Deirdre A. LopianMedia Kit

Career Highlights Spearheaded public relations campaign for newly expanded NAHL hockey team, New

Jersey Titans. This included overall branding, conducting a press conference, pitching print and radio interviews, cultivating relationships with minor league media outlets

Unit Publicist for independent feature film, West End. Film participated in nine film festivals in major markets and went on to win eight awards. Yielded a successful amount of earned media, reviews and interviews for film and cast

Developed and implemented intricate public relations campaign for Los Angeles School

of Gymnastics’ biggest international three-day event, L.A. Lights Tournament of Champions. Campaign strategy included a local /international media campaign, press kit development, sponsorship presentations, daily website updates, ad buying and live social media coverage. As the primary contact for media, I yielded successful placements of interviews and campaign coverage with major LA media outlets including Good Day LA and KTLA

Rebranded local seafood restaurant, Park Avenue Bistro to Park 33 a successful trendy

restaurant, lounge and nightclub. The success can be attributed to the public relations and marketing campaign to that included community outreach, grand re-opening New Year’s Eve party, inviting high profile figures to the restaurant/nightclub and promote visit via social media

Successfully managed media and marketing campaigns for events produced by reputable companies such as HBO Sports, WWE, Live Nation, UFC, Miss America Organization, William Morris Entertainment & Feld Entertainment

In addition to my event and operational responsibilities with the NHL Phoenix Coyotes/Gila River Arena, I produced a charity event for Wayne Gretzky, managed player meet and greets and artist meet and greets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2014

Contact Information Deirdre LopianDeirdre Lopian Public Relations, LLC Deirdre@dlpr.co1 609-553-4023

The Los Angeles School of Gymnastics presents the 2014 LA Lights Competition

The 3-day rhythmic gymnastics tournament features the world’s top athletes and Olympians, and will take place at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, CA

CULVER CITY - The annual LA Lights Tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions, presented by Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, features top athletes from the United States and around the world during a 3-day tournament.

Headed by Executive Director Alla Svirsky, Los Angeles School of Gymnastics is the nation’s unparalleled leader in the gymnastics industry. Svirsky, the Gymnastics Hall of Fame member and four-time Olympic coach, has been working with Tanya Berenson, Meet Manager and General Manager, to make sure the 2014 LA Lights competition truly highlights the world’s best gymnasts.

“We are thrilled to once again to present LA Lights – the amazing dedication, hard work and raw talent that these young women possess is incredible,” Berenson said. “They are the best in the world, here to compete and showcase their high degree of athletic skill.”

This year’s tournament includes two-time national champion Jessica Krushen, coming back to rhythmic gym-nastics after a six-year hiatus. Krushen won the national Novice championship in 2000 and the Canadian title in 2003.

Melitina Staniouta (who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and ranks #6 on the 2011 World Champion List), will also be showcasing her talents, along with other top Olympians from across the globe.Competitor Viktoria Mazur closed at 4th place all around in the 2013 World Championships and with her teammate Alina Maximenko(who was the favorite going into the 2013 season and headed to the Olympics) making an unexpected retirement announcement just weeks before the LA Lights Tournament, it’s anybody’s game at the event.

Also heating up the line-up is Ukrainian powerhouse coaches Albina & Irina Deruigina whose headliner, Mazur, will compete against their archrival, Tamara Yerofeeva, Olympian and World Champion gymnast, for the first time in course history. At 32, Yerofeeva, will be performing at the event gala and showcasing her club competitors to make this event a real nail-biting competition as these two internationally acclaimed coaches showcase to the world what their team is made of.

Another top competitor is Heather Chan, Los Angeles School of Gymnastics’ very own member of the United States national team. Chan is moving from the junior division last year and showcasing her position in the first international competitive appearance she will be performing in as a senior this year. Chan is slated to take a position on the USA National Team and the LA Lights Tournament will be the opening gate for the race to win and establish placement globally at the event.

“The field has definitely changed this year,” said Berenson, the LASG’s Administrative Director, event manager and former Junior Olympian. “With the new rules and policies, many top contenders retired and several juniors that are very talented moving into the pool of top competition, it’s really anyone’s take this year.”

Members from the following teams/countries are slated to attend the LA Lights Tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions: USA National Team, Sweden National Team, Ukraine National Team, Russia National Team, Belarus National Team, Puerto Rico National Team, Canada National Team, Mexico National Team, Australia National Team, New Zealand, Finland, Armenia National Team.

For a complete list of the competitors, please visit the LA Lights event website.

###

About Los Angeles School of Gymnastics (LASG) LASG, an Olympic-quality training center, is a nonprofit corporation that is considered among the top training facilities in the county. Led by four-time Olympic coach Alla Svirsky, LASG has provided thousands of young athletes with quality gymnastics instruction and has produced several Olympians and Internationally ranked athletes. For more information, please visit www.LAGymnastics.com.

About 2014 LA Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Invitational LA Lights is one of the largest rhythmic gymnastics events in the nation. Sanctioned by the Federation Interna-tionale de Gymnastique (FIG) and USA Gymnastics Federation, the tournament hosts hundreds of the world’s most divers and competitive athletes in rhythmic gymnastics, including world champions from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, USA and many more. Visit www.LALightsMeet.com for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 23, 2015

Contact:Deirdre A. LopianVice President Public RelationsbCore ManagementCell: 609-553-4023

New Jersey Titans Name Rich McKenna as Head Coach

The New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) named Rich McKennaas the team’s head coach for the inaugural 2015 - 2016 season. The announcement was made by Titans General Manager/Owner, Bruno Bragagnolo.

"We are thrilled to have Rich McKenna join our hockey club as we begin our first NAHL season in New Jersey,” said Bragagnolo “Rich has built great relationships with colleges here in the east, which complement my relationships."

McKenna, a Greenwood Lake, New York native, joins the Titans after spending two seasons as Assistant General Manager and Assistant Head Coach for the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Prior to the Lumberjacks, McKenna spent two seasons as the assistant coach for the Division One University of Connecticut Huskies. He specialized in recruiting as well as coaching; responsibilities included working with the defensemen and special teams. McKenna also put time in as the video coordinator and worked in skill development.

“Rich is a great addition to the management team we are putting together in New Jersey,” states Titans’ Principal Owner, Ron Lavin. “His USHL and college experience proves he knows what is needed to get the boys ready to play in the NCAA.”

McKenna is a 2007 graduate of Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont, a Division Three hockey program, in which he played two seasons for the Spartans from 2005-07 while earning the Unsung Hero and Coaches Awards during his time at the school. Following graduation he served as an assistant coach of his alma mater during the 2008-09 season as a recruiter.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the Titans’ family and bringing Tier II hockey to the east coast,” states McKenna. “I look forward to developing these young men towards fulfilling their goal of playing Division 1 and Division 3 hockey. I take great pride in developing the future of professional hockey.”

McKenna and his wife Carina plan on residing in Monmouth County with their two-year-old son, Declan, and will welcome their second child due in October.

Joe Basile was born in Riverview Hospital and raised in Holmdel. As a kid, he always had a fascination with movies. He recalls, after seeing Rocky at the once-was UA Cinemas in Middletown, he had found his

calling. After receiving his degree from the University of Delaware, he packed-up and moved to Hollywood.

While a working actor in Hollywood, Basile received his Masters at the UCLA Graduate School of Film and TV. Basile then wrote, produced and directed independent film, “West End.” The feature film tells the story of Vic Trevi, (Neal Bledsoe). Ashamed of his family’s mafia ties, Vic leaves New Jersey and never looks back. When his father (Eric Roberts) is murdered, Vic returns home with an agenda. “West End is my homage to the gritty crime dramas of the 70’s that made me want to make movies. Films that evoke emotion and make an audience feel the inner struggle of its characters,” Basile said.

“West End” was filmed entirely on location at the Jersey Shore, primarily a pre-Sandy Seaside Heights.

Basile said, “I wanted to make a movie that was reminiscent of the ‘after church’ Sunday drives I took with my father. To pay homage to the Jersey I know. That shows the gritty elegance that is the Jersey Shore. I didn’t want to play into the cliché of what New Jersey is thought to be.”

Along with the support of the community, friendships with known actors and the dedication of a tireless crew, not only does Basile have the last cinematic record of Jersey beaches and piers before Sandy’s destruction. but the film has captured the distinct essence of the Jersey Shore.

“West End” was screened at the Hoboken International Film Festival in Middletown, N.Y. on June 3, 2014 and the New Jersey International Film Festival in New Brunswick, N.J. on June 6, 2014. Also, the film previously screened at the Garden State Film Festival and won two awards: “Best Home Grown Feature” and “Audience Pick of Flicks.” The film also screened at the Soho International Film Festival and won the “Soho’s Pick.” The independent film is set to screen at the Manhattan Film Festival in New York, N.Y. on June 30, 2014.

“West End” Stars: Neal Bledsoe (Ironside, Smash, Gossip Girl), Peter Onorati (Murder in the First, Goodfellas), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Runaway Train, Pope of Greenwich Village), Melissa Archer (Beacon Hill, One Life To Live), Joe Nieves (How I Met Your Mother, 24), Isabella Hoffman (Homicide, Providence), Paul Calderon (Pulp Fiction, King Of New York, The Bad Lieutenant), and Wayne Duvall (Lincoln, Prisoners, The District).

For more information, visit www.westendthemovie.com.

Holmdel Native Brings

the Jersey Shore to the

Big ScreenSTORY DEIRDRE A. LOPIAN

Joe Basile, Returns Home

to Screen Multiple-Award

Winning Independent Film

at Upcoming Film Festivals

Holmdel native Joe Basile

Left to right: Peter Onorati (John Trevi) and Neal Bledsoe (Vic Trevi) filming “West End” on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk.

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Media Pitch: Asbury Park Press sports writer, Chris Rotolo, articles focused heavily on local players drafted to newly expanded NAHL team, New Jersey Titans. However, they had three international (Latvia, Japan, Russia) players here in New Jersey and pitched Rotolo to sit down with the players and talk to them why they came to America to further their hockey careers.

PREVIEW: NAHL Titans set to open inaugural season

Chris Rotolo – Asbury Park Press

MIDDLETOWN – When the New Jersey Titans announced its North American Hockey League (NAHL) affiliation in June, the organization was branded as a pipeline for local players to the next level of junior hockey competition and beyond.

The program made good on that notion by inking Mike Gelatt (Middletown, NJ - St. John Vianney) to a tendered contract, securing Anthony Cusanelli (Holmdel, NJ – CBA) and Greg Malafronte (Holmdel, NJ – CBA) in the NAHL Draft, and signing Brad Becker (Howell, NJ – Howell), Josh Creelman (High Bridge, NJ – Pingry), and Tim Gelatt (Middletown, NJ – St. John Vianney) out of its Main Camp in August.

And though the local additions to the club have been prominently featured, one shouldn’t overlook the international flavor of this outfit.

Though the majority of this 25-man roster is composed of American-born skaters, the NAHL – which is noted as the second best junior hockey league in the country and the only Junior A Tier II league sanctioned by USA Hockey – is also a haven for some of the top talent from around the world, and three such players will be calling Middletown Ice World home in 2015-16. Get to know them better below.

Bruno Birzitis: The 20-year old Latvian-born forward is entering his third year of NAHL competition after two seasons with the Soo Eagles, with which he recorded 49 points on 19 goals and 30 assists in 99 games. With such experience on his side, including three years of international competition at the World Junior Classic for Team Latvia, Birzitis will be counted on to help lead the Titans in the franchise’s inaugural season, and McKenna believes this skilled skater has the ability to further his career at the NCAA or professional level.

“One thing Bruno has is really good play-making ability,” McKenna said. “To his fault, he sometimes relies on that too much when he could just shoot the puck. We’ll have to snap him of that habit, but at the end of the day the kid can create offense. He knows what the

Israeli Rhythmic Gymnasts Visit L.A. by Jared Sichel

In Los Angeles for the annual L.A. Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament of Champions last month, 14-year-olds Sheli Sapir, Stefani Ivanzov and their coach, Svetlana Jhugarev, were representing the Israeli Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation-Maccabi Club.

Looking like innocent teenagers, yet acting like stern, well-trained athletes, the two Israeli performers, both dressed in their gymnast outfits, took a break from their warm-ups to answer some questions.

But neither had much to say, only that they have both been at this since they were about 4 years old. Instead, they did their showing off on the floor in competition

during the Jan. 23-26 tournament hosted in Culver City by the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics (LASG).

In one pose that looked particularly uncomfortable — for people of normal flexibility, at least — Sapir stood on one foot and leaned forward, touching both hands to the ground while her other leg extended up in the air at a 180-degree angle to the first. Meanwhile, she somehow managed to cradle a golden ball between her airborne foot and ankle.

Unlike artistic gymnastics — which emphasizes strength, balance and agility using apparatuses such as the vault and balance beam — rhythmic gymnastics primarily involves grace, dance and flexibility, and is always choreographed with music. Competitors use clubs, hoops, balls, ribbons and ropes.

During the event with clubs, competitors would toss the clubs in the air, perform a few graceful spins and jumps, then attempt to land cleanly while catching the falling clubs. Drops were common, but Sapir and Ivanzov snatched everything that went airborne.

Held at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the tournament attracted top-notch talent from around the world, particularly Eastern Europe. Russian filled the air on Jan. 26, as many of the athletes and coaches were from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Headed by Alla Svirsky, LASG’s executive director, and her daughter, its general manager, L.A. Lights is just the most recent example of the mother-daughter duo’s lifelong push to spread rhythmic gymnastics.

In 1984, when the sport first became an official Olympic competition, Svirsky led the American squad in the Los Angeles games. In July 2013, Berenson was the coach for the American team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, the first time the United States competed in rhythmic gymnastics there in more than a decade. Israel sending its own delegation to Los Angeles was, Berenson said, their way of saying thank you.

“They came in good will from the U.S. attending their event,” she said.

Performing separately, Sapir and Ivanzov each had three routines — one with a golden ball, the second with clubs and the third with a ribbon. Overall, Sapir placed eighth out of 14 in the Level 10 junior group, and Ivanzov placed ninth out of 14. The girls’ high score came when Sapir placed fourth out of 11 in the hoop competition. Asked whether she thinks the two young Israelis have a chance at eventually competing on an even bigger stage in the years to come, Berenson said, “I know that her [Jhugarev’s] athletes are going to have a very good chance at World and Olympic Games.”

Pitch: The Jewish Journal. Israeli Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation-Maccabi Club was set to compete in the LA Lights Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition. This was the first time in almost 15 years that the Israeli team was in the US. Contacted the Jewish Journal to promote the event via internally, on their website and to their readers. Additionally, they did day of event coverage.

league is about, and it’s about time for him to have a breakout year…Bruno can go as far as Bruno wants. He can play Division I college hockey or professionally back in Europe. The ceiling is pretty high for him. But he’ll need to push.”

“This is the last step before college,” Birzitis said. “You have to play tough. You have to play American hockey. It’s pretty much a league rule. If you can’t play tough then you can’t play in this league. You have to be prepared to be physical, smart, and focused each night. And think this team will be able to do that.”

Seyia Hayata: The 19-year old Hiroshima, Japan born defenseman will be competing at the North American junior level for his fifth year after a pair of stints in Canada in 2012 and 2013 with the Harrington Ice Bergs (Queens Court Hockey League) and CIHA Voyageurs (Ontario East Midget Hockey League), before making his NAHL debut in 2014 (one game) with the Soo Eagles, and delivering 17 points on five goals and 12 assists in 2015 with the Breezy Point North Stars (NA3HL). Hayata also has international hockey experience after suiting up in five games for Team Japan U20 at the 2015 World Juniors Classic.

“I think I’ll do fine (in the NAHL),” Hayata said. “I’m used to the American style of play. I’ve played in Canada since I was 13, and moved to the US two years ago. And I think we have the type of players on this team to be successful. We have skilled guys, but we also have guys who are mean and tough.”

“The one thing Seyia has from the start is very good skating ability, and everybody wants that,” Titans coach Rich McKenna said. “He can skate in any league, including the USHL. He can move the puck, but there’s a little bit of a learning curve for him.”

Daniil Kharinov: The 17-year old defenseman from Moscow, Russia played in both the Empire and Elite division of the United State Premier League in 2015 with the Richmond Generals, delivering seven points on two goals and five assists in 40 total games. At 6’4 and 220 pounds, Kharinov is the largest player on the Titans roster and a force in the making on the blue line, according to McKenna.

“Daniil is very much in a developmental role at this point. He’s a good player who has what you can’t teach, which is size. But his learning curve is a little bit steeper in regards to the level of competition he’s used to, age, and strength…but this is a kid that if everything comes together, he’s probably not here next year. He’s probably playing in the USHL.”

“The biggest differences (from hockey in Russia to North America) are the size of the rink, it’s a bigger Olympic sized rink back home,” Kharinov said. “It’s also a more physical style of play here, while we’re more about technique. But I think I’ll be able to compete.”

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