Pro Football Hall of Fame Names New Vice President

Steve Strawbridge, a 16-year veteran of the retail industry, has been named Vice President - Merchandise Sales/Licensing for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Strawbridge replaces Judy Kuntz, who recently retired after 27 years of service.

A graduate of Denison University and a fifth-generation member of the nationally prominent Strawbridge & Clothier, Strawbridge began his professional career in 1993 as buyer with the department store. Following the sale of the family-owned business in 1996, he was able to combine his love of sports with his business skills as the Director of Merchandising for the Philadelphia Eagles. Among his many successes with the Eagles, he was responsible for 11 consecutive years of increased sales, including 2004 when the Eagles, for the first time in their history, ranked first in merchandise sales among all NFL teams. While with the Eagles he served as an NFL Retail Advisory Board Senior Member.

In 2007, Strawbridge was named Vice President of Business Development for MainGate, Inc. (MG), a multifaceted merchandising and marketing company that serves numerous sports business partners. His responsibilities included all aspects of the merchandise business as a third party vendor for the Indianapolis Colts and e-commerce business for the St. Louis Rams. In addition to planning and expanding the teams’ merchandising areas, he also successfully built and launched e-commerce websites for both teams.

“I know I speak for the entire Hall of Fame staff when I say that we are excited by the prospect of adding someone with Steve’s proven track record to our executive team,” commented Steve Perry, President/Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “The sale and licensing of merchandise bearing the Pro Football Hall of Fame logo or the name and likeness of members of the Hall of Fame not only helps to provide the necessary resources required for maintaining the museum’s galleries and programs, it relates directly to our core mission of honoring individuals who have made outstanding contributions to pro football.”