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News & Information
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Ted Leonsis
Business |Sports |Entertainment |Philanthropy
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Founder, chairman, majority owner and CEO of Monumental Sports &
Entertainment, which owns and operates the Washington Capitals (NHL),
Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Verizon
Center in downtown Washington, D.C. The partnership also operates
Kettler Capitals Iceplex (the Washington Capitals' training facility
and front office headquarters) and the George Mason University Patriot
Center.
The company was formed in June 2010, serves a thriving regional
sports community and is the only privately held company in a top
10 market to own and operate three professional sports teams and
its arena. Mr. Leonsis has owned the Washington Capitals since the
spring of 1999, and in that timeframe the team has won six Southeast
Division titles, a Presidents' Trophy and has recorded more than
100 consecutive sellouts at Verizon Center.
Mr. Leonsis serves on the board of governors for the NBA and NHL
as well as the executive committee of the NHL.
AOL
During his almost 14-year career at AOL, Mr. Leonsis served as president
of American Online Services Company, president of AOL Studios, president
of AOL Web Properties, vice chairman and president of AOL Core Services,
vice chairman and president of AOL Audience Business and vice chairman
emeritus. The company recorded its greatest levels of innovation
and growth under his leadership, and in May 2010 AOL named a central
office tower The Leonsis Creative Center in his honor. Mr. Leonsis
retired from active management of AOL in 2006.
Venture Capital Investor
Mr. Leonsis is now a partner in the newly created "speed-up
capital" Revolution Growth Fund II. In a 25-year period he
has personally made investments and owned equity in numerous companies,
including Groupon, Google, AOL, Revolution Money, Clearspring Technologies,
Preview Travel (Travelocity), GridPoint, Mahalo, MobilePosse, ObjectVideo,
SB Nation, TidalTV, Zedge, Triporati, Personal, I-Village, Proxicom,
ePals, SnagFilms and MediaBank.
Filmmaker and Digital Entrepreneur
Mr. Leonsis created and produced the award-winning film Nanking.
The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was awarded
the Documentary Editors Award. The film went on to win the Peabody
Award and the Emmy Award. The film was distributed theatrically,
appeared on HBO and is one of the most viewed documentaries of all
time because of its wide distribution in theater and on television
throughout China. Mr. Leonsis also produced the documentary film
Kicking It, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
and aired on ESPN. He also produced A Fighting Chance, which
aired on ESPN in 2010.
Mr. Leonsis is the founder, chairman and largest shareholder in
SnagFilms, the web's leading online distribution channel for documentary
and independent films. SnagFilms also owns and operates indieWIRE.com,
the leading site for news and information about independent and
documentary films. SnagFilms has more than 2,500 films in its digital
library, and its iPad app is a top 10 entrant in the entertainment
category.
Board of Directors
Mr. Leonsis is an investor and serves on the board of directors
of Groupon, where he is vice chairman, and Clearspring Technologies.
He also serves on the board of directors at American Express, where
he heads the technology and innovation committee; Rosetta Stone;
NutriSystem; and Alcatel-Lucent, where he is on the technology committee.
Mr. Leonsis also is on the board of directors of Georgetown University,
his alma mater. He also serves on the charity boards of DC CAP (District
of Columbia College Access Program) and CSF - DC (College Success
Foundation - District of Columbia).
Philanthropy
Through the Leonsis Foundation, his sports teams, SnagFilms and
his family's personal giving, more than 400 charities were served
and supported during the last 12 months. Highlighted charities and
causes include Best Buddies, DC Central Kitchen, See Forever Foundation,
Venture Philanthropy Partners, Street Soccer USA, YouthAIDS, GlobalGiving.org,
DC CAP, D.C. College Success Foundation, Potomac School, Georgetown
University, Children's Hospital, Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association,
Salvation Army Angle Tree, Alliance for Lupus Research, Serve DC,
Fort Dupont Ice Arena and Ice Hockey Club, USO of Metropolitan Washington,
Capital Area Food Bank, Flashes of Hope, Inova Health System Foundation,
UNICEF, obesity prevention and numerous local schools, cancer research
and awareness programs.
Author
Mr. Leonsis has authored numerous books, including Blue Magic:
The People, Power and Politics Behind the IBM PC and The
Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Work
and Life.
Interesting Facts
* Blogs daily at Ted's Take
* Purchased 100% of the Washington Capitals and 44% of the Washington
Wizards and Verizon Center in 1999
* Purchased control of the Washington Mystics in 2005
* Acquired the remaining ownership stake in the Washington Wizards
and Verizon Center in 2010
* The Mystics finished first in the Eastern Conference following
the 2010 regular season
* Coined term "filmanthropy" to signify films that shine
a light on important topics and activate charitable giving (2006)
* Created a 101-item life-list following an early 1980s reckoning
and has checked off 82 of the 101 things to do
* Founder of the first new media company: Redgate Communications
in 1986
* Coined the phrase "New Rules - New Media" in 1987
* Co-invented successful board game "Only in New York"
(1983)
* Founder of six personal computer magazines between 1981 and 1988
* Served as mayor of Orchid, Fla. (1990-94)
* Worked at Wang Laboratories and Harris Corporation early in career
Awards and Honors
* Washington Business Man of the Year
* Washingtonian of the Year
* Top 10 Creative Executives in America
* Top 20 Most Powerful People in Sports
* Lowell (Mass.) High School Alumni Hall of Fame
* Georgetown University John Carroll Award
Personal
* Married to Lynn Leonsis; son, Zachary; daughter, Elle
* Family owns and lives in the historic Marwood Estates in Potomac,
Md.
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