~Appoints first Chief Security Officer, in
addition to retaining
expert security consultants
and forming new safety committees~
DALLAS, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Varsity Brands, the market
leader in sport and spirit, today announced the appointment of
veteran law enforcement official and security expert
Lisa Olivieri as its first Chief Security Officer (CSO). Lisa
will proactively manage Varsity Brands' integrated security and
safety efforts across the company, its events, competitions,
offices, and facilities. She will report to Varsity Brands'
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Burton Brillhart.
Lisa joins Varsity Brands from the online home goods and
furniture retailer Wayfair, where she served as Global Head of
Safety and Security since 2021. During her tenure at Wayfair, Lisa
spearheaded the development and execution of a robust safety and
security program, including operational policy development, crisis
management, global security operations, physical security, and
leading key investigations. She also established and led a highly
skilled global team of over 55 professionals, providing risk
advisory services to business leaders and implementing
cost-effective risk mitigation strategies within a collaborative
framework. Prior to her role at Wayfair, Lisa served as a special
agent for the United States Secret Service, where she oversaw
investigations and protective operations. She joined the Secret
Service in 1999 and held several positions during her tenure,
including leading the Secret Service's Tampa Field Office as the
Special Agent in Charge.
"We are proud to bring Lisa on as Varsity Brands' first Chief
Security Officer," said Varsity Brands CEO Adam Blumenfeld. "There is nothing more
important to us than the safety and security of our employees,
athletes, participants and customers, and Lisa will bring her
career in security and law enforcement to our mission-critical
commitment to safety."
Lisa's leadership and experience in complex physical security
operations includes her appointment by the Secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the DHS Federal
Coordinator for NFL Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida, in 2021. In this capacity, she
and her federal, state, local and private partners worked closely
together to devise and execute a comprehensive security plan,
leveraging risk analysis, strategic event scheduling, and available
resources to ensure a safe and secure environment.
"I am thrilled to be joining the team at Varsity Brands," said
Lisa Olivieri. "Varsity is a
recognized leader in safety that has demonstrated a continued
commitment to evolve as the company grows. I am excited to help
Varsity Brands continue to grow and enhance its leadership."
Safety and Security Advancements
In addition to the appointment of a CSO, Varsity Brands also
announced a series of safety and security advancements, which aim
to enhance these measures within its spirit division, Varsity
Spirit. This includes the creation of key safety and security roles
and the formation of committees dedicated to athlete safety.
These significant advancements reaffirm Varsity Brands' and
Varsity Spirit's longstanding commitment to the highest standards
of participant safety and represent a continuation of Varsity
Spirit's ongoing journey as the industry pacesetter for safety and
excellence.
Over the past year, Varsity Brands has hired a number of pivotal
figures whose responsibility is to further enhance the company's
safety and security practices.
- Kristen Meeks joined as
Associate General Counsel of Compliance. Her background
includes key roles in compliance at Target Corporation, along with
significant experience in compliance and enterprise risk management
at major public universities. Kristen is also a former child abuse
and neglect prosecutor and oversaw a minors protection program when
she worked in higher education.
- In a move to further enhance event security, Varsity Brands
engaged the expertise of several industry-leading external security
consultants, including Mark
Sullivan, former Director of the United States Secret
Service (USSS), and Joe Ford,
former Chief Security Officer at Bank of the West and 30-year
veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mark, Joe, and
their teams continue to assist with physical security and safety at
Varsity Brands and Varsity Spirit events.
Further to this effort, the company also established two new
committees to lead the way in advancing safety initiatives across
the organization. This strategic move includes the formation of a
Varsity Brands board-level safety committee alongside a Varsity
Spirit Participant Protection Committee for athlete safety that
reports to the board committee.
"These initiatives are crucial to our mission of ensuring the
safety and well-being of everyone involved with Varsity Brands,"
says Burton Brillhart. "By elevating
our safety and security practices, we are not only protecting our
people and participants but also setting a new benchmark for
excellence in our industry."
Varsity Spirit's foundational focus on athlete safety has been a
cornerstone of its operations since the company's inception. In
recent years, the company introduced several initiatives to
reinforce best-in-class practices in the sport, such as:
- Requiring USA Cheer membership
for school coaches participating in camps and ensuring adherence to
its member code of conduct.
- Complying with USASF requirements for athletes and coaches
participating in All Star competitions.
- Conducting annual background checks for staff and volunteers,
and mandating staff to complete a training course in recognizing
and reporting child maltreatment.
- Requiring comprehensive athlete safety education for all
employees, which includes addressing issues from cyberbullying to
hazing.
About Varsity Brands
Varsity Brands is the premier
provider of customizable team sports, cheer, dance, band, and
yearbook services, experiences, and products. The company's mission
is to elevate the student experience, positively impacting the
lives of over 55 million young people nationwide. Its divisions—BSN
SPORTS and Varsity Spirit—champion youth participation and
celebrate their achievements, fostering passion, enthusiasm, and
community engagement. The company serves elementary, middle, and
high schools, colleges, universities, gyms, club select teams, and
professional sports. Explore how Varsity Brands is shaping the
future of youth engagement and making a difference in the lives of
young people across the country at varsitybrands.com.
About Varsity Spirit
Memphis-based Varsity Spirit, the driving
force behind cheerleading's dynamic transformation into the
high-energy, athletic activity it is today, is the leading global
source for all things spirit, including cheerleading, dance team
and performing arts. A division of Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit
is a leader in uniform innovation, as well as educational camps,
clinics and competitions, impacting more than a million athletes
each year. Focused on safety, entertainment and traditional school
leadership, Varsity Spirit's employees have been dedicated to
celebrating spirit through its brands since 1974. For more
information about Varsity Spirit or Varsity Brands, please visit
varsity.com or varsitybrands.com.
CONTACT:
Susan Crumpton
sscrumpton@varsitybrands.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varsity-brands-appoints-chief-security-officer-and-invests-in-additional-safety--security-efforts-initiatives-302183355.html
SOURCE Varsity Brands, LLC