The Green Bay Packers will present two candidates for shareholder vote to join the Packers Board of Directors: George Koonce and Eric Torkelson.
The candidate information was included in proxy information sent this month to more than 360,000 shareholders in advance of the Annual Meeting, set for 11 a.m., July 24, at Lambeau Field. Koonce and Torkelson were approved by vote of the organization's Board of Directors at its quarterly meeting in May.
Koonce, a former Packers linebacker who played for the team from 1992-99, is currently senior vice president for university relations at Marian University. Following his playing career, he earned his graduate degree in sports management from East Carolina University, followed by a PhD from Marquette University. Torkelson, a former Packers running back who played for the team from 1974-79 and 1981, is a retired sales representative from Stryker Corp, a medical device company.
"George Koonce and Eric Torkelson will be valuable additions to our Board of Directors," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "I'm looking forward to having the experience of two more former players on the Board, and they both bring a wealth of knowledge from successful careers outside of football, as well."
The Annual Meeting will also see Thomas Lutsey and Thomas Olejniczak take on emeritus status. Lutsey has been a member of the Board since 1986. Olejniczak has been a member of the Board since 1986 and member of the Executive Committee since 2013.
Proposed to succeed Olejniczak as a Member at Large on the Executive Committee is Donald J. Long Jr. Long is past CEO and owner of Century Drill & Tool Co. Inc., and has been on the board since 2012, serving on the Audit, Foundation and Sales and Marketing Committees. The proposed change will be taken up at the Board's August meeting.
Shareholders planning on attending the Annual Meeting July 24 will be issued four tickets for each shareholder account, including accounts that have a joint or custodial registration. Shareholders receiving meeting materials electronically will be able to access print-at-home tickets upon voting their shares. Shareholders who receive their meeting information via standard mail will receive printed tickets in that same mailing.
Information about the Annual Meeting will be updated as the date approaches and can be found online at packers.com/community/shareholders or www.packersowner.com.
Shareholders are invited to stay in Green Bay for the start of Packers Training Camp the next day, July 25, and can plan to take part in the Packers Experience presented by American Family Insurance, Old El Paso, Fleet Farm and Bellin Health. The event is a three-day, free festival for fans of all ages and will feature various interactive football-themed stations, a 40-yard dash, a replica team locker room, "rookie camp" activities for kids, photo stations and prizes through Packers Pass. An Alumni Stage in the Johnsonville Tailgate Village will feature question-and-answer sessions with a variety of Packers alumni.
The Packers also are asking shareholders who have not received any communications from the organization in the last 12 months to contact Shareholder Services to update their address, including street and email addresses. Shareholder Services can be reached via telephone at 855-8GO-PACK (855-846-7225) or email at shareholderservices@packers.com. Information is also online at www.packersowner.com.
