SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The South Bend Regional Sports Commission recently welcomed Betsy Kwiatkowski as executive director and named eight individuals to the Sports Commission Board.

Kwiatkowski joined the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau staff as director of sports event sales and also assumed the role of executive director of the South Bend Regional Sports Commission. In these roles, she manages and leads sales and marketing efforts for sporting events brought to this area. Prior to accepting this position, Kwiatkowski worked in sales for Midway Dental Supply out of Lakeville, Ind.

She has a strong background and passion for sports, having been a former Division I college basketball player and volunteer coach for South Bend Saint Joseph’s High School basketball team.

Also joining the Sports Commission are eight individuals who have been named to its board.

These individuals include: Committee Chair John Anthony, president of Anthony Travel; John Phair, president and CEO of Holladay Properties; Paul Meyer, executive director of the South Bend Clinic; Duke Jones, president of 1st Source Bank; Jill Bodensteiner, associate athletics director for Compliance and Legal Affairs at the University of Notre Dame; Rick Reid, general manager of Blackthorn Golf Club; Fran McDonald, owner of McDonald Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation and Lynn Kachmarik, executive director of the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The South Bend Regional Sports Commission exists to attract and retain international, national, regional, state and local sports events to St. Joseph County and surrounding communities. Through the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sports Commission submits bids for sporting events and works with event coordinators to ensure a successful event. The work of the Sports Commission helps to stimulate the local economy, enhance the area’s image and provide outstanding entertainment and participatory opportunities while contributing to the community’s quality of life.