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As the group moved forward with their plans, U.S. Figure Skating was approached in 1998 with the concept, and shortly thereafter entered into a joint venture with USA Hockey to support the new organi- zation. The creation of this joint venture between the NGB's (National Governing Bodies) may have been the most critical step in the creation, and future success of STAR/U.S. Ice Rink Assoc. The following individuals were instru- mental in the efforts leading up to the joint venture, and through the start of STAR's business operations in 2000: • John Beadle, USA Hockey • Bob Crowley, U.S. Figure Skating • Kevin McLaughlin, USA Hockey • Jerry Lace, U.S. Figure Skating • John LeFevre, U.S. Figure Skating • Dave Ogrean, USA Hockey • Brian Petrovek, USA Hockey Pat Kelleher was hired in April of 2000 as STAR's first Chief Operating Officer just prior to the organization officially opening for business in August 2000. Kelleher, now the Executive Director of USA Hockey, was charged with handling the day-to-day operations of STAR, and building the orga- nization around the framework created by the previously mentioned group. Growth As word spread throughout the industry about the positive things STAR was doing in respect to education and development of resources, individual and facility mem- bership started to grow steadily. Naturally, once again, this wasn't achieved alone. STAR quickly found cooperation and a natural partnership with regional rink managers associations such as: • Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association (MIAMA) • North East Ice Skating Managers Association (NEISMA) • Wisconsin Ice Arena Management Association (WIAMA) These, of course, are among many oth- ers with whom STAR has partnered with to enhance the rink industry. A key relationship for STAR was formed with the Ontario Recreational Facilities Association (ORFA) in 2000 when John Milton, Chief Administrative Officer of the ORFA alongside ORFA President Terry Piche worked with Kelleher and the board of directors to create the STAR/ ORFA alliance. Through this alliance, STAR was granted the exclusive rights to deliver the ORFA's three Certified Ice Technician (CIT) courses (IMEO, IMPT, and BR) and the CIT professional desig- nation to STAR members in the United States. The ORFA's motivation for enter- ing into this alliance with STAR was, and remains to be, to improve professional- ism throughout the ice arena industry in North America. The first STAR CIT course (IMEO) was held at World Arena in Colorado Springs in August of 2000. Another key business relationship was cre- ated in 2000 with Liebert Publishing, pub- lisher of RINK Magazine. Each issue of RINK included four pages dedicated to STAR news. This development allowed STAR to deliver their membership and training information to a much larger audience. In 2003, STAR partnered with Liebert to present the first annual North American Rink Conference and Expo (NARCE) in Chicago, Ill. STAR expanded its training offerings to include management specific courses, and classes from USA Hockey and U.S. Figure Skating that were only available at NARCE. NARCE has proudly taken place annually since it's inception, and has become the premier professional development event in the ice rink industry. STAR purchased RINK Magazine, and NARCE, from Liebert in 2006 and part- nered with Touchpoint Media to start publishing the magazine in 2007. Like many print publications, RINK Magazine 40 / JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2020 USICERINKS.COM SERVING THE AMERICAN RINKS , Serving the American Rinks changed its name in 2017 to U.S. Ice Rink Association. 2003 NARCE 2008 Frozen Four 2019 Member Social