Latest news with #MichaelJohnson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kiolbassa Smoked Meats Announces Executive Leadership Transitions to Support Future Growth
Michael Johnson named President effective July 1, 2025; Bill Wagner appointed Executive Vice-Chairman; Jerry Carnes joins Senior Team SAN ANTONIO, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, the San Antonio-based smoked sausage company known for its premium products and purpose-driven culture, today announced a strategic leadership transition effective July 1, 2025, marking the beginning of its FY26. Michael Johnson has been named President of the company, while current President Bill Wagner will transition into the newly created role of Executive Vice-Chairman. In addition, Vice President of Sales Jerry Carnes will assume expanded management responsibilities and join the company's Senior Team. The succession plan was created by Michael Kiolbassa and unanimously approved by the company's Board of Directors and Advisory Board in the latest board meeting. "Michael Johnson is a remarkable leader whose deep understanding of our business, operational excellence, and values-driven leadership make him the ideal person to guide us into our next chapter," said Michael Kiolbassa, CEO and Chairman of the Board. "He has grown alongside this company—from summer intern to executive leader—and has earned the full confidence of our board, our team, and our family." Johnson joined Kiolbassa Smoked Meats full-time after earning his MBA from Texas Tech University and has held numerous leadership roles over his 18-year tenure, including Director of Marketing, Senior Vice President of Organizational Development & Finance, and most recently, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer. He played a key role in integrating Values-Based Leadership and the Great Game of Business into the company culture. Johnson has had a major role in the company's implementation of Lean Manufacturing Principles throughout the organization, and he co-developed the company's strategic business pillars in 2022 which have guided the company's growth for the past three years. "I'm incredibly honored and thankful for the opportunity to serve as President of Kiolbassa Provision Company. This company has played a major role in my life over the past two decades, and I'm grateful for the trust placed in me. I'm committed to carrying forward our legacy of integrity, quality, and care for our people as we continue building a business that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others," said Johnson. Current President Bill Wagner, who has led the company since July 2022 as its first non-family president, will transition to Executive Vice-Chairman. In this role, he will serve as a strategic advisor to the Senior Team, with a special focus on mentoring the Finance department and supporting long-term planning as a member of the Board of Directors. "Bill's steady leadership and commitment to building a lasting legacy for our family business have been invaluable," said Kiolbassa. "He has accomplished more than we imagined possible in just a few years, and his continued presence will be instrumental as we move forward." The company also announced that Jerry Carnes, Vice President of Sales, will assume expanded responsibilities in managing the sales function and will join the Senior Team. This change reflects Kiolbassa's continued investment in leadership development and the importance of a strong, aligned sales strategy. "I'm excited for what the future holds with Michael Johnson at the helm, supported by a deeply talented leadership team," said Kiolbassa. "With strong leaders all aligned, I'm confident in our continued growth and ability to enrich lives across the communities we serve." About Kiolbassa Smoked MeatsFounded in 1949 by Rufus and Juanita Kiolbassa on the west side of San Antonio, Kiolbassa Smoked Meats has grown from a local meat company into a nationally distributed brand known for its handcrafted, slow-smoked sausages made with premium cuts of meat. The company remains family-owned and committed to enriching lives through honest food, meaningful service, and purpose-led leadership. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kiolbassa Provision Co. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Olympic Legend Michael Johnson speaks to Eagles about maintaining Championship mindset
Olympic Legend Michael Johnson speaks to Eagles about maintaining Championship mindset While in Philadelphia to promote 'Grand Slam Track', Olympic Legend Michael Johnson spoke to Eagles recently about maintaining their Championship mindset The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions, and a team with All-Pros at key positions and a swagger to match is now the hunted. Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni searches for ways to keep his team motivated, and after one recent OTA practice, he had one of track & field's most accomplished athletes speak to his team. Olympic Legend Michael Johnson is in Philadelphia to preview this Week's Grand Slam Track Event, and stopped by the NovaCare Complex to give the Eagles some game and motivation ahead of a gauntlet of 17 games. Johnson jokingly talked about not knowing much about losing, but counseled Saquon Barkley on greatness and handed out gems to a young and confident roster. Johnson became an Olympic Champion four times and a World Champion eight times in the span of his career. He held the world and Olympic records in the 200-meter and 400-meter, as well as the world record in the indoor 400 m. He also once held the world record in the 300-meter. Johnson is generally considered one of the greatest and most consistent sprinters in the history of track and field. Johnson is the only male athlete to win both the 200 meters and 400 meters events at the same Olympics, a feat he accomplished at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Johnson is also the only man to successfully defend his Olympic title in the 400 m, having done so at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
NBC Sports
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Johnson reveals favorite Grand Slam Track moment
Michael Johnson stops by with Nick Zaccardi ahead of Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia, doling out his favorite moment of the season so far, advice for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, and more.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How To Watch Grand Slam Track Philadelphia 2025: Stream Info, Schedule
Grand Slam Track commissioner and founder Michael Johnson was not shy about making changes halfway through his league's inaugural campaign, and so the third installment of the professional track series, which will land in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday at Franklin Field, has shifted its approach. Gone are three days of track coverage spread across three television windows. In its place is a pared down schedule which includes two full days of action set for Grand Slam Track Philadelphia. As the series stop in Miami illustrated, that could bode well for performances event wide. However, there are some important scratches. Citius Mag reported Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell and reigning GST Miami short hurdles champion is out due to injury. While that may make the road to a Slam win a bit easier for Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone--who's dropping down in distance--it will dampen the mood. Late last week, we also wondered whether Fred Kerley would return to the meet after his arrest in Miami, though The New York Times reported the league has suspended Kerley until his legal situation is resolved. Wondering how and where to watch and what the major storylines will be? Like the first two series stops, this one will be no different. The two-day meet will stream from start to finish on Peacock and will broadcast live on the CW. Former ESPN anchor John Anderson and Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross will provide commentary, while a series of voices will round out the broadcast booth. Day 1 will air on Saturday, May 31 from 4 p.m. CST to 7 p.m. CST, while Day 2 will follow on Sunday, June 1 from 3 p.m. CST to 6 p.m. CST. Live results can be found on the event website at Grand Slam Track. You can't lose with either short hurdle category. In the men's field, Trey Cunningham enters on a supreme high following a career-best time of 13 seconds at Grand Slam Track Miami, which elevated the former Florida State star into another level. However, he wasn't even the fastest man on the day. Halfway across the world, Cordell Tinch became the fourth-fastest man in world history at the Diamond League Xiamen, clocking a ridiculous time of 12.87 seconds. Rarely this early in a track season do you find two athletes not only racing, but also battling for a massive amount of money. With the stakes that come from winning--and a $100,000 haul--these two surely will make the short hurdles a must-see event. The women's hurdle field, meanwhile, will feature Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who is dropping down in distance after two dominating efforts in the long hurdles category. The last time Queen Sydney ran the short hurdles? That effort came last May in California in a time of 12.71 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone owns a personal best of 12.65 for the distance. With Russell out, will Tia Jones – who ran 12.19 to finish second in Miami – cruise for the victory? Her performance in Miami was second in U.S. history and the third-fastest time ever recorded. And how about the men's sprints? Kenny Bednarek will go for the trifecta in Philadelphia – and he no doubt is in peak form after times of 9.79 and 19.84 in Miami -- though Christian Coleman and Christian Miller could offer some stiff opposition. Miller is the youngest participant in Grand Slam Track's (short) history. It makes sense that he's in Philadelphia, considering he owns the facility record at 9.95 seconds. Four athletes remain undefeated as champions of Grand Slam Track: Kenny Bednarek (short sprints), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (short sprints), Grant Fisher (long distance), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (long hurdles). Who will walk away with three straight wins? On paper, Fisher and Jefferson-Wooden may have the smoothest roads ahead. Fisher has proven to be a meticulous tactician in managing the long distance events (which have now scaled back to one event), though new entrants Nico Young and Graham Blanks could be thorns in his side. Jefferson-Wooden, meanwhile, will once again go up against GST Jamaica long sprints winner Gabby Thomas, though with her 100 meter prowess and outright balance, she may be too much for anyone to challenge. With the schedule pared down, all twenty-four track events will now be spread across two days. The men's and women's categories feature short distance (800 meters, 1,500 meters), long distance (3,000 meters), long hurdles (400 meter hurdles, 400 meters), short hurdles (100/110 meter hurdles, 100 meters), short sprints (100 meters, 200 meters) and long sprints (200 meters, 400 meters). Each category will feature eight athletes across two events. The winner of each category will take home $100,000, while the total prize pool is $262,500 in each discipline–with the exemption being long distance, which will feature half of the prize money following the elimination of the 5,000 meter run. The total pot across the remaining Grand Slam Track locations in Philadelphia and Los Angeles is $5.77 million. Men's Short Sprints: Kenny Bednarek, Zharnel Hughes, Andre De Grasse, Christian Miller, Christian Coleman, Bryan Levell, Udodi Onwuzurike and Aaron Brown. Men's Long Sprints: Matthew Hudson-Smith, Muzala Samukonga, Steven Gardiner, Alexander Ogando, Khaleb McRae, Matthew Boling, Jereem Richards and JeVaughn Powell. Men's Short Distance: Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse, Marco Arop, Hobbs Kessler, Josh Hoey, Elliot Giles and Samuel Chapple. Men's Long Distance: Grant Fisher, Ronald Kwemoi, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Ky Robinson, Edwin Kurgat, Andrew Coscoran, Graham Blanks and Nico Young. Men's Short Hurdles: Freddie Crittenden, Sasha Zhoya, Daniel Roberts, Trey Cunningham, Jakub Szymański, Lorenzo Simonelli, Cordell Tinch and Jamal Britt. Men's Long Hurdles: Alison dos Santos, Clément Ducos, Caleb Dean, Trevor Bassitt, Chris Robinson, CJ Allen, Assinie Wilson and Gerald Drummond. Women's Short Sprints: Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown, Daryll Neita, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Tamari Davis, Thelma Davis, Dina Asher-Smith, Jadyn Mays. Women's Long Sprints: Nickish Pryce, Alexis Holmes, Marileidy Paulino, Laviai Nielson, Jessika Gbai, Sharlene Mawdsley, Salwa Eid Naser and Isabella Whittaker. Women's Short Distance: Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Diribe Welteji, Nia Akins, Abbey Caldwell, Addy Wiley, Mary Moraa and Georgia Hunter Bell. Women's Long Distance: Nozomi Tanaka, Tsige Gebreselama, Agnes Ngetich, Weini Kelati, Medina Eisa, Josette Andrews, Elise Cranny and Ejgayehu Taye. Women's Short Hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Ackera Nugent, Danielle Williams, Christina Clemons, Tonea Marshall, Megan Tapper, Ditaji Kambundji and Tia Jones. Women's Long Hurdles: Shamier Little, Rushell Clayton, Jasmine Jones, Ayomide Folorunso, Lina Nielson, Andrenette Knight, Anna Cockrell and Dalilah Muhammad.
NBC Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE AND GABBY THOMAS HEADLINE GRAND SLAM TRACK IN PHILADELPHIA LIVE ON PEACOCK THIS WEEKEND
Penultimate Event of Michael Johnson's New Track League Begins Exclusively on Peacock This Saturday, May 31, at 4 p.m. ET from Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Live Competition Continues Sunday at 3 p.m. ET Multiple Olympic Medalists Expected to Compete This Weekend including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek, and Cole Hocker STAMFORD, Conn. – May 28, 2025 – Two-time reigning Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and three-time Paris Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas headline Grand Slam Track, the new and innovative track league founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, from Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa., this Saturday, May 31, at 4 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. The two-day event – called a 'Slam' – will continue Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock. This is the penultimate Slam of the league's inaugural season. This week's Slam is expected to feature an elite lineup of Olympians, including two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, Olympic 1500m gold medalist Cole Hocker, Paris Olympic 400m gold medalist Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic), Paris Olympic 1500m silver medalist Jess Hull (Australia), Paris Olympic 5000m/10,000m bronze medalist Grant Fisher, two-time Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medalist Alison dos Santos (Brazil), three-time world champion Christian Coleman, and more. Franklin Field is home to the iconic Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track & field competition in the U.S. that regularly attracts over 15,000 competitors per year. Constructed in 1895, Franklin Field remains the oldest still-operating college football stadium in the country and was home to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles from 1958-1970. Founded by Johnson in 2024, Grand Slam Track prioritizes head-to-head competition over times, with a star-studded roster of 48 Racers competing against 48 Challengers. The athletes participate in one of the following event groups: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors' final placement scores are be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races, with the winner of each Slam event group taking home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor earning $10,000. In the Racer of the Year standings, McLaughlin-Levrone tops the season-long leaderboard as the only unbeaten woman with 48 points thus far. Two-time Paris Olympic medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden trails her with 42 points. On the men's side, both Bednarek and dos Santos have 48 points, with Bednarek leading due to his higher dominance score (55.25 to 50.25). 1984 Olympic 1500m silver medalist Steve Cram will call the races alongside Olympians Carrie Tollefson and Anson Henry, with Radzi Chinyanganya and Paris Olympic heptathlete Taliyah Brooks serving as trackside reporter. The pre- and post-Slam shows will be hosted by John Anderson alongside four-time Olympic gold medalist and NBC Sports' Sanya Richards-Ross and CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez. Peacock is the exclusive U.S. streaming home of Grand Slam Track, presenting all four Slams of the inaugural 2025 season live. Future locations and dates include UCLA's Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. (June 28-29). NBC Sports will present numerous prestigious outdoor track & field events this season, including the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on July 31-Aug. 3 from historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from Sept. 13-21. How To Watch – Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 1 (all times ET) 2025 NBC SPORTS GRAND SLAM TRACK SCHEDULE --NBC SPORTS--
