Pro Sports Assembly Names Marina Carpenter of the Arizona Cardinals as 2026/2027 Board Chair and Announces New Executive Committee Leadership
Pro Sports Assembly Elects Marina Carpenter of the Arizona Cardinals as 2026/2027 Board Chair and Announces New Executive Committee Leadership
AUSTIN, TX - January 6, 2026 – Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”), the association for professional sports business organizations and leaders, announces today that Marina Carpenter, Senior Vice President, Legal for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, has been elected to serve as the 2026/2027 Board Chair. Carpenter steps into the role at a time when the organization’s influence and impact is accelerating across teams, leagues, unions and venues. Over the last five years, PRO has prepared members to lead the next trillion-dollar industry.
Marina joined the Cardinals in early 2025 and brings over a decade of experience in professional sports, public affairs, and organizational governance. She served as Vice-Chair for the Governing Board in 2025, has been a Co-Chair of The Assembly: Pro Sports Leadership Retreat and has been active in efforts to strengthen standards that prove the value of informed and inclusive leadership. Carpenter succeeds Oracio Galindo, Head of Employee Experience at the Los Angeles Rams, who served as Board Chair during 2024/2025. Moving into the role of Immediate Past Chair, he will serve as Chair of the Annual Nominations Committee.
“Serving as the next Board Chair for Pro Sports Assembly is a tremendous honor,” said Carpenter. “Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the power of leaders who are thoughtful, collaborative, and committed to the growth of others. I am excited to build on this legacy and continue advancing opportunities for members to drive value and make a positive impact across the professional sports industry.”
Carpenter has advised executives and ownership groups across major league sports, guided organizations through complex legal, policy, and operational matters, and championed efforts that elevate ethical leadership and organizational performance. Her experience reflects a commitment to creating a strong, healthy, and fair future for the industry as a whole.
“Marina brings exceptional experience, insight, and integrity to the role of Board Chair,” said Galindo. “Her leadership reflects the values that make PRO so impactful, including collaboration, inclusion, and a commitment to elevating the industry as a whole. Passing the torch to Marina is a moment of pride, and I am confident she will guide the organization with the same dedication and vision that have defined success at Pro Sports Assembly for the last five years.”
The new Governing Board leadership team assumed their roles at the beginning of the new year and will guide the organization’s strategic priorities and management team throughout 2026 and beyond. This includes advancing leadership standards, research and industry-relations initiatives, collaboration across leagues, and aligning leaders on shared industry goals. Their work advances the mission of driving value for the industry by equipping leaders across tenure, rank, and discipline with the relationships and resources necessary to succeed.
2026 PRO SPORTS ASSEMBLY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair: Marina Carpenter, Senior Vice President, Legal, Arizona Cardinals
Chair-Elect: Nicolas Somoano, Director of Finance, Legends Global
Immediate Past Chair: Oracio Galindo, Head of Employee Experience, Los Angeles Rams
Treasurer: Jeff Fong, Executive Vice President, Finance, San Francisco 49ers
Secretary: Crispus Gordon III, Vice President, Government Relations and Strategic Affairs, Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Under the leadership of this esteemed group, multiple in-person retreats and summits are being hosted in 2026 to prepare members to lead the next trillion-dollar industry. The Q1 Leadership Summit on Navigating Politics in Leadership: When to Expend Political Capital, is hosted by Hollywood Park on January 29, 2026. Click here to learn more about the Q1 Summit. The Q2 Leadership Summit is being hosted at the new Populous Headquarters in Kansas City on April 14. In Q3, The Assembly and Medal of Leadership Celebration will be hosted in Austin the week of August 17.
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About Pro Sports Assembly
Established in 2019, Pro Sports Assembly (“PRO”) is the association for professional sports organizations and business leaders. PRO organizations drive value for the industry by creating economies of scale and scope around leadership development, research and advocacy. 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 on Pro Sports Assembly, please visit www.prosportsassembly.org and connect on LinkedIn.
FIVE for FIVE is a two-dimensional themed campaign for the PRO five-year anniversary. The first five is retrospective, marked by building the foundation, establishing the operational and leadership framework to bring the Game Plan for leadership excellence to life across the industry. The second five is future-focused, building on the relationships and resources that grow the impact and influence of PRO by preparing members to lead the next trillion-dollar industry. Combined, it is a celebration of the journey and a commitment to shaping the future, turning past progress into new opportunities.
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