BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Track => Topic started by: kayoung08 on May 24, 2005, 02:21:09 PM
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hear from a little birdie about a big change at columbia. majorly redid their organization. dell warren is no longer the president of track, brian purcell changed jobs, dave smart was let go.
anyone know anything to confirm or deny?
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hey (r)andy, id like to know, how do i taste?
you you know (r)andy i tried to be the bigger man, oh wait, from what she tells me i am the bigger man.
www.gotti13.com
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=gottiandyvid
may not be totally safe for work. audio only.
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From columbia's website:
Columbia Industries Announces New Structure
Friday, May 20, 2005
San Antonio, Tex. - Columbia Industries is proud to announce its new organizational chart. Heading the corporation will be Ronald Herrmann, Chairman of the Board and CEO. David Herrmann, formerly VP General Counsel, will serve as Vice Chair of the company. "I am excited to be taking a more active role in the day to day operations of Columbia Industries. I am confident that the fine team we have assembled will continue to position Columbia as an industry leader," reports Herrmann. Reporting to D. Herrmann will be EVP of Finance and Operations, Mike Sellers, EVP Sales and Marketing, Bill Supper, and EVP of Technology and Education, Del Warren.
Effective May 15, Columbia Industries has reorganized its sales and marketing team. Sales and marketing duties of the Columbia 300 and Track International brands have been combined to allow the team to increase efficiencies and to create the largest sales force in the consumer products industry.
Bill Supper, EVP of Sales and Marketing, will oversee all day-to-day functions of the Columbia 300, Track International, and AMF300 brands. Reporting to Supper will be Kyle Burns, VP International Sales, Brian Pursel, VP of Marketing, and Paul Figliomeni, Director of Sales for AMF300.
A sales team of twelve will be managed by Supper. This sales staff will be responsible for the account management of domestic distributors and pro shops for the Columbia300 and Track International brands. "By combining the sales forces, we will have more frequent contact with the pro shop, offering better service and forging a stronger relationship with our pro shop partners," states Supper. New territories and duties for the combined brands will take effect June 20, 2005.
Kyle Burns, VP International Sales, will be handling all international sales for Columbia 300, Track International and AMF 300. Burns will also manage a two man international sales staff. Peter Knopp, Germany will handle all European distributor and pro shop accounts. Plans are to add an Asian Sales Manager within the next two months. "The dynamics of the international market are in a constant flux. Having a professional sales manager living in the territory will enable us to react to changes faster," says Burns. Kyle will also manage the Columbia Industries Customer Service Team, recently voted #1 in service by the BBIA. Captained by Dawn Warren, the Customer Service team is comprised of veterans Cyndi Guido, Jennifer Flores, and newcomer Ginger Bess. Susan Fewell has moved to the accounting department and will handle sales system coordination and other accounting functions in her Accounting Specialist position.
Brian Pursel, named VP of Marketing, will oversee the marketing team and provide brand management functions for the Columbia 300, Track International, and AMF300 brands. Marketing team members include Chad Murphy, Director of Marketing and Promotions, Alex Rios, Product Manager of Bags and Gloves and Accessories, Kelly Griffin, Marketing Coordinator, Dale Garner, Pro Shop Program Manager, Jessica Mendoza, Marketing Assistant for Columbia 300, Track International, and AMF300, and Cole Barksdale, Internet Coordinator. Says Pursel, "The new marketing team structure will allow us to narrow our focus and operate more efficiently with our advertising firm, R & D, and operations to better manage the product management process from inception through maturity."
Paul Figliomeni will oversee the management of the AMF300 branded products and sales force. Figliomeni and his team will focus on AMF BCO centers and pro shops within AMF centers. "My team's energies will be to leverage the relationship between AMF corporate and AMF300 consumer products, building their customer base through education and Hav-a-Ball programs," adds Paul.
Del Warren has been named EVP of Technology and Education. Warren's duties will be to develop and manage grass roots programs to attract and retain new bowlers, provide educational seminars on coaching and pro shop ball drilling technologies, and to assist the Columbia Industries R & D department in new ball technology. Warren will also manage a Technical Coordinator, a newly created position dedicated to conducting consumer clinics, pro shop seminars, and providing technical assistance to the PBA pro staffs for Columbia 300, Track International, and AMF300 during the PBA National Tour season. "Coaching and teaching is my passion. This position will allow me to help grow the sport, creating long term customers for bowling centers and pro shops," states Warren.
Columbia Industries also announces the resignation of Dave Smart as VP of Sales to pursue other interests. Smart, with Columbia 300 for 14 years, had held positions of tour rep, Western US Sales Manager, Director of Sales before being named VP of Sales.
Columbia Industries, Inc. is the parent company of the Columbia 300, Track, and Pro Grip brands of consumer products and the official licensee AMF300, and is manufactured and located in San Antonio, Texas.
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hey (r)andy, id like to know, how do i taste?
you you know (r)andy i tried to be the bigger man, oh wait, from what she tells me i am the bigger man.
www.gotti13.com
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=gottiandyvid
may not be totally safe for work. audio only.
Edited on 5/24/2005 10:24 PM
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their maybe some truth this. something did happen while i was with the rep today.
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www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com
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Can anyone translate the above "Corporate-ese" into English?
Basically,
Who is now guiding Track's (and Columbia's and AMF300's) ball development, if it is no longer Del Warren?
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Just like hand grenades and horse shoes, in bowling you only have to get close ...
CharlesT
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Checkout
www.columbia300.com
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio
Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
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Big mistake if Del Warren is being taken out of his curent position with Track. Track now has the best line-up of balls that perform as good if not better than any of the competition. Soooo, what is going to happen now? Is their terrific ball development program now going to go "Ka-Putt"? Track has been gaining a big chunk of the market under the direction of Del Warren. I'm concerned as to whether Track will head back down hill back to where they were before Del Warren "jump-started" this company. I see the changes by Columbia as a big mistake.
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Experiencing the power of TRACK balls
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The way I understood everything from what I read is that he is basically getting a promotion-like type of deal, taking on more responsibilites and the way I understand it, if Del comes to your town for a seminar, he has to promote Columbia, Track, and AMF300 all in one bundle. IT DID NOT SAY HE WAS RESIGNING AS TRACK PRESIDENT. I wouldn't fret until they state more about this, but I have a good feeling he isn't going to leave this new baby he created with Track behind. That is my take on what I read.
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One Thing to Know About Humans:
Everybody's Got A Price!
Ball Companies I Dislike:
Hammer Sux!
What Are You Waiting For? Get on the FASTTrack to success!!
Track Amateur Staff Wanna-Be!
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anyone out there in the corporate world? typical shake-up to get things going for the company and the shareholders (forgive me as I don't know for sure that Columbia ia a public corporation). A lot of new titles with different functional and geographic responsibilities.
To me, this puts Del in charge of all product development. It's no secret that Columbia 300 has lost significant market share (despite Track's success) hence, the need for a change.
Brian's on this site - perhaps we can get his take (well, the corporate version of his take, anyway)
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Just bowl!
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I took it as Del is adding that responsibility to his current position.
Clint
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF
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if you take it as the words they are, Del has been pu tin charge of technology and education, developing new equpimewnt for all 3 companies. Bill Supper is going to oversee daytoday functions of all 3. Purcel is now in charge of marketing for all 3. it looks like there is no longer a president of track. There is now one HUGE sales and marketing team versus s&m for each company.
i heard it all had to do with sales. ebonite,hammer,brunswick and storm outsold columbia inc. and it especially hurt when storm passed them.
bigger question: are the divas staying put?
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hey (r)andy, id like to know, how do i taste?
you you know (r)andy i tried to be the bigger man, oh wait, from what she tells me i am the bigger man.
www.gotti13.com
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=gottiandyvid
may not be totally safe for work. audio only.
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the DIVAS are mentioned in the press release so it looks like they are doing the same function for the entire corp.
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Just bowl!
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This was from one of my sources and he knows Del personally.
Columbia/Track/AMF have all completely reorganized and I think for the better. Del is no longer president of Track because all brands are now one company. They have changed Del's position to what he does best - product development and education. He will be designing balls for all 3 brands and doing seminars. Columbia will always be the conservative brand and Track will be on the cutting edge of new designs. They will take more chances with the Track brand than with Columbia and test new products. But of course there will be alot similarities.
So by this, Del is still going to be bringing the Track equipment to the table as well as the other two. It's just Track is going to be technologically best of the three. Hope this helps the ones that are confused.
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One Thing to Know About Humans:
Everybody's Got A Price!
Ball Companies I Dislike:
Hammer Sux!
What Are You Waiting For? Get on the FASTTrack to success!!
Track Amateur Staff Wanna-Be!
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quote:
This was from one of my sources and he knows Del personally.
Columbia/Track/AMF have all completely reorganized and I think for the better. Del is no longer president of Track because all brands are now one company. They have changed Del's position to what he does best - product development and education. He will be designing balls for all 3 brands and doing seminars. Columbia will always be the conservative brand and Track will be on the cutting edge of new designs. They will take more chances with the Track brand than with Columbia and test new products. But of course there will be alot similarities.
So by this, Del is still going to be bringing the Track equipment to the table as well as the other two. It's just Track is going to be technologically best of the three. Hope this helps the ones that are confused.
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So what will happen to AMF. Since they've had a design team independent of Columbia and Track, they've been marketing some very interesting and DIFFERENT balls. I'd hate to see the new team homogenize all 3 product lines. That will happen unless something can be done to separate them. I see this as a GM team developing Chevy, Pontaic, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac at the same time. They all made the same product and they became BORING! I hope that does NOT happen to the Columbia family.
Columbia still had good to great products. I think marketing failed them.
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Just like hand grenades and horse shoes, in bowling you only have to get close ...
CharlesT
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It looks more like a stream-lining shake-up. Try to cut down on company duplication of funds through less man-power. I would believe this will lead to a little less in releases (amounts) as the amount of technology will be spread through a few companies instead of just one. Also i can't see how a single sales guy will be able to promote 3 seperate companies products effectively. I would be believe in an effort to become more profitable I would figure one of the companies might get absorbed somehow. I hope it works out well for them as i believe that they have lost some market share in the last 3-5 yrs as a collective group.
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charlest,
Agree.
I hope all 3 brands will maintain their indivdual characteristics.
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The Angry Bowler


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quote:
I'd hate to see the new team homogenize all 3 product lines. That will happen unless something can be done to separate them. I see this as a GM team developing Chevy, Pontaic, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac at the same time. They all made the same product and they became BORING!
And then there were 3..................I'd like to think that from a marketing standpoint, they know enough to keep the 3 lines distinct in order to keep them viable. Pontiac gone since same as Chevy and Olds gone since same as Buick. Track is the Cadillac so it should always be viable.
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Just bowl!
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I have an answer straight from the Head Honcho himself (Del). He will still be designing Track equipment, and has already approved the next ball and some products after that as well. Also, he will be assisting Brian and Chad on the Columbia line as well.
Hope this puts everything to rest, if some of the previous posts had not.
Clint
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF
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The reasons for this shake up are various and most already explained but look at how the last year has gone. AMF was left without a named successor and no R & D team. the much spoken about but never released expoy ball seemed to be long forgotten about after Dale Nemaila left the company in the early part Of the season.
Columbia did cut back on it's releases in comparison to previous years, but slow sales possibley on some products hurt the company on a whole. The complete bag line from columbia did however sell out enormously in my region. But bag sales can't support a company. I don't know how many of your proshops were selling bullys but they had the bully bucks promotion running and as well, i think by december the original bully for us was reduced In price, And then again just after i think febuary the price was reduced again.
Pardon me, Paul Fig is in charge there along with pat nolan still doing lane maintaince i believe ?
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Staff Writer 7-10 Split Magazine,EGO Communications
Montreal, Quebec.
Vote No for USBC logos, and the effective ban of the X-hole. Vote in Orlando, June 05. Save Our X-Holes!
Edited on 5/26/2005 8:27 PM
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quote:
I have an answer straight from the Head Honcho himself (Del). He will still be designing Track equipment, and has already approved the next ball and some products after that as well. Also, he will be assisting Brian and Chad on the Columbia line as well.
AHHHHH....(Sigh of relief) I was worried there for awhile.
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Experiencing the power of TRACK balls
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Clint is correct, I also spoke with Del, Brian (by email) and they assured me that they are still involved in Track's future growth. I think Leftyhi-trak summed it up pretty well. It's more of a streamlining re-org on the corporate level as to not duplicate positions and/or job functions, what company hasn't these days? (you typically get stuck with 1.5-2 jobs now for the same pay, am I right?) The customer service area was combined and has been running pretty much this way for a year or so now.....
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Trackbowling.com
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Thanks for all the concern regarding Track's future. It is reassuring to know that the brand is strong and has such a loyal following (as we showed in the Bowling This Month Awards).
We can assure you that this move will not homogenize the brands made here in San Antonio. There is room for multiple brands to flourish, each brand has its own brand image and personality. I feel that the current lineup of Track products is as complete as it ever has been, offering our Tracksters asymmetric and symmetric options for most every lane condition (OK, I know you are still waiting for the spare ball and dry lane balls. They are coming).
What the restructure does for the whole company is to allow each of us to do more of what we excel at. We have had to wear many hats. Del will continue to be Del, and have more time to do it. I can be me, and have more time to do it. We will have separate testers for the product lines and will keep the technologies separate. Our staffs will also continue to be separate, so all you staffers out there, TRACK ONLY!
Having a combined sales force will enable us to increase the frequency of pro shop visits, building a stronger bond for all the brands. And with the sales staff now under the leadership of Bill Supper, Del and I will have more time freed up to be creative and innovative. Paul Fig will continue to provide leadership on the AMF300 product development side.
Again, thanks for your support. We will continue to grow all the brands and treat our customers as they have been treated in the past - like family.
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Brian Pursel
VP Marketing
Columbia Industries
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THANK YOU, as always, Mr. Pursel.
Hope to read more of your writings here soon; your Track posts have been too few and too far in-between. You were always available in past years when you were with the other company. Your ability to put into understandable words complex bowling ball technology is ALWAYS appreciated.
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Just like hand grenades and horse shoes, in bowling you only have to get close ...
CharlesT
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Thanks for the update Brian. I think it's a good, strong move for all 3 companys. They all will be better in the long run!!
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Rev-O
Track International Amateur Staff Member
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nagyiii/detail?.dir=5406&.dnm=9e95.jpg&.src=ph
R.I.P Dick Weber 1929-2005