The Greenville Drive made public the first of several key roles which will be filled as the organization aligns to build on its 8-year run as the Upstate’s premier family entertainment venue. Nate Lipscomb, who has been with the team since it came to Greenville, has accepted the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer and will lead the organization’s expanded initiatives to develop partnerships, strengthen customer service, and build the Drive brand across the region.
Craig Brown, President and Co-Owner of the Drive commented on Lipscomb’s appointment, saying, “The Greenville Drive is an organization built on strategic partnerships and deep relationships which are essential to our ability to impact the market in the positive ways we have. Nate’s leadership and skill in establishing meaningful relationships – built on common interests, mutual respect and trust – have been invaluable as the Drive has grown and become the broad Community partner we set out to be. I am delighted he will be leading this charge for the organization going forward.”
Lipscomb joined the Drive in early 2005 to help spearhead the team’s transition from Columbia to Greenville and has played an instrumental role in key parts of the business, including sponsorships sales, customer development, game day promotions and programming, public relations and more. He has been an ardent champion of the Drive Brand across the Upstate, and an active booster of the Region in the process. He has served on the boards of the Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America, Ten at the Top, A Child’s Haven and the Ronald McDonald House, and was twice recognized as the South Atlantic League’s Community Relations Executive of the Year. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Lipscomb spent his early career in sales and management with IBM, followed by 20 years as founder and president of a leading business-to-business direct marketing company in Connecticut.
Lipscomb commented on the appointment, noting, “The Drive is privileged to offer a wonderful family entertainment experience to a great customer – the Upstate of South Carolina. Our fans are upbeat and eager to have a good time, our sponsors share a common commitment to the prosperity of the entire Region, and the Community at large is all about improving the quality of life for others. It’s very rewarding to be engaged in the Drive’s mission to deliver a world class product and a memory making experience to our amazing fans and customers, and to provide a unique community platform at Fluor Field to support our partners and their strategic initiatives. I am excited to lead the organization’s ongoing efforts to develop and grow these important relationships.”
Brown added, “I have known Nate and his outstanding family for almost 30 years. We have worked closely together over the past 10 as we both shared the vision of the Greenville Drive becoming part of the fabric of the Greenville and Upstate Communities. I consider Nate a friend and a true partner in all that we do at the Drive and without his many contributions over these past years we would not have achieved the same level of success as an organization or involvement and impact on the Community that we currently enjoy. Nate is an individual who is totally committed to excellence and has the highest degree of personal standards, integrity and character. He also has a remarkable gift for building relationships and mentoring others. I’m very pleased that Nate has agreed to accept this new and critical role and I look forward to continuing to partner with him as we work hard to make a difference in our Community.”
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