Rick Patzke
Organization:2023 Winter World University Games, Lake Placid, NY
Currently Director of Competitions and Head of sport for the Local Organizing Committee for the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games. Joined the LOC in April 2019.
Spent prior 23 years with USA Curling, starting as the Communications Director in 1999; then Chief Operating Officer from 2006 - 2014, and CEO from 2014 – 2019.
Worked as a journalist and photographer in Colorado and Wisconsin before joining USA Curling.
Served as a U.S. Olympic Team Press Officer at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. Supported USA Curling staff/team at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games.
Created a new model for hosting national curling championships and Olympic Trials in arenas (vs. curling clubs), partnering with facilities, CVBs, Sports Commissions, host city organization, etc.
Co-created Hawaii Charity Curling Class in Honolulu, which raised over $900,000 in its first seven years.
Co-created a curling stone supply/deferred payment purchase program with the World Curling Federation, which resulted in more than 55 tons of stones being distributed in the USA in 15 years. This directly impacted the development of curling clubs nationwide, including an increase in membership from less than 10,000 in 1998 to over 26,000 by 2018.
While part of USA Curling team, the sport expanded nationally to have a presence in 46 states, more than double the number in the late 1990s.
Created broadcast partnerships to expand curling’s visibility, which helped increase televised curling in the USA from fewer than 10 hours in 2001 to consistently more than 150 hours annually, including 600 hours during the 2018 Olympic year.
With World Curling Federation peers, co-created the made-for-TV “Curling Night in America” series that ran on NBC Sports Network.
Secured key sponsors (including Toyota, Nike, Cheetos, Korbel and Jagermeister) to support USA Curling’s athlete development, TV productions and member programs.
Developed and created partnerships for the first major curling events to be held in Las Vegas, beginning with the 2014 Continental Cup of Curling, which set a single curling event U.S. attendance record of 62,000 and generated more than $2 million in event revenue.
Oversaw strategic development and implementation of USA Curling’s high-performance program, which led to the men’s 2018 Olympic gold medal finish and numerous men’s and women’s teams moving into top 10 world rankings.
Education
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, BA/Journalism, graduated December 1987
• Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management: Olympic Sport Leadership Certification Program; inaugural class, graduated
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