Greater Orlando Sports Commission Board of Directors Grows to 153 Members

The organization announced 29 new board members in 2026

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 22, 2026) – The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) has announced 29 incoming members to its Executive and Advisory Board of Directors, bringing the total to 153 board members. Incoming members will provide leadership and play a vital role in supporting GO Sports as the organization continues to foster collaboration on innovative ideas and advance its mission of bringing a dynamic calendar of sporting events to Central Florida. This team will offer strategic vision, expert guidance, and valuable counsel when it comes to attracting and managing sports-related events, conferences, and activities that drive economic growth and boost visitation to the greater Orlando area. They will also be focused on marketing the destination that extends across the City of Orlando and Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

“As Chairman, I’m proud of the organization’s continued momentum and its ability to unite a diverse, highly accomplished group of community leaders on our board of directors,” said Caesar Lopez, Chairman of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission board and Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, and Inter&Co Stadium. “We’re excited to welcome our new members and look forward to the perspective, expertise, and impact they will bring as we work together in the years ahead.”

“We are pleased to welcome the newest members of our Board of Directors,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “Their involvement comes at a key moment as we continue to pursue high-impact opportunities and elevate Greater Orlando’s profile through sports.”

Executive Board:

• Chrissy Elliott currently serves as Executive Vice President of Event Operations for Florida Citrus Sports. Beginning her career as a basketball coach at her alma mater, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Elliott then led the Event Management team at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex for 15 years. Following that, she dove into the non-private sector with the YMCA of Central Florida, as the District Executive Director leading 3 facilities in Brevard County, FL. Elliott has served on numerous boards and volunteered for many organizations, including Rotary, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Shelterbox, YUSA, runDisney, Meals on Wheels, Give Kids the World, and Special Olympics.
• Krista Olson is the Vice President of Marketing at the LPGA, where she leads the organization’s brand, marketing, and retail strategy. In this role, she oversees a growing team focused on elevating brand visibility, expanding fan engagement, and driving commercial growth. Prior to the LPGA, Olson served as Vice President of Marketing and Digital Strategy at RedPeg, an award-winning experiential agency based outside Washington, D.C., and also held senior marketing roles with the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and the San Francisco 49ers. She played a key role in the successful openings of two state-of-the-art venues, the Golden 1 Center and Levi’s Stadium.
• Leonor (Leo) Spinelli serves as Head of Chase Travel Servicing and Operations within JPMorganChase’s Consumer and Community Banking Connected Commerce division. In this capacity, she leads a global team of more than 3,000 employees whose work spans the entire customer journey. Before joining JPMorganChase Spinelli spent 22 years at American Express Travel & Lifestyle, where she held a variety of strategic and operational leadership roles. Her extensive background in travel operations and customer experience has been instrumental in shaping high-performing teams and delivering transformative results.
• Danny  Trosset is the Tourism Division Manager for Seminole County. In this role, he oversees the sports tourism efforts for Seminole County to maximize economic impact generated by sports tournaments and events. Last year under his leadership, the Seminole County sports tourism team hosted over 90 different sporting events that generated over 64 million dollars in economic impact for Seminole County. Outside of bringing in sports tournaments, Trosset also runs a non-profit organization called Sports 4 The Kids whose mission is to provide financially disadvantaged youth throughout Central Florida with the opportunity to participate in local sports programs.

Advisory Board:

• Richard Barbari is the Director of Community Development for Addition Financial, responsible for overseeing the credit union’s strategic community involvement and partnership initiatives across Central Florida, Tallahassee, and South Georgia. Playing an integral role in expanding Addition Financial’s partnership footprint, Barbari has been appointed to lead several of the credit union’s most impactful education partnerships, including Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Schools, Osceola School District, Lake County Schools, the University of Central Florida, and more. He serves on several boards, including Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, and the Orange Technical College Advisory Board.
• Abdul Bello-Malabu works in Sports Partnerships & Marketing for Florida Blue, managing the company’s sports portfolio in Central Florida which includes the Orlando Magic, Osceola Magic, Orlando Solar Bears, University of Central Florida Athletics, and the Florida Blue Florida Classic. Prior to joining Florida Blue, Bello-Malabu built up his knowledge and expertise in the sports industry with roles at Disney, Experience Kissimmee and Sports Marketing Agency – Octagon. He also built his skills in sponsorship strategy and contractual marketing through working on prominent events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
• Geovanny Berríos is Opening Director of the Stadium Club at Caribe Royale Orlando, where he led the launch of the $15 million sports and entertainment venue, now recognized as one of Orlando’s premier destinations for sports fans and social. With over 16 years of leadership in the hospitality and food & beverage industry, Berríos has built a career developing award-winning dining and entertainment experiences across top U.S. markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Prior to Stadium Club, he managed culinary operations for The Ritz-Carlton, Hilton Hotels, and Chef José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup. In 2021, Berrios received Orlando Magazine’s Best Service Restaurant Award.
• Russ Brandon serves as the President and CEO of the United Football League (UFL) and is an Operating Partner at RedBird Development Group. In his role, Brandon oversees day-to-day operations for the professional spring football league directing strategic planning for business and football operations on both the league and team levels. Prior to joining the UFL, Brandon served as Managing Partner and President of the Buffalo Bills, President and Alternate Governor of the Buffalo Sabres, and COO of Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE). He was inducted into the St. John Fisher College Sports Hall of Fame and was named to Sports Business Journal’s Forty-Under-40 Class in 2001.
• Michael Briggs is the Managing Director of The Alfond Inn at Rollins, the award-winning boutique hotel in the heart of historic Winter Park. He joined the team from within Olympia Hospitality’s network of distinguished properties in the spring of 2025. Before joining The Alfond Inn, Briggs served as Managing Director for Olympia Hospitality, overseeing a team of general managers across the company’s New England collection. He previously led Maine’s renowned Inn by the Sea as Managing Director/General Manager, under his leadership the property earned numerous accolades, including placement on Travel + Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels in the World and the Preferred Hotels I-Prefer Members’ Choice Award-Hotel of the Year.
• Chris Coghlan is the Founder of Big League Construction Supply and CEO of Fastening Specialists. A former Major League Baseball standout, Coghlan is a 13-year MLB veteran 2009 National League Rookie of the Year, and a key contributor to the Chicago Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series Championship, which ended the franchise’s unprecedented 108-year championship drought. His insights have been featured in the New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Nike commercials, MLB Network, Fox & Friends, and other major media outlets. An inductee of the Ole Miss Hall of Fame, he successfully transitioned into the business sector as an active investor in operating companies. Coghlan is a sought-after speaker on the topics of faith, sports, business, investing, mindset, and teamwork.
• Lorena Duarte is the Senior Director of Corporate Sponsorships, Corporate Events & Integrated Marketing at ICON Park in Orlando, where she leads strategic marketing, event development, revenue growth initiatives, and partnership activations. With more than nine years of experience in tourism, retail, business development, and experiential destination marketing, she has built a strong track record in driving market share, elevating brand positioning, and generating high-impact visitor engagement. Duarte is a bilingual leader committed to community tourism and destination development, collaborating with local organizations to strengthen Orlando’s visitor economy and enhance guest experiences.
• Kurt Esser was named Executive Director and President of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball in March 2025. He brings more than 35 years of experience in college athletics, and most recently served as Director of Athletics at Seminole State College from 2016 to 2025. Esser also served in several leadership positions within the NJCAA, including Mid-Florida Conference Chair (2020–22), Men’s Basketball Chair (2019–22), and member of the Region VIII Conference Realignment Committee. Esser served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), including one year as President, as well as the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Soccer Committees.
• Barry Goff is a Founder and Managing Partner at Artistry Restaurants and also serves as Managing Partner of Triloma Financial Group, a boutique private equity firm and the majority owner of Artistry. Goff is primarily responsible for identifying and negotiating Artistry’s acquisition and partnership opportunities and overseeing the company’s capital markets activities. Before forming Artistry and Triloma, Goff served as a Managing Director of Tavistock Group, where he created and launched Tavistock Restaurants and served as the chairman of Tavistock Group’s U.S. investment committee. Prior to Tavistock, he spent five years with CNL Financial Group as the Chief Investment Officer and President of CNL Restaurant Properties.
• Eric Gray is the Founder and CEO of Maverick Content Studio, a social-first agency helping the world’s best brands connect with the next generation of fans. Gray and his team have produced thousands of pieces of content that have driven hundreds of millions of owned and earned impressions, helping brands evolve how they show up on social media and create content people actually want to watch. He’s an entrepreneur and podcast host, and keynote speaker who has been featured on some of the biggest stages in social media marketing. Before Maverick, Gray built Fortune 500 social media teams at EA SPORTS and Universal Parks. Today, he and his Winter Park-based agency work with brands like Travel + Leisure, AdventHealth, and Winn-Dixie.
• Jeff Justen is the Vice President & General Manager for Turner Construction’s Orlando business unit, leading the team of 160+ employees across Central Florida, Jacksonville, and the Space Coast. Beginning his career with Turner in 2001 as a project engineer in Toledo, he also spent time in Atlanta as Senior Project Manager before relocating to Orlando in 2013. Justen served as the company’s top executive on the Orlando International Airport’s Intermodal Terminal Facility and South Terminal C Landside projects in 2019. Active in the community, Justen also serves on the Board of Directors for the Rondal McDonald House of Central Florida.
• Kimberly Kanary is Vice President of Marketing for Renewal by Andersen – Mellick Group, overseeing strategic marketing for the Central Florida, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Gulf Coast markets. With 20 years of executive leadership experience, Kanary brings deep expertise in growth strategy, performance marketing, brand building, and customer acquisition across home services, retail, e-commerce, and consumer brands. Throughout her career she has led large, complex marketing organizations, consistently improving marketing ROI and building high performing, world class teams, including in leadership positions with American Bath Group, Signet (Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared), PNC Bank, and others.
• Josh Kane serves as the Senior In-House Counsel for EA Sports. In this role, he negotiates complex licensing and sponsorship agreements with professional sports leagues, player associations, and large entertainment IP owners. With nearly two decades of experience advising sports leagues, media companies, and major entertainment brands, Kane’s career includes legal and commercial roles at Twitter and the LPGA, where he managed rights, partnerships, media deals, and operational planning across high-profile sports initiatives. He has also advised and helped oversee the on-site operations and execution for multiple major sporting events, giving him a practical, ground-level perspective on live sports, fan engagement, and event production.
• Chevalier Lovett is the Founder & President of Lovett Performance & Strategies, a consulting firm dedicated to improving the performance of non-profits and businesses of all sizes through high level organizational development methods. Born and raised in Winter Park, Lovett has spent more than 15+ years in senior leadership positions in local & national roles within the nonprofit sector including the YMCA, City Year and most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising and Chief Impact & Advocacy Officer with 26Health. Lovett has been recognized by multiple organizations, including Winter Park Magazine’s Most Influential (2020), Orlando Magic’s Diversity Game Changer (2023), Watermark Magazine’s Most Remarkable (2024) and Orlando Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 (2024).
• Troy McNichols is the Vice President for Corporate External & Legislative Affairs at AT&T, overseeing a team responsible for advancing the company’s legislative, regulatory, and policy priorities across Florida and the Southeastern States Region. McNichols manages regional strategy and operations, leading a team responsible for representing AT&T with State Lawmakers and Local Governments throughout Florida. Prior to AT&T, McNichols held Senior Level roles at the highest levels of Government, including executive management and advisory capacities within the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy. He also played a role in State politics, serving as a Senior Advisor to former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Gubernatorial Campaign.
• LaVell D. Monger, M.Ed. is the Co-Owner and Director of Business Development & Community Outreach for RTW Photography, one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing creative service firms. LaVell has helped scale the company from a start-up into a regional brand serving Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, universities, and major events across the Southeast. He also leads RTW’s philanthropic and engagement initiatives, including RTW Cares, V.I.B.E.S. | The Indoor Market Experience, and Move, Nourish & Thrive wellness events. He made history as the first African American and youngest individual to serve as Board Chair of the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce and is a proud member of Leadership Florida Connect Class XIII.
• Khalid Muneer is the President of Jupiter Properties Group, one of Central Florida’s premier real estate firms. With more than 28 years of experience in real estate, international business, and economic development, he is recognized for his ability to connect investors with high-value opportunities. Muneer has served on the Board of Directors for the Orlando Economic Partnership, Harbor House of Central Florida, International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce and Apopka Chamber of Commerce, as well as President of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce CFL and Chairman of the Board Enterprise Flagler. He is also co-owner of the Florida Sunrisers cricket team based in Orlando.
• Jeffrey Perera is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Jeff’s Bagel Run, the namesake of the business and the heart and soul of the brand. Perera has been leading the charge since day one, turning a home kitchen passion project into a fast-growing bagel sensation. Since opening the first official Jeff’s Bagel Run location in Ocoee in 2021, he has stayed committed to what makes the brand special: kettle-boiled bagels made fresh every morning. Before taking on the bagel world, Jeff built a career in leadership, serving as Regional Vice President at Atria Senior Living, where he managed operations and nurtured high-performing teams.
• Sarah Ratzlaff is Vice President of Business Operations & Partnerships with the Orlando Valkyries, the reigning champions of Major League Volleyball. With more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning professional sports, live events, consumer brands, and nonprofit engagement, she has led multimillion-dollar organizations through growth, transformation, and strategic realignment. Ratzlaff’s career has included leadership roles at Disney Sports, USA Today Ventures Endurance, and Skirt Sports. She recently completed her term as Chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee for the Greater Orlando Chapter of WISE (Women in Sports & Events).
• Tony Saccaro serves as Director of Sales for Rentyl Resorts, leading the sales teams for Encore Resort at Reunion, Spectrum Resort Orlando, and Bear’s Den Resort. From 2014 to 2020, he served on the Executive Board of the Gainesville Sports Commission, ultimately becoming Vice President and playing a contributing role in helping to improve the region’s sports footprint. After relocating to Orlando, he continued to stay active in the sports ecosystem, collaborating closely with UCF Athletics, other Big 12 teams and local partners to help strengthen Orlando’s position as a leading sports destination.
• Wayne Saxer is the Agency Sports Engagement Lead at NASA, where he drives the agency’s national sports collaboration strategy and leverages major sporting platforms to expand public awareness of NASA’s missions. A seasoned communications leader, Saxer has directed NASA’s presence at high-profile events including the Super Bowl, Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix, the Olympics, and multiple championship celebrations, generating millions of engagements across social platforms. Saxer also served in the U.S. Navy, deploying three times and working on critical power and propulsion systems aboard the USS Comstock.
• Kannan Srinivasan is the Founder and CEO of Global KTech, growing the company from scratch to one of the top Tech Staffing Companies in Central Florida. With 34 years of Information Technology experience, Srinivasan has also held several impactful roles in the nonprofit sector, including serving as Board Member, President, and Advisor of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of Orlando Economic Partnership. His service and leadership in the Asian American community were recognized by the US Congress in 2024. In 2025, Global KTech received the Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine Award for Top Technology Company, as well as the Top Small Business Award from Asure.
• Pedro Turushina is the President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando. In this role, he oversees the strategic direction and overall state of the Chamber including the development of proactive programs to increase membership engagement and strategic governmental effort to cultivate and build partnerships with key stakeholders. In 2025, Turushina was named as one of the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Orlando Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful, acknowledging individuals shaping the future of the region. He has also served on the board of directors for Experience Kissimmee, Leadership Seminole, Heart of Florida United Way, and Orlando Economic Partnership.
• Matthew Williamson brings over three decades of industry expertise to his role as Managing Partner of Employee Benefits and PEO Division at Insurance Office of America (IOA). Specializing in fully insured and self-funded benefit platforms for employers of all sizes, Williamson has been instrumental in IOA’s growth into the largest privately owned insurance agency in Florida and the fourth largest nationwide. He is known for his strong client and carrier relationships, consultative approach, and leadership on IOA’s Benefits Advisory Board, as well as his past service on the United Healthcare National Advisory Board. Prior to joining IOA, he held leadership roles at Shenandoah Life and Reliance Standard.
• Jeff Wohlschlaeger currently serves as Senior Vice President, Managed Venue Partnerships at Legends Global, where he leads commercial strategy and partner development across a portfolio of premier sports and entertainment properties. A seasoned sports marketing executive, Wohlschlaeger previously held roles with NASCAR and the Chicago Bulls. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a hands-on leader, team builder, and trusted partner to Fortune 500 brands. He is recognized for developing data-driven sales strategies, cultivating high-performing teams, and designing innovative partnership models that create long-term value for rights holders and corporate partners alike.

ABOUT THE GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1992-93, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,700 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $3.86 billion in spending within the community.