Mark Willand, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mark Willand is the the founder and executive director of the Connecticut Hockey Hall of Fame.
He also manages the day-to-day operations of Whalers Sports and Entertainment and the Connecticut Whale (AHL afilliate of the New York Rangers), overseeing marketing, ticket sales, branding, communications, TV, radio, community relations, game operations and events. Mark also works closely with corporate sales and the finance departments.
Mark Willand created "Whale TV," the five-channel Televsion network for the CT Whale. He also handled marketing, PR and on-ice organizational efforts for the 14-day outdoor Whalers Hockey Fest and created the successful Whalers Summer Fan Fest in 2010.
Willand began his career as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the NHL’s Hartford Whalers in 1986, working there for six years. During Willand’s time with the Whalers, Hartford was recognized as having the NHL’s premier media guide (1987, 88, 89) and top press box (1988, 89, 90).
Mark Willand joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993, spearheading the team’s new pay-per-view channel, PenVision. Later he managed Penguins mechandising division, consisting of 7-retail stores and a multi-$million direct response operation.
He later joined Fox Sports when Pittsburgh’s television and marketing rights were sold in 1995, and went on to create and produce the “Player’s Show”, a sports magazine program that served as the pre-game show for the Penguins and for Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
In addition to his television duties with Fox, Willand has secured marketing deals with hockey legend Mario Lemieux, produced numerous commercials as well as the Penguins official team video “Fire on Ice”.
In 1998 Willand returned to New England to become senior marketing manager of Staples, Inc. based in Framingham, MA. In this role, he oversaw all direct mail activities for 5,000 store Fortune 500 firm.
Mark Willand is also the founder and chairman of the Connecticut Hockey Hall of Fame and created numerous web sites including WhalerNation.TV.
Rose Marie Willand, Treasurer