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Sean Ryan Named Director of the Year

Sean Ryan, director of the Door County Triathlon and Fall 50 events, was named Event Director of the Year by the Event Directors College. The award recognized the success of Ryan’s work with endurance events and devotion to the safety of his participants.

In December, Ryan resigned from his position as director of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, citing disagreements with Cellcom’s leadership regarding the event’s future.

The event previously held a half marathon and marathon on the same day. As participation increased, Ryan hoped to move the events to two separate days over the weekend to improve operational efficiency and ensure safety of the participants.

“As long as the events pass through the narrow confines of the Lambeau Field player tunnel, I feel that conducting the marathon and half marathon at the same time… harms the experience of the runners, and is ultimately unsafe,” said Ryan in his resignation letter.

Cellcom, the event’s title sponsor, disagreed with Ryan, saying that a two-day event would further strain the community with closed streets, long volunteer hours and travel time.

Ryan has also directed the Bellin Run in Green Bay and several other events throughout the country. The Door County Triathlon and Fall 50 relay events both filled to capacity in record time this year while the Fall 50 solo division will host the US 50-mile Road Race National Championships for the second year in a row.

The Event Directors College is a biannual gathering of race directors. Ryan received the award at the event in Charleston, South Carolina on March 26.