NIR Welcomes Raymond Ridder of the Golden State Warriors

Raymond Ridder is entering his 19th season with the Golden State Warriors and his sixth as the team’s vice president of communications. A 26-year member of the NBA PR community, Ridder is currently serving his second tour of duty as the Pacific Division’s representative on the NBA’s PR Advisory Committee. Prior to being promoted to his current position, Ridder spent eight seasons as the team’s executive director of public relations after joining the organization prior to the 1998-99 campaign as the team’s PR director.  In his current capacity, Ridder is the primary liaison between the Warriors and the local, national and international media. He is responsible for creating various PR plans and strategies for the organization and for coordinating and overseeing all player/media interviews, press conferences and written information disseminated by the team. Additionally, he oversees the team’s corporate and community communications efforts. A 1990 graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, where he earned his B.A. degree in marketing, Ridder joined the Los Angeles Lakers’ public relations department as an intern prior to the 1990-91 season. He was promoted to assistant public relations director in June of 1993 and spent the following six seasons in that capacity with the Lakers. During his tenure in Los Angeles, the Lakers were at the center of the NBA’s stage on numerous occasions, including Magic Johnson’s retirement and comeback, the signing of center Shaquille O’Neal and the media hype generated by young phenom Kobe Bryant.