Lenore Phillips, the former president of equestrian marketing/public relations firm Phelps Media Group, has moved on to Equestrian Sport Productions as director of sponsorship.
Citing her “fresh ideas,” ESP President Michael Stone, said, “We expect that, with her help, we will be able to elevate the experiences of our valued sponsors while also promoting the equestrian sport and lifestyle in Wellington.”
As she began working with a new team at ESP and Global Equestrian Group, owner of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (see feature story on this website), Lenore noted, “Phelps was a seminal proving ground for me.”
That firm was started in 2002 by former National Horse Show President Mason Phelps, who died last spring. Lenore explained that Mason “was a huge catalyst for change in my life. He really appreciated my drive to succeed and encouraged me to go after all the things I wanted for PMG.”
She sees a similar situation in her new job.
“For me personally, the opportunity to expand my knowledge and sphere of operations into international territory was really important to me as my next professional step,” said Lenore, who worked at Phelps for five years..
“I’m passionate about working with people, developing partnerships and sales. While that’s some of what I did at PMG, it wasn’t able to be all of it. That will be 90 percent of what I do with ESP. I’m personally thrilled about that.”
She knows she will enjoy having a new mentor in Michael, noting that he “has such a strong background and is such a good businessperson and manages the expectations of riders and spectators and everyone else. I’m going to learn a ton.”
Lenore acknowledged that leaving her previous employer was “a hard choice, because I put so much time, effort and love into
PMG, but how could I pass this up? It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Raised on her family’s horse farm in Harrisburg, Pa., Lenore shows in the jumper division and is a competitive swimmer and tri-athlete.
Jennifer Burger, president of the National Horse Show and a founder of the Brandywine Horse Shows, was named Phelps’ CEO. She is assuming Lenore’s responsibilities.
“I think Jennifer is going to be a great addition to that business. I look forward to bright futures for everybody,” said Lenore.