DETROIT (10/14/2013) -- Clay Shaw, a young and innovative face in the world of athletic marketing, will now call the Motor City home as he was named the new Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions at the University of Detroit Mercy.

"We are excited to welcome Clay to Detroit where he will be a solid addition to our external team and the University," stated Jason Horn Associate Director of Athletics. "He brings a lot of ingenuity to generate revenue and increase attendance plus a solid acumen for customer service."

Shaw – a native of Ohio – comes to UDM from Northwestern State University, where he joined the Demons' department as an Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotions in 2011 before being elevated to Director of Marketing and Revenue Development. Some of his responsibilities at NSU included developing a comprehensive sponsorship and group sales plan for their 14 varsity sports as he helped increase group ticket revenue for all ticketed sports by 276% from 2010 to 2011, increased group ticket revenue for all ticketed sports by 367% from 2011 to 2012 and saw an 8% overall ticket revenue increase for football and 35% revenue increase for men's and women's basketball.

Prior to joining NSU, Shaw spent two years with Bisk Education as a representative of Villanova University Online. There he assisted prospective students with graduate and undergraduate admission process and his sales goals exceeded at least 20% and referral goal by 7% in each completed term.

During his career, he gained experience with marketing internships at the University of New Mexico and the University of Tulsa before landing his first full-time job in college athletics as the promotions coordinator at California State University, Bakersfield. At all three of those stops, he was a catalyst to increase ticket sales and revenue, including an increase in group ticket revenue for fall sports by 229% from 2007 to 2008 with the CSU Roadrunners.

Shaw has also worked in professional athletics as a ticket representative for the Fresno Grizzlies Triple-A baseball team (San Francisco Giants) and the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

A 2003 graduate of the University of Toledo with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, he also completed coursework in business and marketing at UT. He was also enrolled at Bowling Green in 2006 for classes in sports marketing, while working as an athletics marketing assistant.

What They Are Saying About Clay Shaw
"He strikes me as hard working and devoted to his tasks as well as his development as a sports marketing professional." - Will Broussard, Ph.D. - Director of Athletics at Southern University

"I was always impressed with Clay's drive and innovative ideas.  He always challenged me to look at things differently.  He is going to be a real asset!"  - Derek Franks - Vice President of Sales for Fresno Grizzlies

"Clay Shaw is a very passionate professional that has continued to grow in the external arena of college athletics over the past two years at Northwestern State.  His ability to build relationships and generate external revenue will certainly allow the UDM Athletic Department to achieve greater success." - Todd Garzarelli - The University at Buffalo's Associate Athletic Director for Corporate and Strategic Partnerships

"Clay is a very passionate and hardworking employee.  He is very creative with a lot of ideas and I wish him the best of luck at UDM." Chris Lansdell - Assistant AD for Marketing and Promotions at Northwestern State University