Governor McCrory Presents Order Of The Long Leaf Pine To Winston-Salem Business Leader | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Tuesday evening to Winston-Salem businessman and national sports executive, Ben C. Sutton, Jr.

    Sutton founded ISP Sports in 1992 and it has grown into Winston-Salem based IMG College, the largest collegiate sports marketing company in America with gross revenues of nearly $1 billion.

    "We are grateful for entrepreneurs like Ben Sutton who has shown a strong commitment to the state of North Carolina," Governor McCrory said. "His long history of service and philanthropy makes him an admirable recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine."

    IMG College employs 300 North Carolinians and approximately 1,000 employees nationwide. IMG College produces nearly 40,000 hours of broadcasts annually on nearly 2,500 radio and television stations in the United States.

    A native of Hertford County, Sutton graduated from Wake Forest University. Today, he serves as a trustee of the university. He also serves as a trustee to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation. He is also a director of Verger Capital Management.

    On hand to witness Governor McCrory honor Sutton were State Representative Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) and Wake Forest University President Nathan O. Hatch.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov