University of Connecticut
“There is a great deal of excitement surrounding many of our programs and it was clear that Taymar was best equipped to both leverage that interest and, more importantly, help us provide the best customer service possible to our loyal fans,” Director of Athletics David Benedict said.
Craig Cugno
Vice President & General Manager
Craig is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island who started his career working with minor league baseball and hockey. As an Account Executive, he specialized in Group Ticket Sales and went on to create/oversee the first outbound ticket sales department at his alma mater. After spending nearly five years at URI, Craig began working with UConn. When he is not leading his sales team, he enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his fiancé, Sierra. Sports is his number one passion with his favorite teams being the Boston Red Sox, New Orleans Saints, and, of course, UConn Huskies.
Crazy Fact: I once met Muhammed Ali during a layover at a Cincinnati Airport
Item You Can’t Live Without: Live Sports and Entertainment
Craig’s Hot Take: UConn Basketball – both Men’s & Women’s – will reclaim the title as Basketball Capital of the world within the next three years… So, I suggest you buy Tickets NOW!
Dave Romeiko
Assistant General Manager
Dave attended Florida State University and began his sports and entertainment career at The XL Center in Hartford, CT (formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center). Yes, the very place in which the beloved Hartford Whalers played in. Dave spent 13 years at the XL Center excelling as a leader and climbing up the ranks as an Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, Group Sales Manager, and Director of Ticket Sales & Service. When Dave is not working, one would find him at the beach with his incredible twin boys and amazing girlfriend Kelsey soaking in the sun and enjoying life.
Crazy Fact: I met Ronda Rousey and had a nice heart to heart chat with her. She is truly an amazing person.
Item You Can’t Live Without: My baseball glove as baseball will always be my passion.
Dave’s Hot Take: The Whalers will come back to Connecticut someday!
Kent Ahern
Senior Account Executive
Kent graduated from Springfield College in 2018. He started his career at the XL Center with the Hartford Wolf Pack. After working there for 2 years as an Inside Sales Representative, he was promoted to Account Executive. When he is not working, you can find him attending games at some of CT’s great sports venues, swimming, or going on hikes with his amazing girlfriend, Amelia.
Crazy Fact: The one Patriots game I ever went to was the preseason game where Tom Brady cut his hand with scissors and did not play.
Item You Can’t Live Without: My Yankees cap
Kent’s Hot Take: Ranch does not belong on wings.
Brian Susskind
Account Executive
Brian is a graduate of Florida State University and attended grad school at Florida Atlantic University where he earned his MBA in Sport Management. Brian began his sports career working as a Graduate Assistant in marketing for FAU athletics and spent time working for the Miami Dolphins in their game day operations department. Before being hired as an Account Executive at UConn, Brian worked as a Data Collection Analyst for Pro Football Focus. He enjoys watching sports, movies, and playing golf in his spare time.
Crazy Fact: When I was 14, I appeared on Good Morning America as part of the live audience in New York and met Robin Roberts..
Item You Can’t Live Without: My TV
Brian’s Hot Take: Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa belong in the Hall of Fame.
Shelby Cios
Account Executive
Shelby is a graduate of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. As a student-athlete, she competed as a Division III swimmer with the USJ Women’s Swimming and Diving Team for four years, while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Promotion with a minor in Coaching. She currently maintains a coaching certificate with the State of Connecticut. Prior to joining Taymar Sales U., she worked with the New Britain Bees as a sports operation intern, the Hartford Wolf Pack as a Promo Pack member and most recently with the Hartford Yard Goats as a merchandising assistant. When she is not working, you can usually find her coaching young swimmers with USA Swimming.
Crazy Fact: As a young child, I failed beginners swimming lessons three times and refused to be near water without my “floaties.” At age 8, I began swimming competitively for our towns swim team, USA Swimming, high school and eventually as a DIII collegiate swimmer.
Item you can’t live without: a swimming pool
Shelby’s hot take: swimming is a highly competitive sport that deserves to be recognized as such
Jahmal Mitchell
Annual Officer
Jahmal attended the University of Southern Connecticut and got his start working as a Sports Communications Intern with Yale University Athletics. From there, Jahmal joined the New Britain Bees Professional Baseball Team as a Box Office Assistant where he sold season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans and helped with day-to-day activities in the box office. He then joined UConn Athletics as a sales consultant under the Aspire Group where he sold season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans and accepted donations for all ticketed and non-ticketed sports and had the opportunity to be promoted to senior sales consultant taking on bigger responsibilities. When Jahmal isn’t helping UConn Athletics donors accomplish their goals, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Elizabeth, hiking, fishing, golfing, and traveling.
Crazy Fact: My elementary school taught Japanese, and I still remember a few words and how to count to ten in Japanese.
Item You Can’t Live Without: The Gym
Jahmal’s Hot Take: Football the way we know it will be extinct in the next 50 years.
