Marketing Analysis Suppressed

Marie Ishida, CIF executive director, slapped a news blackout on the findings of an independent company hired to analyze the state’s marketing plan and to suggest a course of direction.

Representatives from IEG, paid $30,000 to complete the report, presented a four-part plan to the state’s executive committee for about two hours on Wednesday at its regularly scheduled meeting in Oakland. In an e-mail to The Times, Ishida refused to release details of the report, but said it “addressed most of the ‘hot button’ areas” and that she believes that it will lead to a “ ‘win-win for everyone.’ ”

A source said the report contained several elements similar to those proposed by the Southern Section, which, among other things, called for 10% of any marketing revenue secured by an individual section to go to the state, which would share it with other sections.

Largest of 10 geographic sections governing high school athletics within the state federation, the Southern Section has been at odds with the state over an earlier proposal that would, among other things, eliminate title sponsors. The Southern Section raises more than half a million dollars per year in marketing revenue and is in the third-year of a three-year championship title deal with Toyota that generates $165,000 annually.

John Costello, marketing director for the Southern Section, and the section’s council president, Paul Breit of the Pomona Unified School District, represented the section at the presentation; however, Breit did not return phone calls and Costello was unavailable for comment.

Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton did not attend and said he had not seen a copy of the report, but section spokesman Thom Simmons released a statement late Wednesday afternoon. It read: “We want to continue to be a good partner of the CIF and we remain committed to Toyota and our financial solvency.”

-- Paul McLeod

Senior Daniel Nunn of San Luis Obispo has won Division III titles in the Southern Section and state cross-country finals the last two weeks, but he won’t run in the West Region championships at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday.

After running 14 minutes 58 seconds in the section championships at Mt. SAC and 15:15 in the state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno, Nunn says he is ready for a break from racing.

Freshman Brooke Russell of Newhall Hart, the Southern Section Division I girls’ champion, will also pass up the West Regional so she can start playing basketball.

-- John Ortega