PBA announces Brener Zwikel & Associates as its Public Relations Agency of Record

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced that it will join forces with renowned sports public relations/marketing firm Brener Zwikel & Associates (BZA) to help promote its 2008-09 season.

Based in Los Angeles, with offices also in New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Diego, BZA represents many of the top professional sports leagues, properties, events and athletes throughout the United States.

"While I was a sports editor at USA Today, BZA was the most efficient, effective and professional public relations firm I dealt with," said PBA Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Clark. "Bringing their talent and passion for results to the PBA Tour will help more people learn about our great players and our great tour, which is entering its 50th Anniversary season."

Brener Zwikel & Associates was launched in 1990, when principles Steve Brener and Toby Zwikel took their combined 25 years' experience with the Los Angeles Dodgers and joined forces.

BZA's work has included pro football's Super Bowl, college football's Rose Bowl and National Championship game, soccer's World Cup, the Olympic Games and Thoroughbred horse racing's Breeders' Cup.

In addition, BZA has worked on numerous world championship boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) events, including nine of the top 11 biggest pay-per-view boxing telecasts in history.

The firm's current client list includes the National Football League (Super Bowl pre-game and halftime events, NFL Experience, NFL Charitable and Grassroots events), Major League Baseball (MLB Urban Youth Academy and the RBI World Series), Showtime Championship Boxing, EliteXC, Speedo, Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park, MGM/Mirage Resorts in Las Vegas, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, AST Dew Tour, Auto Club Speedway, U.S. Equestrian Federation and more than 18 PGA, Champions and LPGA golf events.

In 2005, BZA won the prestigious Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) PRISM Award, for its work in the "New Product Launch" category, featuring the Speedo FASTSKIN II swimsuit.

"We are truly excited to work with the PBA and look forward to helping promote such a successful and longstanding sports league, especially as it embarks on its 50th season," said BZA president Steve Brener. "I think we can do great things together."

Sherry Perez will head up the account for BZA and handle the day-to-day media duties for the PBA. Perez has worked in the sports media industry for the past decade, first as a sports writer at various newspapers across California before joining BZA in 2004. Her previous experience at BZA includes work for Auto Club Speedway, Santa Anita, Champ Car World Series, AST Dew Tour, AVP, and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Perez will be working with bowling phenom Missy Bellinder whom the PBA recently hired to assist in the public relations department. Bellinder was the first woman to join the PBA, as well as the first to win two PBA Regional Titles, and has quite an impressive resume in the sport. Bellinder, who has a degree in communications and is pursuing the public relations field, will help to serve as an expert on bowling.