Our Head of Brand, Identity and Look, Tracy Smith, brings over 25 years of experience in brand development, design and strategy. Tracy received her degree from Louisiana State University, where she held several student leadership positions in the university’s athletic program and interned with a minor league hockey team. “LSU is where I fell in love with sports marketing,” she said. In 2012, Tracy moved to Lake Placid and launched her own branding, design and strategic marketing firm, Smith and Co. Creative. We are thrilled to have someone as passionate for art and sport as Tracy, who is equally as excited to help bring the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games brand to life.

Lori Fitzgerald brings 11 years of experience working in hotels in the Lake Placid area, 10 of which were spent at the High Peaks Resort as Director of Sales and Marketing. Lori works hard as Head of Accommodations, taking on the immense responsibility of securing and managing all hotel accommodations in the three regions of the FISU World University Games, including any other accommodations needed outside the Athlete’s Village. She believes that hosting the FISU World University Games is a tremendous opportunity for Lake Placid to have a lasting sustainable impact on the area, and we agree!

Jeff Potter comes to us from the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) as the Head of Venue Management. Jeff coordinates contracted competition venue owners/managers with the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games’ Organizing Committee. Having spent 36 years with ORDA, Jeff comes with extensive knowledge of the venues and is excited to take on this multi-sport, multi-venue international event. He works behind the scenes, but without his help, collegiate-athletes would have nowhere to compete.

Last but certainly not least, we have Michael Ryan. Michael is our Head of Security Integration and works with local, state, national law enforcement and private security for the FISU World University Games. As a 32-year New York State Police veteran and having assisted in multiple World Cup events at ORDA, Michael says he views joining the FISU World University Games as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are looking forward to having a safe and secure environment next January, thanks to Michael.

Jan. 12-22, 2023, Lake Placid and the surrounding North Country region will embark on hosting the 31st FISU Winter World University Games. The global cultural exchange and multi-winter sports event will bring together more than 2,500 collegiate-athletes and coaches from 600 universities and 60 nations, competing in 12 sports and 86 medal events.

The World University Games is the single largest international winter multi-sport event for collegiate athletes.

For more information about the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games, visit www.lakeplacid2023.com. Follow the Games on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with @lakeplacid2023 or #lakeplacid2023.

(Sara Donatello is the publications coordinator for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games.)