COLORADO RAPIDS HIRE FRONT OFFICE STAFF

Levine, a 1986 University of California at Berkeley law graduate, practiced trial law in California for five years before joining the 1994 World Cup U.S. Organizing Committee as its' legal counsel in 1991. Levine oversaw all aspects of World Cup stadium negotiations and selection as well as general business affairs. Subsequently, Levine was named General Manager and General Counsel for World Cup '94 Marketing, where he managed all corporate sponsors, licensing and entertainment products such as film, music and video for the 1994 World Cup. Levine will manage all aspects of the Rapids' organization, including team personnel, staffing, sponsorship, marketing, television/radio broadcast rights and ticket sales.

Linke, the former Director of Communications for MLS, will serve as the Vice President of Operations and Communications for the Rapids. Prior to his work for MLS, Linke served as the senior press officer for the 1994 U.S. World Cup Team and 1992 U.S. Olympic Team in Barcelona. Linke had been a U.S. Soccer Federation employee from 1989-1994, spending two years with U.S. Soccer at the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs. Linke will oversee day-to-day operations of the team in conjunction with Levine and will spearhead the team's communications department.

Heading the Rapids ticketing department will be Scott Zebedis as the Vice President of Ticket Operations. Zebedis spent eight years with the Denver Nuggets, serving in a multitude of areas, including ticketing and corporate sales. A Denver resident since 1983, he spent one year working with the San Diego Padres before returning to Denver. He will develop and implement season, group, corporate and individual ticket plans, including all marketing and sales aspects for the Rapids. Zebedis plans to add eight more personnel to his ticket sales staff before January 7.

Jeff Benton will serve as the Director of Corporate Marketing for the Rapids. Before joining the Rapids, Benton was the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Atlanta Sporting Club and most recently served as the Director of Marketing for the Atlanta Ruckus of the American Professional Soccer League (A-League). A Denver native, Benton grew up playing soccer for the Littleton Bombers Soccer Club and went to high school in Colorado Springs.

Serving as a link between the Rapids and the local media, Allison Gollust has been hired as the Director of Promotions and Media Relations. A journalism and broadcast graduate from the the University of Colorado, Gollust joins the Rapids from Jones Intercable of Colorado, where she managed TV production, sponsorship and marketing, promotions and community relations.

Melissa Pilgrim, a four-year letterwinner in Division I soccer at the University of California-Irvine, will serve as the Administrative Assistant to the General Manager for the Rapids. Pilgrim was the office manager for the U.S. World Cup Training Center in Mission Viejo, Calif. Pilgrim served as the community liaison while dealing with the 1994 U.S. World Cup Team from January 1993 through the summer of 1994.

An anouncement concerning the Rapids' head coach will take place Tuesday, December 12, as the team continues to progress toward its season opening home game April 21, 1996, against the Dallas Burn at Mile High Stadium.

General Manager:					Richard A. Levine
Vice President, Operations and Communications:		Dean Linke
Vice President, Ticketing:				Scott Zebedis
Director, Corporate Marketing:				Jeff Benton
Director, Promotions and Media Relations:		Allison Gollust
Administrative Assistant:				Melissa Pilgrim
Marketing Services Assistant:				Debbie Capaldi
Ticket Representative:					Rich Harriett
Intern:							Andy Kovar