By Denise Richardson
ONEONTA _ The National Soccer Hall of Fame has named a new president.
Jonathan D. Ullman was promoted to president and chief operating officer of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum effective this past Saturday. He previously was vice president of operations and business development.
``It's a great honor and a privilege,'' Ullman said Monday. ``It's wonderful to be part of this team.''
Ullman replaces Steve Baumann, who is relocating to Philadelphia, officials said.
The Soccer Hall, like other museums, tourism destinations and businesses, faces challenges in the struggling economy, Ullman said.
The Hall will be working on plans to enhance its induction weekend in August, when five-time Major League Soccer Champion Jeff Agoos and two-time World Champion Joy Fawcett will be inducted, Ullman said. The Hall also has tournaments during the summer season.
The Soccer Hall's Board of Directors approved Ullman as president at a recent meeting in New York City, according to a media release.
Doug Willies, board chairman, said Baumann's departure wasn't based on dissatisfaction in his performance. Baumann's move was to be closer to relatives and wasn't unexpected, he said.
"For the past 21 months, Steve's leadership has been instrumental as the board and staff has focused on developing the programmatic, operational and financial strategies necessary to define the Hall of Fame's future,'' Willies said in the release. ``We wish him well.''
Baumann will join an organization focused on the development of young people through sports and educational programming. Willies said Monday the organization's name wasn't public because personnel changes hadn't been announced.
Willies said Baumann brought Ullman to the Soccer Hall about 18 months ago.
"We are pleased that Jonathan has agreed to assume the leadership of the Hall of Fame," Willies said in the release. "He has been deeply involved in all aspects of the hall's operations and strategic business planning. His leadership will maintain our current efforts and enhance what lies ahead."
Before joining Soccer Hall, Ullman was a member of the executive team at Liberty Science Center, a museum in New Jersey. His experiences there included staff leadership, facility oversight, educational program implementation and capital planning for an expansion project.
Ullman, 38, has a master's degree in business strategy with honors from Rutgers University. He, his wife and three children live in Fly Creek.
The Soccer Hall has about 10 full-time employees, Ullman said. During the summer season, the Hall will have another eight to 10 part-time workers.
Ullman said he is a member of the Otsego County Chamber Tourism Committee, which meets at the Soccer Hall today.
Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber, said today's meeting is for brainstorming about tourism beyond the summer season. He said the largest challenge ahead for the Soccer Hall is publicity.
``The sport is popular _ the history of the sport is not,'' Robinson said. A fan can easily name three members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown, Robinson said. But naming three members of the Soccer Hall is not a readily answered question, he said.
Boosting publicity of the Soccer Hall means getting out into the national scene, Robinson said. For instance, Nike, Adidas and other companies could promote soccer history when selling sports gear, he said.
Ullman is aggressive but the question, as with any not-for-profit group, is whether he will have the resources to continue moving the organization forward, Robinson said.
Willies said no matter what kind of marketing or money is available, baseball has the advantage of being the national pastime for more than 100 years. Baseball games are nationally televised, and soccer is not.
``The sport of soccer is in its infancy in this country,'' Willies said. Soccer in the United States is still developing a fan base, he said, and the Soccer Hall, established in 1979, has ``done remarkably well.
``Maybe the museum is ahead of the sport,'' Willies said.
