US Speedskating/Board of Directors News

[Deleted]

Missed this information from early April.

USOC CLOSES IRVINE, CALIFONRIA OFFICES

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that it has decided to allow the lease on its office space in Irvine, Calif., to expire at the end of June 2010, with the intention of relocating its International Relations Division to Colorado Springs, Colo. The USOC has offered its entire Irvine-based staff a relocation offer to work at the new USOC Headquarters in Colorado Springs. Severance packages will be made available for those who choose not to make the move.
Robert Fasulo, chief of international relations, has decided not to relocate and will step down in order to pursue other international opportunities in the global Olympic Movement. Fasulo will stay on through August 31 as the International Relations team transitions to Colorado Springs.

"The decision to close our Irvine office wasn't one that was taken lightly, but our lease was up and it no longer made sense for us to have an office in Irvine," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "While there were very good reasons in the past to have staff based in Irvine, that is no longer the case. I am looking forward to bringing our international relations group to Colorado Springs where it can work closely with the rest of the team. I'm grateful to Robert for his tireless and dedicated service to the USOC, and I'm thankful that he is willing to stay on during this transition."

Fasulo was responsible for the USOC's overall international relations strategy for the past four years, where he re-energized the USOC's international presence and outreach. During his tenure, the USOC's international efforts included hosting more than 5,000 coaches, athletes and officials from more than 150 countries at the U.S. Olympic training centers. In addition, he helped forged new partnerships within the Olympic Movement, including bilateral agreements with the National Olympic Committees of Russia, Great Britain, China, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

"My experience working with the USOC, our athletes and NGBs has not only been incredibly rewarding but also an honor for me," said Fasulo. "I am very proud of what we have accomplished in the past four years. Leaving the USOC has been a very difficult decision for me and my family, but I look forward to expanding my opportunities in the international Olympic arena."

The USOC will move into a new headquarters building, made possible by the generous support of the City of Colorado Springs and local philanthropic organizations, in April 2010. The USOC will continue to maintain a New York, N.Y., office dedicated to marketing and sponsorship, as well as an office in Washington, D.C., whose focus is federal government relations. No changes are planned for Olympic training centers in Lake Placid, N.Y., or Chula Vista, Calif.

[Laura (Lori)]

Well, we officially have a new Leader - congratulations and the best of luck to you, Mark!

US Speedskating Names Mark Greenwald as Executive Director
posted by Linda Jager - Jul. 06, 2010 12:23 AM

KEARNS, Utah (July 6, 2010) - The US Speedskating Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Greenwald as executive director. Greenwald brings over two decades of experience to the organization as a two-time Olympian and an internationally recognized executive in the sport of speedskating.

Read more at:
speedskating.teamusa.org/news/2010/07/06/us-speedskating-names-mark-greenwald-as-executive-director/37039

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Tags: Short Track Speedskating

A native of Park Ridge, IL, Greenwald began his career as a long track speedskater in 1979. Quickly rising through the US Speedskating pipeline, Greenwald joined the U.S. National Team in 1983 in the sport of short track speedskating. He transitioned to long track in 1986, and by 1990 he was the U.S. National Champion in the 5000m and 10000m distances and represented the U.S. in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Winter Games. Following a successful competitive career, he relocated to Calgary in 1993 and began a successful 16-year tenure moving from coach to an eventual executive position with the Calgary Olympic Oval.

Greenwald completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, and received a MS in Kinesiology/Motor Learning from the University of Calgary. Known worldwide in the sport as a builder of renowned speed skating programs, he worked to develop areas of involvement that provided University of Calgary students opportunities to explore and learn in the Olympic Oval environment supporting research and practicum opportunities through the Oval Research Group; an initiative he envisioned, as well as serving on the Olympic Oval High Performance Fund Committee, a group that awarded grants to promising students performing research in high performance sport. Greenwald created the Oval Research Group building a formal context and bridging the relationship between students, coaches and researchers for the advancement of high performance sport research initiatives.

Outside the sport of speedskating, Greenwald has also worked on the foundation of many new sport initiatives, such as the National and Western Women’s Hockey Leagues, both semi-pro initiatives for female hockey players and the highest level of play outside of World Championships and Olympic Games. He was a founding member of the WWHL and served as one of the original Governors of league for the Olympic Oval X-Treme - the most accomplished female hockey team in the world next to the Canadian National Team, and a team that has provided the base for many of its members.

"US Speedskating is pleased to have Mark join us as our executive director,” said US Speedskating President Brad Goskowicz. “His extensive experience as a world class competitor and program director in both long and short track speedskating makes him a great fit as we rebuild our long track program and extend our very successful short track program. Mark will bring a new energy, as well as stability, to US Speedskating as we move forward toward Sochi in 2014. Mark has the full trust and respect of the US Speedskating Board, evidenced by the unanimous Board resolution to offer him this position," added Goskowicz.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to build on the tradition of excellence that US Speedskating has established over many years, and I look forward the challenge of ensuring such a proud legacy," said Greenwald. "US Speedskating is a sport with a strong base of values and long tradition of producing both great champions and great people. It's combines discipline, dedication, hard work and precision, yet still maintains excitement and action with an X Games appeal. I look forward to ensuring the needs of the current athletes and membership, while also courting a new generation of participants into this fantastic sport and organization."

Greenwald joins US Speedskating on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.[/img]

[Laura (Lori)]

I'm seeing some things in the following article that have been made public for the first time: Nike has departed as a sponsor; Derek Parra was not re-signed (because they could not justify paying his salary when so many of the skaters are training elsewhere).

Sprint coach Ryan Shimabukuru is now 'juggling both jobs'.

Other things of note: The skaters have not received training stipends (meager as they were) since the Olympics; and Bob Crowley is now the Executive Director of US Waterskiing (boy, talk about a sea change!).

But a glimmer of hope - "At least, the situation is not quite as bad as the one Crowley inherited four years ago. The federation had virtually ground to a halt after Turin, with mounting debt, only one coach (Shimabukuru) and no training or development systems in place. Within a year, the organization also was consolidating its headquarters and training programs in Utah."

Here's the link to the article:

U.S. Speedskating: New boss says he is up to the challenge
By Michael C. Lewis / The Salt Lake Tribune / July 17, 2010

KEARNS - Maybe it wasn't as grim as four years ago, but the scene that greeted Mark Greenwald when he started work last week as the executive director of U.S. Speedskating was hardly the most inspiring:

Empty cubicles.

Few sponsors.

And money?

Let's just say his first day on the job did not involve stuffing cash into briefcases at the Utah Olympic Oval.

But for all of the challenges facing U.S. Speedskating amid another chaotic round of post-Olympic shuffling, the 41-year-old two-time Olympian is hopeful and confident that he can smooth what has become a turbulent ride for one of the nation's most successful winter sports federations.

Read More:

www.allbusiness.com/sports-recreation/sports-regulation-policy-sports/14826303-1.html

Tags: Short Track Speedskating
"I'm here to make this organization successful and nothing else," he said. "I want to build an unparalleled program to anywhere in the world."

On the ice, it's already close.

Speedskaters and short-track skaters accounted for 10 of the 37 medals the United States won at the 2010 Vancouver Games, after winning 10 medals at the 2006 Turin Games in Italy and 11 at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.

Many sports federations "would kill to have near that amount of medals," said Brad Goskowicz, the president of U.S. Speedskating.

But Goskowicz also acknowledged a sense of disappointment after the Olympics, when several medal hopefuls did not live up to expectations and the federation fell two medals short of its goal.

Add the financial strain caused by a sponsorship drought amid the poor economy -- the Dutch bank DSB went bankrupt last year, and Nike is among the sponsors that have not renewed their deals -- the dismissal of most coaches and a hopeful but skeptical group of athletes, and Greenwald expects to have his hands full.

"It's part of this job," he said. "There's a very high expectation to achieve. If you take a role like this, you know what you're getting into when you start."

Still, Greenwald has high hopes.

He aspires to find new sponsors around the world, improve coaching development, reconnect with alumni and use his collaborative skills and sport-building experience -- he was a longtime program manager and director at the Calgary Olympic Oval, before coming to Utah -- to build an enviable program.

But first, he must hire a new high-performance director, figure out the budget, and formulate a plan for the build-up to the 2014 Sochi Games in Russia that the U.S. Olympic Committee must approve before it resumes its financial support of the federation.

Skaters have not received training stipends since the Vancouver Games, and many have grown frustrated with the seemingly perpetual changes.

"Rightly so," Greenwald said. "They've been talked to a lot. So I don't expect, just because I come in and I say this and that and everything else, that they believe me. I totally feel I have to prove myself, and I have no issue with that. I say don't listen to what I say, watch what I do and see how I put my money where my mouth is."

While the short-track program has maintained some consistency with the retention of coach Jae-Su Chun, the long-track all-rounders are on their fourth coach in four years, after two-time Olympic medalist Derek Parra was not re-signed -- partly because so few of them still train within the national program in Utah.

Many train on their own elsewhere, and the federation did not feel it could afford to pay Parra to coach just a few athletes. It gave his job to sprint coach Ryan Shimabukuru, who must juggle both jobs and devise a way for all the athletes to flourish, though Goskowicz hopes that's only a temporary situation.

"It's a huge challenge," Shimabukuru said. "I'm not going to lie."

Greenwald himself is the third executive director in a matter of months, having replaced former Park City mayor Brad Olch, who took over in an interim role when Robert Crowley left after the Vancouver Games and became the executive director of USA Waterskiing.

Olch wanted the job permanently, and told the Park Record that he believes he didn't get it because he "pushed back on some things" conflicting with the board of directors, which has long been embroiled in assorted conflicts with various factions within the organization.

"The athletes right now are suffering," Parra said.

At least, the situation is not quite as bad as the one Crowley inherited four years ago.

The federation had virtually ground to a halt after Turin, with mounting debt, only one coach (Shimabukuru) and no training or development systems in place. Within a year, the organization also was consolidating its headquarters and training programs in Utah.

"That was a lot more traumatic," Goskowicz recalled.

Many in the speedskating community believe Greenwald was a good choice as executive director and has the potential to turn things around -- "we're excited to have him," short-tracker Travis Joyner said -- even as many of his most successful athletes such as Apolo Anton Ohno wind down their careers.

Greenwald was hired in part because of his lifelong background in the sport -- he competed at the Olympics in 1988 and 1992 -- and his experience in a variety of roles, which he hopes will allow him to negotiate the myriad challenges he's about to face. He said he doesn't blame coaches, athletes and parents for being wary, but hopes they will give him the chance to prove himself.

"I have a lot of work to do," he said. "But this is what I do in my life. This is my passion. This is more than a job for me. I live this. I care about the sport, personally. ... I didn't come here to do anything less than succeed. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here wasting my time or anybody else's."[/img]

[Laura (Lori)]

Press release from BMW... though this is a USOC sponsorship, it affects USS, as it is one of the four NGB's (National Governing Boards) that BMW will be sponsoring.

BMW Group Announces Six-Year Partnership with United States Olympic Committee
Partnership Includes Support of USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming, USA Track & Field

www.bmwusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=389&mid=1

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 26, 2010… BMW Group announced today it will be the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) from now through 2016. BMW Group will also be the Official Mobility Partner of four National Governing Bodies (NGBs): USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field.

Jack Pitney, Vice President of Marketing for BMW of North America, USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird and short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian of all time, were all in New York City to make the partnership announcement.

This multi-million dollar agreement goes beyond financial support to also provide the USOC with fundraising opportunities and the four individual NGBs with BMW Group technical expertise. BMW Group will use its experts, deep technology base and facilities to help the Olympic and Paralympic Teams improve their training and performance. An example of this has been the company’s work with BMW ORACLE Racing to improve its performance. BMW Group’s expertise in light weight construction and aerodynamics helped the BMW Oracle Racing Team design a technically advanced yacht that won the America’s Cup sailing competition this year.

“As a company dedicated to joy, performance and efficiency, BMW Group is a fitting partner for the USOC, whose mission of achieving sustained competitive excellence and inspiring Americans dovetails perfectly with our own values,” said Pitney. “It is important to us to add substantive value to a partnership that is more than just a financial sponsorship. We are excited to share our resources, which include some of the world’s leading engineers and technology experts and an enthusiastic owner and dealer community, with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the next six years.”

Pitney revealed that BMW Group will also raise awareness for the Olympic Movement by supporting cause-related efforts to generate additional funds to support the training of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls.

“BMW is a premier, powerful brand that is recognized for competitive excellence and dynamic performance, just like our U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams,” said USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun. “Joining together these two performance-driven organizations will provide a tremendous asset to America’s top athletes while providing the unique value of investing in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. We thank BMW Group for providing this tremendous funding for our athletes and, through future activation, keeping the Olympic spirit burning bright.”

BMW Group (including BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad) will be the Official Mobility Partner of the USOC, as well as the 2012, 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and the 2011 and 2015 U.S. Pan American and Parapan American Teams. BMW Group will develop exclusive programs to support Team USA and will have a presence at the three Olympic Training Centers. These facilities welcome America’s top athletes to live and train among the nation’s best, including bobsled and skeleton sliders, speedskaters, swimmers, and track & field standouts.

BMW Group will also have a presence at the major events of the four NGBs, beginning with the USA Swimming National Championships August 3-7, 2010, in Irvine, California. BMW Group’s sponsorship of USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field will include support for coaching and training programs, as well as increasing awareness of the NGBs and their athletes.
“Sponsors are critical to the success of Team USA,” said Ohno. “What's truly unique about BMW is their willingness to go beyond financial assistance and make available their engineers and technology experts to work with Team USA athletes and try to enhance their training programs."

BMW has a long standing commitment – globally and in the U.S. – to performance-driven sports. Within Motorsports, BMW of North America is currently campaigning the M3 GT2 in the American Le Mans Series. BMW of North America is also the title sponsor of the BMW Championship, the third tournament in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the Fed Ex Cup. The BMW ORACLE Racing Team recently won the America’s Cup, bringing the trophy back to American soil for the first time in more than a decade.

BMW Group also has a long standing commitment to the Olympic Movement. BMW played an active role in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, the home of BMW Group. In 1996, BMW Group was a sponsor of the Atlanta Olympic Games and U.S. Olympic Team. Now with two years to go until the London Olympic Games, BMW UK is proud to be the Automotive Partner and a Sustainability Partner of London 2012.

BMW Group’s partnership with the USOC is one more example of the company’s commitment to America. BMW Group entered the U.S. market in 1968 and since then has been a solid contributor to America’s economic, social, and sustainable advancement. Today, the U.S. is BMW Group’s second home with a growing footprint. BMW Group has manufacturing, engineering, design and technology centers which employ 7,000 people and has built more than 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. to date. Direct and indirect employment accounts for 50,000 jobs in the U.S. Its Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility is the largest new vehicle exporter to non-NAFTA countries, contributing to America’s positive trade balance.

For a link to photos, video and more information about BMW Group’s USOC partnership, please visit: www.bmwusanews.com/sport or www.newscastus.com/mediablast/BMW/100079/100079.html for a multi-media press release.

Tags: Apolo Anton Ohno / Short Track Speedskating

[Deleted]

For USS Members--did you know there is a members' link now with discounts to places like 24-hour fitness; Hertz & Hilton Hotels. A percentage goes to support the athletes. The 24-hour Fitness offer expires January 5, 2011. You can join 24 Hour online at the USS site.

[Deleted]

US Speedskating Board Transitions in Preparation for Sochi 2014

KEARNS, UT (May 16, 2011) - The US Speedskating Board of Directors has announced today that Brad Goskowicz (Ham Lake, MN) will step down as president effective June 1, 2011, and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors through the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Goskowicz has served on the Board of Directors for twenty years, including the last five years as President. He was most recently unanimously reelected as president in May 2010. "It was important to maintain continuity and stability after some major changes in staff and the normal fiscal instability following the successful 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver," Goskowicz stated. "By hiring, Mark Greenwald as executive director we now have an established leader that has the experience and energy to take US Speedskating to the next level." "In addition, our athletes have just completed our most successful year in our history and Mark has done a great job in stabilizing our finances and building a very strong staff."

Goskowicz is a former elite-level short track speedskater, sport official and parent of Olympic short track skaters Tony and Julie, who’s careers spanned three Olympic Games (1994, 1998, 2002). Goskowicz has been instrumental in modernizing the US Speedskating bylaws, relocating the US Speedskating National Headquarters, restructuring development and providing leadership to ensure financial stability at a difficult time for US Speedskating.

“People are what make the difference in the sport of speedskating,” said Mark Greenwald, executive director of US Speedskating. “We are an incredibly tight knit group, with individuals who are fiercely passionate, wish to see the sport successful, and desire to give back to a sport that was a special part of their lives. Brad Goskowicz, as one can clearly see, is one of those people that have lived this sport in almost every capacity one could imagine. He has given back generously, and I have appreciated his experience, guidance, assistance, and time through this latest transition of USS. On behalf of the sport, I offer a great thanks for his many years of service to speedskating.”

Goskowicz is the Chief Executive Officer for Minneapolis-based Microbiologics, the worldwide leader in supplying strain specific bacteria for quality control, in clinical, research, and quality laboratories in the food, health, pharmaceutical and instrument industries.

Current US Speedskating Vice President, Tom Frank (Westlake, Ohio) will assume the position of Interim President until he is officially elected at the US Speedskating Board Meeting to be held in Salt Lake City on September 9th, 2011. At that time, the position of Vice President will be filled by board election as well.

Frank is an Anesthesiologist Assistant currently with the Cleveland Clinic in the Cleveland area. He has been practicing since 1978. A board member since 2006, Frank also serves as Chairman of US Speedskating’s Membership and Program Development Committee, and is in his 10th year as President of the Ohio Speedskating Association. Additionally, Frank has been a meet director and official at numerous regional, national and international speedskating competitions.

"With the recent completion of a very successful season as we end the first year of a new quadrennial, I am excited about the future of speedskating here in the United States,” said Frank. “We have a new executive director in place working hard along with the staff and coaches towards Olympic success in Sochi in 2014, and growth within the organization itself. I feel confident progress is happening and look forward to working with Mark Greenwald, the board, staff, sponsors and the members of US Speedskating.”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Brad Goskowicz for his leadership as president these past five years. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Brad on the board as we move forward during this quadrennium," added Frank.

The US Speedskating Board of Directors has also announced today that longtime Board Member and Treasurer Jack Mortell (Evanston, IL) has resigned from the board. Mortell, a former World Short Track Team member, represented the U.S. in numerous World Championships, as head coach for the Short Track Team in the 1992 Olympic Games, as team leader for the Short Track Olympic Team in 1994, 2002 and 2010, and has served on the US Speedskating Board for 5 years. Mortell has been requested to lend his experience to US Speedskating as a High Performance Project Specialist, lending his over 40 years of experience and knowledge to specific initiatives for the organization. Mortell will work with US Speedskating’s staff assisting them to bring a new level of qualitative and analytical performance analysis to the high performance programs.

“Brad’s strength as president was selecting and placing the right person for the right task and then allowing that person to succeed,” said Mortell. “Executive Director Mark Greenwald is a good example of Brad’s insight. Mark’s hand selected High Performance Team combines experts with proven success from the U.S. and around the globe. I’m delighted to be working with this team providing insight and tools for them to use while making informed high performance decisions. I’m excited for US Speedskating as it prepares for Sochi 2014 and beyond. It is not by accident that U.S. speedskaters have won more winter Olympic medals than any other U.S. Olympic winter sport. I am confident the tradition will continue,” added Mortell.

Following their outstanding 2010-2011 season, winning 68 World Cup medals and four World Championship titles, the US Speedskating athletes have returned to training this month at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, WI and the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, UT. The 2011-2012 competition season opens with the American Cup Series/Short Track Fall World Cup Team Trials in St. Louis, MO on October 1-2.

[Laura (Lori)]

[sk8er]

Not unexpected. Jack Mortell is an amazing person. He was very very receptive to getting the fans involved in USS after the 2002 Olympics and he remained accessable and passionate about short track to anyone who would listen. He had strong opinions and brought his extensive experience to bear on those whenever I had a discussion with him back in the day. It is true that the ST community is small and tight, and perhaps could have used more openness at times. They didn't always handle personnel selections in the most forthright manner, but you've got remember these folks did have day jobs and families in addition to all this work for USS. These folks have taken a lot of criticism, moi included, but their love and dedication to the sport are clear. It's a sad commentary that very few people in this country give this level of help to local and national institutions. That may be the real measure of those who say they love speedskating. Salute! Jack....and Brad.

SusanG

[Laura (Lori)]

Dang, I wish I had the Video Editing and 'Relocation to SLC' skills necessary for this job... (well, and I'm a few short years past the 'enrolled in college' requirement) - how cool would this be? Unpaid is no problem - the government's been taking most of my money for years...

The application deadline is Sept 14, 2011

US Speedskating Now Accepting Applications for 2011 Fall Communications/PR Internship
posted by Linda Jager - Aug. 30, 2011 01:16 PM

US Speedskating seeks a creative and outgoing intern looking to enhance their education with work experience to pursue a communications career in sports. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator with strong writing and video editing skills who is comfortable taking ownership of assigned projects and delivering a professional final product within established deadlines. This is an unpaid position.

For more info:

www.usspeedskating.org/uptospeed/posts/uss_now_accepting_applications_for_2011_fall_communications.php

[Laura (Lori)]

A couple of bits of USS News:

They've opened a new on-line merchandise store at the following link:

www.usspeedskatingshop.com/

AND there's a new Sk8 Zone tab on USS' Facebook page, just started this month (look on the left menu on their main FB Page).

Unfortunately, I can't see it, 'cause I use the secure browser option on FB (https), and I'm getting the following message: "This application does not yet support secure browsing (HTTPS)".

All the links to Sk8 Zone on USS' main FB Page sound interesting - have any of y'all been able to see it?

[Deleted]

Lori: It takes you to another link with special events and thumbnail athlete profiles. Right now the big push is to "like" that portion for a chance to win tickets to Sochi 2014!

[Laura (Lori)]

US Speedskating Announces Election of New Board Members
by Linda Jager / TeamUSA.org / March 26, 2012

Dr. Tim Bostley and Steve Penland have been elected as US Speedskating Board Members for the category of Competing Athlete / Individual Member. Brian Wanek has been elected as the US Speedskating Board Member-elect for the category of Retired Elite Athlete.

Read the entire article:
speedskating.teamusa.org/news/2012/03/26/us-speedskating-announces-election-of-new-board-members/47403?ngb_id=32

[Laura (Lori)]

The pay scale ain't great, but if you're interested, click the link for the job description:

usngbjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=45154

-------------------------------

Internships: Marketing

Marketing/Communications Intern - US Speedskating (Salt Lake City, UT)

Name of Organization: US Speedskating

Title of Position: Marketing Intern

Positions Available: 1-2 non-paid internships to support the marketing and sponsorship department

Internship Dates: Ongoing

Work Schedule: 20-30 hours per week

[Laura (Lori)]

USS has announced NEW items in their online store - check it out!

www.teamusashop.com/Olympics_US_Speedskating

[Laura (Lori)]

USS has just started a new blog, called Skate Left (because skaters are always saying they can't Skate Right) ;D

Check it out! There's a place where you can enter your email address and get notified of new content:

skateleft.com/

The launch of the blog starts the clock on USS' new website, which is due to go public in 30 days!