Travis Shives, who has worked almost five years as USA Wrestling's Manager of National Events, has accepted a new position with LiveAdMarket LLC of Minneapolis, Minn.

He will be serving as a market associate with this media planning and buying company. Shives leaves his position with USA Wrestling on January 15.

"I am proud to have been involved with an organization that is so dedicated to the promotion and development of wrestling," said Shives. "USA Wrestling is a phenomenal organization that is supported by world-class volunteers and a hard-working, passionate staff.  I can't say enough about the wonderful people I interacted with on a daily basis and I feel tremendously fortunate to have been part of something so special for the last five years.  I am appreciative of the opportunity to live a dream and to be involved with the Olympic movement."

Shives has been a valuable member of USA Wrestling's national staff, working in all areas of the National Events Department, including organization, operations and promotions.

He was instrumental in developing the new USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America, a series of quality youth folkstyle wrestling events held across the nation which kicked off this season.

He was very active in the USA Wrestling's Events Department's transition to computer event management systems over the last few years. He served as event coordinator for numerous major USA Wrestling national and regional events held across the nation.

Shives was selected to attend the International Olympic Academy in Greece, representing the United States. He traveled to Switzerland to represent USA Wrestling and the 2008 Pan American Wrestling Championships. Shives also attended the 2005 World Championships in Hungary and the 2007 World Championships in Azerbaijan, assisting the USA Wrestling Communications staff.

"USA Wrestling is proud of the contributions that Travis has made to the organization and to the sport," said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling National Events Director. "He is a great team player. It will be difficult to replace him. You will not find anybody with more passion about the sport or more dedicated to promoting and building wrestling. His hard work and effort in making USA Wrestling events better over the last five years are truly appreciated."

Shives joined USA Wrestling in the summer of 2003 from the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League, after almost two years of assignments in team operations and public relations. 

Shives served as the Public Relations Intern and Public Affairs Assistant with the Vikings from August 2002 through July 2003. He assisted with media relations activities, statistics, video research, press releases and event program writing and other public relations activities. He also assisted the Vikings' Public Affairs and Stadium Consultant. He also served a year as the Team Operations Intern for the Vikings, handling a number of training camp operations duties as well as free agent travel duties. 

He was a Div. II All-American at Minnesota State-Mankato in 1999, and made the Academic All-American team three times (1997-1999). He was named Minnesota State-Mankato Male Student Athlete of the Year. He also worked almost two years as an assistant wrestling coach at Minnesota State-Mankato. During his tenure, he helped tutor seven NCAA All-Americans, including a national champion. He also worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Speech Communications. 

Shives received a bachelor's of science degree in Marketing from Minnesota-State Mankato in 1999, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He received his Master's of Science in Speech Communications in 2007. He is originally from Bloomington, Minn., where he competed for Bloomington Jefferson High School and was a three-time state medalist. 

"I look forward to staying involved with USA Wrestling in the future and continuing to make an impact on this great sport," said Shives.