Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> June 1, 1998
JEFFREY G. WEBB graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1971 with a
B.S. degree in political science with a pre-law emphasis. In 1972, he
joined Cheerleader Supply Company's educational division to manage
curriculum development and marketing for its national training program.
In 1974, he was named Vice President and General Manager of the Company.
In late 1974, Mr. Webb formed his own company, Varsity Spirit
Corporation and began the process of developing a nationwide system of
training camps for collegiate and high school spirit groups. In 1979,
the Company entered the uniform and equipment business with distribution
primarily through direct mail catalog sales, eventually shifting to a
strategy employing a full-time direct sales force now totaling 150
representatives. In 1979, Varsity added a special events division to
conduct nationally televised championships and to promote expansion of
the school spirit market in general. The special events group now also
produces performance tours for school spirit tours for school groups and
high profile events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New
York, the Circus Bowl and various European events. Profile
DAVID M. MAUER is President and Chief Executive Officer of Riddell
Sports Inc. and a director. Prior to joining Riddell in April 1993, Mr.
Mauer was President of Mattel U.S.A. from late 1990 through the
beginning of 1993. Mr. Mauer was President of Tonka U.S.A Toy Group
from 1988 until 1990. In 1995, Mr. Mauer was elected a member of the
Board of Directors of The Topps Company, Inc. Mr. Mauer has been a
member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children since 1996. Mr. Mauer received a bachelor's degree
in economics from the State University of New York at Stonybrook in
1969, and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1972. He began
his business career at Procter & Gamble, where he held various product
management positions until 1976, when he moved to the Pepsi Cola
Bottling Group as Director and Vice President/Marketing. He was Vice
President for Pepsi International prior to joining Kenner Parker Toys in
1981 as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Riddell Sports
Inc. provides institutional sporting goods and school spirit products
and services to educational and recreational organizations through its
national, direct sales force. The company is the world's leading
manufacturer and reconditioner of football protective equipment and the
nation's leading manufacturer of uniforms and operator of camps for high
school and college cheerleaders and dance teams. The Company's consumer
products group markets miniature and full-size helmets for collectors
and licenses the Riddell and MacGregor trademarks for use on athletic
footwear and leisure apparel. Profile
quick summary of what the interchange is with the two companies and a
little bit of a historical background as
