[
THE SCOOP] we are US Lacrosse >> THE 400K CLUB First Class
Gold Stick Standards latest boost for US Lacrosse events under Beth Porreca
By Paul Krome
A transcontinental fl ight 40,000 feet above the Pacifi c Ocean can allow plenty of time for contemplation. Or an ah-ha moment.
Beth Porreca got the latter in 2008 on the way home from China, a moment that soothingly provided reinforcement: she was where she should be. “I was beat tired, but I realized all the hard work, all the internships, all the politics — it was all worth it,” said Porreca, then manager of event logistics for The U.S. Olympic Committee Training Centers and a member
of the delegation to the Olympics in Beijing. “I had achieved a goal.” Helping Team USA win a world-best 110 medals marked the highlight of Porreca’s four years with the USOC, during which she handled scheduling and operations of dozens of events. She joined US Lacrosse as director of special events in 2010. Together with a full-time staff of four — Ariana Andis- Klein, Lauren Marron, Shannon Minter and Kim Rogers — Porreca plans and executes anywhere from a dozen to 15 US Lacrosse events each year, invaluable opportunities for the sport’s national governing body to touch its membership and the lacrosse community.
Porreca and her team quickly have raised the bar of US Lacrosse events, investing in the experience of the participants and diversifying locations to represent the sport’s national growth. Signing speakers like Jackie Joyner- Kersee, Herm Edwards and Dick Vermeil, the US Lacrosse National Convention, presented by Champion, drew nearly 6,500 attendees in 2011 and 7,000 in 2012 and 2013. The Stars and Stripes Weekend, a national teams fall ball event, moved to California last fall, as did the US Lacrosse West Championships, powered by Lacrosse Unlimited, scheduled for June 28-30 in San Jose.
Her peers have taken notice. Porreca was recognized as an industry leader in Connect magazine's “40 Under 40” feature in the May/June issue. “The US Lacrosse events staff is one of the most professional I’ve ever worked with,” said Ben Huffman, sports director for the Warren County, Ohio, Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2006. “They care a lot about the participants’ experience. I was impressed not only
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Connect magazine honored USL events director Beth Porreca.
>> USL JULY CALENDAR 11 Team USA opens defense of its 2009
FIL World Cup gold medal with a pool- play game vs. England at 8 p.m. ET. It’s not too late to fuel the journey with a donation to the team at uslacrosse. org/donate.
26 LACROSSE MAGAZINE July 2013>>
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Semifi nals at the World Cup in Oshawa, Canada. For the U.S. schedule, visit
uslacrosse.org/uswomen.
The World Cup concludes at 3 p.m. ET with the gold medal game. Live coverage at
LaxMagazine.com.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse heads to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena
Vista, Fla., for its fourth annual Champion All-American Showcase. The event features US Lacrosse All-Americans from across the country and is comprised of two three-day showcases for girls’ and boys’ high school all-stars. Four teams compete in pool play and championship or consolation games.
ESPN3.com will stream the girls’ fi nal live at 10 a.m. ET July 23. Boys' fi nal will air live on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET July 26. #2013AAS
©SCOTT MCCALL
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