Youth Programs, Inc. (YPI), the governing organization for the Stanford St. Jude Championship (SSJC), has expanded its staff with the addition of an executive director. Eric Mehl will join YPI as executive director on Dec. 1, 2006. The new post was created to expand the capabilities of the tournament's existing staff and will serve as a complement to long-time tournament director Phil Cannon.

The 50th Memphis PGA TOUR event -- and first with Stanford Financial Group as the title sponsor -- is scheduled June 4-10, 2007 at TPC Southwind with a Memphis tournament-record purse of $6 million. TOUR veteran Jeff Maggert is the defending champion.

According to George Bryan, newly elected president of the YPI board of directors and general chairman of the SSJC, the addition of an executive director is an indication of the tournament's -- and the PGA TOUR's -- commitment to enhance the event.

"The PGA TOUR and our new title sponsor, Stanford Financial Group, are committed to elevating this tournament to become one of the top events on the PGA TOUR schedule,” Bryan said. “Eric's PGA TOUR experience outside of Memphis will allow us to achieve the vision that we have in mind for this event. He brings valuable expertise that, coupled with the continuity and long-time experience of the existing staff, gives us a stellar team.”

Mehl was most recently chief operating officer and tournament director of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to that, he was responsible for creating and serving as tournament director of the 84 LUMBER Classic in Pittsburgh, Pa., an inaugural PGA TOUR event. He has also served as vice president, tournaments division, for SFX Sports Group. Mehl brings more than 15 years experience in the golf and sports marketing industry.

Cannon said he welcomes the addition of Mehl to the tournament's planning staff. "I've known Eric for a number of years, and I've seen his success with other tournaments,” Cannon said. “It's exciting to have this additional resource committed to the tournament. The 2007 event will be our 50th Anniversary, and it's a perfect opportunity to reflect on the success we've enjoyed in the past, but also look forward to even greater success in the future.”

"This is a wonderful opportunity," Mehl said. "I've already been meeting with the tournament staff, as well as with the title holder, Stanford, and the PGA TOUR, on new ideas for the 2007 event. I think people will be impressed with the new and enhanced elements we're putting in place to take it to the next level. The tournament has already announced a new date and increased purse, but we're also looking to enhance everything from the player field, to signage, to food and beverage offerings, to sponsorship/hospitality packages. Everything is being reviewed to see how it can be made better, and I look forward to taking this vision to reality," he said.

In other tournament news, the board has appointed new directors and elected its new slate of officers. In addition to Bryan being elected president, Ken Masterson was elected vice president and Jack Blair was named secretary-treasurer.

The board also appointed its first female member -- ¬ internationally-acclaimed fashion designer and local philanthropist Pat Kerr Tigrett. In addition to Tigrett, Scott Notowich, Bill Levy, Bill Rhodes and Jack Sammons were also elected to serve on the board. Re-elected to another term on the board were Reggie Barnes, Grattan Brown, Jr., Michael Glenn, Jackson Moore, David Porter, Dan Riley, Loren Roberts and Michael Starnes.

Bryan, a Memphis resident, is a retired chief executive of the Sara Lee Corp. and family-operated Bryan Foods in his hometown of West Point, Miss. He is the founder and chairman of the Old Waverly Golf Club, the West Point club which hosted the U. S. Women¹s Open in 1999. His company brought an LPGA Tour event to Nashville in 1988, sponsoring the Sara Lee Classic for 12 years.

Tigrett is chairman and CEO of Pat Kerr, Inc., a couture design firm specializing in bridal, children¹s special occasion clothing and evening wear couture. She serves on numerous boards, including St. Jude Children¹s Research Hospital, the sole charity of the SSJC. Notowich is managing director of Stanford Group Company in Memphis. Levy is president of Oak Hall. Rhodes is president and CEO/Customer Satisfaction of AutoZone, Inc. Sammons is managing partner of Sammons-Hooper LLC, president of Ampro Industries and a long-time member of the Memphis City Council.