Rich DeVos,
Chairman
Rich DeVos |
Rich DeVos enters his 18th season as chairman of the ownership group of the Orlando Magic. The 82-year-old DeVos
is a co-founder of Amway Corp., today a global leader in direct selling and a member of the Alticor Inc. family of companies.
Born March 4, 1926, in Grand Rapids, Mich., he is one of the greatest business success stories of all time. DeVos and
former high school classmate, Jay Van Andel, embarked on a partnership that resulted in several business endeavors between
1945 and 1958. In 1959, they founded Amway.
In October 2000, Amway became a subsidiary under a new parent company called Alticor, along with two sister companies:
Quixtar Inc., a North American web-based business opportunity; and Access Business Group LLC, a product development,
manufacturing and logistics provider to Amway, Quixtar and other companies. Alticor reported 2007 worldwide
sales of $7.1 billion, assisted by more than 3 million individual business owners operating in more than 80 countries
and territories.
DeVos has been the recipient of numerous achievement awards, as well as 12 honorary doctorate degrees. He has written
four books: BELIEVE!, Compassionate Capitalism, Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life, and most recently, Ten
Powerful Phrases for Positive People.
Because of their dedication to supporting those organizations in which they believe, DeVos and his wife, Helen, created
the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation. The DeVoses are dedicated to the entrepreneurial spirit and helping people
live better lives.
Rich and Helen reside in southern Florida and have four children—Dick and his wife, Betsy; Dan and his wife, Pam; Cheri and her husband, Bob Vander Weide; and Doug and his wife, Maria. They have 16 grandchildren.
Bob Vander Weide,
President/Chief Executive Officer
Bob Vander Weide |
Bob Vander Weide is president of the Orlando Magic, a position he has held since January of 1994. He also serves as chief executive officer of RDV
Sports, named for Rich DeVos and the general partner of the Magic. Other RDV Sports entities include the RDV Sportsplex and Magic Carpet
Aviation.
The 50-year-old Grand Rapids, Mich., native began his career with the Magic in 1992 as vice president of basketball operations. His current
responsibilities include player planning and procurement, long-term strategic planning, and new business initiatives. Vander Weide is also
very involved in all league issues and is a member of the NBA Board of Governors and the NBA Planning Committee. He has also been appointed
to the Florida Olympics and Pan American Games Task Force.
Vander Weide also was instrumental in bringing professional hockey and professional women’s basketball to Orlando. From 1995-2001,
the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League captured one division title (Central Division, 1995-96), three Eastern Conference
crowns (1996, 1999, 2001) and the IHL’s Turner Cup championship in 2000-01. In April of 1998, Orlando was granted a WNBA franchise.
The Miracle finished its inaugural season in 1999.
Additionally, Vander Weide has guided the organization, in partnership with Florida Hospital, to create the RDV Sportsplex, a state-ofthe-
art health and wellness facility, which includes a world-class health club, medical offices, restaurant, retail shops, and practice and training
facilities for the Magic. The RDV Sportsplex opened in February of 1998, and has become the business and social hub for all RDV Sports activities.
Vander Weide played a key role in helping to secure a new state-of-the-art Events Center in Orlando. The Events Center is part of a public community venues program that also includes a new Performing Arts Center and a renovation of the Citrus Bowl Stadium. The new Events Center is under construction and scheduled to open in October 2010. In
addition, the Magic also contributed $12.5 million toward construction of five community recreation centers throughout Orange County, Florida,
as part of its commitment to build the new Events Center.
With the goal of a future NBA Championship for the city of Orlando, Vander Weide works closely with the leadership in basketball operations
to ensure that team and player objectives are consistently met. He places a premium on the club’s commitment to integrity, service, quality and
consumer value, while also emphasizing the partnership among the community, fans, coaching staff, players, front office staff, and ownership
family.
Besides handling his current duties with RDV Sports, he also maintains several business responsibilities in his hometown of Grand Rapids.
Vander Weide serves as chairman of the RDV Corporation Investment Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of RDV
Corporation. Vander Weide stays involved in a variety of Orlando civic and community organizations and is chairman of the Orlando Magic
Youth Foundation, a fund of the McCormick Foundation. He was named Orlando Magazine’s “Orlandoan of the Year” in 1997, chaired the
2000 Heart of Florida United Way Campaign in Central Florida, and was co-president of the American Cancer Society’s 2002 Cattle Barons’ Ball.
Bob and his wife, Cheri, reside in Grand Rapids, Mich., with their five children.
Alex Martins,
Chief Operating Officer/ Alternate Governor
Alex Martins |
Alex Martins, who has spent 22 years in professional sports management and re-joined the Magic in June of 2005, was named chief operating officer on May 3, 2006.
Martins, who served in various senior-level management capacities with the Magic between 1989-98 and the organization’s executive vice president of marketing and franchise relations in 2005-06, oversees the day-to-day business operations of the club, including marketing, ticket sales, season ticket services and operations, community relations, broadcasting, corporate partnerships, communications, government relations, arena development, and business strategy.
Over the past four years, Martins led the Magic in its business operations, while overseeing a ticket sales effort which saw the largest increase in attendance in the NBA, the most new sales and season tickets sold in the league in two of the last four years, the largest group sales effort in team history and the team’s highest season ticket renewal rate over the last seven years. This season the Magic have built its season ticket base to its highest level in its history.
Over the last two years at the Annual NBA Sales and Marketing Meetings, the Magic organization was awarded the “New Full Season Ticket Award” for being No. 1 in the NBA in new full season tickets sold, a “90 Percent Renewal Award” for being just one of five teams to achieve a 90 percent or higher season ticket renewal rate in 2007, a “Sponsorship Account Performance Award” for the extraordinary number of accounts secured by the Corporate Partnerships Department and the “Retailer of the Year Award” for the team’s retail sales performance. Throughout the meetings, the organization was used in best practice examples in several areas of the team’s operation ranging from public relations/community relations synergy to game presentation.
Martins was instrumental in helping to secure a new state-of-the-art Amway Center in Orlando. The Amway Center is part of a public community venues program that also includes a new Performing Arts Center and a renovation of the Citrus Bowl Stadium. The new Amway Center is under construction and scheduled to open in October 2010. In addition, the Magic also contributed $12.5 million toward five community recreation centers throughout Orange County, Florida, which are currently under construction, as part of its commitment to build the new Amway Center.
Martins originally joined the Magic as director of publicity/media relations in April 1989. In September of 1996, he was promoted to senior director of communications, overseeing all internal and external communications for the organization. He also previously served as the Chairman of the Board of the Magic Action Team Community Fund. The Magic Action Team Fund developed into the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, which has distributed nearly $15 million to local non-profit organizations during the last 19 years. Additionally, Martins served on the developmental board which formulated the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. The program has been funded through a $9 million endowment by Rich and Helen DeVos and awards dual Masters degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration.
Since leaving the Magic in 1998, he also has served as the senior vice president of marketing and branding for the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, and vice president of communications and public affairs with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. In 2003, he returned to Orlando to serve as vice president of sports ventures with the Tavistock Group. In his role with Tavistock, Martins served as tournament director of The Tavistock Cup, a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
Martins started his career as a student assistant in the Villanova sports information department. He assisted in the Philadelphia 76ers public relations department from 1986-1988, and was also the assistant sports information director at Georgetown University (1988-89). While at Georgetown, Martins also assisted with the 1988 USA Basketball Team Trials held at the Washington D.C.-based campus. Martins added to his USA Basketball experience in 1994 by assisting with the publicity/media relations efforts of Dream Team II at the World Championships of Basketball in Toronto.
Martins currently serves on the Executive Committee and board of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, the Board of Directors for Florida Children’s Hospital, the board of directors of the Coalition for the Homeless and the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, and the Central Florida board of directors for Seaside National Bank & Trust. Martins is also the Vice Chair of the Central Florida Partnership, of which he will serve as Chair in 2010.
Martins earned his MBA from the University of Central Florida where he was recently inducted into the College of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame. He also serves on the Dean’s Executive Council for the College of Business Administration at UCF and was honored with the opportunity to serve as Commencement Speaker for the University’s Commencement in August of 2008.
A native of Kearny, New Jersey, Martins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Villanova, where he graduated from in 1986. He resides in Orlando, Fla., with his wife, Juliet, and daughters, Sophia (5) and Gabrielle (3).
Pat Williams, Senior Vice
President
Pat Williams |
Pat Williams has more than 47 years of professional sports experience to his credit. The 69-year-old protégé of the late Bill Veeck is probably most known for his promotional and marketing wizardry.
That same type of creativity and ingenuity has turned a Central Florida pro sports dream into the reality of Orlando Magic basketball, reaching into the homes of NBA fans throughout the country.
Williams was promoted to his current post from the general manager position in April of 1996. As the senior vice president, Williams serves in strategic planning activities relating to RDV Sports, named for Rich DeVos and the parent company of the Magic. He also spearheads research of future RDV Sports properties. Additionally, he serves as the promotional leader and strategic marketer for memberships at the $50 million state-of-the-art RDV Sportsplex. He is involved in training and mentoring of RDV Sports employees, while making public appearances on behalf of RDV Sports and the Orlando Magic.
Williams is also considered one of the country’s top motivational and inspirational public speakers. His wife, Ruth, teaches time management seminars for the FranklinCovey Company.
Prior to joining the Central Florida pro basketball effort in June of 1986, Williams spent 12 seasons as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. During that time, he took a Sixers team that posted a 34-48 record in 1974-75 to a World Championship in 1983. Through several personnel moves during that time, Williams played a major factor in bringing the NBA title to Philadelphia.
Williams joined the Sixers in 1968 as the club's business manager. The next season, at the tender age of 29 he became the general manager of the Chicago Bulls, and remained in that post until 1973. While in Chicago, he raised average game attendance figures at Chicago Stadium from 3,700 to more than 10,000 per game.
In 1973, he left the Bulls organization to become general manager of the Atlanta Hawks, where he served one season before returning to take over the reins in Philadelphia.
Though Williams has spent well over four decades in the NBA, his first love is baseball, the sport that earned him a scholarship to Wake Forest University. While at Wake Forest, Williams earned a bachelor's degree in physical education. He was a three-year letterman as a catcher on the Demon Deacons baseball team and is a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame. He later went on to earn a master’s of science degree in physical education from Indiana University in 1964.
Williams’ baseball career began when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962 and spent two seasons catching for the Miami Marlins, a Class A club in the Florida State League. He quickly moved from the playing field to the front office, when he was appointed business manager of Miami in 1964. He took the general manager job with the Spartanburg (S.C.) Phillies in 1965 and was later elevated to the position of president of the organization in 1967.
In 1967, he was chosen the Minor League Executive of the Year by The Sporting News. Williams remains active in baseball as a catcher in Dream Week games in Florida during the winter. He was also the president of Orlando's Double-A Southern League team from 1990-1993. Pat’s son, Bobby, is the Washington Nationals’ Farm Director and his son, Thomas, is the senior accountant for the Boston Red Sox.
Pat was born in Philadelphia on May 3, 1940, and was raised in nearby Wilmington, Del., where he attended Tower Hill School. He was voted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Pat and Ruth are the parents of 19 children, 14 of whom are adopted from four foreign countries. The Williams family roster reads as follows: Stephanie (37), Jim (35), Bobby (32), David (32), Peter (31), Brian (30), Karyn (30), Thomas (29), Stephen (29), Sarah (29), Daniella (28), Andrea (28), Richie (28), Sammy (27), Caroline (26), Michael (25), Gabriella (25), Katarina (24) and Alan (23). Four of the children are from Korea, four from the Philippines, two from Romania, and four from Brazil. Pat and Ruth also have seven grandchildren, Laila, Brianna, Ava, Austin, Audri, Max, and Anthony.
Pat has written 57 books, including his version of the birth of the Orlando Magic, entitled Making Magic. His two most recent books are Extreme Dreams Depend on Teams and Happy Spouse, Happy House. An avid runner, Williams has completed the Boston Marathon 13 times in the last 14 years. He has completed 53 marathons in the last 14 years.
Jim Fritz,
Chief Financial Officer
Jim Fritz |
Jim Fritz, who has 22 years experience in financial management, including the last 15 years with the Magic, was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in May, 2006. He oversees the organization’s finance, legal, information technology, administration, human resources, aviation, and risk management functions.
Fritz is responsible for player contract and salary cap issues regarding player acquisitions and trades, as well as other player financial matters. In addition, he handles financing and business strategy duties, including business planning, budgeting and forecasting. Fritz has previously served as the Magic's controller, director and vice president of finance, and the executive vice president of business operations during the previous 11 years.
Prior to joining the Magic, Fritz worked for five years in the audit practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers and for two years at Hotel Management Associates where he served as Corporate Controller. Fritz received his master’s and undergraduate degrees in accounting from Florida State University and he is a Certified Public Accountant. Fritz has served as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees at United Arts for seven years.
A native of Central Florida, Fritz resides in Orlando, Fla., with his wife, Donna, their son, Zachary (10) and their daughter, Nicole (8).
Charles Freeman, Vice President Business Development
Charles Freeman |
Charles Freeman is entering his 14th year with the Orlando Magic and was promoted to senior vice president of business development in August of 2007. Freeman is responsible for the development of the new Amway Center, as well as other strategic and business initiatives for the team. Under Freeman’s guidance, the Amway Center has progressed through the design phase and is now under construction with a scheduled completion date of October 2010.
Freeman started with the Magic in 1996 as market research analyst for corporate sponsorship and broadcast sales. He was responsible for all research and strategic planning for the department. In 1997, Freeman was promoted to business manager of sales and was in charge of developing, implementing, managing and analyzing new business strategies for the sales division. As business manager, Freeman worked with corporate sponsorship and broadcast sales, retail sales, ticket sales and box office operations for the Orlando Magic, Orlando Solar Bears and Orlando Miracle.
In the spring of 1999, as business development manger, Freeman began working with ownership on a variety of strategic projects. In the summer of 2001, he was promoted to director of business development and focused on the growth and expansion of RDV Sports, as well as new business ventures for the DeVos family. In July 2005, Freeman was promoted to vice president of business development and strategy to help oversee the team’s efforts to obtain the necessary approval for the Amway Center. Currently, he is responsible for the design, construction, and development of the new Amway Center in downtown Orlando. In addition, Freeman oversees the organization’s business development efforts as well as short and long-term business planning.
Freeman graduated from Rollins College with a major in economics and minor in business administration. He resides in Maitland with his wife, Pam, and two children, Charlie (5) and Addison (3).
Jack Swope, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Relationships
Jack Swope |
In September of 2007, Jack Swope was named senior vice president of corporate relationships. He originally joined the Orlando Magic organization as the assistant general manager/director of marketing in June of 1987, following 10 years with the Philadelphia 76ers organization.
Many of the Magic start-up operations attributed to Swope include hiring of many of the Magic front office personnel; overseeing all business operations; conceptualizing all Magic marketing strategies.
Swope, 54, has been associated with professional basketball since 1977 when he joined the 76ers group sales department. He was promoted to the position of director of group sales in 1979.
A perfect example of working through the ranks, the 32-year veteran of the NBA was named director of promotions for Philadelphia in 1982, and later elevated to the position of director of marketing in 1984. Swope was awarded the position of assistant general manager with the Sixers in 1986.
A native of Philadelphia, Swope received his bachelor’s degree in business at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.
Swope currently serves on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida, the Every Kid Outreach Board, the Florida Sports Foundation and Play for a Cure.
Swope and his wife, Debbie, have three children, Michael (26), Andrew (24) and Lauren (19).
Chip Bowers, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
Chip Bowers |
Chip Bowers was named vice president of corporate partnerships for the Orlando Magic in June of 2008. He spent the previous eight seasons in various roles with the Seattle SuperSonics, most recently serving as vice president of business development.
Bowers oversees the corporate partnerships sales and client service process for the Orlando Magic and the RDV Sportsplex. His responsibilities include the management of all daily sales activities, the partnership development managers, the account service team, inventory management and contract fulfillment.
Bowers joined Seattle in 2000 as a senior account executive with the business development department and was promoted to oversee many responsibilities during his tenure with the organization. He successfully managed the corporate partnership sales and service team, while creating and developing a new department structure that allowed for the client services team to become a market and league-wide research and development resource. In May of 2007, Bowers was promoted to vice president of business development, overseeing corporate partnership development, revenue generation
and client services for both the Sonics and Seattle Storm of the WNBA.
Prior to joining the Sonics, Bowers was a senior account executive with the San Diego Padres. While being accountable for increasing the market awareness of the team and a new ownership group, Bowers also assisted in fiscally rejuvenating previously unused revenue streams by selling newly developed stadium signage, website advertising and multi-dimensional marketing programs.
A graduate of Appalachian State University, Bowers and his wife, April, have a daughter, Charlie (born September 2008).
Scott Bowman, Vice President Season Ticket Services & Operations
Scott Bowman |
Scott Bowman, who has more than 19 years of experience in the areas of public relations, community relations, and customer service, enters his tenth year with the Orlando Magic and sixth
as vice president of season ticket services and operations.
Bowman is responsible for retaining and growing the season ticket holder base and fan attendance through enhancing the overall season ticket holder experience, which includes the game day experience and customer service. He is also responsible for all aspects of the daily ticket and box office operations.
He previously served as director of community and government relations for the Orlando Magic and as president of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. Prior to joining the Orlando Magic, Bowman served as the director of marketing for Magic Pencil Studios and as the senior vice president of corporate communications and community relations for Barnett Bank of Central Florida.
Bowman is a member of the Board of Directors for A Gift For Teaching and a board member with the Orlando Repertory Theatre.
A native of Ohio, Bowman holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University.
He resides in Maitland, Fla., and has three children, Danielle (16), Hannah (14) and Grant (12).
Steve Griggs, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Steve Griggs |
Steve Griggs was named executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Orlando Magic in October of 2007. He served the previous eight years as the vice president of sales and service for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League and its parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE).
Griggs oversees the Orlando Magic’s corporate relationships, premium sales and services, season ticket services & operations, and marketing & ticket sales departments. Griggs is also overseeing the strategic sales and marketing efforts for the new Amway Center set to open in 2010.
At Minnesota, Griggs’ responsibilities included overseeing all Minnesota Wild and MSE ticket sales and service, corporate sales and service, suite sales and service, retail operations and group and event suite sales.
Under his leadership, the club entered its seventh NHL season having sold out every home game in franchise history, posting 284 consecutive sellouts. The total attendance for the Wild’s first six seasons was more than five million. Minnesota started this season with 16,500 season ticket holders and a waiting list of 7,000 people. In addition, the club has sold out all 66 of its annual suites in every season. Griggs was instrumental in fostering customer relations between the team and its fans. The Sports Fans of America Association, Inc. awarded its 2003 NHL Sports Fan's Quality Award to the Wild as the league's "Fan Friendliest" team. In an ESPN survey conducted in 2003, the team was ranked number one for stadium experience and number two for fan relationships among 123 sports franchises.
Prior to joining the Wild, Griggs served as the vice president of corporate sales and service for Sportsco International, LP and SkyDome. The Aurora, Ontario native also worked for both the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors (1994-99) and the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs (1998-99) as the director of ticket sales and service, where he led the sales and relocation efforts from historic Maple Leaf Gardens into Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Griggs, and his wife, Janell, have a daughter, Maddie (6), and a son, Jack (4).
Chris D'Orso, Vice President of Sales
Chris D'Orso |
Chris D’Orso enters his 21st season with the Orlando Magic and serves as the team’s vice president of sales. His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of premium sales for the new Amway Center, ticket sales, tourism, Junior Magic, camps, and retail aspects of the team.
A mainstay in the organization since the team’s inception, D’Orso joined the Magic in 1989 as the promotions/publicity coordinator. After two seasons in that capacity, he moved into the sponsorship sales department as a corporate account manager for the next three years. In 1994, D’Orso was promoted to the assistant director of marketing position, and in 1998 was promoted to director of marketing. He served as director of ticket sales and marketing from 1999, and was promoted to vice president of marketing and sales in 2002, a position he held for seven years.
D’Orso graduated in 1988 from Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is a member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of Greater Orlando. In addition, he reads to elementary school children through Teach In and coaches local sports youth leagues.
D’Orso and his wife, Christine, reside in Windermere, Fla., with their two sons, Harrison (16) and Alex (12).
Joel Glass, Vice President of Communications
Joel Glass |
Joel Glass, who joined the Orlando Magic in October of 1995, was promoted to vice president of communications in July of 2006. He served as director of communications for more than seven years.
Glass is responsible for directing communication and media/public relations efforts related to the Magic. He is responsible for media operations, strategic communications, media releases, publications and statistical material, while also coordinating media interviews with players, coaching staff members and front office personnel. Glass also helps oversee Orlando Magic broadcasting.
Glass arrived in Orlando from the University of Florida sports information department, where he worked for more than nine years. While at UF, Glass spearheaded media/public relations for basketball, while also assisting with football and the men’s spring sports program. While with the Gators, Glass was the winner of 23 national publication and writing honors, as awarded by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
A 1986 graduate of the University of Iowa and a native of Wilmette, Ill. (north of Chicago), Glass spent three summers working in the Chicago White Sox public/media relations department while in college. At Iowa, he served as a writer for The Daily Iowan, covering football, basketball, baseball, golf and wrestling.
In the community, Glass has been involved with Teach-In, a community-based program where professionals share their experiences at area schools, and serves as a youth basketball and baseball coach. He is also a Heart of Florida United Way board member and on the advisory committee for the Orlando Magic Youth Fund.
Glass and his wife, Dolly, reside in Orlando, Fla., with their son, Max (12) and daughter, Madeline (9).
Jason Coleman, Vice President of Information Technology
Jason Coleman |
Jason Coleman is a recent addition to the Orlando Magic, joining the team as vice president of information technology in July of 2008. Coleman oversees the operations of the technology
staff, including project management, software engineering, network engineering and desktop support. He is also responsible for technology direction, providing thought leadership
for both internal systems as well as the new Orlando Events Center.
Prior to joining the Magic, Coleman spent 12 years at Kinetics, a small private company which became a subsidiary of NCR Corporation in 2004. Kinetics is best known for being the leader in airline self-check-in technology, with dominant market share in North America and a growing presence in the rest of the world.
Starting as Kinetics’ fifth employee in 1996, Coleman was responsible for software design, implementation, infrastructure, and support throughout his tenure. Following NCR Corporation’s purchase of Kinetics in 2004, Coleman became vice president of software and IT of the subsidiary and continued to grow his teamand diversify into different industries until his departure.
Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University in 1991 and a master’s degree from Florida State University in 1993. A Florida native, Coleman resides in Lake Mary with his wife, Theresa, and their three children, Amanda (13), Nicholas (9), and Brianna (9).
Linda Landman-Gonzalez, Vice President of Community Relations and Government Affairs
Linda Landman-Gonzalez |
Linda Landman-Gonzalez was named vice president of community relations and government affairs for the Orlando Magic in September 2007. Landman-Gonzalez serves in a senior leadership role overseeing community relations, government affairs, multicultural insights and serves as the president of the Orlando Magic Youth Fund Advisory Council.
Landman-Gonzalez spent nine years as director of diversity, community and government relations for Darden Restaurants, Orlando’s only Fortune 500 corporation. While at Darden, she focused on creating community partnerships, employee volunteer opportunities and leadership development in ten top markets nationwide, including Orlando. Landman-Gonzalez also managed corporate giving, while developing a second language translation initiative for the corporation.
Her efforts resulted in many corporate awards for Darden, Inc., including Fortune’s Top Ten Diversity Elite, Black Enterprise’s list for Best Companies of Diversity and Hispanic Business magazine’s Best Place For Hispanics to Work.
Prior to joining Darden, Inc., Landman-Gonzalez served as vice president of Hispanic sales and marketing for Barnett Bank in Orlando.
Landman-Gonzalez is currently involved in several volunteer and leadership activities, including The Central Florida Transportation Corridors Task Force, Florida State Conference NAACP Corporate Advisory Board, African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Casa de Mexico, WMFE Board of Trustees, and is a Trustee of the City of Orlando’s Children’s Trust Committee. She is chair elect of Valencia Community College Foundation and the immediate past president of Orlando Ballet. Landman-Gonzalez also serves on the Board of Fifth Third Bank and was appointed by Governor Crist in February 2009 to serve on the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County.
Landman-Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico and resides in Orlando with her husband, Roberto.
Audra Hollifield, Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services
Audra Hollifield |
Audra Hollifield, SPHR is entering her 11th season with the Orlando Magic and was promoted to vice president of human resources and administrative services in May 2007. She oversees recruiting, compensation and benefits, employee relations, training and development, and administrative services for the “team behind the team.”
Hollifield started with the Magic as the assistant director of human resources in May 1999. She was promoted to director of human resources in October 2005.
Prior to 1999, Hollifield worked as an HR Generalist for Gambro Healthcare, an international medical manufacturing company with offices in Central Florida. Hollifield began her HR career in 1994 when she spearheaded the start up of a human resources department for First Atlantic Federal Credit Union in Long Branch, N.J.
Hollifield earned a BS degree in human resources management in 1993 from Cabrini College, a liberal arts college in Radnor, Pa. In 2000, Hollifield received her MA degree in human resources management from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. In 2005, Hollifield obtained a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation which is the highest level of professional certification bestowed by the Society for Human Resource Management.
Hollifield currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of Harbor House which provides shelter and support for victims of domestic violence in Central Florida. In 2009, Hollifield joined the Board of Directors for the Employer’s Association of Central Florida (EAF). EAF is an association of employers which provides a helpful forum for creating and maintaining a stable environment of positive employer/employee relations in the business community.
Hollifield and her husband, Travis, reside in Orlando, Fla. with their two beloved English Bulldogs, Beeman and Burlington.
Joe Andrade, Senior Director of Ticket Sales
Joe Andrade |
Joe Andrade is entering his first season with the Orlando Magic as the senior director of ticket sales after being hired by the team in July 2008. Andrade arrives with a diverse background,
having worked in professional sports for 11 years.
Andrade’s responsibilities for the Magic include providing leadership, strategy, recruiting, sales training and development for all season ticket sales, group ticket sales and tourism representatives.
Andrade comes to the Magic from the Los Angeles Clippers, where he was the director of ticket sales. He has also held similar positions with the Miami Heat and New Orleans Hornets. Prior to entering the arena of basketball, Andrade served as the director of inside sales and group sales for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Andrade graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. During his time at UMass, he was the research assistant for Orlando Magic consultant Dr. William Sutton.
Jeff Bissey, Controller
Jeff Bissey |
Jeff Bissey begins his 14th season with the OrlandoMagic and sixth as the team’s controller.
He oversees the daily accounting and financial operations of the Magic, including financial analysis and reporting, audit and tax return preparation, budgeting, and cash management.
Bissey joined the Magic in October of 1994 as an intern in the basketball operations department.
He was hired as a staff accountant in the finance department in July of 1995 and was promoted to his current position in July 2003.
Bissey received his bachelor’s of science degree in finance from Kansas State University in 1991. He later graduated from Wichita State University with a master’s of education in sports administration in 1995.
Bissey has served on the board of directors for The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools since 2005.
He resides in Altamonte Springs, Fla., with his son, Brett (12) and daughter, Leah (9).
Lucas Boyce, Director of Multicultural Insights and Cause Marketing
Lucas Boyce |
Lucas Boyce joined the Orlando Magic as director of multicultural insights and cause marketing in July 2008. His responsibilities include strategic business planning and directing
the organization’s multicultural initiatives, diverse outreach, managing the company’s efforts in corporate citizenship and government affairs.
Prior to joining the Magic, Boyce served at the White House in the Office of Political Affairs where he monitored political activity and tracked key races across the Plains-Southwest region of the United States.
Boyce also coordinated pro-active communication, public relations and education outreach across diverse communities, constituencies and issues on behalf of the President.
During his tenure at the White House, Boyce also served in the Office of Public Liaison. In this role, he directed African-American and Professional Sports Outreach in addition to event related work in the fields of health care and economic policy. Prior to this, Boyce worked for a public affairs firm in Alexandria, Virginia, Direct Impact, and served in the Vice President’s Political and Communications Office.
Boyce received his bachelor’s degree in political science and speech communication from the University of Central Missouri.
Bobby Bridges, Director of Premium Sales
Bobby Bridges |
Bobby Bridges is currently in his 11th season with the OrlandoMagic and was promoted to director of premium sales in November of 2007. He is responsible for the recruiting, hiring,
training and day-to-day operations of the premium sales department for the Magic.
Bridges started as a promotions intern in January of 1997 and was hired full-time in September of 1997 as a ticket sales representative. He was subsequently promoted to group sales manager in
January of 2000, ticket sales manager in February of 2003 and to assistant director of ticket sales in March of 2004. Bridges was later promoted to director of group sales in July of 2007.
Bridges received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from the University of Florida. He and his wife, Shelly, reside in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Kari Conley, Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs
Kari Conley |
Kari Conley begins her ninth season with the Orlando Magic and was promoted to director of community and government relations in July of 2007. In this role, she oversees the strategic
direction for player initiatives and their personal foundations, fundraising and charitable events and all aspects of school, community and league-wide programs, including theMagic
Volunteer Program (MVP) and NBA Cares.
Prior to joining the Magic, Conley was responsible for implementing public relations and branding strategies at Carlman Booker Reis public relations agency and The Salvation Army National Headquarters in Washington D.C.
She received her master’s degree in organizational communication from Baylor University and her bachelor
of arts degree from Samford University.
Conley serves on the board for the Ronald McDonald House in Orlando, the Orange County Arts Advisory Council and the Children’s Home Society. She is a past president of the Florida Public Relations Association Orlando Area Chapter and accredited in the field of Public Relations.
Conley and her husband, Chad, have lived in Orlando for 11 years. They have a son, Carson (5), and a daughter, Camryn (4).
Kevin Cosgrove, Director of Broadcasting
Kevin Cosgrove |
Kevin Cosgrove has been with the Orlando Magic organization since its inception in 1989 and begins his 11th season as the director of broadcasting. The Magic Broadcasting department
is responsible for producing radio game broadcasts for theMagic Radio Network, and provides production support for Magic television broadcasts on Sun Sports and FSNFlorida.
Cosgrove also oversees the department’s in-house production team, which produces ancillary television and radio programming and provides audio and video production support for the organization.
A part-time employee for the team’s first three seasons, Cosgrove joined theMagic full time in 1992, serving a dual role as feature producer for Magic TV broadcasts and producer/director for the in-arena video board.
He became broadcast production manager in 1995, was promoted to assistant director the following year, and assumed his present duties prior to the start of the 1998-99 Magic season.
Before joining the Magic, Cosgrove spent nine years as a computer graphics production manager at Media DesignGroup, a multi-media production house located in Winter Park, Fla. A resident of Central Florida since 1982, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University in 1981.
Cosgrove currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Crealdé School of Art. He and his wife, Leslie, reside in Oviedo, Fla., with their son, Joseph (9).
George Galante, Director of Communications
George Galante |
George Galante was promoted to director of communications for the Orlando Magic in July of 2007. He spent more than eight seasons as assistant director of communications and has been with the organization since August of 1995.
Galante supports all areas of the communications department, including serving as managing editor of all media guides, compiling game notes, coordinating interview requests with players and front office personnel, writing press releases, maintaining statistical information and traveling on the road with the team.
He also serves as co-host of Magic Overtime with Dante and Galante, the team’s weekly television show that profiles Magic players and personalities.
Following an internship with the Magic during their run to the 1995 NBA Finals, Galante spent four seasons as public relations manager for the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League (1995-99). While with the Solar Bears, Galante also served as chairman of the IHL’s Public Relations Advisory Board.
Galante earned a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from Stetson University in 1996, where he was a student assistant in the sports information department. He assumed SID duties for women’s soccer and cross country and also spent one summer as assistant director of public relations for Daytona Beach of the United States Basketball League.
A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Galante and his wife, Laura, reside in Altamonte Springs, Fla. with their sons, John (4) and Jim (2), and daughter, Kate (born September 2009).
Stephanie Mellenberndt, Director of Marketing
Stephanie Mellenberdnt |
Stephanie Mellenberndt is in her third season with the Orlando Magic, joining the team as the director of marketing in August 2007. Her responsibilities include managing the branding, advertising, grassroots promotions, website, database marketing, creative services and sales and marketing performance analysis.
Prior to joining the Magic, Mellenberndt worked as the director of marketing for Hawaiian Tropic Sun Care, a leader in the global Sun Care and consumer packaged goods market, based in Ormond Beach, Fla. She and her team led the brand to an all-time market share high and worked diligently to reposition the brand for longevity in the marketplace. Package innovations won her team several national awards: a DuPont Packaging Award, a Rex Packaging Award and also a NACD Award for Packaging Merit.
Prior to Hawaiian Tropic, Mellenberndt worked for Haarmann & Reimer, a division of Bayer, in Springfield, N.J. as well as NTK, Technical Ceramics in Millburn, N.J.
Mellenberndt is a graduate from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business, with a concentration in marketing. She and her husband, Todd, reside in Longwood, Fla., with their two children, Sarah (11) and Jaxon (9).
Paul Moletteire, Director of Ticket Operations
Paul Moletteire |
Paul Moletteire is currently in his 17th season with the Orlando Magic. As director of ticket operations, he is responsible for managing the organization’s current ticket operations.
Moletteire started as a media relations intern in August of 1991 and was hired full-time in September of 1992 as a box office representative. He was subsequently promoted to ticket services manager in January of 1999 and to assistant director of fan relations in December of 2004. In July of 2006, he was promoted to director of season ticket services and operations. In August of 2009, his role was changed in preparation of the opening of the new Amway Center in 2010. His new focus will be on ticket operations for the team, in addition to providing leadership for the day-to-day activities of the new Amway Center’s ticket operations and box office.
Moletteire received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida in 1989.
Moletteire and his wife, Vicki, reside in Oviedo, Fla., with their children, Jack (10) and Kara (8).
Rick Chabot, Director of Aviation for Magic Carpet
Rick Chabot |
Rick Chabot was named director of aviation for Magic Carpet in December of 2006. Magic Carpet Aviation will provide support for the 15 teams participating in the Northwest
Airlines NBA charter program. Chabot came to MCA after more than 25 years at Delta Air Lines and 20 years with the United States Air Force.
Chabot began his professional flying career in 1967. He joined the Air Force in 1972, finishing flight school number six in his class. He was an aerodynamics instructor, a flight instructor and fight bomber
pilot. He retired from the Air Force Reserves after 20 years, serving the last six years as the director of plans and operations for the Air Force Academy in North Texas.
Chabot flew with Delta Air Lines for more than 25 years – 10 years as a check pilot and five years as the pilots’ chairman. He has more than 22,000 hours and holds a license as an ATP – ME/SE (multi/single engine), Commercial –ME/SE, Private –ME/SE, CFI and CFII –ME/SE, plus a flight engineers certificate.
Chabot holds two degrees - one in mathematics and one in biology. He resides in Orlando with his wife, Debbie. They have three children: Rick, Robert and Elizabeth.
Roman Vega, Vice President of Brand Management
Roman Vega |
Roman Vega was named vice president of brand management for the Orlando Magic in September 2009.
Vega, a member of the senior management team, is responsible for establishing strategy for the disciplines of marketing, creative services, database marketing, broadcast production, game and event operations, with a focus on providing marketing strategy and support for ticket sales, season ticket services, multicultural insight, premium sales and corporate partnership sales.
Vega’s previous work experiences include: Global Brand Leader for Nike Basketball, Brand Manager for the Jordan Brand, Senior Advertising Manager for the Jordan Brand, Advertising Manager for The Coca-Cola Company and Marketing Services Manager for the Latin America Group at The Coca-Cola Company.
A native of Kansas, Vega earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Emporia State University, where he was a member of the men’s basketball team. Vega also earned a master’s of business administration from Wichita State University.
Vega, and his wife, Amanda, reside in Maitland, Fla. with their daughter, Avery (4), and son, Elijah (born February 2009).
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