GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday announced the promotions of Valisa Maki to group ticket business development manager and Randy Rice to public relations manager.

Maki, a Muskegon, Mich., native, joined the Griffins as a group ticket sales account executive in Dec. 2008. She ranked among the American Hockey League Western Conference’s top 15 in individual group ticket sales and revenue during the 2009-10 season, playing a key role in her department setting the Griffins’ group sales revenue record.

A 2007 graduate of Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business with a sales and business marketing degree, Maki will now focus on generating new business from local, regional and national companies and non-profit organizations through customized ticket packages and programs.

Rice prepares for his sixth season as a member of the Griffins organization, following four years as the team’s public relations assistant and one season as a PR intern. A native of Grand Ledge, Mich., he earned a degree in public relations from Grand Valley State University in 2006 and has since assumed an ever-increasing role in the Griffins’ public and media relations activities.

In his new position, Rice will take on greater responsibilities in both community relations and communications while continuing to handle griffinshockey.com – one of the AHL’s annual leaders in page views and unique visitors – and oversee many day-to-day media relations functions.