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:

Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award - Jessica Yavitz, Vice President of Community Relations at Chicago Fire FC and Executive Director of the Chicago Fire Foundation

Marshall Award for Values in Sport - Kevin Demoff, Co-founder and Executive Sponsor of the Black Sports Business Symposium and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment President, Team & Media Operations

Visionary Leadership Award - Morgan Cato, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Phoenix Suns

Rising Leader Award - Alexandria Hill, Football Operations Coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams

*More details about each award and recipient can be found below.

The class of 2024 Honorees were awarded their medals in a ceremony that tipped off the 3rd annual The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and Workshop in Austin. The Assembly is an intimate gathering of professional sports business leaders who are influential in setting an agenda and strategy for their organization, and who are committed to creating a strong, healthy, and fair future across the industry.

“There is a vision, thought or idea that is put in your heart or spirit. We are charged and challenged with the responsibility to execute and to do it. That’s what it means to be a visionary.” (Morgan Cato)

“As long as you lead with empathy and take it on the chin. When you win it’s great but don’t let winning be a substitute for culture… people mistake winning for culture but a lot of time culture is what drives winning.”
(Kevin Demoff)

In a congratulatory message, Dallas Mavericks CEO, Cynt Marshall issued a PRO Matching Membership Challenge, sharing that the Dallas Mavericks will match new Pro Sports Assembly organization memberships this year to grow the impact and influence of inclusive leadership in professional sports.

The co-chairs for the 2024 Medal of Leadership Celebration are Chioma Antanmo of Sporting KC, Kim Miller of the Miami Dolphins, and McKenzie Watts of the Dallas Mavericks.

Jason Jenkins “Victory for Humanity” Award
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.

This year’s award recipient, Jessica Yavitz, boasts over 20 years of experience in professional sports and non-profit industries. Under her leadership, Chicago Fire FC and their charitable arm, the Chicago Fire Foundation, have garnered numerous accolades including winning the 2019 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year award and leading Major League Soccer as a multi-time winner of the Community Relations Club of the Year, most recently in 2023. The Fire were recognized as the Beyond Sport Team of the Year in 2016 and have been named multiple times as a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Best Commitment to Education Award. Yavitz also has been individually honored with several awards, receiving the Bright Promises Champion for Children Award in 2023, named as the 2022 WISE (Women in Sports and Entertainment) Chicago Woman of Inspiration, and named as the 2007 MLS Community Relations Executive of the Year. Yavitz is recognized for her innovative leadership in developing key partnerships and programs, such as the internationally acclaimed P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program, which has grown by more than 400% since its inception in 2013, expanding to over 60 Chicago Public Schools, serving thousands of under-resourced inner-city youth.

Marshall Award for Values in Sports
The Marshall Award for Values in Sport was inspired by Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and Co-founder of PRO. As the first Black female CEO in the NBA, she represents strength and impact for the organization, its greater community and the professional sports ecosystem. The award is presented to a trailblazing Pro Sports Assembly member who exemplifies Character, Respect, Authenticity, Fairness, Teamwork and Safety.

This year’s award recipient, Kevin Demoff, has served as the President of the Los Angeles Rams for 16 years and was recently named the President of Team and Media Operations for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. He was instrumental in the Rams’ return to Los Angeles and the development of Hollywood Park, including SoFi Stadium. Notably, Demoff’s commitment to inclusive leadership extends to his involvement in co-founding the Black Sports Business Symposium, aimed at creating opportunities for diverse professionals in the sports industry. His leadership has garnered recognition and awards for the Rams’ significant impact on the Los Angeles region.

Visionary Leadership Award
The Visionary Leadership Award is presented to a senior-level (director and above) professional sports leader. Throughout their career, this individual has shown excellence inside their organization, in their community and is dedicated to building the next generation of leaders.

This year’s award recipient, Morgan Cato, came up through the ranks via a decade-long journey with the NBA, where she rose from Team Lead for Early Career Development in Human Resources to Associate Vice President for League Operations. She played pivotal roles in strategic programs such as the “Future of the Game” General Managers initiative and the launch of the Basketball Africa League. In 2022, Cato made history as the first woman of color to hold the title of Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations when she joined the Phoenix Suns. She was also one of the highest-ranking women in a front office, underscoring her transformative power of dedication and inclusive leadership in the sports industry.

Rising Leader Award
The Rising Leader Award recognizes a full-time pro sports executive (0-10 years of experience) who has made an exemplary impact early in their career. This award calls attention to an individual with an outstanding commitment to excellence.

This year’s award recipient, Alexandria Hill, has become a pivotal member of the Los Angeles Rams Football Operations team. In addition to contributing to a Super Bowl victory, Alex’s achievements extend beyond the field. She has been nationally recognized as a rising black professional in the sports industry. Hill’s dedication to her craft, coupled with her commitment to inclusive leadership, continues to make her a standout figure in the NFL.

Sponsors of The Assembly 2024 include Major League Baseball, Oak View Group Arena Alliance, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, H-E-B, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Hat Trip, Yeti, Navigate, el Perro Grande,

About Pro Sports Assembly
Established in 2019, Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”) is the association for professional sports business leaders. Members of PRO are inclusive leaders who believe in the power of uniting as a force for good to create a stronger, healthier, and fairer future for the professional sports industry. The power of Pro Sports Assembly comes to life because PRO members champion their individual development, organization and industry. Collectively, PRO members set the standard for leadership excellence in professional sports.

For more information, please visit www.prosportsassembly.org. Pro Sports Assembly is on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/prosportsassembly/ visit www.prosportsassembly.org and connect on LinkedIn.

Contact:
Denise Poinsett: [email protected]