Duck Commander's Willie Robertson Joins Marucci's Board

BATON ROUGE, La., April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Marucci Sports announced today that Duck Commander's Willie Robertson will join its Board of Directors. As part of the board expansion, Marucci added several other new directors, as well as announced Kurt Ainsworth as the new CEO of Marucci Sports as part of a long-planned succession. Former CEO, Brett Stohlton, will remain an advisor to Ainsworth and the Board. 

"As a lifelong baseball fan and Louisianan, I am proud to join Marucci's Board of Directors," said Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander. 

"It has been an amazing journey from a garage to where we are now, and I am both excited and humbled to be named CEO," said Kurt Ainsworth, Marucci co-founder and CEO. "We have so many exciting opportunities, but along with big opportunities come big challenges, so we have a lot of hard work ahead of us," Ainsworth added.

Marucci Sports Co-Founder and former CEO Reed Dickens will now serve as Chairman of the Board.

"We are excited to have such accomplished professionals join our board to guide us as we embark on the journey from the number one bat in baseball to the top brand in all product categories," said Dickens.

Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander/Buck Commander and star of A&E's Duck Dynasty

Robertson, one of the most influential personalities in pop culture, has dramatically changed the face of the outdoor industry by building a powerhouse global brand platform with Duck Commander in West Monroe, Louisiana, and has agreed to help launch Marucci's camouflage division. 

Jim Burke, CEO of TXU Energy

Burke is a Marucci investor, Baton Rouge native, and a valuable resource who will offer vital experience that a company like Marucci is fortunate to have. 

José Bautista, All-Star Outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays 

Bautista was an early investor in Marucci who has since invested again and serves as one of the strategic marketing ambassadors for Marucci. He is an example of what makes Marucci special by providing constant advice on product development and advocating for Marucci on the field and in the clubhouse. 

Ryan Stromsborg, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Parq Advisors

Stromsborg is an owner in the company who has been a valuable strategic partner to Marucci since its early days as a member of the original advisory board. In his younger years, Stromsborg played professional baseball with Marucci Co-Founder, Joe Lawrence, for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Ben Bordelon, COO of Bollinger Shipyards

Bordelon is a Marucci investor and a former LSU football player who will be a key advisor to the management team and an influential ambassador in the Louisiana business community.

Marucci Story

Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Marucci was founded by two former Major Leaguers and their athletic trainer who began handcrafting bats from their garage. Fast forward 10 years, and that dedication to quality and understanding of players' needs has turned the company into an All-American success story with Marucci being the number number one bat in the Big Leagues. Today, Marucci makes wood and aluminum bats, batting gloves, protective gear, and other baseball accessories. Star players like Albert Pujols, Chase Utley, David Ortiz, José Bautista, and Andrew McCutchen invest their hard-earned money and time to advise Marucci on product design and test its products.

To learn more about Marucci, please visit www.maruccisports.com 

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SOURCE Marucci Sports