COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Sept. 6, 2017) — The University of Maryland will welcome Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, as the first speaker of the Robert G. Hisaoka Speaker Series on Sept. 19, 2017, at the College Park campus.
Leonsis is the founder, chairman, majority owner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Capitals in the National Hockey League, the Wizards in the National Basketball Association, the Washington Mystics in the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade in the Arena Football League, and the Capital One Arena, formerly known as the Verizon Center. Monumental Sports & Entertainment has the distinction of being the only privately held company in a top 10 market to own and operate three professional sports teams as well as an arena.
Leonsis has achieved wide renown for his impact on the world of sports. In recognition for his accomplishments, he has been named “Washington's Businessman of the Year,” “Washingtonian of the Year,” one of the 20 most influential people in sports, one of America's most creative executives and a top 10 entrepreneur of the year.
The Robert G. Hisaoka Speaker Series is made possible through a generous gift from Robert G. Hisaoka to the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at UMD’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. The purpose of the speaker series is to bring business leaders and startup founders to campus, where they can inspire students to explore entrepreneurship by providing real-world context for business and venture creation.
“I selected Ted Leonsis as the inaugural speaker for the Hisaoka Speaker Series because he is one of the most well-known, influential, successful and philanthropic businessman in the entire DMV,” Hisaoka said. “It is an honor to have him as our inaugural speaker.”
The event will be 5 to 6 p.m. at the Gildenhorn Recital Hall in the Clarice Performing Arts Center. The audience will hear an intimate conversation between Leonsis and Hisaoka as they discuss entrepreneurship, investing, sports and the importance of philanthropy. To learn more and to register for this free event, visit the event page.
— Mamayaa Opoku, Smith School communications writer
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.