years with the AVCA is a privilege for IMG. We look forward to increasing our commitment to the organization through financial investment in new initiatives, including the emerging discipline of sand volleyball.”
IMG Associations is a growing division of global marketing and sports powerhouse IMG. The division supports membership organizations like the AVCA with a full range of services, including executive and operational management; headquarters offices; conference and tradeshow management; and sales, marketing, communications, data and technology services.
The AVCA exists to develop and grow the sport of volleyball and provides a professional network dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members are comprised of national and international collegiate, high school, club, youth and professional coaches.
In the first three years of the IMG-AVCA partnership, membership in the AVCA grew from 3,200 to 4,900, the association has held the three largest annual conventions in its history, and new projects in partnership with other IMG divisions have enabled AVCA to advance the sport of volleyball in many ways.
“IMG’s established reputation in the sports marketing industry and the AVCA’s vision for the future of volleyball makes a great fit,” said Beth Launiere, AVCA President and head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Utah. “Over the last three years, the AVCA and its members have experienced tremendous growth and change. Our decision to partner with an association management company, while scary at first, has proved to be both timely and productive. The partnership has revitalized our association and positioned us for relevancy in the 21st century. We look forward to continued success for the AVCA and IMG.”
“As a management partner, IMG brings a lot of unique value to the table,” said Kathy DeBoer, executive director for the AVCA. “IMG’s willingness to invest in the AVCA’s growth at this time is unprecedented and a great vote of confidence in both our association and the sport of volleyball. This partnership will provide the AVCA with the resources needed to tackle new issues and programs like the emergence of sand volleyball as a collegiate sport – while still delivering optimal service to our core constituency.”
In addition to AVCA, IMG Associations provides services to the International Coach Federation, International SPA Association, National Tour Association, Quest International Users Group, Receptive Services Association of America, World Religious Travel Association and other member organizations.
(Source: IMG Associations)
