New Directors Elected to Champion Leadership Excellence in Professional Sports

Austin, TX - December 10, 2024 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the industry association for professional sports organizations and business leaders, has announced the addition of Dr. Kyra Kendrick to its management team. 

Elevating Performance, Innovation, and Strategic Influence Across the Industry 

SEPT 25, 2024 (Austin, TX) –  Pro Sports Assembly ("PRO"), the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders announces a new partnership with The Venn Collective, bringing enhanced executive leadership development opportunities to PRO members. A highlight of the partnership is The VP Circle leadership cohort for a select group of senior leaders aiming to refine their leadership and influence capabilities, preparing them for roles with increased exposure and impact.

The VP Circle with The Venn Collective is an intimate executive leadership development cohort focused on expanding participants' sphere of influence, driving impactful outcomes, and elevating their organizational performance and influence across the industry. The selected leaders will embark on a journey facilitated by The Venn Collective, enhancing their ability to lead themselves, others, and their organizations through their unique leadership styles.

Featuring PROfiles Video Series

SEPT 19, 2024 (Austin, TX) -  As Pro Sports Assembly approaches its 4th anniversary on September 20th, 2024, the organization is proud to share the PROfiles video series, continuing its mission to elevate leadership excellence in professional sports. Since its establishment in 2019, Pro Sports Assembly has united professional sports organizations and leaders, creating a platform that fosters growth, innovation, and collaboration across the industry.

Over Two Dozen Organizations Represented in Three Learning & Development Programs 

SEPT 11, 2024 (Austin, TX) - Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports business leaders, announced the three latest leadership cohorts for 2024 learning & development programs. Demonstrating their commitment to individual growth, organizational impact and industry-wide influence, the leaders selected will engage with colleagues across pro sports to grow relationships and gain resources of material interest.

The three L&D programs offer exclusive experiences to support PRO members who take their leadership responsibilities seriously; refining their leadership capabilities across leagues, regions, and roles to expand their influence. Active members of the association bring the PRO Game Plan for Leadership Excellence to life and create economies of scale and scope for all members, driving growth in learning, research, and leadership development to future-proof their careers, organizations and the industry.

Four Medal of Leadership Honorees were Celebrated and Dallas Mavericks Issue Inclusive Leadership Challenge

Austin, TX - June 6, 2024 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, celebrated its second class of honorees for the PRO Medal of Leadership Awards during a celebration last night at The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and Workshop in Austin, TX. The four Medal of Leadership Award honorees were selected by members of PRO for elevating the standards of leadership excellence in professional sports. The Medal of Leadership Awards celebration was hosted by Seth Cohen, Chief Impact Officer at Forbes and Chioma Atanmo of Sporting KC.

This year’s PRO Medal of Leadership Award honorees include:

New Season Will Feature 20 Women Blazing Trails Across Sports & Entertainment

Austin, TX - April 4, 2024 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, is partnering up with Intello Sports Partners and Women Blazers to produce a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Dionna Widder, Chief Revenue Officer for the Nashville Predators, and founding Governing Board member of PRO. Season five of Women Blazers will feature in-depth interviews with female senior executives in sports. As a gesture of gratitude, Intello Sports will provide each guest with a one-year PRO Premier membership. 

Women Blazers season five is set to feature 20 more inspirational women executives sharing their insights and journeys growing within our industry. The first episode, featuring Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcast. Season five will continue through December featuring leaders such as: 

Teams, leagues, venues and unions have found a safe place to unite: Pro Sports Assembly. No other place in the athletic ecosystem has the NFL, NBA, MLB and NWSL, among others, assisting each other in body, mind and purpose. When there were shootings at the Kansas City Super Bowl parade, and grief and guilt permeated the Chiefs franchise, its front office could lean on other teams across leagues — through Pro Sports Assembly — on how to handle the aftermath. Read more on SBJ. 

C-Suite Circle, Cohort 2 is Open for Applications and Nominations Through March 22nd

Austin, TX - March 19, 2024 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, is partnering up with best-in-class executive coaching firm, Novus Global to host “Cohort 2” of Pro Sports Assembly’s C-Suite Circle. The cohort will be comprised of up to 20 leaders in professional sports (teams, leagues, unions, venues) who are near the President, CEO or Commissioner roles. Ami Galani of Elysian Park Ventures, Rob Kaplan of the Kansas City Royals (investor) and former CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank (Dallas) and Michele Roberts former Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association will guide the Cohort through seven monthly sessions with professional sports industry CEO’s and Commissioners. Novus Global will provide the Cohort with training that will lead to creating maximum value among cohort relationships, coaching to create a successful capstone project, access to world-class coaches in person, and a library of exceptional resources.

Sessions Include:

Pro Sports Assembly Members Have Selected Four Leaders for their Exceptional Leadership Contributions and Impact on the Industry

Austin, TX - March 12, 2024 –  Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports business leaders, will present the 2024 class of honorees for the PRO Medal of Leadership Awards on June 5, 2024 at The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and Workshop. The four Medal of Leadership Award honorees were selected by members of PRO for elevating the standards of leadership excellence in professional sports. 

The Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award was created in honor of Jason Jenkins, the late Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs for the Miami Dolphins and a founding member of PRO, serving on the Governing Board as the Chair of Communications. Jason epitomized inclusive leadership, unifying people in sport and in the community. 

Pro Sports Assembly Names Oracio Galindo of Los Angeles Rams As 2024/2025 Board Chair and 10 New Leaders Join Board of Directors

 January 29, 2024 | (AUSTIN, TX)  Pro Sports Assembly, the association for professional sports business leaders announced today that Oracio Galindo has been named the 2024/2025 Board Chair. Galindo has been on the leadership team at the Los Angeles Rams since 2016. He leads Employee Experience for the NFL club and has served as a founding member of the Pro Sports Assembly Governing Board since 2020. Galindo earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and his Master of Human Resources from Claremont Graduate University. He is succeeding Ann Seeney, Chief People & Diversity Officer at the US Soccer Federation, who served as the inaugural Board Chair for Pro Sports Assembly. 

In addition to electing a Chair, Pro Sports Assembly elected Marina Carpenter, SVP and General Counsel of the Arizona Coyotes as Vice-Chair; Nicolas Somoano, Director of Finance for ASM Global at NRG Park as Treasurer; Evan Whitfield, Vice President of Supporter & Alumni Relations, Engagement at Chicago Fire FC as Secretary and announced 10 new Directors have joined the governing board (see roster below).  Their work is focused on identifying the challenges facing professional sports, convening thought leaders to explore these issues and producing learning & development, research and growth opportunities for inclusive leaders across the industry. 

Pro Sports Assembly Celebrates Inaugural Class of Medal of Leadership Award Honorees

Four Recipients Were Honored at Ceremony for their Exceptional Leadership Contributions and Impact on the Industry

Austin, TX - June 22, 2023 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, celebrated its inaugural class of honorees for the PRO Medal of Leadership Awards during a ceremony last night at The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and Workshop. The four Medal of Leadership Award honorees were selected by members of PRO for elevating the standards of leadership in professional sports. The Medal of Leadership Awards celebration was presented by Oak View Group Arena Alliance and supported by the NFL and Shinola.

National Women's Soccer League Unites with Pro Sports Assembly

League Joins Association for Professional Sports Business Leaders to Support Inclusive Leadership Across the Industry

Austin, TX - May 31, 2023 – Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, is proud to announce the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has joined PRO as its latest member.

Inaugural Marshall Award for Values in Sport and Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award to be Presented at the PRO Medal of Leadership Awards

Awards for Exceptional Leadership in Professional Sports Being Given in Honor of Late Miami Dolphins SVP of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins and Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall

A recap of what Pro Sports Assembly members did to celebrate and support Black History Month:

Arizona Coyotes 

The Arizona Coyotes hosted a ten-week mentorship program for approximately 30 students enrolled in sports business programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Coyotes staff constructed, decorated, and stocked a library full of books featuring characters of color and ethnicity. They also donated art supplies and their mascot, Howler, spent the afternoon interacting with students at Advance U Elementary. The Arizona Coyotes also hosted a panel discussion focused on increasing access to careers in sports for Black professionals, as well as conducted a month-long campaign honoring Black Arizona leaders and trailblazers. Lastly, four Directors and Executive-level staff contributed to the creation of the Arizona Pro Sports Diversity Coalition, focused on leveraging the collective power of professional sports in Arizona to increase diversity in the field.

https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/community/bhm

PBSL and Pro Sports Assembly form strategic partnership to create international opportunities in the sports industry

The new partnership will provide members with coaching, mentoring, training and support to aid career progression 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have become Founding Members of Pro Sports Assembly (“The Assembly”), a first-of-its-kind, industry-wide, and mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization for people who work in professional sports.

Designed to keep leagues, teams, unions and venues both knowledgeable and accountable for delivering an equitable and profitable future in professional sports organizations – The Assembly is a member-led community that challenges its industry to advance truly inclusive leadership. It believes that by developing cultural and gender intelligence, as well as setting best practices of stewardship, mentorship and allyship, professional sports properties can drive innovation, bolster financial performance, capture new markets and increase brand loyalty. The Assembly is aggressive in its vision and stance to enhance the future of its industry through the #PowerofProSports and aims, by 2030, to achieve parity in opportunity, pay and leadership across the industry.

Launched in September 2020, Pro Sports Assembly [PRO] is a first-of-its-kind, industry-wide, and mission-driven 501(c)(3) association for people working in professional sports. [PRO] was established to unite leaders across teams, leagues, unions and venues to advance the industry. From finance to innovation, operations and sales, to social responsibility, marketing, human resources and analytics, [PRO] aims to ensure there is a diverse and talented pipeline to lead its industry into the future.

Today, as part of its quarterly roundup of milestones and achievements, [PRO] announced that thirteen organizations have joined as founding members to help advance equity and achieve parity throughout the industry. The members include Atlanta Hawks/State Farm Arena, Austin FC, Cleveland Cavaliers/RocketMortgage Field House, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, Major League Baseball, Miami Dolphins, Olympia Sports and Entertainment, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, Spurs Sports and Entertainment, Texas Rangers, and World Wrestling Entertainment. Through their membership, each organization is not only providing leadership opportunities for their employees, but they are also creating the voice of the industry.