Sixers Announce Staff Promotions

Philadelphia, Pa. – June 24, 2003 – Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today the following promotions among front office personnel: Lara Price to senior vice president of business operations; Andy Speiser to senior vice president of finance; Karen Frascona to vice president of communications; Larry Meli to senior director of ticket operations; and Shawn Oleksiak to senior director of broadcasting.

Price enters her eighth season as a member of the 76ers front office. She is promoted after serving two seasons as senior vice president, and will coordinate the day-to-day activities of the 76ers business operation closely with King. She joined the team in 1996 as director of marketing after stints with both the National Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association.

Speiser, also the 76ers’ chief financial officer and King’s special advisor on the salary cap, enters his 12th season with the club. He manages all financial aspects for the team, including supervising the team’s financial reporting, budgeting, and the treasury function as well as serving as financial liaison to the NBA and the 76ers’ managing partner, Comcast-Spectacor. He will also be integral in managing the day-to-day operation with King and Price.

Frascona is a five-year member of the team’s marketing and communications staff, having served the past two as senior director of communications. She will continue to direct the franchise’s overall image campaign, coordinating public relations and community initiatives as well as the team’s web site.

Meli, formerly director of ticket operations, earns a promotion after five years of service with the 76ers and seven overall with Comcast-Spectacor. He will continue to manage and direct all operational aspects of the 76ers’ season ticket sales. Additionally, he has been an integral part of the team’s customer service efforts and will continue to evaluate, develop, and implement these policies.

Oleksiak returns for his 10th season directing the 76ers’ game broadcasts. He has served as the club’s director of broadcasting since 1999, overseeing all aspects of the team’s television and radio broadcasts. The five-time Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award winner is a member of the NBA broadcast advisory committee and also oversees production of the Sixers JAM show, a live 30-minute magazine show.