Martha Weaver West, Anoka, Appointed By Pawlenty To Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission

Courtesy of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission:

Saint Paul – Gov. Tim Pawlenty today (Wednesday, Jan. 30) announced the appointment of Darrell Thompson and Martha Weaver West and the reappointment of Kenneth Resnick to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC).

All three are reappointed to three-year terms that expire on Jan. 3, 2011.

Resnick, of Edina, has over 19 years of broadcasting experience in a variety of areas, including host and play-by-play announcer of TNN’s Roller Jam, host of ESPN’s Bryant Gumbel Celebrity Golf Tournament, national host and announcer of American Gladiators Live Tour, and an announcer for the World Wrestling Federation. He also has a background in public relations and management as the managing coordinator of the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association, and director of public relations and marketing for the Calgary Cowboys Hockey Club and the New Minnesota Fighting Saints Hockey Team. Resnick has been very active in the Twin Cities community as well, serving as chair of the Leukemia Society of Minnesota’s “Breakfast of Champions” and on the Minnesota Special Olympics Board of Directors. Resnick has been a member of the Amateur Sports Commission since 1996.

Thompson, of Plymouth, is the executive director of Bolder Options, a mentoring program for at-risk youth in the Twin Cities. He has 18 years of programming experience with inner city youth. Thompson is also a Minnesota Golden Gopher’s football analyst for WCCO Radio. He was a first-round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers and was a standout football player at the University of Minnesota, where he was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year, and still holds many Gopher records. He serves on the boards of directors of Hands on Twin Cities, Minnesota NFL Alumni, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, and a number of University of Minnesota organizations, including the “M” Club, Diversity Task Force, Athletic Advisory, and the athletic department’s Diversity Strategic Planning Committee. Thompson replaces Linda Goodno on the Amateur Sports Commission.

West, of Anoka, is the Anoka County public information manager, a position she has held since 2007. Previously, she was the primary weeknight news anchor from 1995 to 2007 for WRTV television, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana. While in Indiana, West served as an advisor to the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, volunteered for a program that enabled children with disabilities to receive therapy on horseback, and a program where future therapy and service dogs are trained by juvenile and adult prison inmates. West was also a news anchor and reporter for WEYI television, the NBC affiliate in Flint, Michigan from 1994 to 1995, and a communications assistant for former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson from 1990 to 1994. West earned her bachelor of arts degree in speech from St. Olaf College in Northfield. West replaces Kristen Jacobs on the Amateur Sports Commission.

The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission supports the National Sports Center in Blaine, the amateur sports associations in the state and creates tourism through promoting amateur sports events, including the Star of the North State Games.

The commission consists of 16 members, including 10 appointed by the governor.