GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Monday announced the hiring of John VanderHaagen as e-sales and marketing database manager.

VanderHaagen returns to the Griffins’ staff, having previously served as a corporate sales intern and ticket sales account executive between 1999 and 2001. He was subsequently named ticket sales manager for the Grand Rapids Rampage, where he remained until 2004 when he took a position with Clear Channel (now Live Nation). During that time, he also served as the group sales manager for Van Andel Arena and DeVos Performance Hall.

A native of Okemos, Mich., VanderHaagen also spent time in Kansas as director of promotions at the Orpheum Theatre, before returning to DP Fox Sports as the Rampage’s director of ticket sales in 2007.

A 2001 business and communications graduate from Calvin College, VanderHaagen will be responsible for social media, email marketing and database management in his new role.