Business
David Baker
Former Commissioner of the Arena Football League
Former AFL Commissioner David Baker is a huge man with a huge heart. The 6-foot-9, 375-pound Baker excelled in the one area that most accurately measures a commissioner’s success – growth. Under Baker's tutelage, the AFL negotiated deals giving NBC Sports exclusive broadcast rights and with attendance, merchandising, and corporate sponsorship soaring, the Arena Football League was the fastest growing sport in America. Baker attracted all consumers when he brought on ESPN broadcasters Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg from the hit show, “Mike and Mike in the Morning.” The duo appeared together on nearly half of the broadcasted 26 games, including Arena Bowl XXI for the 2007 season. During the charismatic David Baker's reign, the average franchise value increased from $400,000 to $16 million. Baker truly embraced what it meant to stand as the head of a professional sports league and has a desire to see it continue to rise. Commissioner Baker's message takes...
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Yvon Chouinard
Founder and CEO of Patagonia, Inc. and Environmentalist
Yvon Chouinard is one of the most successful, unorthodox CEO’s in all of business. He hates the typical structure of the corporate world, but still considers himself a businessman. He has built a renowned company around the outdoors by founding the clothing company Patagonia, Inc. in 1973. Chouinard was originally building his own rock-climbing equipment because he felt there needed to be more sturdy devices made in the U.S. He even took up blacksmithing and would sell the equipment out of his own trunk. Living in California, he wanted to develop the type of employees who could feel free to go surfing if a big swell came in, or hit the slopes if there was a big snowfall. You can even go barefoot around the office. The company is said to exist on challenging conventional wisdom and present a new style of responsible enterprise. Chouinard is frequently asked to impart his wisdom as a businessman and environmentalist through his fascinating...
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Brian France
Chairman and CEO of NASCAR
With Brian France in the driver’s seat as CEO and Chairman of the Board, NASCAR has become America's fastest growing spectator sport. France has been actively involved in NASCAR for more than two decades as a member of the NASCAR-founding France family.
Steadfast, creative, determined and thoroughly experienced, France delivers new ideas to this established and exceedingly popular sport. Since attaining all aspects of the marketing side of NASCAR, France has tripled the marketing, sales, licensing and public relations staff. He lead NASCAR to the forefront of dramatic sponsorship involvement, attracting companies such as McDonald's and Kellogg's among others to NASCAR racing. In 1995, France was honored by Advertising Age as one of the top 100 marketers of the year, and by Promo Magazine as one of the top promoters of the year. Since becoming CEO, France has been named one of the top five most powerful sprots executives by The Sporting News. Outside of his NASCAR...
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Stan Kasten
President of the Washington Nationals
Stan Kasten has revolutionized executive positions in sports. As president of the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Thrashers, and now as the president of the Washington Nationals earned a legendary reputation as for his front office work. Kasten is the first person in pro sports history to hold the role of president for three different teams at the same time. He also held the vice-president position at TBS sports and was a lead chairman and head of design for Philips Arena and Turner Field. In 2002, Kasten was named to the NHL board of governors executive committee, and the MLB and NBA have also depended on him for his labor-management relations expertise. In the NBA, he is the only person to ever achieve “Executive of the Year” in two consecutive years.
"If he is the selection, they've gotten themselves a first-class sports executive," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "It's fair to say it would be hard to replicate somebody with Stan's wide...
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Chuck Leavell
Renowned Musician, Environmentalist and Author
Chuck Leavell is a man of many talents. Leavell is known as one of pop music’s most respected and sought-after pianists, a devoted husband and father, and a modest man who has a knack for taking his talents to the right places at the right times. In addition to his musical expertise, Leavell is now known as a respected author having penned a book on forestry and conservation as well as one of the most sought after keynote speakers around. Leavell takes his passion to the streets giving speeches to a variety of groups and also spends his time in Washington, DC meeting with committees, environmental officials and government officials to help shape policy and to promote sound forestry management practices in America. Leavell continues to tour and record and manages plenty of time in to work on his beloved plantation
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Ted Leonsis
Chairman of AOL and owner of the Washington Capitals, Mystics, and Wizards
In establishing himself in the world of technology, Ted Leonsis has an unmatched experience and knowledge about using new media in the promotions of business. Leonsis is credited with building AOL into the first billion dollar interactive services company and the world's biggest media company. With this in mind, he has raised the Capitals' attendance and sales through making the experience of a professional sporting event more interactive. He has led four businesses that have grown at record rates: He built Wang WP (the first word processor) from $200 million to $1 billion with the largest female management team in the country. A majority owner of the NHL's Washington Capitals, he has boosted the Capitals' attendance and revenues through state of- the-art consumer and interactive initiatives. He built AOL into the first billion dollar interactive services company and the world's biggest media company. Ted was founder and CEO of Redgate Communications Corporation, considered the first...
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Jim Loehr
Performance Psychologist, Author, and CEO of Human Performance Institute
Dr. Jim Loehr is world-renowned in the field of performance psychology. He is the author of 13 books and is the CEO of Human Performance Institute. Dr. Loehr has worked with everyone ranging from business leaders to sports, law enforcement and medicine professionals. He has been featured on television programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Nightline with Ted Koppel, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, and CBS Morning News. In addition to his public appearances, his work has appeared in publications such as The Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Newsweek, and Time to name a few. Dr. Jim Loehr and his dedication to improving personal performance, injects his speeches with energy, motivation, and knowledge any individual could use.
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Darren Rovell
CNBC National Sports Business Reporter and Author
Darren Rovell now writes for all of CNBC's programming and has been featured on ABC News and Good Morning America. Rovell launched his career by joining ESPN in 2000 to cover reporting on sports business. Rovell contributed to such ESPN programs as ``Sportscenter,'' ``Outside the Lines,'' and was a frequent analyst on ESPN Classic's ``Sports Century'' features. His book, ``The First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon,'' was published in 2005 and named one of the top 30 business books of the year. Rovell has sat with the likes of NBA commissioner David Stern, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and Reebok chairman Paul Fireman.
"Given its prominence and brand equity, it's amazing we've had to wait until now to read the story about the domination of Gatorade. Darren Rovell will quench your thirst by deftly weaving the tale from its humble beginnings to its extraordinary market share and iconic brand...
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