Indiana Sports Corporation President Joins Hulman Motorsports

INDIANAPOLIS  - Allison Melangton will leave Indiana Sports Corporation to join Hulman Motorsports as senior vice president of events next month.

Melangton, currently president of the Indiana Sports Corporation , will be responsible for overall production of major events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including those during the Month of May, the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400, and Verizon IndyCar Series special events, such as the pre-season kickoff and post-season celebration parties.

"The Indiana Sports Corporation has been pivotal to the growth of Indianapolis, as well as the entire state, for decades and Allison's contributions to that effort have been enormous," said Hulman & Co. Chief Executive Officer Mark Miles. "Staging major events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is much more complex than may be apparent. Allison is the best event organizer in the country. We will be very fortunate to have her working with our leadership team."

Melangton said ISC has been a "huge part" of her life for the past 20 years, but she decided it was time to make a professional change.

"My time at the Sports Corp and with the Super Bowl Host Committee has allowed me to work alongside the most talented people in our industry on many of the world's largest sporting events. I'll leave Indiana Sports Corp with friendships that will last a lifetime and memories I'll always cherish," Melangton said in a statement. "I love all that Indiana Sports Corp does in the community and globally to use sports as a vehicle to enhance quality of life and drive economic impact."

As the president of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, Melangton led what is widely regarded as the most successfully organized Super Bowl in the NFL's history and one that changed the way the NFL approaches fan involvement. It drew more than 1 million people to downtown Indianapolis, attracted more than 8,000 volunteers, and led to a $154 million investment in the city's Near Eastside through the Legacy Project.

"Allison is the rare individual who combines keen creative vision and peerless operational expertise," said Frank Supovitz, president of Fast Traffic Events & Entertainment, who worked closely with Melangton as the NFL's lead executive for Super Bowl XLVI. "Her collaborative leadership style will rally the organization to achieve greater success in providing a world-class fan experience in both substance and service."

Before the announcement of Melangton's departure, the ISC board of directors elected Ryan Vaughn, currently chief of staff for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, as the organization’s sixth president since its founding in 1979.

“I am humbled to be named president of this incredible organization,” said Vaughn. “The impact of Indiana Sports Corp is well-chronicled and I look forward to working with our great staff, as well as board of directors, partners, volunteers, and so many others to continue that momentum. Both Mayor Ballard and Allison are friends and have played a significant role in my career, and I look forward to working with them moving forward.”