ALMS staff additions announced

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES ANNOUNCES KEY STAFF ADDITIONS

Braselton, Ga. - The growth of the American Le Mans Series is not only reflected in its TV ratings, attendance and sponsorships. Its staff is growing as well. The ALMS recently named Shelly Cates, Ryan Smith and Dan Boyd to three new staff positions.

Cates has joined the ALMS as Senior Manager of Promotions in January. Her primary responsibilities include developing and implementing race markets as well as national promotional activities on behalf of the series, its events and promoters. She also handles the development, implementation and management of ALMS fan-related activities, as well as pre- and post-race ceremonies and logistics. The Ohio native most recently spent several years as Director of Promoter Operations of CART and management roles with Forsythe Racing and Tasman Motorsports Group. She earned a B.S. in Business Management from California State University - Long Beach. She also has a degree in Fashion Merchandising.

Smith recently joined the ALMS as Web Editor/Media Relations Manager. He handles writing and editing for www.americanlemans.com and www.imsaracing.net. He also works with other ALMS media and communications staff members in assisting and contacting national, regional and local media outlets. Prior to joining the series, he worked for eight years with The Times in Gainesville, Ga., where he was a reporter and editor in both the news and sports departments. Smith is a 2001 graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he specialized in newspapers.

Boyd is the official photographer of the ALMS. A veteran photojournalist with extensive open-wheel and sports car racing experience, he conducts photo meetings and will implement photo servicing programs on behalf of the series to benefit international and domestic media, as well as ALMS sponsors and clients. The former official photographer for CART holds a master's degree from Ball State in Fine Arts and Photography.

IMSA also recently added a name to its ranks. Kirt Wightman was named Series Manager of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin.

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