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HITS Welcomes Accomplished Equestrian Francesca Mazella and Horse Show Veteran Robert Drennan to Its Team
Written by: Jennifer Wood Client:HITS Desert Circuit and HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Release Date:2009-08-27
Saugerties, NY - August 27, 2009 - HITS is pleased to announce that two new employees will be joining the HITS team. Francesca Mazella will be a part of the HITS corporate team, while Robert Drennan will join the HITS VIP team at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA.
Francesca Mazella, who comes from Mount Kisco, NY, will make the move to the HITS corporate office in Saugerties, NY, where she will work with the marketing team on publicity and other special projects. She will also provide support to the HITS horse show office team from the corporate location.
Mazella has a wealth of equestrian experience in the hunter/jumper industry, including 16 years as a professional rider and trainer. An accomplished equestrian, Mazella was a double winner in 1984, topping both the AHSA Hunter Seat Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Finals. She was the professional rider for Lionshare Farm, owned by Olympic silver medalist Peter Leone. Her business experience comprises three years at Rolling Stone magazine, working in the Advertising Promotion department. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she has a degree in English Literature.
“I’m very excited to be joining the HITS team,” Mazella stated. “This is a great opportunity to combine my equine and competition experience with the behind-the-scenes operations of the biggest horse show company in the world! I’m really thankful for this chance and very much looking forward to being a part of this great organization and working with Tom and his team.”
“Francesca is not only an experienced horse person, she’s a true professional,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “Her knowledge and background will be a great asset to every project she’s involved with. We are glad to have her aboard.”
Mazella is in the process of relocating from Westchester to Saugerties and her first week with HITS will be during the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals in mid-September. “It’s a great time to come on board,” added Mazella. “I’ll get a chance to see one last show for this season and then be a part of the preparations for the big winter circuits. I can’t wait.”
Robert Drennan has been on the horse show scene in various capacities for many years, including his regular post at the HITS Indio Circuit in the 1990s. He has a wealth of experience in horse show management, awards presentations, and VIP service. Drennan will be returning to California this winter to work with the HITS VIP team and Chris Pace at the HITS Desert Circuit.
“I’m a true Californian, and I’ve been going to California horse shows since I was 11,” Drennan said. “I’m excited to rejoin the HITS family. It’s close to home for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Thermal grounds. I truly enjoyed my many years working with Stadium Jumping in Palm Beach and Tampa, but I look forward to seeing all of my lifelong friends on a daily basis in California. It will be great to return to my VIP roots again and to be a part of making it a really fun place. Working a six week schedule again will be fabulous too!”
“We are very happy to welcome Bobby back,” said Struzzieri. “He was part of the family for many years in Indio and I’m sure our West Coast exhibitors will be glad to see him back in California. He and Chris Pace will be a great team for our VIP services in Thermal, which includes not only the main VIP Oasis Club, but the Hunter VIP and the Box Club, which is our VIP product for the four World Cup Qualifiers.”
The HITS Horse Shows has remaining 2009 shows at HITS Saugerties on August 26-30, September 2-6, and the Marshall & Sterling League Finals on September 10-13, and the USGPL Finals at HITS Culpeper on September 23-27.
The 2010 HITS Desert Circuit runs from January 26 to March 14, while the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will be on January 19 to March 21, and the HITS Arizona Winter Circuit will be held February 3 to March 14.
Announcements on special classes, judges, course designers, prize money, and more will be made regularly for all of the HITS Horse Show circuits. To learn of the latest news, please become a fan of HITS’ page on Facebook and sign up to receive HITS’ Twitter updates.
To keep on track with the updates or to request a copy of the winter circuit prize lists, please visit www.HitsShows.com.
