Pegula Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Kim Pegula on Tuesday announced the hiring of Christopher Schoepflin as PSE's vice president of external affairs and strategic development. Schoepflin will oversee development opportunities across all PSE portfolio companies and manage the organization's government relations at the federal, state and local levels.
"As our strategic development initiatives have grown, we identified the need to bring in an individual with particular expertise in developing partnerships between the public and private sectors," Pegula said. "Chris is uniquely qualified to lead these efforts and an excellent fit given his past experience with the Buffalo Sabres organization."
Schoepflin joins PSE with 25 years of experience in sports, entertainment, economic development and real estate. He most recently served as senior vice president for Empire State Development. Schoepflin's role at ESD was to manage New York state's economic development projects in the five counties of Western New York. Since 2011, 500 ESD projects have accounted for an overall portfolio of $6 billion in total public and private investment, supporting 70,000 new and retained jobs. In nearly 16 years at ESD, Schoepflin also served as regional director (2015-18) and president of the subsidiary corporation USA Niagara (since 2005). He spent the first 10 years of his career with the Buffalo Sabres.
"It has been an absolute privilege to serve Gov. Cuomo's administration for the last eight years and to be part of the ESD team for nearly 16 years," Schoepflin said. "I am very grateful to Commissioner Howard Zemsky for the opportunity and growth he afforded me within the organization and for his dedication and leadership to ESD, especially his commitment to Buffalo and Western New York. I am humbled and thankful to the Pegulas and their senior leadership team for extending this tremendous opportunity to me. I'm excited to join the PSE team later this month and have a chance to help contribute to the continuing growth of their dynamic organization."
About Pegula Sports & Entertainment
PSE streamlines key business areas across all Pegula family-owned sports and entertainment properties, including the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Americans, Harborcenter, Black River Entertainment, ADPRO Sports, PicSix Creative agency and numerous hospitality properties. PSE aims to be a leader in the sports and entertainment industry by bringing together the individual resources, capabilities and talents of each of its entities to create a cohesive and sustainable brand that together represents the Pegula family's interest. PSE's mission is exemplified by its One Buffalo initiative, which unites Western New York and serves as a representation of teamwork through a deeper connection between Buffalo sports teams, fans and the community.
