iHire Releases Statement on Passing of WorkInSports Co-Founder and Former CEO John Mellor

FREDERICK, MARYLAND and PHOENIX, ARIZONA – July 29, 2021 – It is with deep sadness that iHire announces the passing of John Mellor, WorkInSports Co-Founder and Former CEO. Mellor, 49, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2021, after a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by family at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mellor was a beloved and well-respected visionary in the talent acquisition and sports business communities as he ideated and elevated WorkInSports into a top employment platform for the sports industry.

After 20 years of helping sports-minded job seekers make their passions their careers, WorkInSports was acquired in April 2021 by long-time partner, iHire, an industry-focused recruitment platform. Although closely tied to the evolving WorkInSports brand, Mellor took a step back from his day-to-day operational duties as CEO to focus on his health, post-acquisition.

“The iHire and WorkInSports families mourn the loss of a great mind and contributor to our industry. Before we agreed to join forces last fall, John was already a personal friend and business partner for many years. His engaging personality and passion behind everything he stood for were a magnet to those around him. Even short interactions with John were experiential, fun, and full of life. I’m thankful to have known him, and iHire is both proud and honored to continue his legacy of connecting job seekers to opportunities in the sports industry,” said Steve Flook, President and CEO of iHire.

Several industry Influencers, partners, colleagues, and friends have aptly shared their sentiments, condolences, and memories of Mellor with iHire – a testament to Mellor’s legacy and the respect his peers had for him.

“I've known John since 2005 when I came into the industry,” said Daniel Rossetti, President, Ascension Sports. “Since day one, he was someone I could always count on to help make my job, as a search consultant, easier. John viewed our partnership more as a friendship which I greatly appreciated. He was thoughtful, smart, innovative, and provided the industry another perspective as it relates to job search engines. John was always there to bounce an idea off of and always looked for ways to help my business out. Our industry lost a great one.”  

“John was an incredibly innovative leader in our industry,” said Mark Gress, Jr., Partner, Prodigy Search, “What he created at WorkInSports more than 20 years ago, and the long-lasting impact it had on our industry, will be felt for many years to come. John was an even better person than a professional. He always asked about my family and business. John had this amazing sense of humor that was unmatched. His competitive spirit to make WorkInSports the industry standard and drive to improve the careers of so many was beyond admirable."

"I will never forget our time together in the early days of the Phoenix Coyotes,” Jeff Altstadter, Director Publicity, PointsBet. “His ability to work with all of us to bring a new team to market is the stuff of legend, as was his ability to work as the backup to the backup goalie for NHL team practices. John's infectious laugh and giant smile will be missed. The world has lost a great soul."

In Mellor’s honor, iHire has made a $5,000 donation to the Special Olympics, an organization Mellor supported for 15 years. The donation will help fund the organization’s floor hockey program, with which Mellor volunteered his time.

About WorkInSports

Since 2000, WorkInSports has been widely recognized as the #1 source for jobs in the sports industry. With over 8,000 sports employers nationwide actively posting their latest openings, WorkInSports has helped thousands of job seekers follow their passion and discover their dream career in sports – while providing them with resume-matching technology, a sport management degree directory, and valuable career advice articles and podcasts. Visit www.WorkInSports.com for more information.

About iHire

iHire is a leading career-oriented platform that powers a family of 57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports, iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs. For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching technology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space to connect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With an industry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach to recruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work, and employers find unique, high-quality talent – faster, easier, and more effectively than a general job board. Visit www.iHire.com for more information.

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