2012-13 Media Guide - Washington Capitals - NHL.com

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Ted Leonsis
Founder, Chairman, Majority Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Ted Leonsis is 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, AddThis, Preview Travel
(Travelocity), GridPoint, Mahalo, MobilePosse, ObjectVideo, SB Nation, TidalTV, Zedge,
Triporati, Personal, I-Village, Proxicom, ePals, SnagFilms and MediaBank. Most recently he led
the Revolution Growth investments in FedBid, Resonate Networks and Echo360.
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 3,000 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 AddThis. He also serves on the board of directors at American Express, where he
heads the technology and innovation committee; Rosetta Stone; 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.