Lexington, KY—Kathy Meyer, longtime officer and administrator of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and professional sport events marketer, has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the USEF, effective January 13, 2008. She fills the position vacated by the retirement of Maria Partlow earlier this fall.

Meyer has a lengthy and experienced career in high-end sports and special events management. In addition, she has almost two decades of firsthand executive experience in the horse industry as director and officer of the former USA Equestrian and the USEF, the National Governing Body for equestrian sport.

For the past 20 years, Meyer has owned and operated The Meyer Company, dedicated to the production, positioning and marketing of sporting events. She served as tournament director for the prestigious Celebrity Pro-Am the Jerry Ford Invitational Golf Tournament. Additionally, she managed sponsorship and hospitality components of several PGA TOUR and PGA Champions Tour events. She has also consulted for exclusive private golfing clubs and resort communities to build member affinity programs. The Meyer Company client list includes Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction, KSL Recreation Corporation, Levi Strauss & Company, Omnicom Management Company, United States Ski Team, UST, Inc., Vail Associates, Vail Magazine and Young Presidents Organization, to name a few.

Her lifelong love affair with horses began in California where she competed in dressage, stock, hunter and saddle seat, and she attended riding schools in England and Germany. She trained Arabian performance horses professionally for 12 years, turning out multiple national champions, and retired from competition in 1986 to pursue her career with The Meyer Company.

Meyer, who is currently serving as treasurer of the USEF, will resign her board position once her replacement has been elected at the first Board of Director’s meeting during the USEF Annual Meeting in January.

“I am excited for this opportunity to apply my professional experience directly to the equestrian world I feel so passionate about,” said Meyer. “I look forward to the transition of my role within the Federation, and I am honored to join the executive team as we endeavor to grow the Federation’s visibility and its impact within the world of equestrian sport.”

“We are extremely lucky to have Kathy in this position,” said John Long, USEF Chief Executive Officer. “Her knowledge of our sport coupled with her varied background in sport and special event marketing is a perfect match, and I am very excited to work with her and to have her on our team.”