Cindy Villarreal

Cindy Villarreal is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, a former Dallas Mavericks dancer, and a NFL Executive who served as Director of Entertainment for the Houston Oilers Entertainment, Inc. where she also served as the Director and Choreographer for the Houston Oilers' Derrick Dolls.

She has been a consultant to many professional organizations including NFL and NBA and is currently pursuing her own network, Cheer Channel Inc.[1]

Career

Cindy began her career as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader in 1988 and was selected as a rookie and veteran for the Show Group, a promotional and touring squad within the organization. As a rookie, she was later cut from the Show Group but remained part of the team and she was picked up again for Show Group as a veteran. While on the Show Group, where she also toured to Canada for the Variety Club telethons. Cindy was selected as one of the charter members of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers and danced for the NBA Mavericks in 1989-90.

After retiring as a cheerleader, Cindy formed Proformance Consulting where she consulted with sports teams including the Houston Rockets, Houston Oilers and other sports properties. She later consulted with Houston Oilers Entertainment, Inc., from 1992-'94 and then went t work as their Director of Entertainment where she was responsible for game day entertainment and managing the Derrick Dolls cheerleaders. She served as both director and choreographer of the Derrick Dolls from 1994-'96. The Derrick Dolls performed in Mexico City after the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and were given a standing ovation by the 110,000 fans after their performance to Mexican music, something never done previously by any NFL team. Cindy took the team on USO tours to Germany and the UK and produced variety shows for telethons in the US and Canada including the Variety Club and Cystic Fibrosis telethons. She was later offered an executive position with NFL Europe and the London Monarchs to run marketing and develop the Crown Jewels cheerleaders. Upon her arrival, she was selected as the NFL's poster girl to promote the sport internationally. Cindy's role with NFL International in 1997, where she directed entertainment for the NFL All-American Bowl also included athlete and cheerleader media appearances and promotions.

In 1997, Cindy formed Proformance Sports UK and the ProWear clothing line, to promote the sports and entertainment industry in Europe. The agency devoted to sports marketing and entertainment, was instrumental in developing some of the first all star, recreational and collegiate cheerleading teams in Europe. She is also credited for creating the first professional cheerleading and dance squads in pro sports with major franchises in the United Kingdom. She has written business plans for sports franchises, represented athletes, restaurants, musicians, and charities around the globe. Her niche has been in brand development as well as creating interactive ways to capitalize with youth and families in sports and entertainment.[1] such as "in-game" programming and child camps. Some of her clients have included the NBA, NFL, British Soccer Team, Super League, Gladiators (TV Show), the Offshore Super Series, the United States All-Star Federation and International All-Star Federation, and individuals as NFL player Chris Houston, Hall of Famer Ted Ginn Sr., The Lord Mayor of London, and Sir Richard Branson, London business giant and owner of Virgin Entertainment.[1] Cindy has directed entertainment bowl games for the NFL and the Offense-Defense All-American Bowls.

Currently, the agency is based in the United States in Austin, Texas. The name is now Proformance Sports Marketing and Entertainment and Cindy represents brands, properties, actors and athletes.[1] She also signed the first, All-Star cheerleader Maddie Gardner, “considered to be the first cheerleader in the spirit industry to gain celebrity notoriety…has signed a multi-year management deal with Proformance Sports Marketing and Entertainment” June 2012.[2] Maddie is a two time world cheerleading champion (the USASF Worlds) and the first cheer athlete to sign a management agreement.[2] She also has represented all star cheerleader, Cami Branson, whose popularity soared after appearing in Cheer Channel's Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader as one of the Superstars of All Stars. With the representation of professional athletes, Cindy handles all marketing and brand development including personal appearances, endorsements, commercial modeling, acting assignments, and television and related opportunities related to the “brands.”[2]

"The Cheerleader's Guide to Life"

Cindy's book, "The Cheerleader's Guide to Life," was published by HarperCollins in April 1992, a deal struck by her agent, Jeff Herman Agency. Her book hit the bookshelves in February 1994 and included a ten city book tour. The work was named one of the best books for teenagers by the New York Public Library in 1995.[1] This work is also honored in the College Football Hall of Fame for Cindy's "dedication and success as a role model for the youth of America," as said by Bernie Kish, President.[1]

Awards and Accomplishments

First Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality in the Miss Venus USA Pageant, formerly known as the Miss USA-World Pageant.[1] In 1996, the British-America Chamber of Commerce honored her as VIP, along with dignitaries such as the American Ambassador to England, the Chairman of British Airlines, the Chairman of the Bank of England, and the Chairman of British Rail.[1]

Cindy has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines including Vista Magazine, Cosmopolitan in the UK, the Daily Mail and the Houston Chronicle. In 1990, “Hispanic Business Magazine” named her as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Persons in America.”[1] Other winners of this award were the Secretary of Education of the United States, the Surgeon General, and the Chairman of the Banking Committee.[1] She was also honored by the Austin Business Journal's list of 10 Most Powerful Women in 1994. Cindy also was credited for the "Best Professional Cheerleading Team in Europe" and award presented in 1997 while director and manager of Entertainment for the NFL Europe's London Monarchs Crown Jewels.[1]

Cindy was inducted into the Lanier High School Hall of Fame in 1994. Her works and achievements in the spirit industry are also recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Cheer Channel Inc

Villarreal founded the first digital media network for the spirit industry, Cheer Channel Inc. in 2009 after perceiving a gap in the niche markets for cheerleaders. Cheer Channel is the #1 independent online television network for the spirit industry and specializes in original content and branded promotions. Lance Robbins, former president of Saban Entertainment is president of the network since 2010.[3]

The network produced the first industry focused web series, Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader, of which there are 6 episodes. The series was broadcast starting in May 2012 and syndicated to both online and television. The show is recognized for the bringing for the first time, power champion cheerleaders together for guest appearances in Episode 4. Such names as Maddie Gardner, Kiara Nowlin, Whitney Love, Erica Englebert and Cami Branson to name a few. The first week of release, Episode 1 gained over 20,000 views on YouTube.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 CINDY VILLARREAL - An Ambassador for Cheerleading, Cheer Coach and Advisor Magazine. February 1, 2009. Retrieved 2012-11-13
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 World Champion All-Star Cheerleader, Maddie Gardner Signs Sports Management Agreement with Proformance Sports Marketing, PR.com. June 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-14
  3. ↑ . Cheerleading channel seeks to grow, build audience in Austin, Austin Business Journal. October 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-14
  4. ↑ "World Premiere Of Secret Diary Of An American Cheerleader A Girl's Gotta Cheer", PR Log. May 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-15
  5. ↑ Cheer Channel Inc., Moves To Cable Television In Joint Venture With SimplymeTV, Cheer Coach and Advisor Maganize. July 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-15.