Hammer named TRF Executive Director

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Jack Hammer has been named Executive Director for the Three Rivers Festival after serving an interim role for the 2010 event.

The Three Rivers Festival Board voted Monday to name Hammer to the position.  He had been given the interim position back in early June.  No other people were in the running for the Executive Director's job.  He had already been serving the Festival as a member of its Entertainment Committee.

Hammer, a Fort Wayne native, was already a well known figure in the community having been a disc jockey for a number of years. 

Earlier in the year, the 42nd edition of the festival appeared in jeopardy, but future of the festival seemed uncertain.  As a means to try and increase attendance for the festival ending fireworks show, the display was moved to Saturday instead of Sunday.  More than 80,000 people were estimated to have seen the fireworks finale in downtown Fort Wayne.

"Fort Wayne comes together to support this festival," said then interim TRF Director Jack Hammer after the conclusion of the festival. "That's the most amazing thing."

 The following news release was issued by The Fort Wayne Newspapers Three Rivers Festival:

The Three Rivers Festival Executive Board named Jack Hammer the Festival’s executive director.

The Festival board named Hammer interim executive director in early June. It then voted unanimously at its August 9 board meeting to remove the interim tag and give Hammer the position on a full-time, permanent basis. He had already been serving the Festival as a member of its Entertainment Committee.

“It’s an honor for me to help lead the Festival into what we hope is an exciting new future,” Hammer said. “I truly appreciate the board giving me this chance, and serving as the executive director of the state’s second-largest summer festival is a responsibility I take seriously.”

Hammer is a well-known local media personality, with more than 20 years experience in northeast Indiana media. He’s been involved on many board and fundraising activities and has helped in the planning of many large Fort Wayne events, including the 1996 Fort Wayne Bicentennial celebration.

“Jack’s enthusiasm for this festival, this city and this region make him a perfect fit to lead this event,” Dave Bleke, acting president of the Festival board, added. “The board and staff are very excited to have him as an integral part of this community institution.”