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CONGRATULATIONS ERIC BELDEN!

 

Eric Belden, Sponsorship Manager for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, is one of the 20 young community leaders honored by ystark! as this year’s “Twenty under 40!”    Born and raised in Canton, he returned to his hometown in 1999 after graduation from St. Bonaventure University, and has been fully engaged in the economic and social welfare of our community ever since.

 

In her nomination of Belden, Enshrinement Festival Director Joanne Murray noted that he is fully invested in the effort to retain and attract young professionals as he believes that Stark County is the perfect place to live, work, and raise a family.  He is a walking billboard for ystark! and its mission to improve our community through knowledge, leadership, and participation.

 

Eric has achieved a commendable and documented level of professional success within the organization.  As Sponsorship Manager, he is responsible for annually securing more than a million and a half dollars of cash and in-kind support for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival which produces an economic impact of nearly $30 million on Canton/Stark County.  His duties include developing and implementing marketing plans to attract and retain local, regional, and national sponsors.  His expertise has been shared via presentations to many groups including the International Festival and Events Association. 

 

Even with the demands of a very time-consuming job and a growing family – including wife Cathie, daughters Kaitlin and Sarah, and a third child on the way -- Eric consistently makes the time to be actively involved in a variety of community efforts.  He is a 15th class graduate of Leadership Stark County and serves on the board of the United Way of Greater Stark County Vision Council, American Heart Association fund raising committee, and J. Babe Stern and ystark! executive boards.  He is equally passionate about his duties as assistant varsity coach for the Sandy Valley High School girls basketball team where he teaches not only basketball skills, but also good sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship.  Additionally, he is a certified general mediator through the University of Akron’s Center for Family Studies.

 

The Enshrinement Festival staff is proud to salute Eric Belden on this well-deserved honor.

 

 

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