ROSEMONT, Ill., Jan. 12, 2012 — Riddell announced today it has acquired Gunther’s Athletic Service, of Anaheim, California, a West Coast leader in helmet and protective reconditioning, and sales of sporting goods, uniforms and equipment. Riddell will maintain operations at Gunther’s facility in Anaheim, California, and deliver the same service offering. In addition, Bob Brown and Craig Drager, previous owners of Gunther’s, will remain in key sales and management roles. The terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.

“The acquisition of Gunther’s Athletic Service is part of Riddell’s ongoing effort to grow its brand presence in key areas of the country like the West Coast,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell Sports. “Gunther’s established helmet reconditioning business, combined with the deep heritage and protective benefits of the Riddell product line, allows us to service schools at a much deeper level.”

Founded in 1969, Gunther’s Athletic Service has developed one of the largest independent reconditioning businesses on the West Coast. As an original member of the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) and a licensed National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) reconditioner, Gunther’s is recognized for its quality reconditioning of helmets, shoulder pads, blocking pads, uniforms and other athletic equipment

About Riddell
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

About Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, the company has 31 facilities worldwide. More information is available at www.eastonbellsports.com.

Contact:
Erin Griffin(224) 585-5231eegriffin@riddellsports.com
OR Laura Moore (818) 902-5807lkmoore@eastonbellsports.com

CHICAGO – January 4, 2012 –Riddell announced today it will be the first manufacturer to provide users with an easy-to-read, initial season of use/maximum life label. The label will be affixed to the exterior of its helmets as part of Riddell’s commitment to designing and manufacturing football helmets and equipment to provide athletes with the highest level of protection possible.

The initial season of use/maximum life label clearly shows a helmet’s year of manufacture, as well as its maximum lifespan, so athletes, coaches and parents can easily determine when to replace their equipment. A new policy from the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) states any football helmet 10 years and older will no longer be eligible for reconditioning and recertification. This new label will be affixed to the back of every new Riddell helmet and any helmet reconditioned at a Riddell facility.

“It is important for schools to know the age of their helmets and recondition them each year to best protect athletes,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell Sports. “Our new system helps coaches and parents easily determine the age of a player’s helmet.”

This initiative is supported by Chairman Inez Tenenbaum of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which works to improve the safety of thousands of consumer products under its jurisdiction.

“I applaud Riddell for stepping forward and empowering parents, players, and coaches with information that could prevent injuries on the football field,” said CPSC Chairman Tenenbaum. “I am also very encouraged that other helmet manufacturers have responded to my call that this become an industry standard, as quickly as possible. Every parent, player, and coach should be able to look at the back of any helmet and instantly know whether that helmet might still be eligible for use.”

The initial season of use/maximum life label is now in effect for the upcoming 2012 football season for all new Riddell helmets and reconditioned helmets. For more information, visit www.riddell.com.

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, the company has 31 facilities worldwide. More information is available at www.eastonbellsports.com.

CHICAGO – Dec. 12, 2011 – Riddell, the official helmet of the National Football League®, and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) announced today an exclusive partnership to provide educational programs for athletic administrators. This partnership works to raise awareness of innovative equipment, technology and services among coaches and parents and furthers the organizations’ joint commitment to protecting football players at every level.

The NIAAA, an independent non-profit organization based in Indianapolis, promotes positive working relationships with state athletic administrators and state and national athletic associations. As a strategic partner of the NIAAA and recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation, Riddell will ensure that certified athletic administrators and athletic programs across the U.S. stay informed on the most important issues affecting athlete protection on the field.

“The NIAAA is a terrific organizational fit for Riddell. We share many of the same goals with its dedicated members such as our focus on improving junior high and high school athletic programs,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell Sports. “This partnership will have a direct positive impact for players and parents and represents a further extension of our commitment to football programs nationwide.”

Riddell, whose equipment is worn by players at all levels, will be woven into the NIAAA’s 12-month calendar of national events and initiatives. Riddell will provide educational opportunities for athletic administrators and directors on key issues such as proper helmet fitting, return-to-play counsel, helmet reconditioning and recertification services, safety standards and procedures, and emerging technologies.

“The NIAAA is excited to have football’s most respected protective sports equipment company as a partner,” said Bruce Whitehead, executive director of the NIAAA. “Our partnership with Riddell will help support the vital role of interscholastic athletics in the educational system, demonstrating how essential on-field leadership, sportsmanship and player safety is to students’ football experience.”

Riddell will offer the NIAAA its industry-leading protective technologies in the form of helmets and shoulder pads as well as comprehensive tutorials and educational resources for athletic administrators, coaches, parents and players throughout the year.

For more information about Riddell Sports, visit riddell.com. For more information about the National
Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, visit niaaa.org.

About Riddell
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

About Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, the company has 31 facilities worldwide. More information is available at www.eastonbellsports.com.

About the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Associatio preserves, enhances and promotes the educational values of interscholastic athletics through the professional development of its members in the areas of education, leadership, and service. The NIAAA’s commitment to leadership programs, resources and services support the athletic administrator’s efforts in providing quality athletic participation opportunities for students. The NIAAA promotes a positive working relationship with state athletic administrator and State and national athletic/activity associations in addition to developing strategic alliances with other education based agencies.

Rosemont, Ill. — October 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Riddell, the official helmet of the National Football League®, is taking an in-season time out to educate coaches, players and parents about how to properly inspect helmets and shoulder pads. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, football is the most popular sport for high school boys with more than a million participants.

Click here to view the complete Multimedia News Release.

CHICAGO – August 1, 2011 – Riddell and the Chicago Bears today announced that the Bears will be the first organization in the National Football League (NFL®) to offer its players Riddell’s new RipKord shoulder pad technology as part of the Bears’ standard equipment package during the 2011 season.
Riddell’s RipKord™ Shoulder Pad, introduced in June, 2011 at the National Athletic Trainer’s Association’s (NATA) 62nd Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia, is an emergency management technology that is incorporated into the Riddell CPX (Custom Power Extreme) shoulder pads. The new shoulder pad removal system provides more efficient and immediate access to an athlete’s chest and airway in the event of a suspected head, spine or chest injury. The RipKord Shoulder Pad allows athletic trainers and medical professionals to treat severe injuries during the crucial window of time.
“The removal of the shoulder pads and helmet continues to be a critical aspect of treating severe head, neck and chest injuries,” said Tim Bream, Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Bears. “Riddell’s RipKord Shoulder pads will not only serve our players better, but also are a key development which will be used by youth athletes across the country giving medical personnel the ability for improved care.”
RipKord was invented by Mike Kordecki, a Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer who worked Chicago Bears training camps in the 1980s and 90s, after seeing that it took six to 10 individuals to lift a player off a spinal board before they could remove equipment for treatment or evaluation procedures. The removal of shoulder pads with RipKord can now be accomplished by two trained professionals without removing the player from a spinal board. By pulling a single cord, shoulder pads outfitted with RipKord can be quickly and easily removed by two trained professionals without elevating a player.

“Riddell has a history of maintaining the highest levels of protection in its football equipment,” said Dan Arment, President of Riddell Sports. “We were thrilled with the Bears interest in this new technology from its earliest stages through refinement and development of the product. The Bears are leading by example and our goal is that other NFL teams will follow suit.”
For more information on Riddell RipKord visit www.riddell.com/innovation/ripkord.

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell, and Blackburn. Easton-Bell Sports’ products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., the company has 30 facilities worldwide.

ABOUT CHICAGO BEARS
One of the founding franchises of the National Football League, the Chicago Bears were originally established in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys by legendary player, coach and owner, George Halas. The team moved to Chicago in 1921 and has gone on to win the most games in league history along with nine championships. The Bears 27 Hall of Famers is the most of any team in the NFL. In the community, the Bears strive to be leaders throughout Chicago and its suburbs by supporting initiatives focused on Education, Health and Fitness, Youth Football, and Volunteerism and Civic Involvement.

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Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

Scott Hagel
Sr. Dir. Corporate Communications
Chicago Bears
(847) 739-5220
Scott.Hagel@bears.nfl.net

Rosemont, Ill. – June 20, 2011 – Riddell® today unveiled a new shoulder pad technology that could significantly improve the way in which spine and head injuries can be treated on the football field. The Riddell RipKord™ is being featured at the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) 62nd Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia this week in New Orleans. RipKord™ will be offered in Riddell CPX (Custom Power Extreme) shoulder pads this season and will soon be available to players at all levels of football.
“Riddell has a history of maintaining the highest levels of protection in its football equipment,” said Dan Arment, Riddell President. “RipKord’s emergency management technology allows athletic trainers and medical professionals to treat severe injuries during a critical window of time by allowing immediate access to the chest and airways.”
Removal of the shoulder pads and helmet continues to be challenging when treating injuries. Doctors and athletic trainers are often hindered in their efforts to access the injury for x-rays and MRIs or when placing a cervical collar on an injured player.
When dealing with apparent spinal injuries, the removal of shoulder pads with RipKord™ can be accomplished by no more than two trained professionals without removing the player from a spinal board. Current procedures require six to 10 individuals to lift a player off a spinal board even before they can remove equipment for treatment or evaluation procedures. By pulling a single cord, shoulder pads outfitted with RipKord™ can be quickly and easily removed by two trained professionals without elevating a player.
“The RipKord system is designed to provide a number of distinct advantages to athletic trainers and medical professionals when treating players on the field who have encountered head and spinal injuries,” said Mike Kordecki, former Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Bears and inventor of RipKord™. “This new shoulder pad removal system allows improved access to an athlete’s chest and airway in the event of a suspected head or neck injury. We believe that shoulder pads manufactured with RipKord™ can significantly improve the ability to evaluate and treat severe injuries during the critical window of time.”
For more information on Riddell RipKord™ visit www.riddell.com/innovation/ripkord.

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell, and Blackburn. Easton-Bell Sports’ products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., the company has 30 facilities worldwide.

ABOUT MICHAEL KORDECKI, D.P.T., S.C.S., A.T.C.
Michael Kordecki served as Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons. Today, he works with dozens of younger players from the high school and collegiate ranks, helping shape their futures through thoughtful and progressive rehabilitation techniques. Through his clinic, Praxis Physical Therapy and Human Performance, hundreds of patients have come to depend on his experienced analysis, straightforward counsel, and motivational guidance to successfully complete their courses of therapy or improve skills through his customized human performance programs. He holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy, from Finch University, The Chicago Medical School and is Board Certified as a Clinical Sports Medicine Specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and member of APTA and NATA (National Athletic Trainers Association).

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Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSL Group
(312) 861-5237
pr@riddellsports.com

“This is a continuation of our practice of encouraging football programs to transition to the most protective helmets available,” said Dan Arment, President, Riddell. “We are very pleased that our work to educate coaches, certified athletic trainers and parents since 2002 has led to the large majority of our customers transitioning their players to the Riddell Revolution® family. We remain committed to using the latest research and technologies to design football helmets with features that lessen the forces from impacts and help reduce the incidence of concussion.”

To take advantage of this trade-in program, please contact your Riddell sales representative at 1-800-275-5338.

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell,Giro, Riddell, and Blackburn. Easton-Bell Sports’ products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., the company has 30 facilities worldwide.

Download entire press release

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

April 12, 2011; (Van Nuys, CA) – Easton-Bell Sports today announced it will serve as an official sponsor of the “2011 National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) Plan Tour,” an initiative of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation (SJBF). PABI is the leading cause of death and disability for children and young adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 765,000 American youth enter an Emergency Department every year with a new traumatic brain injury, while more than 80,000 are hospitalized and over 11,000 die annually. The nationwide public awareness tour will visit more than 40 states along its journey, ending in the middle of June.

“Easton-Bell Sports and its associated brands – Riddell, Easton, Bell and Giro – are committed to providing the best head protection for athletes who play sports at all levels,” said Easton-Bell Sports President and CEO Paul Harrington. “We are very pleased to support the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, which shares a vision complementary to ours. We look forward to jointly working with the Foundation to help protect children and drive greater awareness of head injury issues.”

The tour will promote awareness of youth brain injuries to high schools across the country, as well as introduce the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan). The PABI Plan is the Sarah Jane Brain Project’s mission – to develop a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care universally accessible for all children/young adults and their families dealing with PABI, regardless of where they live. The tour will visit town hall meetings at local universities and hospitals, as well as professional, collegiate and youth sporting events to highlight the risks and symptoms associated with brain injuries. A complete list of tour visits can be found online here: www.Sports-CNN.com or on Facebook at SportsCNN.

“One of the causes of Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury is from Traumatic Brain Injury, which can be caused by any trauma to the head, including sports concussions,” said Sarah Jane Brain Foundation Founder Patrick Donohue. “We are grateful to Easton-Bell Sports for its contribution to helping the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation fight Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury, as well as its ongoing commitment to developing protective head equipment that helps save lives.”

About Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The Company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Riddell and Giro. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, Easton-Bell Sports has 29 facilities worldwide. More information is available at www.eastonbellsports.com.

About The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation is one of the largest organizations in the country dealing with the #1 leading cause of death and disability for American youth: pediatric acquired brain injury. Its International Advisory Board is comprised of over 200 leading experts from just about every major medical institution and research university across the country and they created the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) which develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that is universally accessible for the millions of PABI families across the country. For more information about the foundation please visit their website www.TheBrainProject.org

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

Youth, middle school and high school football programs are eligible to apply for football equipment grants from USA Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States. The online application resides at usafootball.com and is available through May 17.

Based on merit and need, USA Football will award $1 million in football equipment grants to assist and further strengthen America’s grassroots football community. USA Football’s grant program has assisted the youth and high school football community since 2006 and will have awarded more than $4 million worth of football equipment by the end of this year. The program is made possible through the NFL Youth Football Fund.

Youth leagues that are 501(c)(3) compliant and schools may submit equipment grant applications through 5 p.m. ET on May 17 at www2.usafootball.com/grants. Applications may be submitted online or mailed.

More than 4 million children and high school students play organized tackle football, placing the game among the country’s most popular youth and scholastic participatory sports.

Each selected youth league and middle school program receives a $1,000 package that offers a variety of football equipment and uniform options to choose from. High schools receive similar packages valued at $1,500. Equipment grants are fulfilled by Riddell, the official helmet and protective equipment partner of USA Football.

USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. The NFL Youth Football Fund is a non-profit foundation created by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and ensure the health of grassroots football for future generations.

Youth leagues and schools may employ their USA Football grant to follow new football helmet reconditioning protocols set forth by the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioning Association (NAERA). Effective at the end of the 2011 football season, any helmet 10 years old or older will not be reconditioned or recertified by a NAERA member.

“Our equipment grants help youth leagues and school football programs continue to make a positive impact in their communities through America’s favorite sport,” USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. “Even with multiple fundraisers and registration fees, some organizations struggle to properly equip their teams. We’re proud to help ensure great football experiences for the young people, families and volunteers who power this sport and celebrate its values of teamwork and sportsmanship.”

Independent nonprofit USA Football offers innovative programs and development resources to ensure a positive football experience for youth and high school players. USA Football members – players, coaches, youth league commissioners and game officials – reside in all 50 states.

About USA Football

USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

(CHICAGO, August 10, 2010) – A federal court jury in Madison, Wis., has found that Schutt Sports Inc.’s DNA and ION football helmets infringed the concussion reduction technology features of the Riddell Revolution family of football helmets. The jury awarded Riddell just under $30 million in damages for Schutt’s infringing activities.
Riddell, the leading manufacturer of football helmets and a division of Easton-Bell Sports, had filed the original three-count federal court complaint in December 2008. Riddell had contended that Schutt, the company’s chief competitor, had illegally infringed upon Riddell’s patented concussion reduction technologies for football helmets and faceguards. The Riddell patents protect key technological features of helmets and faceguards that offer wearers greater injury protection, performance and personal comfort. The suit had alleged that despite Riddell’s patent protection, Schutt had unlawfully misappropriated Riddell’s head protection technology without permission.
“Riddell is the industry leader in football helmet safety and we have invested millions of dollars in technology and helmet design innovation to ensure we are providing the very best head protection available,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell. “We are pleased and gratified that the jury recognized that the concussion reduction technology of our helmet inventions as embodied in the Revolution family of helmets was wrongfully infringed by Schutt. We will continue to vigorously and thoroughly defend any patent infringements against our helmet and protective equipment designs and technologies.”

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ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell, and Blackburn. Easton-Bell Sports’ products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., the company has 30 facilities worldwide.

PRESS RELEASE
For media inquiries, please contact Jillian Chertok. 212-468-4306 PR@riddellsports.com

IN THE NEWS

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com