Michael Lewellen, a former top corporate communications exec for Black Entertainment TV and Fox Sports Network, has been named senior VP of communications and public engagement for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, following a search.
Traci Rose, who was VP, comms. and community relations, has moved into a VP/community relations slot with the team. Cheri Hanson, hired in 2009 as VP/comms., is senior VP, team relations.
Lewellen heads media, community and team relations for the Trail Blazers, which are Oregon’s only major professional sports team. He had recently run his own shop in Florida and served as VP of marketing and communications for the Heart of Florida United Way. That followed a stint as VP of PR for Universal Orlando and nearly eight years at BET Networks, departing as senior VP/corporate comms.
Eariler posts included VP of media relations for Fox Sports Network and PR director for the Goodwill Games.
The Trail Blazer post is a return to Oregon for Lewellen, who was urban and minority affairs manager among other posts for Nike in Beaverton in the early 1990s.
The Arkansas native started out in sports journalism.
Generator Group handled the executive search for the Trail Blazers.