Dan Sullivan graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 1987 thinking he would someday use his marketing degree in Chicago or New York. However he found over time that he could do exactly what he wanted to do – build a career in sports marketing – and raise a family in central Ohio.
Dan began his long association with sports – golf, specifically – after a summer job at the Muirfield Village Golf Club and an internship for the 1987 Ryder Cup and Memorial Tournament. By 1990, he was director of marketing for the Memorial Tournament and was working other tournaments, such as the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, as part of Golden Bear International, Jack Nicklaus’ organization.
For the past 11 years, Dan has been managing partner of HNS Sports Group, which was founded to focus on sponsorship consultation, event management, hospitality management, sales representation and tournament operations within the golf market.
“HNS is honored to regularly work with many fine companies, golf events, dedicated volunteers and spectators, and meaningful charities. Every one of our events is focused on giving back to charity, which is at the heart of professional golf tournaments and an aspect we are very proud of,” Dan says.
Locally, Dan is best known as the executive director of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance in Dublin, one of three golf events HNS managed in central Ohio during 2013. The others were the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on the Ohio State Scarlet course and The Presidents Cup, held at the Muirfield Village Golf Club this past October.
“The best part of my job is building relationships with people and getting the satisfaction that we’ve put on an event that people enjoy. The hardest part is keeping up with the pace as an event nears,” Dan says. “We grow from seven year-round employees working on the Memorial Tournament to more than 3,000, including volunteers, at tournament time. You have to have a great team in place to make it all work. And that includes the many dedicated, long-time volunteers we are fortunate to have donating their time to the Memorial, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other central Ohio charities.”
Although Dan must travel frequently to meet with sponsors, generate new business and manage such events as the Greenbrier Classic and the Chiquita Classic, he serves on several area boards, including the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, St. Charles High School and the Ohio Tourism Advisory Board.
When asked about spare time activities, he quickly lists his family and, of course, golf. Dan is a 5-handicap golfer. He and his wife, Aly, are proud parents of four children: Liam, 16; Torie, 15; Ronan, 13 and Brodie, 10. They live in what many Marble Cliff residents know as the “yellow house” on Arlington Avenue.
“Aly and I lived in Upper Arlington where I was raised, and we frequently jogged through Marble Cliff. One day in 2004, Aly called to say that the ‘yellow house’ we had often admired was for sale. We were attracted to the beauty and quaintness of Marble Cliff and made an offer. We have enjoyed our home and the area ever since,” Dan says. “It’s a great community with nice people, close to downtown and the airport and only 20 minutes to Muirfield. Marble Cliff is just a great place to live and raise a family.”
