We are so happy to officially announce the hiring of Tony Cipollone as the new Director of Sports Sales & Development here at the JACVB! In this newly created role, Tony will lead efforts to attract sports tournaments and events to Northern Rock County, further enhancing Janesville’s reputation as a premier destination for sports tourism.
Tony brings a wealth of experience in athletic administration and event management to his new position. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, where he successfully revived a dormant collegiate athletic program and oversaw operations, recruitment, and compliance. The Cuyahoga Community College recently won the All Sports Award for the Ohio Community College Athletic Association for the first time in school history, with successful seasons in baseball, softball, and both men’s and women’s basketball.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to our team,” said Christine Rebout, Executive Director of the JACVB. “His proven track record of building successful sports programs and his extensive experience in event and athletics management make him the ideal candidate to lead our sports sales efforts. We are confident that Tony will play a key role in driving economic growth through sports tourism in our community.”
In his new role, Tony will be responsible for creating and executing a sales strategy for Janesville’s sports tourism market, especially important with the coming addition of the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center, as well as maintaining relationships with local sports venues and hotels, and developing professional relationships with event organizers. He will also represent the JACVB at sports conventions and other industry events to continue promoting Janesville as a premier destination. Tony has completed Destinations International’s Professional Destination Management (PDM) certification, and is a member of Sports ETA and Destinations International.
“I am both honored and humbled to join the esteemed JACVB in this newly created role. My extensive involvement in athletics—as an athlete, coach, administrator, and parent—has equipped me with a profound understanding of the dynamics essential to the success of events and sports organizations,” said Tony. “This multifaceted experience positions me well to contribute meaningfully to the JACVB’s mission.”
The JACVB has consistently driven significant economic impact to the community through sporting events, tournaments, and competitions, supporting and helping to bring major events to Janesville including World Water Ski Show Tournaments, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Pro-Am, SAFECON aviation competitions, Tour of America’s Dairyland cycling criterium races, and large youth sports tournaments such as the Ohio Valley Regional Youth Baseball Tournament and Rock Soccer Clash. Tony’s expertise and dedication will build on this success, further establishing Janesville as a premier destination for top-tier sports events.
The Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (JACVB) is a private, non-profit Destination Marketing Organization, whose mission is to lead, support and promote tourism in the area by promoting Janesville as a prime destination for meetings and conventions, motorcoach, sporting events, and leisure travelers, thereby creating a positive economic impact on the community and enhancing the quality of life. The JACVB is funded by local hotel room tax and receives approximately 60% of the room tax collected by the City of Janesville with the remainder going into the city’s general fund.
