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Staff Highlight: Darren Van Lehn Director of Sports Development – Travel Medford
strong believer in sports being a vehicle for growth, change, and impact on a community, Darren sees the Sports Commission team as a group that can help accelerate goals and timelines. Their work, combined with the Know Your Role campaign driving change in the culture of sports, positions Medford and the Southern Oregon Sports Commission at the front of the pack. Medford has a unique relationship with sports and community. Over time the value of both private and public interests coming together to enhance the community has produced incredible dividends. World class sport facilities combined with community leaders who thrive in the world of competition create a stage of opportunity for the future. Darren has seen firsthand how these environments push people to achieve and succeed and looks forward to doing this work on a community wide level. Having grown up in Oregon Darren is attracted to the wide-ranging opportunities that are present. A true northwest personality attracted to all four seasons of adventure thriving particularly in the hiking, biking, camping seasons. A decade in the food industry developed a deep passion and love for the industry and finding commonality in a great meal. And a childhood of sport built him into a lifetime athlete who found a passion for the martial arts, having earned two 3rd Degree Black Belts, spending over 17 years studying and teaching in the Valley. Darren is a father to a young son who is preparing to enter the world of youth sports driving a deep interest in developing the sport culture and opportunities in the Rogue Valley. Darren has formal education with a Master in Sports Management and Athletic Administration from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Human Communication from Southern Oregon University.
B orn in Santa Barbara, CA, Darren became a resident of the Rogue Valley before the age of four and has called the Valley his home now for over 35 years. After graduating from Southern Oregon University Darren spent 16 years with Rogue Community College, the last eight of which were spent as Athletic Director. The community connections, education and experience combined with a childhood filled with competition and sport have prepared Darren for his role as Director of Sports Development. Having volunteered for the Southern Oregon Sports Commission for two years Darren understands and appreciates the goals, vision, and direction for sports tourism in Medford. A
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The Business Review | July 2024
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