President and CEO Phoenix Suns; Managing General Partner Arizona Diamondbacks – Phoenix, Arizona
Highly regarded for his ability to accomplish difficult challenges, Jerry Colangelo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team, has climbed the ladder of success one rung at a time. As a young college basketball player at the University of Illinois, he earned all Big 10 honors, averaging fifteen points per game. He was the captain of the team and later was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. Mr. Colangelo began his business career as Director of Merchandising and Head Scout for the Chicago Bulls in 1966. He eventually became president and general manager. He assumed the GM position with the Phoenix Suns in 1968 and in 1987 he led a group that purchased the franchise and became president and CEO. Colangelo’s vision of a sports arena for Phoenix became a shining reality in 1992. Under his direction and management, America West Arena is the centerpiece of the downtown revitalization process of Phoenix. Consistently recognized for his commitment to do all he can for his franchise and his community, Mr. Colangelo serves on the Board of Governors of the NBA Finance Committee and Long Range Planning Committee as well as The Honors Committee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. His commitment to the relationship between business and the arts has placed him on the Board of Directors of the Phoenix Art Museum, Southwest Leadership Foundation, and Big Brothers organization. He was recognized in 1990 as the Phoenix Entrepreneur of the Year. “One of the things that I’ve felt was very, very important in my life was keeping a balance and keeping priorities in place. We can talk about achievements, they come and they go. Fortunes are made and fortunes are lost, but I do believe if you maintain the right balance, you have a better chance to have a successful life. In my case, it’s a matter of prioritizing what’s most important to me. And that is my faith, my family, and then business.”
