VP of Sales

The Tri-City Storm and Viaero Center are seeking an entrepreneurial, highly accountable, and community-oriented executive to oversee all business operations for one of the USHL's premier hockey franchises and Central Nebraska's leading sports and entertainment venue. This individual will lead revenue generation, event operations, sponsorships, ticket sales, staffing, community engagement, and facility coordination while working closely with ownership and hockey operations leadership.

The ideal candidate combines:

Sports business acumen Venue/event operational expertise Revenue leadership Financial discipline Strong communication and reporting capabilities Community relationship-building This role is responsible for helping maximize the long-term value, profitability, and regional impact of both the hockey franchise and the Viaero Center. Key Responsibilities Revenue Generation & Business Development Lead all ticket sales initiatives including season, group, suite, and premium sales. Develop and execute sponsorship and advertising strategies. Increase non-hockey event bookings and venue utilization. Grow corporate partnerships and regional business relationships. Support merchandising, concessions, and ancillary revenue growth. Venue & Event Operations Oversee day-to-day business operations of the Viaero Center. Coordinate concerts, sporting events, tournaments, trade shows, rodeos, and civic events. Ensure operational excellence across guest experience, staffing, security, food service, and facility presentation. Work alongside facility and maintenance teams to prioritize capital improvements and operational efficiency. Leadership & Staffing Recruit, develop, and manage a high-performing staff culture. Create accountability systems and departmental reporting structures. Lead weekly management meetings and operational planning. Collaborate closely with hockey operations leadership including the Head Coach and President of Hockey Operations. Financial Management Develop annual budgets and forecasts. Deliver regular reporting and KPI dashboards to ownership. Monitor profitability, cash flow, staffing costs, and event performance. Identify operational efficiencies and margin improvement opportunities. Community & Regional Engagement Serve as a visible representative of the franchise and venue within the Kearney community. Build relationships with key members of the Kearney community, sponsors, local businesses, schools, civic groups, and regional tourism organizations. Help position the Viaero Center as a regional destination for sports and entertainment. Preferred Qualifications 5-10+ years in sports, entertainment, venue, or event management. Experience leading revenue-generating business operations. Background in ticket sales, sponsorships, facility management, or sports business operations. Strong financial and reporting capabilities. Proven leadership and team-building experience. Experience working with ownership groups and boards preferred. Arena, hockey, minor league sports, or venue management experience strongly preferred. Ideal Candidate Traits Entrepreneurial mindset High accountability Strong communicator Relationship-driven Operationally disciplined Revenue-focused Community-oriented Comfortable in fast-moving environments Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution Success Metrics Increased attendance and sponsorship revenue Improved event utilization and bookings Stronger financial reporting and operational controls Improved guest experience Higher staff accountability and retention Growth in regional tourism and community engagement Long-term franchise and venue value creation Compensation Structure Base salary Revenue bonus incentives Sponsorship incentives Attendance targets