SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that John Ritenour, Chairman of Insurance Office of America (IOA), has been unanimously elected to the Board of Trustees.  He will serve as one of 33 members, beginning a three-year term immediately.

“It is an honor to be named to the Board of Trustees and to represent the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” stated IOA Chairman John Ritenour on the announcement. “I look forward to working with the highly talented and prestigious group that guides the Hall, including many legends of the sport and the outstanding roster of civic and business leaders such as Chairman Jerry Colangelo and President and CEO, John Doleva and his accomplished staff.”

John and his wife, Valli, founded Insurance Office of America in Florida in 1988 with a vision to have an organization that gave ownership to its sales associates. Insurance Office of America now has over two hundred twenty five sales partners and over six hundred employees to whom John has given ownership. Under John’s leadership, IOA has grown from $188,000 in revenue the first year to over $120 million today.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame has had a tremendous relationship with IOA for a number of years,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “As a well-respected businessman, philanthropist and fan of the game, John Ritenour will be an excellent addition to our Board of Trustees.”

The Board of Trustees serves as the group responsible for preserving the fundamental mission and financial well being of the Basketball Hall of Fame. They serve as ambassadors for the Hall promoting its core mission, which is to celebrate the greatest moments and people in basketball. Made up of individuals that work in or have worked in the game, as well as business leaders that have supported the game, the Board also elects all Governors of the Hall.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees

Lon Babby, Basketball Operations Senior Advisor, Phoenix Suns
Kathy Behrens, Social Responsibility & Player Programs, NBA
Jim Calhoun, Men’s Basketball Coach (Retired), Hall of Fame Class 2005
Jim Carolus, President, Hillyard Industries
Frank Colaccino, CEO, The Colvest Group, Ltd.
Mary-Beth Cooper, President, Springfield College
Bob Delaney, Vice President Referee Operations, NBA

George Dickerman, Chairman (Retired), Spalding Sports Worldwide
Danielle Donehew, Executive Director, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
Arnie D. Fielkow, President & CEO, NBA Retired Players Association

Richard B. Flynn, President (Retired), Springfield College
William Gagnon, V.P. Marketing & Key Accounts, Excel Dryer, Inc.
Bob Gardner, Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Association
Michael Goldberg, Executive Director, NBA Coaches Association
Russ Granik, Deputy Commissioner (retired), NBA

Brendon C. Hutchins, Senior Vice President Wealth Mgmt., UBS
Kevin Kennedy, Chief Development Officer, City of Springfield
Harvey Mackay, Chairman & Founder, MackayMitchell Envelope Company

Yvan Mainini, President, FIBA

Reggie Minton, Deputy Executive Director Basketball Coaches, NBA
Sarah Maggi Morin, Principal, Opportunity Development Group
James P. Naismith (Retired)
David A. Pace, President, Pace Sports
Peter Picknelly, Jr., President, Peter Pan Bus Lines

Laurel Richie, President, WNBA

John Ritenour, Chairman, Insurance Office of America
John L. Ritter, Partner, First New England Capital
Charlie Rosenzweig, SVP Entertainment/Player Marketing, NBA
Scott Sadowsky, President, Williams Distributing
Ben C. Sutton, Jr., President, IMG College
Jim Tooley, Executive Director, USA Basketball
Kiki VanDeweghe, Senior VP Basketball Operations, NBA
Glenn Wong, Professor of Sports Mgmt., University of Massachusetts

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.

For more information:

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Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact:

Nicole Taylor, Position Sports

(480) 861-2442

nicole.taylor@positionsports.com