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Robert J. Ruf began his career in sports marketing following a 10-year stint as a journalist. In 1980 he was named as Manager of Public Relations and Special Events for the Arvida Corporation, whose planned communities were the host site for major PGA Tour and international tennis events. In 1985, he joined the prestigious Nasdaq-100 Open staff (formerly Lipton Championships) as Director of Marketing. He also served as Vice President of Marketing Services & Promotions for the NBA's Miami Heat and General Manager of Sports Festivals, Inc., whose projects include management of the world's largest sporting goods trade show (The Super Show in Atlanta). In 1988 he was named finalist for the American Marketing Association's Marketer of the Year award for his work with the Lipton Championships and won the award a year later following the Heat's inaugural NBA season. He is a graduate of Indiana University. | 